"A Home for the Trinity"

“A Home for the Trinity”

 

Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.  My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.       John 14:23

 

In verses one through three of this chapter, Jesus is speaking of the Saints of God, coming to make their HOME with Him and God.  In verse twenty-three, He tells us that when an individual, male or female, comes to Him, out of the LOVE that is in their HEART, for Him, and when they REPENT of their sins, they will LOVE Him enough  to KEEP His WORD. 

 

Then God, the Father, will LOVE them, and Jesus and God, through the Holy Spirit will make THEIR HOME with the TRUE BELIEVER.  WOW!!  To think that the HOLY TRINITY wants to make THEIR HOME with a SINFUL WRETCH, a BLOOD-BOUGHT, REPENTANT, REDEEMED, SINFUL WRETCH.  Even though we are BLOOD-BOUGHT, REPENTANT, and REDEEMED, we still have a SIN nature, and will, until we leave this SINFUL old body of flesh.

 

The NEW HOME event is carried out through the work of the Holy Spirit, who prepares the LOST SOUL, by first CONVICTING the person of ALL their sins.  Then by the WOOING of the SPIRIT, the LOST SOUL has the choice to either ACCEPT or REJECT God’s gift of SALVATION.  If they ACCEPT His gift, then JESUS and GOD through the HOLY SPIRIT will INDWELL or ABIDE in that person’s HEART, and make it THEIR HOME.  Has the Holy Spirit been CONVICTING YOU?  Have you ACCEPTED or REJECTED His gift?

 

If you have REJECTED, then you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  God doesn’t want that for you and because of His LOVE for you, He is giving you an opportunity NOW to ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION.  To do that you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE that Jesus died for YOU, with ALL your HEART.  And that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let the HOLY TRINITY, through the Holy Spirit, take up residence in your HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Great Calls"

“The Great Calls”

 

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”                  Matthew 11:28

 

Both the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”  Anyone who hears should say, “COME!”  And the one who is thirsty should come.  Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.       Revelation 22:17

 

In my opinion, these two verses are the GREATEST CALLS issued in God’s Word.  Jesus offered the invitation in Matthew 11:28, to a generation who was NOT HAPPY with anything.  They were acting like children.  Sounds VERY familiar.  Yet He offers them this invitation, saying:  “Come to Me, ALL who are WEARY and BURDENED.  He was issuing this GREAT CALL, to ANYONE, who was BOGGED down in their SINS, and who had become tired and weary because of the HEAVINESS that weighted them DOWN.  He tells them that He will give them REST.  NOT a temporary REST, but an ETERNAL REST that ONLY He can PROMISE. 

 

This invitation is given to EVERYONE, today, as well.  He is saying to US:  “COME to ME, ALL of you who are WEARY and BURDENED, and I will give you REST.”   And to those who are willing to COME to HIM, and to LEAVE their WEARISOME, BURDENSOM, SINFUL lifestyle, Jesus PROMISES that;  “Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will NEVER cast out.”  (John 6:37)  It is the WILL of Father God that EVERYONE who COMES to JESUS and BELIEVES in Him, with ALL their HEART, will have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN. 

 

The other GREAT CALL, and I believe it is the LAST CALL for those who will come:  Both the Spirit and the Bride say, “COME!” Anyone who hears should say, “COME!”  And the one who is thirsty should COME.  Whoever desires should take the LIVING WATER as a gift.  If you have NOT COME to JESUS, who is the LIVING WATER, for the SALVATION of your soul, then you are destined for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE. However, God in His ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE is offering you these two GREAT CALLS, NOW!  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, BELIEVING, WITH all your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Teacher and Guide"

“The Teacher and Guide”

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His wa...y. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of His covenant. Psalm 25:8-10

The Psalmist, David extols the attributes of the Almighty God. His GOODNESS and UPRIGHTNESS, His LOVING and FAITHFUL ways are just a few of the AWESOME attributes that He possesses.

Because He is GOOD and UPRIGHT, He instructs the sinners in His ways. He TEACHES them how they should live, when they come to Him for the SALVATION of their souls. He doesn’t leave them helpless or defenseless, but is their LOVING and FAITHFUL teacher. He does this through the work of His HOLY SPIRIT, which comes and indwells the sinner after he becomes a believer.

He GUIDES the humble in what is RIGHT and TEACHES them His way. The sinner, who comes to Christ for the SALVATION of their soul, must come to Him with a HUMBLE and CONTRITE HEART, seeking God’s FORGIVENESS, then they will receive the Holy Spirit, who will teach them the ways of God.

The tools that the Holy Spirit uses are: PRAYER for GUIDANCE and INSIGHT into God ways, and BIBLE STUDY at a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, Bible-preaching church with other believers. Then that SINNER, turned BELIEVER will GROW and MATURE into the Child of God, taking on the attributes of their HEAVENLY FATHER.

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you cannot be called His Child, and you cannot know of His LOVING and FAITHFUL attributes. But you are groping in darkness without HOPE, and are destined for Hell. However, God is giving you the opportunity to come to Him for the SALVATION of your soul. You do that by: CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him be your TEACHER and GUIDE along the path to the HOPE of Heaven. Do it NOW, while you still can. He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"What is the LORD God Really Like?"

“What is the LORD God Really Like?”

 

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.  He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.  He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses.      Psalm 103:8-10

As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is His love for those who honor Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our sins from us.  As a father is kind to His children, so the LORD is kind to those who honor Him.  He knows what we are made of; He remembers that we are dust.     Psalm 103:11-14

 

Many people have preconceived ideas about the ALMIGHTY GOD, many of them conjure up in their minds what they want to BELIEVE He is really like.  However, to TRULY KNOW what God is like, all you have to do is READ the Book of Psalms.  King David has MUCH to say about God and His attributes.  I really do like this Psalm, because it does give us a pretty concise picture of God’s nature.

 

Our first three verses tells us that the LORD, (when the word LORD is in all caps, it pertains to God.)  is COMPASSIONATE and GRACIOUS.  Psalm 145:9, tells us that:  “He is good to everyone and has COMPASSION on all He made.”  He is GRACIOUS, Isaiah 30:18 tells us:  “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion.  For the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him.” 

 

Because of His COMPASSION and GRACE, He is SLOW to ANGER and ABOUNDING in FAITHFUL LOVE.  He gives you EVERY opportunity to turn away from your sins and turn to Him.  And because of His LOVE He will NOT always accuse, nor will He be ANGRY FOREVER.  He has NOT given us what our sins cause us to deserve, nor has He REPAID us according to our offenses.  That is what we call MERCY!  So we can add that to the list of His attributes.

 

For the TRUE BELIEVER, as HIGH as the heavens are from the earth, is His MERCY and GRACE.  And as FAR as the east is from the west, He will REMOVE ALL our transgressions.  As a father has COMPASSION on his children, so the LORD has MUCH MORE COMPASSION on His Children.  He knows that they are but DUST. And because of His FAITHFUL LOVE, GRACE and MERCY, He will BLESS them with an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Is that where YOU will spend YOUR ETERNITY?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT able to experience His GRACE OR MERCY, because of your SINFUL LIFESTYLE.  However, God is giving you the opportunity NOW to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO Him, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and experience His COMPASSION, GRACE, MERCY and FAITHFUL LOVE.  And spend ALL of ETERNITY basking in the BLESSINGS of Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!  

"Darkness and Light"

“Darkness and Light”

 

And this is the judgment:  the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the Light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”         John 3:19-21

 

We live in a WICKED, DEPRAVED world, where SIN runs rampant, and in some cases, seems to be the norm.  Those whose lifestyle is based and lived in immoral DARKNESS, will face JUDGMENT, this is something that they can be sure of.  

 

Mankind loves the DARKNESS, because it hides their EVIL practices.  And they don’t want their sinful lifestyle disturbed.  So they prefer to STAY and PARTICIPATE in their IMMORAL DARKNESS, rather than to have their world ROCKED by the Light.

 

The LIGHT is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus said:  “I am the Light of the World.  Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life.”  (John 8:12)  He is referring to the TRUE BELIEVER, who IS a sinner, but they are a REDEEMED SINNER, one who has come OUT of the DARKNESS and into the presence of the LIGHT.  And they have the LIGHT of LIFE. 

 

The Unbeliever, chooses to stay in their IMMORAL DARKNESS, because they fear that if they come to the LIGHT, they will have to give up their sinful lifestyle and their EVIL DEEDS will be exposed.  Thus they are facing a DESTINY of DOOM, which is an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Is this your DESTINY?  It doesn’t have to be: If you will come to the LIGHT, which is JESUS CHRIST, for the SALVATION of your SOUL. 

 

This is what you MUST do:  You MUST be WILLING to TURN FROM your sinful lifestyle, or IMMORAL DARKNESS and TURN TO God, (the LIGHT), and BELIEVE that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and come OUT of your IMMORAL DARKNESS, and into the GLORIOUS LIGHT.  Change your DOOMED DESTINY to a HEAVENLY one.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Plan-Maker"

“The Plan-Maker”

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”      Jeremiah 29:11

 

This is probably one of the MOST POPULAR verses in the Bible.  It is definitely a favorite of mine.  God is speaking to those who were taken as exiles from Jerusalem to Babylon.  He tells them that when the seventy years are completed, He will take them back to Jerusalem.  And He gives the ASSURANCE that He has PLANS for them.  The PLANS that He has are plans to PROSPER them, and NOT to harm them, they were PLANS to give them HOPE and a FUTURE.

 

I think it is safe to say that as TRUE BELIEVERS, we can hold fast to this PROMISE also.  I believe that God has plans for ALL of His Children, and they are PLANS to PROSPER us and NOT to HARM us, and to provide for us a HOPE and a FUTURE.  He goes on to say: “Then you will call on Me and COME and PRAY to Me, and I will LISTEN to you.”  What a WONDERFUL PROMISE that we can count on. 

 

When we come to God with a CLEAN and CONTRITE HEART, SEEKING Him with ALL that is within us, we will FIND Him.  And He will LISTEN to our prayers, and will ANSWER in accordance to His WILL.  He is a FAITHFUL and LOVING Father who wants to PROSPER His Children.

 

If you are NOT His Child, the Apostle John tells you that: “If we CONFESS our SINS He is FAITHFUL and JUST and will FORGIVE us our sins and PURIFY us from ALL unrighteousness.”  This happens when we come to Him for the SALVATION of our SOUL.  Revelation 22:17 tells us:  “The Spirit and the Bride say, “COME!”  And let the one who HEARS say, “COME!”  Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the Water of Life.” 

 

You can COME to God and receive this WATER of LIFE, if you will TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and His PLANS for your HOPE and your FUTURE, which is an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Numbered With the Transgressors"

“Numbered With the Transgressors”

 

After He has suffered, He will see the Light of Life and be satisfied by His knowledge My Righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.        Isaiah 53:11-12

 

Whenever I read these verses and the preceding ones, I feel remorseful to KNOW that Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, had to SUFFER and DIE because of MY SINS, and not ONLY MY SINS, but YOURS too.  The HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, SINLESS SON of the LIVING GOD, became SIN, and PROVIDED SALVATION for EVERYONE, who BELIEVES in Him and His REDEEMING SACRIFICE on an OLD RUGGED CROSS.  HE paid the PRICE that should have been on our heads. It was mankind that REBELLED against God and His ways, NOT the SINLESS SON of God. 

 

Yet, He was WILLING to lay down His LIFE for those who PRACTICED SINS and REBELLION against God.  When mankind came to the SAVING KNOWLEDGE of Christ and God’s Plan of SALVATION, and BELIEVED in Jesus and His mission to SAVE those who were in EVERY SENCE of the word; TRANSGRESSORS.  JESUS CHRIST, the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, Son of God, the ONE who KNEW NO SIN, became SIN, and was NUMBERED with the TRANSGRESSORS.  He bore the sins of EVERYONE, and is MAKING INTERCESSION for those who will ACCEPT HIM as their SAVIOR and LORD. Then they will SHARE in His INHERITANCE, and they will RECEIVE an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, and they will ESCAPE ALL the HORRORS of an ETERNITY in HELL.    Where do YOU stand?  Are you a SINNER SAVED by GOD’S GRACE?  Or are YOU a SINNER that is on their way to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE?

 

If you have NOT SINCERELY given your HEART and LIFE to GOD then you are on your way to HELL.  However, God LOVES YOU SO MUCH that He sent His SON to DIE in YOUR place, and He wants you to become a CHILD of His by: TURNING AWAY FROM YOUR sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO HIM, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ALWAYS REMEMBER that Jesus SUFFERED and DIED by TAKING EVERYONE’S transgressions (sins) on Himself, and was NUMBERED with the TRANSGRESSORS for YOUR SAKE and MINE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Christ Lives In Me"

“Christ Lives In Me”

 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.                    Galatians 2:20

 

As a Child of God, what is your concept of LIVING a CHRISTIAN LIFE?  For the Apostle Paul, it was being CRUCIFIED with Christ, meaning that he would DIE to his old sinful lifestyle, and that he would NO longer LIVE being his OLD, SELF-RIGHTEOUS, SELF-CENTERED SELF.   It meant that he would DETHRONE SELF, and YIELD his throne to another; the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  And now Christ LIVES in HIM.  This is the MAIN CONCEPT of LIVING a CHRISTIAN LIFE.

 

We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, those who have given their HEART and LIFE to God, like Paul, MUST be CRUCIFIED with Christ; DYING to OUR OLD SINFUL LIFE.  DETHRONING our SELF and YIELDING it to the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  So that it is NO LONGER YOU who LIVES, but that it is CHRIST LIVING in YOU.  This action is carried out by the Holy Spirit, who, at the time of CONVERSION, will INDWELL the HEART of the TRUE BELIEVER, and will TEACH, GUIDE and LEAD us in the ways of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  This is known as REBIRTH, or being BORN AGAIN, and takes place when we ACCEPT by FAITH the SON of GOD as our SAVIOR and LORD, the ONE who gave HIMSELF for YOU.

 

There are some who think that THEY have to try to LIVE a CHRISTIAN LIFE according to their OWN merits, this is IMPOSSIBLE.  It is the PURPOSE of the INDWELLING of the HOLY SPIRIT in the HEART of the TRUE BELIEVER to TEACH, GUIDE and LEAD you to LIVE a CHRISTIAN LIFE.  In John 14:26 , Jesus told His disciples; “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will TEACH you ALL things and bring to your remembrance ALL that I have said to you.”   Christ LIVES in the HEART of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER by the PRESENCE of God’s Holy Spirit. 

 

Some people may think that all they have to do to obtain SALVATION, is to say a prayer, and then go on with life as usual.  This is NOT SALVATION, SALVATION is becoming a NEW CREATURE, a DIFFERENT person.  One who has TOTALLY and TRUTHFULLY given their WHOLE HEART and LIFE to God, and ALLOWS JESUS CHRIST to LIVE in them, by the POWER of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God.  Then it is NOT CHRIST who lives in YOU, but it is the devil.  And he is LEADING you to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and there is NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, God in His INFINITE MERCY and ABUNDANT GRACE, is offering you the opportunity NOW, to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO HIM with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE that Jesus DIED for YOU, with ALL your HEART, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and allow CHRIST to LIVE in YOU, by the POWER of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Two IMPORTANT Steps to SALVATION"

“Two IMPORTANT Steps to SALVATION”

 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.        Romans 10:10

 

The Bible clearly states how a SINFUL person can obtain SALVATION.  In Romans 10:9-13, it gives us STEPS we MUST TAKE in order to possess JUSTIFICATION, SALVATION, and RIGHTEOUSNESS.  I would like to focus on verse 10, which are two very important steps in the SALVATION of a LOST SOUL.

 

The first step is:  To BELIEVE with your HEART that Jesus is Lord,” and that He DIED for YOUR sins and was RAISED TO LIFE, by God, in order for YOU to have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  It cannot be an “I THINK”, it MUST be an “I BELIEVE”, because, it is with your HEART that you BELIEVE and are JUSTIFIED, NOT with your MIND.    

 

The second step is:  To CONFESS with the MOUTH your sins, before God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, you are ACKNOWLEDGING that you are a sinner in NEED of a SAVIOR, and then you can SINCERELY PROFESS with your MOUTH that “JESUS IS LORD!” 

 

These TWO STEPS will lead you to SALVATION, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  But if you have NOT BELIEVED with your HEART nor CONFESSED with your MOUTH, you are HEADED for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  God is giving you an opportunity NOW, to CHANGE your DESTINY:  You MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be JUSTIFIED, SAVED, and RIGHTEOUS, before the ALMIGHTY GOD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"Envy and Selfish Ambition"

“Envy and Selfish Ambition”

 

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from Heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.   For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.        James 3:14-16

 

ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION, two attributes that the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD of this UNIVERSE, does NOT want His Children to possess.  Some may believe that these two attributes are a form of “wisdom”, but such “wisdom” is NOT from God, but it is EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, and DEMONIC, which are ENEMIES of the TRUE BELIEVER.  This constitutes FALSE WISDOM, it is DEFINITELY NOT the WISDOM that God gives His Children.

 

I believe that in this day and time, we see ENVY AND SELFISH AMBITION running RAMPANT in so many different facets of our life.  We definitely can see it in our government, with the different attitudes of the different groups of individuals and their agendas.  We see it infiltrating our families, causing DIVISIONS, JEALOUSIES, even HATRED, and in some cases VIOLENCES.  Sadly to say ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION has entered into the HEARTS and minds of members of the Church family too.  And has caused DISSENSIONS and DIVISIONS among God’s Children, because of the use of their FALSE WISDOM.  Instead of HUMBLING themselves and DEPENDING on God and His Holy Spirit to impart GODLY WISDOM to them, they open their HEARTS to EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL and DEMONIC influences, which generally DESTROYS the work of God, or at least puts a HALT to it.

 

If you are a TRUE CHILD of GOD, don’t let ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION invade your HEART and MIND.  If you don’t have an INTIMATE ALONE TIME with your HEAVENLY FATHER, MAKE ONE!! Let Him give you WISDOM that comes from Him and NOT from the EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, DEMONIC ENEMIES that are only out to DESTROY your RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY God.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD.  You are NOT His Child, and you are living in REBELLION against Him.  You are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and there is NO WAY of ESCAPE.  More than likely, you find yourself experiencing some ENVY and SELFISH AMBITION.  You may even allow them to CONTROL your HEART and MIND, concerning your RELATIONSHIPS and DECESION-MAKING.  If this is the case, I want you to KNOW that God is giving you the OPPORTUNITY NOW to CHANGE your DESTINY by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO HIM 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.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be set FREE from the EARTHLY, UNSPIRITUAL, DEMONIC influences that are sending you to an ETERNITY in Hell.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"A Sincere Heart"

“A Sincere Heart”

 

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.        Hebrews 10:22

 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!  Well, we have been focusing on LOVE these last few days, so I thought we might take a look at something that is a very prominent object of HUMAN AFFECTIONS, which is, of course, the HEART.  We tell those we LOVE that we LOVE them with ALL our HEART.  Some people are very SINCERE when they express this, however there are those who say it, but really don’t mean it. 

 

In our devotion today, we will talk about saying and proclaiming the fact that we LOVE God with ALL our HEART.  But do we REALLY?  In order to say it and mean it, you have got to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  The writer of Hebrews encourages us to DRAW NEAR to GOD.  To be able to come into the presence of the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD, you NEED a SINCERE HEART and a SURE FAITH, or a FAITH that has FULL ASSURANCE of your RELATIONSHIP with Him.  The ONLY WAY to approach God is through His SON, Jesus Christ, and His SACRIFICAL DEATH on the CROSS. 

 

When you come to Christ with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, it is like having your HEART sprinkled with the CLEANSING BLOOD of Christ Jesus, this act of REDEMPTION provides you with FREEDOM from your GUILTY CONSCIENCE and WASHES your SIN-DRENCHED body with PURE water from the FOUNTAIN of LIVING WATER. Thus, you will have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Holy God.  This will set you FREE from your CONDEMNATION and it will provide you with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN. 

 

If you have NOT come to Christ for the SALVATION of your soul.  You cannot DRAW NEAR TO GOD, until you come to Him with a SINCERE, 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 that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and with a SINCERE HEART, a SURE FAITH, and the CLEANSING with PURE WATER, have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God, and receive an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"True Love"

“True Love”

My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.        1 John 3:18

 

This is what LOVE is:  It is NOT that we have LOVED God, but that He LOVED us and sent His Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.  (1 John 4:10)  This is a SACRIFICIAL LOVE.  “For God LOVED the world SO MUCH that He gave His ONLY SON, so that EVERYONE who BELIEVES in Him may not die but have ETERNAL LIFE.  (John 3:16)

TRUE LOVE is a SINCERE LOVE, 1 Peter 1:22 tells us;  “Now that by your OBEDIENCE to the TRUTH you have purified yourselves and have come to have a SINCERE LOVE for other believers, love one another EARNESTLY with ALL your HEART.”   This means that we should LOVE each other with a GENUINE LOVE and to do that with a ZEAL and to be SERIOUS about our LOVE for each other. 

 

TRUE LOVE is a SAVING LOVE, Psalm 91:14, 15 tells us that “God says, ‘I will SAVE those who LOVE Me, and PROTECT those who ACKNOWLEDGE Me as LORD.  When they call to Me, I will answer them when they are in trouble, I will be with them.  I will RESCUE them and HONOR them.”  God’s LOVE is a TRUE SAVING LOVE.

 

TRUE LOVE is a STEADFAST LOVE, Ephesians 6:24 says:  “May God’s GRACE be with ALL those who LOVE our Lord Jesus Christ with UNDYING LOVE.  UNDYING LOVE is a STEADFAST LOVE.  It is a LOVE that is NOT shaken, it IS FIRM and STRONG.  It will NEVER DIE OUT, but it will STAND the tests of time.  Does this describe the LOVE you have for the Lord Jesus Christ?  It should.

 

These are a few of the attributes of TRUE LOVE, which is the AGAPE or GODLY type of LOVE.  It is DEFINITELY the type of LOVE that God has for His Children.  And as God’s Children, it is the type of LOVE that we should share among each other.  Remember:  The COMMAND that Christ has given us is this:  WHOEVER LOVES GOD, MUST LOVE OTHERS ALSO.   (1 John 4:21)

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you cannot experience His TRUE LOVE.  However, He is giving you the opportunity NOW to be able to have that EXPERIENCE.  You MUST be WILLING 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.  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 be able to EXPERIENCE the REAL TRUE LOVE of ALMIGHTY GOD.  And be RESCUED from an ETERNITY in Hell, and spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Where Does LOVE Come From?"

“Where Does LOVE Come From?”

 

Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.      1 John 4:7-8

 

Some people may think that LOVE is an emotion that you are born with.  While others may say it is a LEARNED emotion, that from birth, over a period of time, you are taught to LOVE.  However, the Bible tells us that LOVE comes from GOD, which is the AGAPE type of LOVE.

 

There are three types of LOVE:  One is the AGAPE or Godly LOVE, shared by God’s Children, the second type is PHILO or brotherly type of love, this is the type of LOVE that is expressed among family members or close friends.  The third type of LOVE is the EROS, which is the type of LOVE that is shared between husband and wife, which is expressed physically.  The word EROS comes from the word EROTIC. 

 

I believe that when God created mankind, He created them with the ABILITY to LOVE each other in ALL three ways.  In order to become a TRUE CHILD of God, you MUST LOVE Him DEEPLY with the AGAPE LOVE.  This LOVE is a manifestation of the HOLY SPIRIT of God. 

 

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, (VV 9-10).  And since God so LOVED us, we also ought to LOVE one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we LOVE one another, God lives in us and His LOVE is made complete in us.  (VV11-12).  This is the type of LOVE that TRUE BELIEVERS, TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD should have for each other.  Are you experiencing the AGAPE, or GODLY LOVE? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT EXPERIENCING His LOVE.  And you WILL experience His WRATH, because you are living a SINFUL lifestyle, which is enmity against the HOLY God.  In order to experience His LOVE and be RESCUED from an ETERNITY in Hell, 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 EXPERIENCE and SHARE His AGAPE LOVE with others.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Guarantee of a Better Covenant"

“The Guarantee of a Better Covenant”

 

But Jesus became a priest by means of a vow when God said to Him, “The Lord has made a solemn promise and will not take it back:  ‘You will be a priest forever.’”  This difference, then also makes Jesus the guarantee of a better covenant.          Hebrews 7:21-22

 

The priests in Jesus’ day, were not made priests by God’s vow, they came through their Levitical heritage, but Jesus Christ became a High Priest by the means of a vow, God’s Vow, this happened when God said to Him, “The Lord has made a SOLEMN PROMISE and will NOT take it back:  ‘You will be a priest FOREVER.’”  This difference between Jesus and the other priest, made Jesus the GUARANTEE of a BETTER COVENANT.

 

Another difference between Jesus and the other priests is:  The OTHER priest DIED and could NOT continue their work.  But the Lord Jesus is ETERNAL, and His work does not pass on to someone else, especially A MORTAL human being.  And because of this, Jesus is ABLE to SAVE, NOW and ALWAYS those who come to God through HIM.  This is POSSIBLE, because He LIVES FOREVER to intercede or PLEAD with God for them.

 

Jesus is the High Priest that MEETS our NEEDS.  He TRULY is our GUARANTEE of a BETTER COVENANT, because; He is HOLY, there is NO FAULT or SIN in Him, and NEVER has BEEN; He has been SET APART from the sinners and RAISED above the heavens.   Unlike the other high priests; He does not nor does He NEED to FIRST offer sacrifices DAILY for His OWN sins, and then for the sins of the people, because He is SINLESS, PURE and HOLY.  He OFFERED ONE sacrifice, ONCE and for ALL, when He OFFERED HIMSELF.  JESUS CHRIST, the SON of GOD, became the PERFECT HIGH PRIEST FOREVER.  He is the GUARANTEE of a BETTER COVENANT.  (VV 24-27)

 

Have you come to Jesus, as your High Priest?  If NOT, you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Jesus is NOT ONLY the High Priest, He was also the SACRIFICE, which TOOK AWAY the sins of those who will come to Him for the SALVATION of their souls, ONCE and for ALL!  JESUS is the ONLY WAY to get to GOD, and have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  In order for you to COME to Jesus, you MUST be WILLING 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.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that, Jesus died for YOU, and is NOW ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then receive the GUARANTEE of a BETTER COVENANT, and ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and GAIN HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and COMING SOON!!!

 

 

"Confidence?"

“Confidence?”

 

In union with Christ and through our faith in Him we have the boldness to go into God’s presence with ALL confidence.          Ephesians 3:12

Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace.  There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.         Hebrews 4:16

 

Confidence:  Firm belief; trust; reliance.

 

When an individual comes to Jesus Christ for the SALVATION of their soul, it entails MORE, MUCH MORE than just a FREE TICKET into Heaven, and an ESCAPE MECHANISM from spending an ETERNITY in Hell.  It is a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with not ONLY Jesus, but the Almighty God.  And in this RELATIONSHIP, we can obtain CONFIDENCE in the capabilities of the Almighty God, such as; KEEPING His PROMISES, and providing a FOREVER HOME for His children, making His presence KNOWN, and being our REFUGE in our darkest times.  

 

However, many of His Children LACK CONFIDENCE in the ALMIGHTY GOD, and live a defeated life, because their relationship with God suffers from a LACK of CONFIDENCE, and their FAITH becomes WEAK and VULNERABLE to Satan’s attacks.  And they try to FIGHT their OWN battles, ALONE without calling on God for His HELP.  Their CONFIDENCE in the Heavenly Father is non-existent, at least that’s the impression they make.  Some may even believe that as long as they have the PROMISE of HEAVEN, that’s ALL they NEED.  WRONG!!!  God’s offer of SALVATION includes a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  One in which you can be CONFIDENT in Him and His CAPABILITIES. HE IS ABLE, in ANY SITUATION!!!  ALL you have to do is CALL ON HIM! If you TRULY BELONG to Him.

 

The Apostle Paul tells us that because of our UNION with Christ, and our FAITH in Him, we can have the BOLDNESS to go into God’s presence with ALL CONFIDENCE.  In Hebrews 4:16, the writer tells us that we, God’s TRUE Children, SHOULD have CONFIDENCE, and approach God’s throne, where there is GRACE; receiving blessings WE DON’T DESERVE.  And there we will RECEIVE MERCY; which is NOT receiving what WE DO DESERVE.  Then we will find GRACE to HELP us JUST WHEN WE NEED IT.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you cannot have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him, nor can you ENTER HIS PRESENCE with CONFIDENCE, because of your sinful lifestyle.  You’re headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with 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.  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.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and when you have done this, you may have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY GOD, and can enter His presence with BOLDNESS and CONFIDENCE in Him.  Do ALL of the ABOVE NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Rescued!"

“Rescued!”

 

He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of His dear Son, by Whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.        Colossians 1:13

And so the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials and how to keep the wicked under punishment for the Day of Judgment, especially those who follow their filthy bodily lusts and despise God’s authority.         2 Peter 2:9

 

Have you ever been RESCUED from a DANGEROUS situation?  If so, then you know the anxiety and nervous tension, situations like that can bring.  Many times, in the Bible, we can read where King David, and other Old Testament people were under immense persecutions and attacks upon them.  Even in the New Testament times, the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were TEMPTED, TORMENTED, and TORTURED, some to the point of death.    Yet, one way or another they were RESCUED from their PERILOUS environments.

 

So it is with the TRUE BELIEVERS of today, God has RESCUED them from the POWER of DARKNESS, and with HIS POWER, He has brought them SAFELY into the KINGDOM of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to RESCUE mankind from their sins, and brings them FORGIVENESS , when they come to God for the SALVATION of their SOULS.  

 

God, not ONLY is ABLE to SAVE mankind from their SINS and from an ETERNITY in Hell, but He is ABLE to RESCUE them from their trials and persecutions.  He is the ALMIGHTY, EVERLASTING GOD, a GOD of LOVE, MERCY and COMPASSION.  He LOVES His Children and is ABLE to RESCUE them from the clutches of the WICKED, which He will keep under punishment for the DAY OF JUDGMENT, ESPECIALLY  those who FOLLOW their FILTHY, BODILY LUSTS and DESPISE the ALMIGHTY God’s AUTHORITY.  Has He RESCUED YOU from an ETERNITY in HELL, with all it’s HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE?

 

If NOT, He can!! If you will 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 is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him RESCUE you from the pits of Hell, and BLESS you with ALL the GLORIES of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Word of Life"

“The Word of Life”

 

We write to you about the Word of Life, which has existed from the very beginning.  We have heard it, and we have seen it with our own eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it.  When this Life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the Eternal Life which was with the Father and was made known to us.   What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.          1 John 1:1-3

 

John, an Apostle, of the Lord Jesus Christ, was addressing the TRUE BELIEVERS of his time.  Who were the objects of the antichrists or false teachers, who denied the INCARNATION of Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. 

 

John tells his readers, the reason for his letter to them.  First, let us look at the title, the WORD of LIFE, which John has ascribed to Jesus, and rightly so.  In John 1:1, John stated:  “In the beginning the WORD already existed; the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God.”  Verse four says:  “The WORD was the Source of LIFE, and this LIFE brought light to people.”  In verse fourteen, John says:  “The WORD became a human being and, full of GRACE and TRUTH, lived among us.  We saw His glory, the glory which He received as the Father’s only Son.  This description pretty much describes the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the LIVING GOD.

 

John wanted his readers to KNOW that JESUS came in FLESH and BLOOD, as a MAN, who dwelt among mankind, for the PURPOSE of SEEKING and SAVING the LOST.  The LIGHT of LIFE, brought LIGHT and LIFE to those LIVING in the DARKNESS of their SINS. 

 

John wanted the TRUE BELIEVERS to KNOW that he and the other disciples, had FIRST-HAND, PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.  He said that they HEARD IT, SEEN IT with their own eyes, and even TOUCHED IT with their own hands.  Not ONLY is Jesus the WORD of LIFE, He is LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE. It is because of HIM that mankind can EXPERIENCE that ETERNAL LIFE, and be able to have FELLOWSHIP with FATHER GOD and His SON, JESUS CHRIST.  In John 14:6, Jesus says: “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE; no one goes to the Father except by Me.”  Jesus, the WORD of LIFE, is the ONLY WAY to ETERNAL LIFE with God.

 

Have you ACCEPTED the WORD of LIFE, as your SAVIOR and LORD?  If not you are living in DARKNESS and will be spending your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY OF ESCAPE.  You are NOW being given the OPPORTUNITY to ACCEPT Him.  This is what you MUST do to be able to have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  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.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be able to have SWEET FELLOWSHIP with FATHER GOD and His SON, the WORD of LIFE, Jesus Christ.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!