"Let Us Praise God"

 “Let Us Praise God”

 

Let us praise God for His glorious grace, for the free gift He gave us in His dear Son!  For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.  How great is the grace of God, which He gave to us in such large measure!  In all His wisdom and insight God did what He had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan He had already decided to complete by means of Christ.  This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in Heaven and on earth, with Christ as Head.  The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised His people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are His.  Let us praise His glory!        Ephesians 1:6-10, 14

 

We, who are the TRUE CHILDREN of the Living God, should ALWAYS be willing to offer PRAISE and ADORATION to Him for ALL He has done for us.  These verses of Scripture, COMPELS us to PRAISE GOD for His blessing of REDEMPTION for ALL mankind. 

 

First, let us PRAISE Him for His GLORIOUS GRACE, giving us what we don’t deserve, the FREE GIFT of SALVATION, which was made possible through the REDEMPTIVE WORK of His BELOVED SON, Jesus Christ.  Because by the blood of Christ, we who have accepted this GIFT of GRACE, has been SET FREE and ALL our sins are FORGIVEN.  LET US PRAISE GOD for the GREATNESS of His GRACE!

 

God’s ABUNDANT GRACE, was part of His secret plan to FREE FALLEN MANKIND from their ENSLAVEMENT to SIN.  In His WISDOM and INSIGHT His PLAN was brought about through the SACRIFICAL DEATH of His Son, Jesus Christ, who DIED on an OLD RUGGED CROSS, but in three days, He became a VICTOR over DEATH and the GRAVE.  And He is NOW, ALIVE in HEAVEN.  One day He will RETURN to COMPLETE God’s Plan of SALVATION.  LET US PRAISE GOD for His PLAN of SALVATION.

 

The HOLY SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD is our GUARANTEE that we WILL receive what God has PROMISED His TRUE CHILDREN.  This GUARANTEE brings us ASSURANCE that God will give His Children COMPLETE FREEDOM from the GUILT of their sins, and an ETERNAL HOME in Heaven.  LET US PRAISE GOD for HIS HOLY SPIRIT, the GUARANTEE of His PROMISE. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you cannot PRAISE HIM for His ABUNDANT GRACE, His PLAN of SALVATION or His GUARANTEED PROMISE.  In order to receive God’s FREE GIFT of SALVATION, and to spend an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, you MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TO 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 CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then Accept His gift of SALVATION, and PRAISE GOD FOR HIS LOVE, MERCY and GRACE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

  

"Triumphant Faith"

“Triumphant Faith”

 

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.         Romans 5:1-2

 

Just exactly what is TRIUMPHANT FAITH?  Faith is being SURE of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN of that, which we do NOT see.  (Heb. 11:1)  TRIUMPHANT FAITH is FAITH that gives us the ASSURANCE of JUSTIFICATION, which is the act of setting the SINNER FREE from the GUILT of their SIN, because of their FAITH, they become a TRUE BELIEVER. 

 

This TRIUMPHANT FAITH then provides PEACE with GOD, which is made possible through the REDEMPTIVE work of the Lord Jesus Christ, when He gave His life for the JUSTIFICATION of mankind. 

 

TRIUMPHANT FAITH is a product of having ACCESS into the GRACE of ALMIGHTY GOD, which is also made possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.  And TRIUMPHANT FAITH gives us a reason to BOAST in the HOPE of the GLORY of GOD. 

 

So TRIUMPHANT FAITH is a FAITH that is a STRONG and STEADFAST belief system that is SUPPORTED by God’s HOLY SPIRIT, who indwells the TRUE BELIEVER.  TRIUMPHANT FAITH gives us ASSURANCE of JUSTIFICATION, ACCESS into the GRACE of God, and CAUSES us to BOAST in the HOPE of GOD’S GLORY.  Do you have that TRIUMPHANT FAITH?

 

If not, you can, by GIVING your HEART and LIFE to God.  And being able to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  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 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, JUSTIFICATION, and GLORIFICATION, and experience a TRULY TRIUMPHANT FAITH.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Come Let Us Worship"

“Come Let Us Worship”

 

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our Salvation!  Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!   Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!  For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.       Psalm 95: 1, 2 6, 7a

 

In the beginning of this Psalm, the Psalmist gives instructions on HOW we should WORSHIP the HOLY GOD of ALL CREATION.  Let us look at some of the things that are suggested for the TRUE BELIEVER to participate in, when WORSHIPING the Lord.  The first thing is to SING to the Lord. Now SINGING is a very IMPORTANT PART of our WORSHIP and PRAISE.  But I’m not to sure about, what was meant with the comment of making a JOYFUL NOISE, maybe the Psalmist knew some of us can’t SING, but we can make a JOYFUL NOISE.  He also may have been alluding to SHOUTING PRAISES to the LORD. 

 

He tells us we should COME into His presence with THANKSGIVING.  In other words, we should have THANKFUL HEARTS, because He is the ROCK of our SALVATION.  Meaning He is the PROTECTIVE SAVIOR of our souls.  Then AGAIN, he tells us to MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE to Him with songs of praise!  I believe that Heaven is NOT a QUIET, SUBDUED, place, but I believe that there is SHOUTING and SINGING, LOUD, and JOYFUL, FULL of PRAISE and ADORATION to our MAKER, the CREATOR of ALL things.  He is our GREAT KING, our GOD, and we are His PEOPLE and the SHEEP of His PASTURE, who are under His SHELTERING WINGS.  

 

Oh my, what a GLORIOUS TIME that will be.  In the last part of verse seven and the remaining scripture in this Psalm, is a WARNING to those who REJECT JESUS CHRIST as their PROTECTIVE SAVIOR or the ROCK of their SALVATION.  Their destiny is in verse eleven:  “Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall NOT enter my rest.”  Meaning their ETERNITY will NOT be in Heaven, but they will spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE. 

 

Don’t let this be YOUR destiny.  If He has been dealing with your HEART, SURRENDER to Him NOW.  You do that by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, 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.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ACCEPT JESUS as the ROCK of your SALVATION, and spend your ETERNITY in Heaven, SINGING, SHOUTING, and MAKING JOYFUL NOISES with THANKSGIVING in your HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Who Is God?"

“Who Is God?”

 

For who is God besides the Lord?  And who is the Rock except our God?      Psalm 18:31

 

I believe that at some point in time, EVERY person wonders about the identity of the Almighty God.  They ask:  “Just, who is this God?”  Just as King David, asks:  “Who is God besides the Lord?”   I wish to look at SOME of the WORDS that are used to describe the very nature or character of God.  And to see how this knowledge can benefit us, in our relationship with Him.

 

David, who penned this Song of Praise to God for delivering him from the hands of Saul, and the rest of David’s enemies, proclaims that God is the ROCK.  In many verses of Scripture in Psalms, God is called the Rock.  In verse 46, David says:  “The Lord Lives! Praise be to my Rock!”  A ROCK is a STRONG source of PROTECTION, and in biblical times the ROCKS on the hillsides offered a SAFE STRONGHOLD.  When we look to God, our Heavenly FATHER, who LOVES and CARES for us we can be assured that He will be our ROCK, in our times of FEAR and DESPAIR.

 

Not only is God, described in Scripture as a ROCK, but He is also called: Our “REFUGE”.  A REFUGE is a place of SAFETY, and REST.  When we have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God, He will be our ROCK and our REFUGE, especially in times of TROUBLE and DESPAIR.  And I’m here, to tell you, we live in days that are FULL of TROUBLE and DESPAIR.  However, we can go to Him and seek REFUGE from those things that plague us.  And He is ALWAYS AVAILABLE.  “The Lord is a REFUGE for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9)

 

God is also known as a FORTRESS.  A FORTRESS is a FORTITIED PLACE, one can run to and be SAFE.  It also represents STRENGTH and PROTECTION.  “You are my STENGTH, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my FORTRESS, my God on whom I can rely.” (Psalm 59:17)

 

God is our SALVATION.  “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my SALVATION comes from Him.” (Psalm 62:1)  He is our ONLY HOPE for an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  He, who became flesh and dwelt among mankind, to FREE mankind from their burden of sin, and to SAVE their SOULS from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY TO ESCAPE.  “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord’ let us SHOUT ALOUD to the ROCK of our SALVATION.”  (Psalm 95:1)

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God then you are destined for an ETERNITY in HELL with 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.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, 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 ALLOW Him to be your ROCK, REFUGE, FORTRESS and your SALVATION.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"For the Mouth Speaks What the Heart is Full of"

“For the Mouth Speaks What the Heart is Full of”

 

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored in him.  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”       Matthew 12:35-37

 

Jesus did NOT think highly of the WORDS or ACTIONS of the Pharisees.  In this chapter of Matthew we see a WARNING, which the Lord gave to these so-called “religious leaders.”  He even called them a “brood of vipers.”   They were committing BLASPHEMY against the Holy Spirit of God, which is UNFORGIVEABLE. 

 

He goes on to tell them that whatever is in a man’s heart will be evidenced by their WORDS and DEEDS.  A GOOD MAN brings out good things from what is stored up in him.  But the EVIL MAN brings out the evil things that are stored up in him.  The consequences of these WORDS and DEEDS are either ACQUITTAL or CONDEMNATION, FORGIVENESS or UNFORGIVENESS.  For the GOOD MAN, comes ACQUITTAL and FORGIVENESS, but for the EVIL MAN, comes CONDEMNATION and UNFORGIVENESS, if it is BLASPHEMY against the Holy Spirit. 

 

Jesus says that:  “EVERYONE will have to give an ACCOUNT on the Day of Judgment for EVERY EMPTY WORD they have spoken.  EVERYONE is RESPONSIBLE for ALL of their WORDS and DEEDS, which will bring either ACQUITTAL or CONDEMNATION.  This warning is applicable to ALL of US.  There are some who think it’s ok to emulate the world, with their words and actions.  To be “one of the crowd,” and just fit in.  But God says we are to be SEPARATED from the world.  We, who profess to be TRUE BELIEVERS, are to be HOLY and RIGHTEOUS as He is HOLY and RIGHTEOUS.  That means that our WORDS and DEEDS are to EMULATE CHRIST JESUS and NOT the WORLD.  Which describes your lifestyle?  Is it MORE LIKE JESUS? Or are you MORE LIKE THE WORLD?  On the Day of Judgment will your WORDS and DEEDS ACQUIT or CONDEMN you?

 

In order to be ACQUITTED and FORGIVEN, and to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, you MUST BE WILLING to 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.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and CHOOSE to EMULATE CHRIST JESUS with your WORDS and DEEDS, and spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Turn, Seek and Pursue"

“Turn, Seek and Pursue”

 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.  Turn from evil and seek and pursue it.      Psalm 34:12-14

 

In this Psalm, King David, is giving a lesson on living an ABUNDANT LIFE in the Lord.  He is teaching a lesson in WISDOM on how the RIGHTEOUS should live, and the benefits of living by FAITH.

In order to LIVE a PEACEFUL, RIGHTEOUS, LIFE, there are some things that a Child of God MUST DO! So David instructs his readers on the FEAR of the Lord.  This pertains to the ATTITUDE, towards God, by His Children, those who have given their HEART and LIFE to Him, and are LIVING according to His Word.   The word “FEAR” does NOT mean being AFRAID, but it means being in AWE OF or in REVERENCE TO the Almighty God.  So they MUST have REVERENCE for, and stand in AWE of His presence. 

 

David tell us that in order for the Child of God to LIVE an ABUNDANT LIFE in the Lord, they MUST first TURN AWAY FROM EVIL, FLEE from it, do NOT PARTAKE in it, in any way.  TURN and go in the opposite direction, don’t lollygag around, RUN AWAY.  Then DO GOOD DEEDS so others will be able to SEE and EXPERIENCE the COMPASSION of the LOVING GOD, we serve.  They MUST SEEK PEACE, which means to become a PEACEMAKER.  Let the HOLY SPIRIT of God, bring PEACE to you, and LIVE in PEACE and not in CONFLICT, SEEK IT and PURSUE or RUN AFTER IT.  

 

When you LIVE according to the WORD of the LIVING GOD, then you will possess a LIFE of QUALITY and RIGHTEOUSNESS.  A TRULY RIGHTEOUS LIFE, which is obtained through the Sacrificial Life of Jesus Christ, will provide an ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  However, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, through the work of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, then you are headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to have ABUNDANT LIFE here and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, 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.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and begin LIVING a QUALITY, RIGHTEOUS LIFE in the LORD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"Falling into Temptation"

“Falling Into Temptation”

 

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”           Matthew 26:41

 

Being TEMPTED is NOT sinful, it is what you do with that TEMPTATION that can become sinful.  Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before He was arrested and taken away to be crucified.  He had asked His disciples to WATCH and PRAY with Him in His hour of greatest need and agony.  

 

He wanted them to be ALERT and FOCUSED on their prayers.  Sometimes, when I pray, my mind will wonder to other things, rather than the things that I may NEED to PRAY for.  This is a distraction caused by the FLESH.  While our spirit is WILLING to communicate with our Heavenly Father, the FLESH is TEMPTING our minds to go in another direction, so that our attempt to communicate with God, which is NECESSARY to our LIVING by FAITH, will be interrupted and usually we end up having very little, if any, communication with God.  And if we allow this to continue, our FAITH and TRUST in Him is weakened, and we end up FALLING to TEMPTATION, which then becomes SIN. 

 

With the HELP of God’s Holy Spirit, we can OVERCOME the TEMPTATION, before we FALL into its clutches, and we FAIL in our RELATIONSHIP with God.  In order to OVERCOME TEMPTATION, we MUST ALLOW the Holy Spirit to be in CONTROL of our communication with God.  To do this we MUST be SENSITIVE to Him, and SUBMISSIVE to HIS will.  Then as TRUE BELIEVERS, we can be assured of a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with our Heavenly Father, and NOT end up FALLING into TEMPTATION.  Do you have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God?  Do you have STRONG communication with Him?  Or do you CONTINUALLY fail Him because you are WEAK and FALLING into TEMPTATION?

 

He won’t FAIL YOU, if you will, 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 that He 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 WATCH and PRAY that you might NOT FALL into TEMPTATION, but will become an OVERCOMER, and experience a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Father God.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Faith and the Promise"

“Faith and the Promise”

 

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

 

It has ALWAYS been God’s plan to JUSTIFY the Gentiles, the non-Jews, by FAITH, and the GOSPEL was announced in advance to Abraham, when God told him that; “All nations will be blessed through you.”   So ALL, who BELIEVE, based on their FAITH, will be blessed along with Abraham, the man of FAITH.  (VV 8&9)  So we have the PROMISE of SALVATION, which is based on our FAITH and NOT our WORKS. 

 

This was made POSSIBLE through the act of REDEMPTION.  When Jesus Christ REDEEMED mankind, by dying on a cross and then being RAISED to LIFE, CONQUERING DEATH and the GRAVE, and bringing the PROMISE of the HOLY SPIRIT of God, to indwell ALL who by FAITH, BELIEVE and will ACCEPT GOD’S PROMISE of SALVATION.  You cannot receive the PROMISE of the HOLY SPIRIT, without possessing the PROMISE of SALVATION. 

 

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to be our COMFORTOR, TEACHER, and GUIDE through this WRETCHED, WICKED, SINFUL world.  He is our COMPANION and will NEVER LEAVE us alone.  Have you received SALVATION, and GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT?  If NOT you are DOOMED to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.   But God is offering you His PROMISE of SALVATION and the INDWELLING of His HOLY SPIRIT, if you will 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.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive God’s HOLY SPIRIT, because of your FAITH, not your WORKS.  And spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Shield of Faith"

“The Shield of Faith”

 

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.        Ephesians 6:16

Who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.      1 Peter 1:5

 

The Apostle Paul instructs the TRUE BELIEVER that they have a struggle against the rulers, authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  (V-12)  In order for the TRUE BELIEVER to take a FIRM STAND for their FAITH, they MUST put on the FULL ARMOR of God.  This armor consists of: The BELT of TRUTH, BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS, SHOES of READINESS, SHIELD of FAITH, HELMET of SALVATION, and the SWORD of the SPIRIT.  (The Word of God).  This should be a DAILY ritual for EVERY CHILD of the LIVING GOD.

 

The SHIELD of FAITH is of EXTREME IMPORTANCE to the TRUE BELIEVER.  Without a STRONG FAITH to SHIELD them from the FLAMING ARROWS of the evil one, they would have all their other VITAL AREAS EXPOSED.  Without a STRONG SHIELD of FAITH, we would be vulnerable to the temptations of the evil one, and this would greatly WEAKEN our FAITH.  And it might even put us down, to the point, which our WITNESS to others would be rendered USELESS.

 

We must be willing to STAND FIRM in our FAITH, and DEFENDING it, by putting on the FULL ARMOR of GOD, and ESPECIALLY taking up the SHIELD of FAITH, and being PREPARED to FIGHT AGAINST the FORCES of EVIL. 

 

We won’t be FIGHTING this battle ALONE, because through FAITH we are SHIELDED by GOD’S POWER until the COMPLETION of our SALVATION, which will be revealed in the last time.  We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, possess a SAVING FAITH, which is a CONTINUING FAITH that is PERMANENT, and this FAITH gives us the ASSURANCE that we are TRULY SAVED from our SINS.  We are SAVED DAILY from the POWER of SIN, and at the RAPTURE, we will be SAVED from the PRESENCE of SIN.   This is WHY the SHIELD of FAITH is so important.  It is our PROTECTION against SIN.  Do you possess this PROTECTION?  OR are you a VICTIM of SIN’S deadly demise?

 

You have the opportunity NOW to be RESCUED from the grips of SIN and be SAVED from an ETERNITY in Hell, with all its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  To do that 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 take up your SHIELD of FAITH, and join the BATTLE. The REWARDS FAR OUTWEIGH the fight.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Wicked and the Righteous"

“The Wicked and the Righteous”

 

Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.  The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.           Psalm 34:21-22

 

We are going to look at the different outcomes for the ETERNAL LIFE of the WICKED and the RIGHTEOUS.  The WICKED are the UNBELIEVERS, those who have NOT given their HEART and LIFE to God, and are allowing EVILNESS to control their livelihood.   They hate the RIGHTEOUS, those who are the TRUE BELIEVERS, who HAVE given their HEART and LIFE to God, and are LIVING by FAITH in Him and are in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him.  The WICKED seem to despise the ways of the RIGHTEOUS, and FIGHT against anything that is Godly and in accordance to God’s Laws.

 

Let’s look at some other verses, which will give us a clear distinction between the DESTINIES of the WICKED and the RIGHTEOUS.  Psalm 1:5-6:   Therefore the wicked will NOT survive the judgment, and sinners will NOT be in the community of the righteous.   Psalm 32:10:  Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who TRUSTS in the Lord will have FAITHFUL LOVE surrounding them.  Psalm 37:10-11:  A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be there.  But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.  Verse 28:  For the Lord loves justice and will NOT abandon His faithful ones.  They are kept safe FOREVER, but the children of the wicked will be DESTROYED.   And Psalm 37:37-38:  Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the man of peace will have a future.  But TRANSGRESSORS will be ELIMINATED; the FUTURE of the WICKED will be DESTROYED.  So now you see the DIFFERENCES in ETERNITY for the WICKED and the RIGHTEOUS.  Where does your DESTINY take you?  Are you headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE?  Or are you headed for an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS?  You have a CHOICE, now, to either ACCEPT God’s invitation or to REJECT it.  BE CAREFUL, your DESTINY depends on it.

 

To become a TRUE BELIEVER, a RIGHTEOUS Child of the LIVING GOD, you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to 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.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become one of the RIGHTEOUS with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Let Me Tell You What the Lord Has Done!!"

“Let Me Tell You What the Lord Has Done!!”

 

Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.  I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.  If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.  Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!          Psalm 66:16-20

 

PRAYER is our communication with our Heavenly Father.  It is NECESSARY because it is how we, as TRUE BELIEVERS, FUNCTION, we need to have that OPEN, SECURE line of communication DAILY.  So it is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE that we have a DAILY TIME of COMMUNICATING with the HOLY GOD of the UNIVERSE. The One who wants to HEAR from His Children.

 

And it provides a CLOSE, INTIMATE, LOVING, and RIGHT RELATIONSHIP, with our Heavenly Father.  The Psalmist says:  “I CRIED out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.”  It is a WONDERFUL thing to begin our PRAYERS with PRAISE and GIVING THANKS for ALL that the LORD has done.  NOTICE:  If we CLING or CHERISH SIN in our HEARTS, God will NOT hear our PRAYERS, but when we ACKNOWLEDGE the sin, and with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, ask for His FORGIVENESS, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE US of our sins.  Then He will HEAR our PRAYERS. 

 

At the beginning of our Scriptures, the Psalmist was MORE than EAGER to SHARE what God had done for him, because of his STEADFAST PRAYERS, his COMMUNICATION with his HOLY GOD.  There are times, when God BLESSES me with GREAT results from my COMMUNICATION with Him, and my CUP OVERFLOWS with PRAISE and ADORATION, that I cannot keep it to myself, and like the Psalmist, I JUST HAVE TO TELL SOMEBODY, what the LORD HAS DONE!!  Have you ever been there?  Has God SO BLESSED YOU, because of your COMMUNICATION with Him, that you cannot CONTAIN the JOY, and you JUST HAVE to TELL SOMEBODY?

 

Remember, if there is SIN in your HEART, He will not HEAR your PRAYER.  So for the UNBELIEVER who has NOT TRULY GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to GOD, according to the Scripture, He will not HEAR your PRAYERS, until you are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, and PRAY with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, BELIEVING, 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.  And then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and GO TELL SOMEBODY WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!!!   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Eternal Life"

“Eternal Life”

 

For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him.  Now this is eternal life:  that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.       John 17:2-3

 

ETERNAL LIFE:  Everlasting, forever, unchanging

 

We know that when we close our eyes in death, our soul departs the body, and it goes SOMEWHERE, to spend an ETERNITY.  I know some may believe that there is NOTHING after this life. But there TRULY IS an ETERNITY for everyone who has EVER been born.   How do I know this, and how can I be SO CERTAIN?  Well, because the Word of God tells us MANY TIMES about ETERNAL LIFE, and I BELIEVE it, because it is TRUTH.  GOD cannot LIE and will NOT LIE.

 

But the VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION IS:  Where will YOU spend your ETERNITY?   You see, ETERNAL LIFE is MORE than an ENDLESS EXISTENCE.  EVERYONE exist somewhere forever.  In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verse 46, it says:  Then they, (the UNBELIEVER), will go away to ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but the RIGHTEOUS, (TRUE BELIEVER) to ETERNAL LIFE.”  These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.   And it means that the UNBELIEVER will spend ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING.  It will be FOREVER SUFFERING and the intensity will be beyond human comprehension.   But for the TRUE BELIEVER, it will be an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  NO IMMORALITY, NO DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, NO HATRED, NO LAWLESSNESS, NO UNGODLINESS of ANY KIND.  There will be NO SUFFERING, NO SICKNESS, and NO DEATH.   JUST JOY UNSPEAKABLE and GLORY PERSONIFIED.  

 

God gave Jesus the AUTHORITY over ALL people, and He has the AUTHORITY to give ETERNAL LIFE.  ETERNAL LIFE that the TRUE BELIEVER would KNOW the ONLY TRUE GOD, and His SON, JESUS CHRIST, who DIED for ALL MANKIND, but was RAISED to LIFE, so that they might have ETERNAL LIFE with JESUS and the HOLY FATHER.  To KNOW God and His Son, Jesus was MORE than knowing ABOUT them.  It is having a CLOSE, INTIMATE, and RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with them.  LOVING and ACCEPTING their gift of SALVATION and becoming a part of their FAMILY.

 

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 ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"FAITHFUL and JUST"

“FAITHFUL and JUST”

 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.       1 John 1:9

 

Faithful:  Constant, loyal, dependable

 

CONFESSION is characteristic of a TRUE BELIEVER, they are very much AWARE of the fact that they are in the FLESH and are prone to FALL to TEMPTATIONS, because of the desires of the FLESH.  Therefore, because of the deep desire to PLEASE God, and to HONOR the WORK of Christ on the cross, for the SALVATION of their SOULS, they MUST make CONFESSION on a DAILY BASIS.   It does NOT mean that they will lose their SALVATION, because that has been SEALED by the HOLY SPIRIT.  It is because they have been made RIGHTEOUS and SIN is CONTRARY to RIGHTEOUSNESS.   Therefore, they MUST CONFESS their SINS to God. A TRUE BELIEVER CANNOT LIVE HABITUALLY in SIN. 

 

The POSITIVE part of that CONFESSION is that GOD is FAITHFUL and JUST and He will FORGIVE us of our sins, and PURIFY us from being tainted with UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.  Meaning, He is CONSTANT with His FORGIVENESS.  And He is JUST or RIGHTEOUS in His judgment of the sin.  We have His PROMISE of FORGIVENESS, and we can count on it because He is FAITHFUL, not only with His FORGIVENESS, but in KEEPING His PROMISES.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do not KNOW of this LOVE and FORGIVENESS.  But you can, if you will TRUST in His AMAZING GRACE, which He is offering to you NOW.  If you continue to REJECT His SON, Jesus Christ, you will be destined to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  In order to ACCEPT His SON, and His gift of SALVATION.  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, because He is FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE your sins, and to offer to you His gift of SALVATION.  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!!!

"ETERNITY"

“ETERNITY”

 

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.        John 3:36

“For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”       John 6:40

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. “    John 6:47

 

There are many diverse views concerning what takes place when one closes their eyes in death.  I BELIEVE that the ONLY view that has ANY VALIDITY to it is the one we find in God’s Holy Word. 

 

There are ONLY TWO TRUE scenarios that will take place, according to God’s Holy Word. One for the TRUE BELIEVER and one for the UNBELIEVER.  Whenever, I hear of people dying tragically and quickly without any warning, I can’t help but wonder if they were READY to face ETERNITY.  MANY are NOT.  The Bible teaches us that life is like a vapor, which vanishes quickly.  Our ETERNAL DESTINATION depends on what we have done with God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

 

These Scriptures PLAINLY tells us ALL we NEED to KNOW about SALVATION.  Whoever BELIEVES and ACCEPTS the Son of God, has ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, but whoever REJECTS the Son of God will NOT have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, but will receive God’s WRATH, which results in spending ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL it’s HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  They will be SEPARATED from ALL that is GOOD and from GOD, Himself. 

 

John 6:40, tells us that: It is the Father’s will that EVERYONE who looks to the Son and BELIEVES in Him shall have ETERNAL LIFE, and they will be RAISED up at the Last Day.   NOTICE that it does NOT say that those who have kept the Law, obeyed the Golden Rule, attending church or having a church membership, or doing good deeds, or giving a lot of money, will get you an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.

 

 In order to obtain SALVATION and ETERNAL LIFE, you MUST COME to the CROSS of Christ, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  And you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION, and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Are you READY to FACE ETERNITY?  If NOT, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

"The Obedient Son"

“The Obedient Son”

 

Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.  After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.                      Hebrews 5:8-9

 

Jesus, the SON of the Living God, came to earth as a newborn babe, grew-up to be a man.  But even though He was the Son of God, He was man, and being a MAN, He LEARNED OBEDIENCE by that which He suffered.  And He was ALWAYS subject to His Father God’s will.  

 

In Luke’s Gospel, he tells us that:  “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).  His incarnation into becoming a human being, gave Him experiential knowledge about the human condition.  He was able to EXPERIENCE SUFFERING, which became a REALITY, and He was able to SYMPATHIZE with His followers.  He was OBEDIENT to His Father’s will, EVEN unto DEATH 

 

Through His OBEDIENCE and SUFFERING, although He has ALWAYS BEEN PERFECT, in EVERY way, He was PERFECTED in becoming the SAVIOR of ALL mankind.  If He would have stayed in Heaven, He could not have been our PERFECT SAVIOR.  However, through His Birth, Death, Burial, RESURRECTION, and having been ASCENDED into Heaven.  He COMPLETED the work of SALVATION. 

 

This SALVATION was accomplished by OBEDIENCE.  We know that SALVATION comes by FAITH. So what is right?  This SALVATION came by OBEDIENCE of FAITH.  You cannot have FAITH without being OBEDIENT to the WORD and WILL of God.  So SAVING FAITH is the kind of FAITH that will bring OBEDIENCE.  Are you OBEDIENT to GOD?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, you are DISOBEDIENT, and you are facing an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  But if you will be OBEDIENT to the WILL of God, He will give you an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  To do that 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 you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be an OBEDIENT CHILD, with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Inexpressible and Glorious Joy"

“Inexpressible and Glorious Joy”

 

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.        1 Peter 1:8-9

 

In the life of a TRUE BELIEVER, they will face trials, which will try their FAITH, and some will experience more than everyday trials, they will be confronted with PERSECUTION, because of their FAITH.  Yet in the face of these trials and persecutions, they persevere, and in some cases their FAITH is strengthened.  This is POSSIBLE because of the LIVING HOPE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL the other Saints, and with the One who paid the price for our REDEMPTION. The One we call the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  He PAID with His PRECIOUS BLOOD and purchased our SALVATION. 

 

This LIVING HOPE is a result of the INEXPRESSIBLE, GLORIOUS JOY, which we can and do experience when we become a part of God’s Family, and when we have that SURE HOPE of a FUTURE INHERITANCE, waiting for us in Heaven.  Our ability to EXPERIENCE this JOY is because our FOCUS is on the One who makes it POSSIBLE, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

The Apostle Peter, may have REMBEMBERED the WORDS of our Lord when He told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have NOT seen and yet have BELIEVED.”  (John 20:29)  The True Believers of today, do NOT now SEE Him, but like the Apostle, they LOVE and BELIEVE in Him.  This is the WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT, who indwells the HEART of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  And because of the FAITH, HOPE and LOVE of the TRUE BELIEVER, they EXPERIENCE INEXPRESSIBLE and GLORIOUS JOY, regardless of the trials and persecutions.  It is NOT the OUTWARD circumstances that gives us JOY, but it is the STEADFAST FAITH, the LIVING HOPE and the DEEP LOVE we have for our SAVIOR and LORD.  Do you have that INEXPRESSIBLE, GLORIOUS JOY in your HEART?

 

God LOVES YOU, and wants you to EXPERIENCE that INEXPRESSIBLE, GLORIOUS JOY, and to possess that LIVING HOPE of an INHERITANCE in Heaven.  This can ONLY happen, when you are 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 LOVE JESUS, even though you have NOT SEEN Him.  Then EXPERIENCE that INEXPRESSIBLE, GLORIOUS JOY, and the LIVING HOPE of AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Lawlessness: The Cause and the Cure"

“Lawlessness: The Cause and the Cure"

 

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.  You know that He appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.  No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.                      1 John 3:4-6

(Jesus Christ), who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.      Titus: 2:14

 

“The CAUSE for LAWLESSNESS is SIN.  When a person has NOT given their HEART and LIFE to God, they are LIVING in SIN, and are PRACTICING LAWLESSNESS, although they may not be breaking any of MAN’S laws, they are BREAKING GOD’S LAWS.  Most people KNOW that Jesus came to earth to take away sins, and He is SINLESS, which means He has NO SIN in Him, and for that reason, the person who PRACTICES LAWLESSNESS or SINNING cannot ABIDE in CHRIST, until they are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL, LAWLESS lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. 

 

This does NOT mean that those who HAVE given their HEART and LIFE to GOD is SINLESS, ONLY ONE has ever LIVED a SINLESS LIFE, and that being, JESUS CHRIST.  What it means is; that the TRUE BELIEVER, will struggle with the desires of the flesh, and may at some time fall to TEMPTATION, but the difference is, they DO NOT PRACTICE or CONTINUE to LIVE in it.  But they will TURN AWAY from it.  And CONFESS any SINS they may have fallen into.  They KNOW that they cannot have FELLOWSHIP with God or His Son, Jesus Christ, as long as there is SIN, LAWLESSNESS abiding in them.  God’s HOLY SPIRIT, who indwells the TRUE BELIEVER will CONVICT them, and LEAD them to REPENTANCE.  And their DEEPEST DESIRE is to PLEASE GOD, and LAWLESSNESS does NOT PLEASE Him. 

 

The CURE for LAWLESSNESS, is found in Titus 2:14, JESUS CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD, is the CURE for the LAWLESSNESS of ALL mankind.  He GAVE HIMSELF to REDEEM us from ALL LAWLESSNESS, and to PURIFY a PEOPLE for His OWN POSSESSION, who are FAITHFUL and EAGER to do GOOD WORKS.  Without this CURE, you will SURELY DIE a SPIRITUAL DEATH, and end up SPENDING ALL of your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Are you LIVING a LAWLESS LIFESTYLE, SINNING against God and His LAWS?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you are LIVING in LAWLESSNESS, and your DESTINY is HELL.  But God, in His INFINITE MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, is offering you the CURE for this FATAL SIN-SICKNESS.  All you MUST DO is 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 you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And you MUST ACCEPT HIS gift of SALVATION and RECEIVE the CURE, and LIVE for ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!