"The Wicked"

“The Wicked”

 

I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:  There is no fear of God before their eyes.  In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.  The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.  Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.        Psalm 36:1-4

 

We are living in a very WICKED, PREVERTED, and CORRUPT world.  And to deny that as the truth, would put one in the place of DENIAL and ACCEPTANCE of the WICKEDNESS, which is carried out by the WICKED.  It would endanger you, and put your ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS. 

 

I know this may seem to be very NEGATIVE in NATURE, but WICKEDNESS is NEGATIVE, and it DESTROYS lives and the ETERNAL LIFE of MANY, who practice its EVIL DEEDS.  And CONTINUES to DENY and REJECT God’s SON and His work on the cross, in order for mankind to ESCAPE Hell and GAIN Heaven.

 

In reading this Psalm, I couldn’t help but think that the Psalmist has PERFECTLY described some in this world, in which we are NOW living.  Even to the ACTIONS and EVIL DEEDS of members of Governments.  We, who are God’s Children, must PRAY, DILIGENTLY for our NATIONS, in which we live. 

 

Psalm 112:10 says that:  “The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.”  The WICKED will see the HEARTS of the RIGHTEOUS being SECURE, and having NO FEAR; in the end the RIGHTEOUS will look in triumph on their foes, the WICKED.  This brings MUCH dismay to the WICKED, and they will face utter DESTRUCTION.  “Though the WICKED spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be DESTROYED FOREVER.  (Psalm 92:7)   Is this your DESTINY?  Are you practicing WICKED deeds, and CONTINUALLY REJECTING Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, it is YOUR DESTINY.  In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, you MUST 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.  Then you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and STOP REJECTING and START ACCEPTING ALL that God has in store for you.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Words"

“Words”

 

“Brood of vipers!  How can you, being evil speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”       Matthew 12:34-37

 

Jesus was addressing the Pharisees, who were accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Beelzebub).  Jesus knew their thoughts and our verses of Scripture, today, tells us what His thoughts were concerning this accusation.  The Pharisees were blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and thus committing the UNPARDONABLE SIN, which is the willful, persistent UNBELIEF and FINAL rejection of Jesus Christ, as their Savior and Lord.

 

Jesus told them that an evil person cannot speak GOOD things.  Because it is out of the ABUNDANCE of the HEART that the MOUTH speaks.  The WORDS that one speaks REVEALS the condition of the HEART.  And EVIL men brings EVIL things out of the EVIL treasure stored up in their EVIL HEARTS.  And GOOD men brings GOOD things out of the GOOD treasure stored up in their GOOD HEARTS. 

 

So it is that every idle, careless word men speak, they will give an account of on the Day of Judgment, and the WORDS will either JUSTIFY you or CONDEMN you.  Remember, your WORDS are an indication of the condition of your HEART, whether it is a HEART of BELIEF in Jesus Christ, or a HEART of UNBELIEF, and CONTINUAL REJECTION, which has HARDENED your HEART to the TRUTH and has brought you to CONDEMNATION with an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS.  What is the condition of your HEART?  Will your WORDS bring you JUSTIFICATION or CONDEMNATION?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your HEARTS CONDITION and your WORDS will bring you CONDEMNATION, because of your REJECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell, you MUST 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 is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let your WORDS JUSTIFY you on the Day of Judgment.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Knowledge of the Truth"

“The Knowledge of the Truth”

 

As the Lord’s Servant, you must not quarrel.  You must be kind toward all. A good and patient teacher, who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth.  And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.           2 Timothy 2:24-26

 

False teaching has been a ‘thorn in the flesh’ of the Body of Christ, the Church.  It has caused bickering, arguing, foolish and ignorant arguments and quarrels.  But in Paul’s letter to Timothy, he instructs Timothy by stating that the Servant of the Lord must NOT quarrel, but they must be KIND towards all, and to be the promoter of UNITY and to be a GOOD and PATIENT teacher. One who KNOWS the TRUTH and is willing to share their WISDOM of the TRUTH, which is the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ, and His ministry.

 

They must be GENTLE in the correction of their opponents.  They MUST be READY to TEACH those who are WILLING to LEARN.  And to be READY to lead them to the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH.  It may be that God will grant them REPENTANCE, which would bring them to their senses.  That they may ESCAPE the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.  Which would lead them to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE. Is this your DESTINY?  It is if you continue to REJECT the TRUTH?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are the devil’s prisoner, and doing EXACTLY what he desires for you to do, and that is REJECTING the TRUTH, with the CONDEMNATION of an ETERNITY in HELL.  If you want to change your destiny, this is what you MUST do.  You MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive the KNOWLEDGE of TRUTH, into your HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"A Most Difficult Thing"

“A Most Difficult Thing”

 

“So watch yourselves.  “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.  Even if they sin against you seven times a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”      Luke 17:3-4

 

In my humble opinion, I believe that FORGIVENESS is one of the MOST DIFFICULT THINGS for a person to do.  Christians aren’t PERFECT, and we, God’s Children are tempted to SIN and sometimes we sin against each other.  This Scripture is the Words of the Lord Jesus as He tells us HOW we should FORGIVE each other as BROTHERS and SISTERS in God’s Family.

 

If we are the ONE who MUST do the FORGIVING, we are told to first of all REBUKE the one that has SINNED against us.  REBUKE means to REPRIMAND or to SHARPLY SCOLD.   So we are to do this with LOVE in our HEART for the one who has sinned against us.  And if then, they REPENT, it is up to us TO FORGIVE them.  This is a MOST DIFFICULT THING to do, but NEVERTHELESS, we are to do it. 

 

Even if they CONTINUE to do it SEVEN TIMES in a day, and if they REPENT SEVEN TIMES, we MUST FORGIVE them, EACH time.  We are to FORGIVE as the Lord has FORGIVEN us.  The ONLY WAY for us to be able to do that is through the WORK of God’s HOLY SPIRIT, which indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER. 

 

I cannot help, but wonder, what is the MOST DIFFICULT THING to do?  Is it MORE DIFFICULT to go to the one you have sinned against and say that you REPENT of the sin?  Or is it MORE DIFFICULT to FORGIVE the person who has committed the sin against you? 

 

Whatever, you think is the MOST DIFFICULT THING to do.  The thing to REMEMBER, is REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS are linked together.  We cannot receive God’s FORGIVENESS of our sins until we REPENT of those sins.   1 John 1:9 tells us:  “If we CONFESS (repent) our sins, He is FAITHFUL and JUST and will FOGIVE us our sins.”  Have you REPENTED or CONFESSED your sins to God?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you are NOT His Child and are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY OF ESCAPE.  In order to change your ETERNAL DESTINY, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before GOD.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be able to carry out two of the MOST DIFFICULT THINGS to do REPENT and FORGIVE, with the HELP of God’s Holy Spirit.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

"The Certificate of Indebtedness"

“The Certificate of Indebtedness”

 

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.        Colossians 2:13-14

 

Mankind is born with a SINFUL NATURE, meaning, they have, within them the desire to live in sin.  Therefore, they will, over a period of time, have accumulated MANY SINS, which are held against them, and they have a record of INDEBTEDNESS, which is against them and CONDEMNS them to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS.

 

However, God, in His INFINITE MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, has a PLAN to HELP mankind come out from under the INDEBTEDNESS.  That PLAN was accomplished at the CROSS of Christ.  When we come to Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS of our sins, BELIEVING, with ALL our HEART that He died for US, and is ALIVE in Heaven, we are then made ALIVE with Christ, and ALL our sins are FORGIVEN, and the CERTIFICATE of INDEBTEDNESS is taken away and NAILED to the CROSS.  Our DEBT has been PAID IN FULL, and our slate has been wiped CLEAN.  Has your CERTIICATE of INDEBTEDNESS been NAILED to the CROSS of CHRIST? Are you STILL UNDER the INDEBTEDNESS, which will CONDEMN you to an ETERNITY in HELL?

 

You can be SET FREE from your INDEBTEDNESS and CONDEMNATION by; TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD, 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 CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and have your CERTIFICATE of INDEBTEDNESS NAILED to the CROSS of CHRIST, and be SET FREE from ALL your sins.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"From Curse to Blessing"

“From Curse to Blessing”

 

But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the Scripture says, “Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God’s curse.”  Christ did this in order that the blessing which God promised to Abraham might be given to the Gentiles by means of Christ Jesus, so that through faith we might receive the Spirit promised by God.      Galatians 3:13-14

 

The act of REDEMPTION, for ALL of mankind, was made possible by Christ Jesus becoming a CURSE for us.  He REDEEMED us from the CURSE of the Law:  The Scripture in Deuteronomy 21:23 says:  “…anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” Jesus took the penalty for ALL the GUILTY lawbreakers.  So the CURSE of the Law was placed on Christ, the SINLESS one, instead of the sinners.  He was the ONLY ONE who could DELIVER sinful mankind from the CURSE.

 

In verse fourteen, we see two purposes of Christ’s REDEMPTIVE WORK.  First is; that the BLESSING given to Abraham might be given to the Gentiles.  This promised BLESSING was the BLESSING of JUSTIFICATION, apart from the works of the Law, and was available to ALL who BELIEVE.   Secondly, that ALL who BELIEVE would receive the PROMISE of the Spirit or the Holy Spirit.  It is again emphasized that SALVATION and SANCTIFICATION is provided by FAITH, and NOT by WORKS.

 

So, ALL mankind, who comes to Jesus Christ for the REDEEMING WORK of SALVATION, through FAITH, is set free from the CURSE and will receive the BLESSING of JUSTIFICATION, and the presence of the PROMISED Holy Spirit of God.  Which will you receive the CURSE or the BLESSING?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are still under the CURSE, and will NOT receive the BLESSING of JUSTIFICATION or the SPIRIT of God.  And your destiny will be an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to CHANGE your DESTINY, you MUST 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 is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be set FREE from the CURSE and RECEIVE the BLESSING.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Temple"

“The Temple”

 

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”      John 2:19

 

When Jesus went into the Temple courts, the sight disturbed Him.  He found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others exchanging money. He made a whip, and drove all from the temple courts. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  And said, to the ones selling the doves,  “Get these out of here!  Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”  Then the Jews asked Him:  “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

 

Jesus answered them by saying:  “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”  To which they came back, with this reply:  “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”  They FAILED to SEE that Jesus was talking about His body.  After He was raised from the dead, His Disciples recalled what He had said.  Then they BELIEVED the Scripture and the WORDS that Jesus has spoken.

 

Tomorrow, we will CELEBRATE the RESURRECTION of Jesus. He was CRUCIFIED, and BURIED in a GUARDED, SEALED TOMB.  NO HUMAN BEING could have taken His body from the tomb and disposed of it.  Jesus KNEW, from ETERNITY PAST, what His destiny would be, yet He laid down His LIFE for the SALVATION of mankind.  It had to be done, in order for mankind to have a RIGHTEOUS RELATIONSHIP with God, and to be able to have an ETERNAL HEAVENLY HOME.  The TEMPLE, His BODY would be DESTROYED.  But in three days, HE would RAISE, the TEMPLE, His BODY, and He would LIVE AGAIN.    

 

There AINT NO GUARDS, TOMB, OR DEATH ITSELF that could HOLD that BODY, the TEMPLE, DOWN!!  And if you are a Child of God, a TRUE BELIEVER, there AINT NOTHING GONNA HOLD your BODY, the TEMPLE DOWN, when Jesus RETURNS for the CHURCH, His BODY!!  Are you a Child of the Living God?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT His Child, and your destiny is NOT ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, but it’s an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  You may ESCAPE a PHYSICAL DEATH, but you won’t ESCAPE a SPIRITUAL DEATH.  There is ONLY ONE WAY to do that, you MUST TURN AWAY from your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive a NEW TEMPLE, your BODY, with an ETERNAL HEAVENLY HOME.  DO this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Whom Do You Seek?"

“Whom Do You Seek?”

 

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him.  “Jesus of Nazareth.”  Jesus said to them, “I am He.”  When Jesus said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  So He asked them again, “Whom Do You seek?”  And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”         John 18:4-7

 

Throughout the ages, mankind has been SEEKING something to bring PEACE and HEALING to their SIN-SICK souls.  The ONLY thing that can accomplish this is a RIGHTEOUS RELATIONSHIP with the ONLY Begotten Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus and His Disciples, were in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Judas and a cohort of Roman soldiers (about 600), came to arrest Jesus.  Jesus was NOT taken by surprise.  He KNEW ALL that would happen to Him, it was ALL part of God’s SALVATION plan.  So Jesus stepped forward and asked; “Whom do you seek?” and their answer was:  “Jesus of Nazareth.”  WILLINGLY, Jesus said; “I am He.”  (Lit. I Am).  And even though He was unarmed, He was in CONTROL.   He could have escaped in the darkness, but He KNEW this was part of God’s Plan, and He was OBEDIENT even to DEATH.  It was His mission to SEEK and to SAVE lost mankind. 

 

When Jesus said to them, “I am He.”  They drew back and fell to the ground. Just the majesty of His words, may have caused them to DRAW BACK and FALL to the ground.  Remember, He is the KING of KINGS, and one day EVERY KNEE will bow, and EVERY tongue will CONFESS that Jesus is LORD.  Again, Jesus asked that very CRUCILE question:  “Who do you SEEK?”  And again they answered:  “Jesus of Nazareth.”  Even though the Roman cohort, was SEEKING Jesus, to arrest Him, put on trial, and then to be beaten beyond recognition, and to be nailed to a cross, to die a shameful death, as the ONE and ONLY SACRIFICE, for mankind.  Mankind SEEKS Him in order to have ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven.  The question that I pose for you, today, is:  “WHOM DO YOU SEEK?”

 

Are you SEEKING to GAIN ALL that the WORLD has to offer?  Or are you SEEKING, JESUS of NAZARETH, the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of the Living God, who can bring PEACE, HEALING and an ETERNITY in Heaven, to your soul, which is doomed to HELL, without your ACCEPTANCE of JESUS of NAZARETH as your SAVIOR and LORD.  In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, you MUST 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 is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with JESUS of NAZARETH, the ONE you have been SEEKING.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Prayer That Impacted the World"

“The Prayer That Impacted the World”

 

“As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  My Prayer is not for them alone.  I pray for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I in You.  May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”       John 17:18-21

 

Our Scripture, today, is part of Jesus’ Prayer that He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This part is where He prayed for His Disciples, but NOT JUST His Disciples.  Verses eighteen and nineteen, ended the prayer for them, and verses twenty and twenty-one was concerning the other BELIEVERS. 

 

The impact of the WORKS and WORDS of Jesus Christ, while here on earth, is STILL having a TREMENDOUS IMPACT on lives TODAY.  And this IMPACT started with the birth of a tiny Babe, born in a manger, and when grown, He set out to do the WILL of His Heavenly Father.  He called twelve men, who would FOLLOW Him, even to death, and would IMPACT this SINFUL, CORRUPT world with His teachings and miracles. 

 

It seems to me, when I read these verses, that Jesus really wanted His BELIEVERS to be in COMPLETE UNITY with each other.  I believe that this UNITY was of the utmost importance to Jesus.  His time on this earth had come to an end.  Soon His enemies would come to take Him away.  And He prayed saying, “I have given them the glory that  You gave ME, that they may be ONE as we are ONE---I in them and You in Me---so that they may be brought to COMPLETE UNITY.  Then the world will KNOW that you sent Me and have LOVED them even as You have LOVED Me.”  

 

Jesus Christ, FINISHED the WORK of His Father, God, by DYING on an old rugged cross, SHEDDING His PRECIOUS BLOOD in order for a FALLEN world, which DESPISES and REJECTS Him and His Father, the opportunity to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL lifestyle, and to change their DESTINY from an ETERNITY in HELL to an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Are you partaker of the FALLEN WORLD?  Or are you a BELIEVER in Jesus Christ, and LIVING according to His WILL?

 

You have the OPPORTUNITY NOW to CHANGE your DESTINY, which will it be?  HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS or HELL with ALL of its HORRORS.  If you want HEAVEN, this is what you MUST DO.  TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and help make an IMPACT in this world.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Servant King"

“The Servant King”

 

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist.  After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”          John 13:3-7

 

In the Middle Eastern part of the world, foot-washing was a custom that people used for their guests.  Many walked LONG distances on foot, and their paths were DIRTY and DUSTY.  So the SERVANTS of the house, would come and wash the DIRTY, DUSTY, HOT feet of their guests, this was an act of courtesy.  This act of FOOT-WASHING that Jesus did for His disciples, however, was a lesson in HUMILITY, something they NEEDED to apply in their own life.  They had just been discussing who would be greater in the Kingdom.

 

Jesus KNEW where He came from and where He was going back to.  He left the GLORIES of Heaven and laid aside His DIETY, and picked up the role of being a SERVANT.  Then the KING of kings, HUMBLED Himself, and ALL through His ministry, He carried out the role of SERVANTHOOD.  This was a lesson, He wanted His disciples to learn, before He was to carry out the WILL of His Heavenly Father.  His death was imminent, and the act of foot-washing was a HUMBLING of one’s character, which the disciples NEEDED, and Jesus wanted them to LEARN this lesson, before His departure from earth.

 

It must have been a very QUIET, JAW-DROPPING moment, as the disciples watched their LORD take the towel and wrap  it around His waist, then pick-up the basin of water and proceed to WASH the feet of each disciple.  If their LORD washed their feet, then they should wash each other’s feet.  However, Peter’s mouth got in the way of his LEARNING this important lesson.  He was shocked that His LORD wanted to WASH HIS FEET, and so he said to Jesus:  “Lord, are you going to wash MY FEET?”  And Jesus replied, “You do NOT realize NOW what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 

 

Peter, again let his MOUTH get in his way; “No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.”  Jesus answered, “Unless I wash your feet, you have NO PART with Me.”  This was a picture of the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.  Basically, it is this way, “If you reject the CLEANSING POWER of the blood of Jesus, you are NOT a PART of Him.  Have you SURRENDERED yourself to the CLEANSING POWER of the BLOOD of Jesus?  Are YOU a PART of Him?

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT a PART of the Body of Christ.  But you are dabbling in the MUDDY water of SATAN, and will spend your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to be CLEANSED by the BLOOD of Christ Jesus, 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 is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS, your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be TOTALLY CLEANSED by His BLOOD, and put into action your SERVANT HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Hosanna---Save Now"

“Hosanna---Save Now”

 

Lord, save us!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.    Psalm 118: 25a-26a

 

Psalm 118 is PROPHETIC in nature.  It gives us a prophetic picture of Jesus Christ, as the SACRIFICAL LAMB, who takes away the sins of mankind.   Let us see this picture from the Psalmist’s prophetic view.

 

Please keep in mind, these are PROPHETIC and were written way before they came about.  In verses 25a and26a, we see the Triumphal Entry of the Messiah.  In Matthew 21:9 it tells us:  “The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted; “Hosanna to the Son of David!”  “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 

Verse 27 of Psalm 118, says: “The Lord is God, and He has made His Light shine on us.”   John 3:19-20, says:  This is the verdict:  Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.   Jesus said:  “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will NEVER walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12.)  This clearly speaks of the REJECTION of a LOST and DYING World towards Jesus Christ, their ONLY HOPE to be RESCUED from an ETERNITY in HELL.

 

Verse 17, says, “I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.”  Here we see a picture of the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Christ. We KNOW that Jesus DIED, because in John 19:33-34 it says that when they came to Jesus and found Him DEAD, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  This is indication of death.  But He DID NOT STAY DEAD!!  In three days the Father RESURRECTED Him from the grave, and He is ALIVE in Heaven, sitting at the RIGHT hand of Father God.   An EMPTY TOMB is evidence that JESUS IS ALIVE!!

 

The ones who followed Jesus into Jerusalem and shouted:  “Hosanna, to the Son of David!”  “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Hosanna in the highest Heaven!”   They were saying:  “SAVE us NOW, Son of David!”   They were crying out to Jesus for their SALVATION.  Has there been a time when you have cried out to Jesus to SAVE YOU NOW.

 

If you have NOT cried out to God for the SALVATION of your soul, then you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, you MUST 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 is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and come out of the DARKNESS and into GOD’S LIGHT.  And spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  SO cry out, “HOSANA to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"A Joyful Crowd"

“A Joyful Crowd” 

 

Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen.     Luke 19:37

 

It was the beginning of the week, before Jesus would face His SACRIFICAL DEATH on an old rugged cross, which was a SHAMEFUL and HORRID way to die.  Nevertheless, He was OBEDIENT to Father God, even to such a DESPICABLE DEATH.  And He did this because of the LOVE that God has for mankind.  It was the ONLY WAY for mankind to be able to become RIGHTEOUS and have SALVATION.  Also to be able to have FELLOWSHIP with the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS God.

 

As He made His way through the path down the Mount of Olives, there was a CROWD of DISCIPLES or (followers), who began to PRAISE God JOYFULLY with a loud voice.  Evidently, they were the BELIEVERS from Galilee.  There were different groups of people that made up the Passover crowd.  The Judeans, who were curious and suspicious of Jesus.  The Galileans who followed Him.  And there were those, from other areas, who did NOT KNOW who Jesus was.  It was primarily the “Jerusalem Jews” who were coerced by the priests, and they wanted Jesus to die, and so they all yelled: “CRUCIFY HIM!”  

 

But the Galilean BELIEVERS were filled with JOY as their MESSIAH came down that rocky path.  They were so filled with JOY that they began to SHOUT out.  HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID! HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD IS THE BLESSED ONE!  HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST HEAVEN.  They spread their robes and PALM branches on the road, as a sign of RESPECT and HONOR.   When He entered Jerusalem, the city was SHAKEN, and asking “Who is this?” Some would answer; “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee!”  Blinded, they did NOT recognize Him as their King, the SAVIOR of the WORLD.  Is He YOUR SAVIOR and KING?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are His enemy and are destined to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  You are NOW given the opportunity to CHANGE your DESTINY and ESCAPE HELL.  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, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be one of the JOYFUL CROWD, because JESUS is YOUR SAVIOR and KING.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Bridge"

“The Bridge”

 

For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.   We have now received this reconciliation through Him.          Romans 5:10-11

 

There is a GREAT chasm that separates mankind from God, that chasm is SIN.  Mankind is SINFUL and UNRIGHTEOUS, God is SINLESS and RIGHTEOUS.  So we, mankind, have been SEPARATED from our Creator God, and the destiny of SINFUL, UNRIGHTEOUS, mankind is to spend ALL of ETERNITY in Hell, the place of everlasting HORRORS, and there is NO WAY of ESCAPE.

 

That is NOT the END of mankind, God’s plan is; to put into place, a BRIDGE that will give those who are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ETERNAL BLESSINGS.  The BRIDGE is the ONLY ACCESS to GOD, the BRIDGE is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Then plans for the BRIDGE to be put into place, included the SACRIFICIAL DEATH of Christ.  The ONLY ONE who is ABLE to RECONCILE fallen mankind with Holy God.  This came about, and sinful mankind, who would willingly leave their sinful lifestyle, and cross the BRIDGE to a RIGHTEOUS RELATIONSHIP with God are given the status of not ONLY God’s friends, but His Children, who will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. 

 

They are able to do this, when the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD comes to them and MOVES in their HEART, CONVICTING them of the guilt of their sins, and LEADING them to the BRIDGE, Jesus Christ, who closes the gap, and PROVIDES the WAY to SALVATION.  Have you CROSSED the BRIDGE?  Are you God’s FRIEND or His ENEMY?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are His ENEMY, and you are headed to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to ESCAPE Hell, 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 is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and CROSS the BRIDGE to a RECONCILIATION with God, and be made RIGHTEOUS, because He is RIGHTEOUS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Hatred of the World"

“The Hatred of the World”

 

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.        John 15:18-19

 

Having a relationship with God results in having to ENDURE the HATRED of the world.   If you did not have a genuine relationship with God, then the world would love you as its own.  And you would belong to the world.  But if you have given your HEART and LIFE to God, and are a FOLLOWER of the Lord Jesus Christ then you belong to Him, because He has chosen you out of the world, and has paid the ULTIMATE PRICE for your FREEDOM.

 

Since the birth of Christ, the world has HATED Him.  Remember when Herod, the Great sought to kill Him.  The world, society, has been under the power of Satan, since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  And the HATRED and HOSTILITY towards God, seems to be escalating, the closer we get to the END of the AGES.  

 

When Jesus began His ministry, He did not find favor with the religious leaders of the day.  They HATED Him so much that they wanted Him DEAD.  Many of them were false teachers, and only had THEIR best interest at heart.  Jesus, the LIGHT of the world, was illuminating their dark, evil deeds, and exposing their false teachings.  He was a THREAT to their way of life.  And they wanted Him GONE permanently.   They worked beautifully into God’s plan for the SALVATION of mankind. 

 

God used them as a means of Jesus becoming the SACRIFICIAL LAMB.  They did NOT take Jesus’ life, but He GAVE His life WILLINGLY, He PAID the RANSOM for mankind, with the shedding of His PRECIOUS BLOOD for the SALVATION of mankind.  But He did NOT STAY DEAD!!  In three days He DEFEATED DEATH and CAME OUT of the grave, and is NOW at the RIGHT hand of  FATHER GOD, in Heaven, ever making intercession for His Children.  Since then SATAN and the WORLD has had an INTENSE HATRED for God and His Children.

 

But that HATRED will ONE DAY come to an END.  And ALL the BLESSINGS and GLORIES of Heaven will belong to God’s Children.  There will be NO MORE PAIN, HEARTACHE, DEATH, SEPARATION, SADNESS, GRIEF, DEPRAVITY, HATRED, or SINS.  But there will be JOY UNSPEAKABLE, UNENDING LOVE, and an ETERNITY with JESUS CHRIST, our LORD.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, you are destined for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order for you to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, 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 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 receive GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE, become one of His CHILDREN, and spend your ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Take Up YOUR Cross!"

“Take Up YOUR Cross!”

 

Then He said to them all:   “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves, and take up their cross daily and follow Me.”        Luke 9:23

 

It’s that time of year, when some of us look towards the CROSS of CHRIST, and meditate on what the CROSS means to us.  Some who makes a PROFESSION of FAITH, takes the CROSS of CHRIST very seriously, some take the CROSS of CHRIST, not so serious, and then you have those who give it little if any thought at all.  What does the CROSS of CHRIST mean to you?

 

Jesus wanted His disciples to REALIZE the COST of being His DISCIPLE.  Shedding His precious BLOOD on the cross, was a very serious thing.  The purpose of the CROSS, was that, there HAD to be the SHEDDING of the BLOOD of a PERFECT LAMB, one without blemish, before there could be REDEMPTION for mankind.  And Jesus, who was without sin became the PERFECT SACRIFICIAL LAMB.  He was OBEDIENT to God, even to His death on the cross.

 

So those who come to Him for their SALVATION, the FORGIVENESS of their sins, and wants to be His disciple (follower) MUST first DENY themselves, meaning to DIE to SELF, and LIVE by FAITH in CHRIST JESUS.  This constitutes, your WILLINGNESS to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and to TURN TO GOD, and LIVE by His law.  

 

To TAKE UP YOUR CROSS, DAILY and FOLLOW Him, means to DAILY LIVE for Him and to OPENLY PROFESS what you POSSESS.  SALVATION is God’s gift to you, and DISCIPLESHIP is your gift to God.  It SHOULD NOT be taken lightly, but SHOULD BE LIVED out by FAITH.  It is NOT an EASY road to take, but the BENEFITS are worth the COST of DISCIPLESHIP.  

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then the road you have chosen will lead you to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to get on the road that will lead you to an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS, you MUST DENY or DIE to yourself and TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY to LIVE by FAITH in CHRIST JESUS.  To do this you MUST 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 is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.   You MUST ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION, and be willing to DENY yourself, and to TAKE UP YOUR CROSS and FOLLOW JESUS to an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Good Shepherd's Prediction"

“The Good Shepherd’s Prediction”

 

“The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay down My life---only to take it up again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.  I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.  This command I received from My Father.”       John 10:17-18

 

In Jesus’ discourse of the Good Shepherd, He predicts His coming death four times.  In verses eleven, fourteen, seventeen and eighteen.  In His analogical parable, He references a SHEPHERD and his SHEEP, but the SHEPHERD is no ordinary shepherd, he is the GOOD SHEPHERD, the one that is willing to LAY DOWN or DIE for his SHEEP.   

 

The Good Shepherd is Jesus and His Sheep are the people, the ones He came to SEEK and to SAVE.  When He calls their names they COME to Him and FOLLOW Him. He cares for them and protects them.  He is WILLING to VOLUNTARILY DIE for them.   

 

Father God, has a SPECIAL LOVE for Jesus, because of the SACRIFICIAL ACT of OBEDIENCE that Jesus had in VOLUNTARILY SACRIFICING His own life for mankind.  The GOOD SHEPHERD, took on the role of becoming the SPOTLESS, SACRIFICIAL LAMB, which takes AWAY the SINS of ALL mankind.  All because of the LOVE of the GOOD SHEPHERD for His SHEEP.

 

But the SACRIFICAL LAMB, didn’t stay dead.  He was RESURRECTED from the grave, because of His POWER over DEATH and the GRAVE, He had AUTHORITY over His DESTINY.  He was NOT the VICTIM of a MOB, but is the SACRIFICIAL LAMB that takes AWAY the sins of the world. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are a LOST sheep that is DESPERATELY in NEED of the GOOD SHEPHERD.  He came and WILLINGLY VOLUNTEERED to DIE in your place, to SAVE you from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  If you are reading this NOW, He may be using this as a means of CALLING your NAME, in order for you to come to Him for the SALVATION of your soul.  In order to do this, you MUST be WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and let Him be your SACRIFICIAL LAMB and your GOOD SHEPHERD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!