"A POWERFUL New Year!"

“A POWERFUL New Year!”

 

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.  So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.           Ephesians 3:16-19

 

This is a prayer of the Apostle Paul, for the TRUE BELIEVERS in Ephesus.  It was the desire of the Apostle that they would be STRENGTHENED with POWER in their INNER BEING, through God’s Holy Spirit.  Unfortunately, we allow our WEAKNESSES to control our FAITH and TRUST in God’s ALMIGHTY POWER.  Could it be because we have never really experienced His POWER, like the POWER of the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ? 

 

When you really THINK about God’s POWER, and you REALIZE that an individual is GLORIOUSLY SAVED by the POWER of God’s MERCY and GRACE, and they are SEALED and KEPT by the POWER of His Holy Spirit, until SALVATION is made COMPLETE.  By His POWER Christ indwells the TRUE BELIEVER in their HEART, through their FAITH, meaning that Jesus Christ is DEEPLY ROOTED in the life of the BELIEVER, and that He rules over the attitudes and conduct of the TRUE BELIEVER, by His SUPERIOR POWER.  

 

It is Paul’s prayer that ALL TRUE BELIEVERS be ROOTED and ESTABLISHED in LOVE and have the POWER to be able to GRASP the WIDTH, the LENGTH, the HEIGHT, and DEPTH of the LOVE of Christ Jesus.  And NOT to just KNOW with KNOWLEDGE, because the LOVE of Christ SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE.  You MUST EXPERIENCE, His LOVE, in order to TRULY KNOW His LOVE.  Then you may be FILLED to the MEASURE of ALL the FULLNESS of God.  The COMPLETE FULLNESS of the GODHEAD is in Christ, and it is ONLY through Him that a TRUE BELIEVER can EXPERIENCE the MEASURE of ALL God’s FULLNESS.  What a way to begin a NEW YEAR, under the CONTROL of the POWER and LOVE of Jesus Christ.  Will this be the BEGINNING of the NEW YEAR for YOU?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you cannot EXPERIENCE or TRULY KNOW the POWER and LOVE of Christ Jesus, and you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS.  You have the OPPORTUNITY NOW to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and EXPERIENCE the POWER and LOVE of the ALMIGHTY GOD, provided by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and spend ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Enlightenment for the New Year!"

“Enlightenment for the New Year!"

 

Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.         Ephesians 1:18-20

 

It is IMPOSSIBLE to have a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God, a part from the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Spirit of God that gives us a spirit of WISDOM and of REVELATION in the KNOWLEDGE of CHRIST. 

 

Our prayer for the New Year should be one that petitions God for SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.  That God might give us UNDERSTANDING of His Word, through the work of His Spirit.  ENLIGHTENING us about the HOPE of our SALVATION, which is HOPE that is given to us NOT because of OUR GOODNESS, but because of GOD’S GLORIOUS GRACE.  And to KNOW what are the riches of His GLORIOUS INHERITANCE for those who have TRULY GIVEN their HEARTS and LIVES to Him.

 

We should be ENLIGHTENED to the IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS of His POWER.  The same POWER that was at work in Christ Jesus when He RAISED Him from the dead and then SEATED Him at His right hand in HEAVENLY PLACES.  This POWER is an ENERGETIC POWER or WORKING POWER, it is also available to TRUE BELIEVERS, today, and it provides spiritual VITALITY, POWER and STRENGTH in living the CHRISTIAN LIFE.   

 

As a TRUE BELIEVER, you can have ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY of VICTIORY through God’s provision of GRACE.  Because of Jesus Christ’s DEATH, RESURRECTION, and ASCENSION to the RIGHT HAND of GOD.  He is ABOVE ALL RULE, AUTHORITY, POWER and DOMINION.  His NAME is ABOVE EVERY NAME that is named, NOT ONLY in this age, but in the one to come.  As His Children we have the HOPE of spending ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Are YOU His Child?  Is this YOUR DESTINY?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT His Child, and you cannot have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Him, nor can you spend ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Your destiny is an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Your only HOPE is for you to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE, in Heaven, SEATED at the RIGHT HAND of God, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, with the HOPE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Let His HOLY SPIRIT ENLIGHTEN you to the IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS of God’s POWER, and develop a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Him.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Words of Wisdom for a New Year"

“Words of Wisdom for a New Year”

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”                               Philippians 4:6-7

 

The Apostle Paul is not advocating that the Philippian Christians, should live a CAREFREE LIFE, but they should not WORRY about the situations and problems, they may face or are presently facing.  To be genuinely concerned and caring about things is DIFFERENT from WORRYING.  WORRYING is a SIN, because it lessens our TRUST in the ALMIGHTY GOD.

 

The Psalmist in Psalm 62:8, gives us advice for UNCERTAIN TIMES.  He tells us to:  “Trust in Him at ALL times, you people; pour out your HEARTS to Him, for God is our REFUGE.”  TRUSTING in God is NOT something we do ONLY when we have no other recourse.  The Psalmist tells us to TRUST in Him at ALL TIMES.  He also tells us to POUR OUT our HEARTS to GOD, because He is our REFUGE.  You can do that through your PRAYERS, which you should be doing DAILY.  He desires to hear from His Children, on a DAILY BASIS. 

 

Whenever you have a CLOSE, INTIMATE relationship with God, you tend NOT to be ANXIOUS about anything, because of your PRAYER LIFE.  The Apostle Paul tells us that our PRAYERS should include a PETITION, which is requesting an ANSWER to a SPECIFIC need.  We should have an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE that is, our PRAYERS should be done with THANKSGIVING for ALL that God has already done in our lives, like our SALVATION.  REQUESTS are SPECIFIC things we ask for, and with that attitude we should make our REQUESTS known to God.  

 

The PEACE of GOD transcends ALL HUMAN UNDERSTANDING.  Mankind cannot comprehend the PEACE of GOD.  It is like NOTHING MANKIND has EVER experienced.  And when we FULLY TRUST God, by NOT being ANXIOUS or WORRYING about ANYTHING this life brings to us in a NEW YEAR, we will be able to EXPERIENCE the PEACE of GOD, which, through Christ Jesus, will GUARD our HEARTS AND MINDS.  He is our REFUGE, SAFETY, PROTECTION, and SHELTER, in UNCERTAIN TIMES.  How about YOU?  Are you ANXIOUS or WORRYING about what the NEW YEAR may hold?  Or are you FULLY TRUSTING GOD and EXPERIENCING His PEACE, whatever the NEW YEAR may hold?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, you are destined for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY OF ESCAPE.  It’s time for you to be REALLY CONCERNED about your RELATIONSHIP with God.   TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And CONFESS your sins to Him, asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and FULLY TRUST HIM to be your REFUGE, and EXPERIENCE the PEACE of GOD, which will GUARD your HEART and MIND, through Jesus Christ.  Then you will spend ALL of ETERNITY in Heaven, with NO WORRIES or ANXIETIES.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"Pressing On!"

“Pressing On!”

 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.        Philippians 3:12-14

 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Christians in Philippi, was encouraging them to NOT give up, but to PRESS ON in their quest for CHRISTLIKENESS, which should be the goal of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  Paul’s desire was to KNOW and BE like Jesus Christ in the POWER of His RESURRECTION, His SUFFERINGS, and even in His DEATH.  Paul told them that he had NOT obtained all this, meaning he had NOT reached the FULLNESS of being CHRISTLIKE.

 

The Apostle told them that he did NOT consider himself to have obtained this goal.  But there was one thing he did:  FORGETTING what was BEHIND and STRAINING toward what lies AHEAD.  In other words, Paul was saying; don’t dwell on the PAST, but PRESS ON to the FUTURE, to the goal, and DON’T let the PAST become the NORM for your FUTURE in becoming CHRISTLIKE, instead PURSUE the GOAL of CHRISTLIKENESS, and DON’T GIVE UP, but PRESS ON.

 

We are facing a New Year, one that is FULL of UNCERTAINTIES, but ONE THING, we can be CERTAIN of, is that GOD IS IN CONTROL!  And He does NOT want His Children to cling to the PAST and its PERILS, but He wants His Children to PRESS ON towards the GOAL that is before them, which is to GROW in the KNOWLEDGE of JESUS CHRIST, to become MORE AND MORE LIKE Him, with each day.  We can accomplish this through PRAYER, and STUDYING God’s Holy Word, and STRAINING towards what is ahead, and PRESSING ON towards the GOAL and WINNING the PRIZE of ETERNAL LIFE with Jesus Christ in Heaven.  Is it your GOAL to be CHRISTLIKE, and to WIN the PRIZE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you cannot be CHRISTLIKE, nor can you obtain an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  You will, however, be spending an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY OF ESCAPE.   In order to ESCAPE HELL, you must TURN AWAY FROM your PAST and the sinful lifestyle you are living, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and FORGET the PAST and PRESS ON towards the GOAL to win the PRIZE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with Jesus Christ.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The AMAZEMENT of It All"

“The AMAZEMENT of It All”

 

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.         Luke 2:16

 

I believe that the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem, could have gone something like this:  In that same region there were some shepherds out in the fields, watching over their flock.  It was a quiet, cold, dark, but starry night, and some of those shepherds may have been sitting around a warm campfire, dozing, because of the long, hard day.  When all of a SUDDEN, their appeared, in their midst, an Angel of the Lord, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were TERRIFIED!  The Angel said to them, “Do NOT be afraid; I bring you GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY, which will be for ALL people.  Today in Bethlehem, there has been born for you a SAVIOR, who is CHRIST the LORD.  This will be a SIGN for you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”   Then the sky exploded with a multitude of Heavenly Host, who were PRAISING God and saying, “GLORY to GOD in the HIGHEST, and on earth PEACE among men with whom He is pleased.”

 

The shepherds’ response was:  “Let us go STRAIGHT to BETHLEHEM then, and SEE this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they HURRIED and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger, just as the Angel had said.   What is AMAZING, is that they HURRIED to Jesus.  It appears that they BELIEVED ALL that the Angel told them.  Nowhere does the Scripture state that they ARGUED or DISAGREED with each other, over the incident or what the Angel had said.  Instead, the Scripture indicates to us that the shepherds were AMAZED, EXCITED, and ANXIOUS to see for themselves, exactly what the Angel was saying.  They RAN to JESUS!  Have you ever RUN to JESUS?  They FOUND the MESSIAH, the SAVIOR of ALL mankind.  Have you FOUND the SAVIOR?

 

The shepherd’s returned to their flocks, GLORIFYING and PRAISING GOD for ALL they had HEARD and SEEN.  They had BEEN WITH JESUS, and they BELIEVED what the Angel had told them.  That night in the sleepy, little town of Bethlehem, GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY had come for ALL people, a SAVIOR, one who would DELIVER mankind from their sins and from an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE. 

 

You, like the shepherds, MUST BELIEVE that JESUS CHRIST is the MESSIAH, and the ONLY WAY to God.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM YOUR sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and like the shepherds, be AMAZED, EXCITED, AND ANXIOUS to be a Child of the LIVING GOD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Birth of a King"

“The Birth of a King”

 

Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David.  Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David.  He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him.  She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.  She gave birth to her first son, wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger---there was no room for them to stay in the inn.            Luke 2:4-7

 

At the time of Jesus birth, Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire.  Everyone went to their own hometowns to register themselves.  Now Mary and Joseph knew that the BIRTH of this SPECIAL BABY would be SOON.  So they decided that Mary should accompany Joseph to Bethlehem.   More than likely they wanted to be TOGETHER when this event took place.  Not only that, but they BOTH knew that this SPECIAL BABY was the MESSIAH.  And they would have known that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  However when they arrived in Bethlehem, they found that there were NO ROOMS anywhere, where they could rest and prepare for this SPECIAL BIRTH.  And according to tradition, their ONLY option was a dark, damp, cold CAVE, where the animals stayed.  At least it was a SHELTER, with some privacy and lots of clean hay.   Not hardly a birthplace for a KING.

 

This was NOT any ORDINARY BIRTH, from the conception to the birth itself.  And this BABY was NO ORDINARY KING.  He was/is the KING of KINGS.  Yet He was born to a peasant girl and a lowly carpenter and not in a palace, but a CAVE. 

 

God came, in the form of a man, NOT as the KING of KINGS, but as the SAVIOR of ALL mankind.  He came as the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.  He came in HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, MILDNESS, and COMPASSION.  He came to ALL types of people, the rich and affluent, and the poor and destitute. He came to SAVE mankind from their SINS and from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  The ALMIGHTY KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS, came to GIVE His LIFE so that WE might HAVE ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  He CAME, He LIVED, He DIED, and is ALIVE AGAIN and is COMING BACK SOON to CLAIM His OWN.  Are you a part of His OWN?  Have you ever ACCEPTED God’s GIFT of SALVATION?

 

If you answered NO to both of those questions, then you are DOOMED to spend an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to be a part of God’s OWN, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His GIFT of SALVATION, and become a part of His family, and spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL of its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The GREATEST Gift of ALL!"

“The GREATEST Gift of ALL!”

 

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.          2 Corinthians 9:15

 

God’s GIFT to mankind is: PRICELESS, INDESCRIBABLE, WONDERFUL and ETERNAL.  It’s PRICELESS because it cannot be compared to anything of any value.  Its worth goes far beyond the MOST VALUABLE thing on earth or in Heaven.  It is INDESCRIBABLE because there are NO WORDS that can give us the full scope of its capability.  It is WONDERFUL because it supersedes ALL other things in its ABILITIES and its POWER.  It is ETERNAL because it will NEVER rust, rot, mold, melt, decay, break or disintegrate, it will NEVER go away.  It will last FOREVER.  

 

This PHENOMINAL GIFT, is composed of four different parts; the first part is; MERCY, the act of NOT receiving what we REALLY DESERVE.  God’s ABUNDANT MERCY is given to ALL who will come to Him for the FORGIVENESS of their sins.  Luke 1:50 says:  His MERCY extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.  The word “fear” means to RESPECT.    The second part is; GRACE, which is RECEIVING blessings we don’t deserve.  2 Timothy 1:9, tells us:  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.   The third part is JESUS CHRIST, without JESUS, there would be NO GIFT.  John 3:16 says:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall NOT perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.”   Without Him you cannot go to Heaven.  He’s your ticket.  You NEED to get it today, if you don’t have it.  The fourth part is ETERNAL LIFE, this is the ABILITY to LIVE in HEAVEN, FOREVER.  Those who REJECT this GIFT will spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  John 3:36 says:  Whoever BELIEVES in the Son has ETERNAL LIFE, but whoever REJECTS the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.  Where will you spend your ETERNITY?  

 

God’s SPECIAL GIFT, which is DEFINITELY the GREATEST GIFT you will EVER receive.  It is the GIFT of SALVATION and it is WRAPPED UP in RIGHTEOUSNESS, and TIED UP with His Holy Spirit.  Won’t you become a part of God’s Family and spend ETERNITY in HEAVEN?  To do that, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His GIFT of SALVATION, and be BLESSED with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Willing Servant"

“The Willing Servant”

 

“I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.”  And the Angel left her.           Luke 1:38

 

Mary, a young peasant girl, must have been very much alarmed at the sight of Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord, as he stood in front of her, to deliver a message that would definitely ROCK Mary’s world.  Here she was betrothed or engaged to a man named Joseph, a lowly carpenter, by trade.  And this Angel of God tells her that she would become pregnant and give birth to a Son.  Now, Mary was a godly young woman, who was virtuous, pure, decent and modest in her behavior.  I would imagine that the people in Nazareth, thought highly of this gracious, young lady.  And now, she would become PREGNANT, NOT MARRIED, and had NEVER been with a man.  How would or could she EVER explain the TRUTH?

 

Mary must have been ANXIOUS, FRIGHTENED, and EXCITED all at the same time.  She would have to explain her situation to Joseph, and not ONLY that, she would be at risk of being stoned to death, which was the form of punishment for this type of transgression.  But Mary BELIEVED God would have a plan, and she BLINDLY TRUSTED Him to carry it out to the end.  That is why she could say:  “I am the Lord’s servant, may it happen to me as you have said.”  She was WILLING to do WHATEVER God’s plan was for her life.  

 

The Angel, visited Joseph too, and explained everything to him, concerning Mary’s pregnancy.  He too was willing to do WHATEVER God’s plan was for him and Mary.  He, nor Mary, may have UNDERSTOOD, but they TRUSTED GOD. 

 

I can’t even imagine the FEAR, ANXIETY, EXCRUCIATING ACHES, PAINS, and DISCOMFORT, Mary must have experienced, while riding on a donkey and walking, some of the time, to Bethlehem, where she would soon deliver the Son of God.  Yet her FAITH was STEADFAST, and she continued to TRUST her God, and His plan.  She BELIEVED and God PROVIDED.  Thus, the SAVIOR of the WORLD was BORN!  His mission was to bring SALVATION to a LOST and DYING world, and so He did.

 

If you have given your HEART and LIFE to God, my question is:  Are you a WILLING SERVANT of God?  Are you, like Mary and Joseph, WILLING to TRUST GOD with your LIFE?  If we TRUST Him with our ETERNITY, we SHOULD be able to TRUST HIM with our LIFE.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, if you will BELIEVE and TRUST God with your LIFE here, He will PROVIDE an ETERNAL HOME for you, in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  All you have to do is:  TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a WILLING SERVANT, TRUSTING GOD with your LIFE and ETERNITY.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The True Light"

“The True Light”

 

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.        John 1:9

“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”        Matthew 4:16

 

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.          Isaiah 9:6

 

If you haven’t guessed it by now, the TRUE LIGHT is the Lord Jesus Christ.   When the Angel, visited Joseph, the Angel said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name of Jesus, because He will SAVE his people from their sins.”  (Matt. 1:20-21)  John tells us that the TRUE LIGHT GIVES light to EVERYONE, and the proclamation was; “The TRUE LIGHT was coming into the world.  The Lord Jesus came as a NEWBORN BABY.

 

Those who were living in the time when Jesus was born, were living in DARKNESS, the DARKNESS of their SINS, and were in DESPERATE NEED of one who would DELIVER them out of their present evil lifestyle.  They NEEDED a LIGHT to SHINE on them, so they might SEE their SINS and could REPENT, and become a part of GOD’S HOLY FAMILY.  And to be DELIVERED OUT of the SHADOW OF DEATH and into the illumination of the ONE TRUE LIGHT, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  This is the same scenario for ALL that are WALKING in the DARKNESS of their SINS, today.  We too NEED the TRUE LIGHT to bring us to a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the Almighty God.

 

The Prophet Isaiah tells us about the coming of the TRUE LIGHT.  He says:  “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”   The TRUE LIGHT has come.  Have you RECEIVED it?  Are you allowing the TRUE LIGHT to bring your sins into the LIGHT, so you might SEE and REPENT of those sins, which will HARM your RELATIONSHIP with God? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD.  You are walking in the DARKNESS, and you are in NEED of THE SAVING POWER of the TRUE LIGHT, to help you have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God.  And to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS.  In order to do this, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and come out of the DARKNESS AND into the GLORIOUS LIGHT, The TRUE LIGHT, JESUS CHRIST.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"God's Gift versus Man's Sin"

“God’s Gift versus Man’s Sin”

 

Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin:  The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought Justification.

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 5:16-17

 

There once was a person, who lived a sinful life.  They had never given God their HEART and LIFE.  As a matter of fact, they REJECTED anything that was associated with God, Jesus or of a spiritual nature.  One Christmas, this person’s office had a Christmas Party. There was a lot of eating, drinking, and very crude, sexual innuendos, which were being LOUDLY spoken.  There definitely was NO MENTION of the TRUE MEANING of Christmas.  Then they exchanged gifts. The person was surprised when they opened their gift.  It was a FIRE ALARM. “Now, what kind of gift was that?”  They thought, “I don’t NEED that, I ‘m forty years old and have NEVER had one.”   So that night, the person, had done a little too much celebrating.  They were DRUNK, when they got home they put their gift, the FIRE ALARM in the closet and closed the door.  “IF I think I’ll need it someday, I’ll put it up, but NOT NOW!  So the person shut the door to the closet, and went to bed with a lit cigarette in their hand, then they passed out.  That night the individual was swept out into ETERNITY.   They would spend ALL of their ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.    

 

Just like this situation, they REJECTED GOD, and His GIFT, Jesus Christ.  They IGNORED ANY thing related to God or of a Godly nature.  Whenever God’s Spirit dealt with them, they KEPT REJECTING.   Like the gift of the Fire Alarm, they wanted NO PART of God’s GIFT.  

 

Because of ONE man’s sin, CONDEMNATION came upon ALL MANKIND.  JUDGMENT followed ONE sin and brought the CONDEMNATION, but God’s GIFT followed MANY trespasses and brought JUSTIFICATION, A NOT GUILTY VERDICT on those who ACCEPT and BELIEVE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

By ONE man, Adam, DEATH REIGNED.  But because of God’s ABUNDANT GRACE and His GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is given through the ONE Man, JESUS CHRIST, to those who will RECEIVE and BELIEVE, they will spend ALL ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Will YOU RECEIVE and BELIEVE?  

If you are living like this person in the story, at the beginning.  You are HEADED for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL of its HORRORS.  In order to change your direction, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His GIFT of SALVATION and RECEIVE His GIFT of RIGHTEOUSNESS, through the LORD JESUS CHRIST.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"God's Gift"

“God’s Gift”

 

But the gift is not like the trespass.  For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!        Romans 5:15

 

Adam, was a figure of the one who was to come, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God’s Gift to mankind.   The Apostle Paul tells us that Adam’s trespass or sin, is not like God’s Gift.  Many people died, both physically and spiritually because of Adam’s sin.  Mankind is born with a sinful nature, which is the desire to sin, because of the flesh.  Many people REJECT God’s Gift, because they are sinful by nature, and are blinded to the REAL TRUTH, just like Adam was, in the Garden of Eden.  And their destiny is an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE

 

But God’s Gift is SO MUCH different.  God’s GRACE, which came through the Gift of His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, offers MUCH, MUCH MORE than ANY sinful lifestyle.  God’s Gift is offered to ALL MANKIND.  It offers REDEMPTION, the FORGIVENESS of one’s sins.  It is a GIFT that KEEPS on GIVING.  It is ETERNAL, it will last FOREVER.   It provides RIGHTEOUSNESS, being able to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God.  And it SECURES us an ETERNITY in Heaven.

 

Have you RECEIVED or REJECTED God’s Gift?  If you REJECT God’s Gift, you will be spending ALL of ETERNITY in Hell, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  The ONLY way for you to ESCAPE HELL is to:  TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION, and receive FORGIVENESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

  

"A Message for Joseph"

“A Message for Joseph”

 

But after he had considered this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said.  “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.   She will give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”        Matthew 1:20-21

 

Joseph was faithful to the law, and he did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace, so he decided to divorce her quietly.  It was their custom, when two people were engaged, for them to be able to put an end to an engagement, they had to get a decree of divorce.  But God had other plans, He sent an angel to Joseph in a dream, telling him to NOT be AFRAID to take Mary home as his wife, because the baby she was carrying was of the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

The angel went on to tell Joseph that the baby would be a son, and they were to name Him JESUS, for He will SAVE His people from their sins.   Now, this was a VERY IMPORTANT part of the MESSAGE for Joseph.  The angel had also told Mary that she would give birth to a Son, and she was to call Him JESUS.   The name JESUS means “Savior”.   And so He is, He came to His own and they did NOT receive Him, but to as many as did RECEIVE Him, to those who BELIEVED in His NAME, He gave the RIGHT to become Children of God.  (John 1:11-12)   

 

His NAME is POWERFUL!  SALVATION is found in no one else, for there is NO other NAME under Heaven given to mankind by which we MUST be SAVED. (Acts 4:12)  There is NO OTHER name upon which you can call to SAVE you from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE. 

 

You MUST call upon the name of JESUS, and TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and receive JESUS as your SAVIOR and LORD, and Heaven as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Horn of Salvation"

“The Horn of Salvation”

 

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them.  He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.”               Luke 1:68-69

 

These verses are part of Zechariah’s prophecy, given right after the birth of his son, John the Baptist.  The Holy Spirit came upon Zechariah and he prophesied of the coming of the REDEEMER of the world. 

 

Zechariah called Him the “HORN of SALVATION.”  The horns of an animal symbolized it POWER.  Some Israelites of that time, believed that the MESSIAH would come as a MIGHTY WARRIOR, one who would DELIVER them from Roman rule, and the tyranny, of which they suffered.  But when Jesus was born, He didn’t come as a MIGHTY WARRIOR, even though He was of the house of King David.  He came as a HUMBLE SERVANT of the ALMIGHTY GOD.  He came in OBEDIENCE to His Heavenly Father. He didn’t come to JUDGE mankind, but He came as their REDEEMER.  He was the ONLY ONE who had/has the POWER to REDEEM mankind from their sins, and to give them ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.

 

This word “HORN” here symbolizes a STRONG KING.”  Even though Jesus came into this world, not born to a ROYAL family and not born in a PALACE.  He was and still is the KING of kings and LORD of lords.  And will one day, take His rightful place on David’s throne, for ALL of ETERNITY.

 

Just think, the One who is RULER of this Universe, came to earth as a tiny newborn baby, born in a manger, full of smelly animals, and was laid on a bed of hay.  He grew up, just like any other child.  Then when He was a grown man, He was HATED and REJECTED by His own creation.  Nevertheless, He was beaten to a bloody pulp, and nailed to an old rugged cross, to die a shameful, excruciating, death, so that mankind might come to a SAVING KNOWLEDGE, and be RESCUED from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and be given the HOPE of HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS. 

 

He suffered, bled and died, not because He was weak, but because He was OBEDIENT to His Father, and He is a STRONG, POWERFUL KING, who WILLINGLY gave HIS LIFE so that YOU and I could have ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are destined to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  God in His ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE is giving you the opportunity NOW to; TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and make your DESTINY an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The REAL Reason for the Season"

“The REAL Reason for the Season”

 

Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. 

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.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.             Isaiah 53:4-6

 

I TRULY BELIEVE that if Jesus had NOT been born, there would NOT be a CHRISTmas Season.  Many people think that this time of year is all about PARTIES, GIFT-GIVING, and SANTA CLAUS.  Now, while these things are NOT wrong to participate in, they are NOT what this SEASON is all about.

 

The REAL REASON for the SEASON is YOU and ME.  God so LOVED mankind that He was WILLING to SACRIFICE His ONE and ONLY SON to SUFFER in OUR place.  He took OUR PAIN and BORE OUR SUFFERING in order for US to be FORGIVEN of OUR sins, and to have an ETERNITY in Heaven.   He was PIERCED on an old rugged cross, for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, and CRUSHED for OUR INIQUITIES.  The PUNISHMENT that He took, brought US PEACE and by His wounds WE are HEALED. This is NOT speaking of a PHYSICAL HEALING, but a SPIRITUAL HEALING.

 

The Almighty God GAVE US the BEST, MOST MEANINGFUL, LIFE-CHANGING, GIFT known to MANKIND.  He actually GAVE HIMSELF to take OUR PAIN and SUFFERING, and He became OUR SUBSTITUTE in DEATH by CRUCIFIXION. 

 

He, who came to earth as a tiny newborn babe, grew up SINLESS and PURE, without SIN, He became SIN by taking on ALL the SINS of ALL MANKIND, PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE.  And for those, who BELIEVE and ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION, they will inherit ALL the glories of Heaven and will spend ALL of ETERNITY there with ALL the other TRUE BELIEVERS, God, the Heavenly Father and His BELOVED SON, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Is this your destiny?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are destined for an ETERNITY in Hell, with UNENDING HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  But YOU are the REAL REASON for the SEASON, because Jesus came and died for YOU.  All you have to do is; TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God, then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and spend an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its glories.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Rising Sun"

“The Rising Sun”

 

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Rising Sun will come to us from Heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”           Luke 1:76-79

 

These Scriptures are the benediction to Zechariah’s prophecy concerning the ministry of his son, John the Baptist and also the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Rising Sun, also known as, the Son of God.

 

John the Baptist, also known as, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, would go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him.  He would give people the KNOWLEDGE of SALVATION, which is accomplished through the FORGIVENESS of their sins.  This was John’s ministry.  He went out PREACHING and PREPARING the way of the Lord.  And those who accepted John’s message, were baptized.  That was how he received the title; John the Baptist.

 

The gift of SALVATION, was God’s plan for mankind.  It was provided because of His tender MERCY and amazing GRACE, which came to us, through the Rising Sun, the Lord Jesus Christ, who left the glories of Heaven, to SUFFER, BLEED and DIE on an old rugged cross, for the FORGIVENESS of the sins of ALL mankind.  He will SHINE on those LIVING in DARKNESS, and in the SHADOW of DEATH, and GUIDE their FEET into the PATH of PEACE.  He will HELP them ESCAPE HELL and GAIN an ETERNITY in HEAVEN. He came NOT to CONDEMN the world, but to SAVE the world.  This is the ministry of Jesus Christ, the RISING SUN.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are DOOMED to an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING HORRORS.  What better gift can you RECEIVE, than the gift of SALVATION?  This gift is INDESTRUCTIBLE, it will LAST throughout ETERNITY.  It brings PEACE of MIND, and JOY to your HEART.  It is the MOST VALUABLE gift you will EVER receive.   So choose WISELY, and allow the Rising Sun to shine on you, and to dispel the DARKNESS, and to bring you out of the shadow of DEATH and into the realm of EVERLASTING LIFE.  Let Him GUIDE your feet into the PATH of PEACE.  You can do this by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful life, and TURNING TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and the HOPE of an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The SPECIAL Gift"

“The SPECIAL Gift”

 

He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.  Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.          John 1:11-12

 

This is “GIFT-GIVING” time, a time when we GIVE to others things, which expresses our affection for that individual.  It is usually a GIFT that is “SPECIAL”, one that we want to last a LONG time.  One that will bring them JOY and be BENEFICIAL to them in many ways. 

 

The problem is, some people, when they are given a “SPECIAL GIFT”, such as this, they REJECT it, maybe even ABUSE it, or just NOT RECEIVE it, to begin with.  Have you ever REJECTED a GIFT that someone, who LOVES you, has given you, and wondered, “WHY this?”  And you make up some excuse for not accepting it.   Maybe, you accept it, and take it home and shove it into a drawer, or hide it in a closet, this too is a form of REJECTION.  

 

God so LOVED the WORLD that He GAVE His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, as a SPECIAL GIFT, to express His GREAT LOVE to ALL of MANKIND.  But NOT EVERYONE has or will ACCEPT this SPECIAL GIFT.  God’s GIFT to MANKIND will LAST throughout ETERNITY.  It will bring GREAT JOY to ALL who will OPEN their HEART, and ACCEPT it.  The BENEFITS of this GIFT is beyond measure.  It brings the FORGIVENESS of our sins, and the right to become a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD. And it will SECURE a FOREVER HOME in HEAVEN for ALL of ETERNITY.  Have you ACCEPTED this SPECIAL GIFT, GOD’S SON, Jesus Christ, as your SAVIOR and LORD? 

 

If you have REJECTED the GIFT, God is offering it to you again.  It is His desire that you ACCEPT His GIFT of SALVATION, and ESCAPE HELL, the place of UNENDING HORRORS, and to RECEIVE HEAVEN and ALL of its BLESSINGS.  In order to RECEIVE the GIFT, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His GIFT of SALVATION, and become His Child, by RECEIVING His SPECIAL GIFT.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!