"An Encouraging Word"

“An Encouraging Word”

 

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our Salvation.     Selah    Our God is a God of Salvation, and to God, the lord, belong deliverances from death.        Psalm 68:19-20

 

This Psalm of David certainly is an ENCOURAGING WORD, to ALL TRUE BELIEVERS.  To KNOW and REALIZE, just WHO GOD IS and what He has done for those who have acted in OBEDIENCE to Him, for the EVERLASTING FORGIVENESS of their sins and short-comings.  And to KNOW that HE IS our SALVATION. 

 

It is SO GOOD to KNOW that He DAILY BEARS US UP, this means that He BEARS our BURDENS and HELPS us CARRY our LOAD.  He may NOT make all our HEARTACHES, PROBLEMS and HARD TIMES go away, but He PROMISES us that HE will NEVER LEAVE nor FORSAKE US.  He will see us through to the end.   Better to have Him with us than to have to deal with such situations ALONE.  And if you are an UNBELIEVER, that is what you do.

 

Father God came to MANKIND as a NEWBORN BABY, grew into a man, who was beaten and tortured, then hung, in DISGRACE, on an OLD RUGGED CROSS, for the PURPOSE of bringing SALVATION to ALL MANKIND. And by His RESURRECTION, He CONQUERED DEATH and the GRAVE.  He is TRULY the GOD of SALVATION, and the ONLY ONE who has the POWER to DELIVER His Children from the STING of DEATH and the GRAVE. 

 

He wants EVERYONE to be DELIVERED from an ETERNAL, SPIRITUAL DEATH.  But in order to do that 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 an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and let Him BEAR you UP and HELP you CARRY your LOAD.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Perseverance"

“Perseverance”

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.        James 1:2-4

 

As TRUE BELIEVERS, we sometimes question, WHY, we are taken through the TRIALS that we face, and it seems to be a CONTINUAL process.  We at times wonder if we are being PUNISHED for some UNKNOWN reason.  But James says to:  “Consider it PURE JOY, whenever we are going through these hard times. 

 

Our NATURAL reaction, to the TRIALS we face, is definitely not PURE JOY.  However, as TRUE BELIEVERS, when we face these times, we should face them with the JOY of KNOWING that our FAITH is being put to the test, to see if we will have the PERSEVERANCE we NEED to make it through each TRIAL. 

 

PERSEVERANCE means to have ENDURANCE or STEADFASTNESS.  God puts the TRUE BELIEVER’S FAITH to the test, in order to PROVE and to add STRENGTH and to give QUALITY to the BELIEVER’S FAITH.   It is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE that the TRUE BELIEVER does NOT FAIL the test, with the WRONG RESPONSE.  Through the TESTS the BELIEVER learns to withstand the pressures of the trial, until God is ready to remove it. 

 

The BELIEVER can PERSEVERE by TRUSTING in GOD, and RELYING on His HOLY SPIRIT to SEE them through to the end.  Then they can TRULY REJOICE because of their PERSEVERANCE, MATURITY and COMPLETENESS of their FAITH.  This does NOT mean that you are SINLESS, but it develops a DEEPER, MORE INTIMATE, and MORE TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST.

 

Do you have a RELATIONSHIP with JESUS?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you do NOT POSSESS a RELATIONSHIP with Him or His FATHER, God.  And you are destined for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  You will have to face troubles, heartaches and despair, on your OWN.   In order for you to PERSEVERE, you MUST HAVE a RELATIONSHIP with JESUS and FATHER GOD.  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 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 TRUST Him for the PERSEVERANCE you NEED to STRENGTHEN your FAITH, and DEVELOP a CLOSER, MORE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST, and His FATHER.  And to receive an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"LIFE"

“LIFE”

 

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.       1 John 5:11-12

 

God’s Testimony is that those who BELIEVE in the NAME of the SON of GOD will have ETERNAL LIFE. (v13)  And we know that the SON of GOD has come and has given us UNDERSTANDING, so that we may KNOW Him who is TRUE; and we are in Him who is TRUE, in His SON JESUS CHRIST.  He is the TRUE GOD and ETERNAL LIFE.  (v20)

 

WHOEVER has the SON has LIFE; WHOEVER does NOT have the SON of GOD does NOT have LIFE.  Those who have ACCEPTED Jesus Christ as their SAVIOR and LORD has RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Those who REJECT Jesus Christ as their SAVIOR and LORD, will RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE. 

 

There is NO OTHER WAY to have LIFE.  When a person KEEPS REJECTING JESUS as their SAVIOR and LORD, they will experience a SPIRITUAL DEATH that will send them to HELL for ALL of ETERNITY.  And the TRUTH is, they have the OPPORTUNITY, NOW, to RECEIVE LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.   

 

The CHOICE is YOURS!  In order to ESCAPE a SPIRITUAL DEATH with HELL as your ETERNAL HOME, 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 that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, JESUS CHRIST, as your SAVIOR and LORD, and RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE, in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Judge"

“The Judge”

 

“If anyone hears My Words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person.  For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My Words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.  For I did not speak on My own, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me to say all that I have spoken.  I know that His Command leads to eternal life.  So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”        John 12:47-50

 

The MISSION of Jesus Christ, to this LOST and DYING world, was NOT to JUDGE those who REJECT Him and His MESSAGE, but it was to bring SALVATION to them, which would provide them with HEAVEN as their ETERNAL HOME.  

 

The MISSION of Jesus, was to SEEK and SAVE the LOST souls who were/are PERISHING and receiving an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.   He is their ONLY HOPE.  His MESSAGE is in verses thirty-five and thirty-six:  “You are going to have the Light (Jesus) just a little while longer.  Walk while you have the Light, before darkness overtakes you.  Whoever walks in the DARK does not know where they are going.  BELIEVE in the Light while you have the Light, so that you may become Children of Light.”     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)

 

The verdict is:  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.  But whoever LIVES by the TRUTH comes into the LIGHT, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the SIGHT of GOD.  (John 3:19-21)  

 

Jesus tells us that His Words were what the FATHER COMMANDED Him to say, and it will be His VERY WORDS that will CONDEMN those who have REJECTED Him and His MESSAGE.  GOD is the JUDGE and it will be HIM, who will bring RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT on those who REJECTS the LIGHT of the WORLD, and CHOOSES to LIVE in DARKNESS.  Their sentence will be an ETERNITY in HELL.  Where will you spend your ETERNITY? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are LIVING in the DARKNESS, and are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  However, you can CHOOSE to LIVE in the LIGHT, and ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, if you will TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And 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.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a CHILD of LIGHT.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Mystery of Godliness"

“The Mystery of Godliness”

 

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:  He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.        1 Timothy 3:16

 

MYSTERY:  Spiritually speaking; as laid out by the Apostle Paul, indicated TRUTH, which was HIDDEN in the Old Testament times and REVEALED in the New Testament times. 

 

This GODLINESS refers to the TRUTH of SALVATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS that can ONLY come from Christ Jesus, the Only Son of the LIVING GOD.  This MYSTERY was GREAT because of its range of understanding and its influence on a sinful world.  It was/is the ONLY HOPE for mankind.

 

The Apostle Paul gives us the CONTENT of this TRUTH, through an excerpt from an early hymn about Christ, who is the ENTITY of the MYSTERY.   “He was manifested in the flesh,” this speaks of His INCARNATION, when He came as a NEWBORN BABY, God’s gift to MANKIND for their SALVATION.  “He was VINDICATED by the Spirit,” which was carried out by the RESURRECTION, which was a demonstration of God, by the Holy Spirit of the CRUCIFIED and RISEN Christ, as LORD and MESSIAH of ALL.  “Seen by the angels,” this refers to His EXALTATION, which was carried out before the Heavenly realm, both the fallen and the elect angels.  (Phil. 2:5-11)  “Proclaimed by the nations, and BELIEVED on in the world,” This refers to the FULLFILMENT of God’s plan for the SALVATION of MANKIND.  “Taken up in glory.”  This refers to the ASCENSION of Christ Jesus into Heaven.  (Acts 1:9-10)  Where He is NOW, making intercession for the Children of God.  Are you a Child of God?  Have you experienced this MYSTERY?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE TOTALLY to God, then you are NOT His Child, nor have you EXPERIENCED this MYSTERY.  But you are carrying out the desires of SATAN, by being DISOBEDIENT to God, and you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, you can EXPERIENCE this MYSTERY of SALVATION 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.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and EXPERIENCE the MYSTERY and become a CHILD of the LIVING GOD, with an ETERNAL HOME in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"To KNOW That You KNOW!"

“To KNOW That You KNOW!”

 

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.  Whoever says ‘I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.  By this we may know that we are in Him:  whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.       1 John 2:3-6

 

One SURE way of KNOWING that you are TRULY SAVED is by ONE word:  OBEDIENCE.  Some people believe that when they walk the aisle in a church, or repeat a prayer, they are SAVED, and on their way to an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Some believe that SALVATION comes by being GOOD and doing GOOD deeds.  Some are under the assumption that if their parents and grandparents held positions in the church that automatically gave them SALVATION.  NONE of these things will provide SALVATION.  One cannot gain SALVATION by the WORKS they do, or by the WORKS of another.

 

SALVATION is a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD.  There is NO WAY, a person can EARN SALVATION, it is a GIFT from GOD.  And is provided by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His LIFE on an old rugged cross.  He shed His blood for the REDEMPTION of mankind.  Jesus told His disciple, Thomas:  “I am the Way and the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  (John 14:6)  So to be ABLE to have that PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD, you MUST ACCEPT Jesus Christ as your SAVIOR and LORD, and FOLLOW HIM in OBEDIENCE to His Word.

 

This is the way we KNOW that we KNOW, we are TRULY SAVED.  We cannot be SINLESS, as He was, but we can LIVE in OBEDIENCE to Him.  And being TRULY SAVED, we can be OBEDIENT to Him and His Word, because His HOLY SPIRIT LIVES in us.  And we have the desire to PLEASE HIM through being OBEDIENT to His Word (Bible).  A TRUE BELIEVER will STRIVE to LIVE in the SAME WAY in which He LIVED, by being OBEDIENT to His HEAVENLY FATHER.  Have you RECEIVED this GIFT of SALVATION?  Do you KNOW that you KNOW that you are TRULY SAVED?

 

If you have NOT TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God, but are depending on YOUR WORKS or SOMEBODY ELSE’S WORKS. Then your ETERNITY will be in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  You MUST be OBEDIENT to God, 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 is now ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and through being OBEDIENT to Him, KNOW that you KNOW you are TRULY SAVED!  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Not Ashamed!"

“Not Ashamed!”

 

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.        1 John 2:28

 

The word ABIDING indicates a permanent living in Christ.  When a TRUE BELIEVER TRULY ABIDES in Christ, they do it in FAITH and OBEDIENCE.  This ABIDING is IMPERATIVE to the lifestyle of the BELIEVER.   It is something that the TRUE BELIEVER has to PURSUE and WORK AT, because of the sinful world we live in, we MUST STRIVE to LIVE in FAITH and OBEDIENCE to the Lord Jesus Christ.  And the ONLY WAY we can SUCCESSFULLY and TRULY be RIGHTEOUS is to LIVE or ABIDE in CHRIST JESUS.

 

Most ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, are ANXIOUSLY AWAITING the RETURN of CHRIST.  For those who are ABIDING in CHRIST, and living in FAITH and OBEDIENCE to Him, this is the time, in which, we can have CONFIDENCE and NOT be ASHAMED at His COMING, which is the RAPTURE.  Those who have been SAVED from their sins, and have PERSEVERED in FAITH and OBEDIENCE can have that CONFIDENCE, and NOT be ASHAMED, because they will stand before Christ, BLAMELESS, HOLY, and RIGHTEOUS, because they have ABIDED in Him. 

 

However, there are MANY who PROFESS to be BELIEVERS, but have NOT PERSEVERED in FAITH and OBEDIENCE, through ABIDING in CHRIST. They actually have NO relationship with Him, and they will be ASHAMED at His appearance.  Their DESTINY will be an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Is this your DESTINY? 

 

It is if you have NOT TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God.  And if you are PROFESSING but NOT POSSESSING His gift of SALVATION.  In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, you MUST TRULY HAVE a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ, and TRULY ABIDING in HIM.  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 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 ABIDE in HIM, having CONFIDENCE, and be NOT ASHAMED at His appearance.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"HOPE---A Confident Expectation"

“HOPE--- A Confident Expectation”

 

Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.    Romans 8:24-25

 

The HOPE that is spoken of in the New Testament, is not like the English word---HOPE, the New Testament HOPE does NOT contain UNCERTAINITY, but it contains the CERTAINITY of something that is yet to be REALIZED.  It is the ULTIMATE PROMISE of sharing in the GLORY of the ALMIGHTY GOD.

 

It is the CERTAINITY or HOPE of the PROMISE of God that a TRUE BELIEVER, will, one day, be FREE from SIN and DELIVERED from an ETERNAL DESTINY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS. This is POSSIBLE, because of the REDEMPTIVE WORK of His SON, on an OLD RUGGED CROSS.  And for those who will come to JESUS CHRIST for the SALVATION of their souls, by FAITH in Him, will receive the PROMISE of a BODILY REDEMPTION and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  This PROMISE brings us HOPE---the CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of this final step of the plan of SALVATION.

 

Our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also EAGERLY wait for a SAVIOR, THE Lord Jesus Christ.  He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His GLORIOUS body, by the POWER that enables Him to subject EVERYTHING to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)  This is what we, the TRUE BELIEVER, EAGERLY WAITS for.  It is our HOPE---A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of our ETERNAL DESTINY.   Do you possess this HOPE?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have NO HOPE.  Your ETERNAL DESTINY is HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE. This is NOT what God wants for you.  He has a WAY for you to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, which is; for you to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO HIM, 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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and have that HOPE---A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of your ETERNAL DESTINY---HEAVEN.  So do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Spirit of Christ in You"

“The Spirit of Christ in You”

 

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.        Romans 8:6-9

 

The UNREGENERATED person, the one who has NOT come to Jesus Christ for the SALVATION of their soul, their mind is SET on the FLESH, which is SPIRITUAL DEATH.  Meaning, when they leave this world, through DEATH, they will suffer in HELL.  Because their mind is SET on the FLESH, which is HOSTILE towards God.  Their actions is more than just DISOBEDIENCE, it is the MANFESTATIONS of the inner content of the HEART.  And they CANNOT please God, no matter what they do.  They CANNOT work, pay, bribe, or talk their way into ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  It is ONLY possible by coming through the SHED BLOOD of Jesus Christ, and RECEIVING the SPIRIT of CHRIST. 

 

The one who has come to JESUS with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and has sought FORGIVENESS, will NOT LIVE in the FLESH, but in the SPIRIT of GOD, who is INDWELLING them.  And they have been adopted into God’s Family, and their spirit will be made ALIVE for ALL of ETERNITY, even though the body will die.  But the BODY will be RESURRECTED and CHANGED into a BRAND NEW, PERFECT, and GLORIFIED BODY, one that will be EVERLASTING.  However, the one, who does NOT have the SPIRIT of CHRIST living in them, does NOT belong to the FAMILY of GOD, and will SUFFER throughout ETERNITY, with ALL the HORRORS of HELL.  Do You POSSESS the Spirit of Christ?

 

If you have NOT TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do NOT POSSESS the Spirit of Christ, and will spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  So, in order to ESCAPE HELL, and to RECEIVE the SPIRIT of CHRIST, 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 then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and LIVE by the SPIRIT because the SPIRIT of CHRIST is LIVING in you.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"The Unrepentant Heart"

“The Unrepentant Heart”

 

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the Day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.        Romans 2:5

 

One of the characteristics of an UNREPENTANT HEART is STUBBORNNESS.  It is one of Satan’s main tools to prevent a person from coming to God for FORGIVENESS, and the SALVATION of their soul.  STUBBORNNESS is an inherent characteristic, and for some, it poses to become a REAL, FULL-BLOWN problem.  When it comes to a person’s UNREPENTANT HEART, it is a VERY CRUCIAL PROBLEM, which will determine their ETERNITY.  It is also a SURE-FIRE way of Satan keeping you away FROM God and sending you to an ETERNITY in Hell.

 

When a person comes to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, seeking the FORGIVENESS of their sins, they will RECEIVE that FORGIVENESS, and ALL their sins are FORGIVEN, PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.  Jesus Christ DIED and was RISEN from the GRAVE, ONCE FOR ALL.  So ALL sins are COVERED by His BLOOD, and are FORGIVEN and FORGOTTEN, as far as the EAST is from the WEST.  (Psalm 103:12)

 

But for the UNREPENTANT HEARTS, which STUBBORNLY REJECTS God’s gift of SALVATION, and an ETERNITY in Heaven with ALL its BLESSINGS, they are STORING up GOD’S WRATH against themselves.  This WRATH will be poured out on them at the Day of Judgment, when God’s RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT will be revealed.  And those who are in this situation, will SUFFER ALL through ETERNITY, in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  Is this where you are?

 

You can change your DESTINY NOW, by WILLINGLY 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.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, and ESCAPE HIS WRATH!  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"PRAY!"

“PRAY!”

 

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”       Matthew 6:6

 

Jesus is giving His disciples a crucial lesson in PRAYING, in this chapter of the Book of Matthew.  PRAYER is a LIFELINE to the Heavenly Father, for the TRUE BELIEVER.  It is also the means of obtaining SALVATION.  The Scripture in 1 John 1:9 says: “If we CONFESS our sins, He is FAITHFUL and JUST to FORGIVE us our sins and to CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness.”  This act is carried out through PRAYER, and brings us the gift of SALVATION.  This PRAYER is the FIRST and ONLY PRAYER that will CAPTURE the HEART of the LIVING GOD.  It is IMPERATIVE that you have done EXACTLY what 1 John 1:9 has said, if you expect your PRAYERS to be HEARD by the ALMIGHTY GOD. 

 

We live in DIFFICULT TIMES, and I hate to say it, but I BELIEVE that it will only get worse.  For the TRUE BELIEVER in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, we have our LIFELINE to the Father, and can TALK DIRECTLY to HIM anytime.  Jesus tells us in our Scripture, today, that we NEED to have a “SPECIAL TIME” to talk with our Heavenly Father, we NEED to GO into our room, CLOSE the door, and PRAY to Him, who is UNSEEN.  God, who SEES and KNOWS EVERYTHING, will HEAR our PRAYER, and will REWARD us ACCORDINGLY.  We cannot afford to NOT have that INTIMATE TIME ALONE with Him.  We must MAKE it an EFFORT and MAKE TIME FOR HIM.  It MUST BE the MOST IMPORTANT thing you do EVERYDAY.  COMMUNICATE with Him, THROUGH your PRAYERS, and BE ASSURED that He HEARS and WILL ANSWER, according to HIS WILL.  He DESIRES to have an INTIMATE, CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with His CHILDREN.  Are you His Child? 

 

If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to Him, you are NOT His CHILD, you are His CREATION, but NOT His CHILD, because you have NOT been ADOPTED into His Family.  And He will NOT HEAR any of your prayers, UNTIL, you PRAY to HIM for the SALVATION of YOUR SOUL.  In Psalm 66:19, the Psalmist tells us:  “If I had ignored my sins, the Lord would NOT have listened to me.”  So 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.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and GO to Him DAILY and PRAY, LIFTING UP to HIM, WORDS of ADORATION, PRAISE, and REQUESTS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Receiving Mercy and Finding Grace"

“Receiving Mercy and Finding Grace”

 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.       Hebrews 4:16

 

Living a Christian life is NOT easy, especially in this day and age.  We LIVE in the world, but we are NOT to partake of the things of the world, things that are contrary to the WILL and WAYS of the ALMIGHTY GOD.  Being a Christian, a TRUE BELIEVER in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must conduct ourselves in a manner that would exemplify our relationship with Him.  This can be difficult to do, but NOT IMPOSSIBLE, as long as we DEPEND on the HOLY SPIRIT of God to GUIDE us.  However, there may be times when we are WEAK and in NEED of MERCY and GRACE to help us STAY the COURSE.

 

Our Scripture, today, tells us to COME to the Throne of Grace, with CONFIDENCE.  When Jesus, died and rose from the grave, He paid the price for the REDEMPTION of ALL of MANKIND.  His SACRIFICIAL BLOOD was brought before the Throne of Grace and poured out on the ALTAR as the ULTIMATE, ONCE FOR ALL, SACRIFICE, which cleared the way for MANKIND to RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY, which is NOT receiving what WE DESERVE, but instead we FIND HIS GRACE, which is RECEIVING the BLESSING of SALVATION that we do NOT DESERVE. 

 

God is MERCIFUL, and is therefore, offering His MERCY to those who have NOT RECEIVED it, and are destined for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  He is GRACIOUS, and when you RECEIVE His MERCY, you WILL FIND His GRACE, the BLESSING of SALVATION, which you DO NOT DESERVE on your OWN MERITS. 

 

If you have RECEIVED HIS MERCY, and FOUND HIS GRACE, then you can come to His Throne of GRACE, with CONFIDENCE that He will provide you with help in the time of your need.  But in order for you to do this.   You MUST FIRST come to His Throne of GRACE, 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 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 RECEIVE His MERCY and FIND His GRACE, the BLESSING of your ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Inheritance"

“The Inheritance”

 

In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.  In Him you also, when you heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.     Ephesians 1:11, 13-14

 

I have never received a TRUE inheritance.  But I have one NOW, which I will receive in FULL, when I reach my Heavenly Home.  Because of the REDEMPTIVE work of Jesus Christ, I have OBTAINED an INHERITANCE.  I not only HAVE an INHERITANCE, but I have been MADE an INHERITANCE for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Before creation, God predestined that ALL, both Jews and Gentiles, who BELIEVE and ACCEPT Jesus Christ as their SAVIOR and Lord, will RECEIVE this INHERITANCE, which is the FULL and COMPLETED SALVATION.  It is ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its RICHES and BLESSINGS. 

 

The TRUE BELIEVER, being the INHERITANCE for Christ Jesus, is that they BELONG to Him, they are His BODY, BRIDE and His TEMPLE.  They are His REWARD, His INHERITANCE.  When one HEARS the Word of Truth, and BELIEVES in CHRIST JESUS, then the PROMISED Holy Spirit indwells the TRUE BELIEVER, GUARANTEEING their INHERITANCE until they ACQUIRE POSSESSION of it.  Do you have this INHERITANCE awaiting YOU?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then I’m afraid you do NOT POSSESS this INHERITANCE.  Instead, you are destined to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Your ONLY HOPE for this INHERITANCE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, is for you to 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 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 RECEIVE your INHERITANCE of ETERNAL LIFE with CHRIST in HEAVEN.  So do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Results of Forgiveness"

“The Results of Forgiveness”

 

“I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”        Acts 26:17-18

 

These Scriptures are a part of the Apostle Paul’s recounting his calling to the ministry of Christ, by the Lord Jesus Christ, who commissioned Paul to carry the GOOD NEWS to the Jewish people and primarily to the Gentiles.  These are the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ to Paul.

 

Jesus was sending Paul to both the Jews and the Gentiles, but his commission was primarily to the Gentile nations, because the biggest part of the Jewish people would not accept his message, but the Gentiles, for the most part, did accept it.  The Lord gave us a real CLEAR picture of the RESULTS of FORGIVENESS.  Let us look at the very FIRST thing He mentions:  To OPEN their EYES, you see an UNFORGIVEN, UNBELIEVER is SPIRITUALLY BLIND, which means they cannot SEE or UNDERSTAND the TRUE NATURE of GOD nor His Word.  They are SPIRITUALLY living in a SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.  So Paul must OPEN their eyes to the TRUE NATURE of God, and His LOVE for them.  This is IMPERATIVE for him, to be able to bring them from the DARKNESS of their SINFULNESS and into the LIGHT of God’s LOVE, which is exemplified by the REDEMPTIVE ACT of His SON, Jesus Christ.  This MUST BE DONE, before they can receive FORGIVENESS. 

 

When this is accomplished, then they can be RELEASED from the POWER of SATAN to GOD, and then they will receive FORGIVENESS of their sins.  The ULTIMATE RESULT of FORGIVENESS is; an INHERITANCE that is ETERNAL, and they will take their place among those who are SANCTIFIED or SET APART, by their FAITH in JESUS CHRIST.  So the RESULTS of FORGIVENESS are:  Receiving their SPIRITUAL SIGHT, BEING brought from the DARKNESS of their SINFUL LIFESTYLE to the LIGHT of GOD’S LOVE, and to BE SET FREE from the POWER of Satan to God.  Then to RECEIVE the INHERITANCE of an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL of its BLESSINGS.   Are you SPIRITUALLY BLIND, living in DARKNESS, under the POWER of SATAN, who will lead you STRAIGHT to HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then that is EXACTLY where you are HEADED.  However, God is giving you the opportunity NOW, to be brought out of your SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, and into SPIRITUAL SIGHT.  He wants to bring you out of the DARKNESS of your SINFULNESS and into the LIGHT of His LOVE, and to BE SET FREE from the POWER of Satan.  He wants you to have that SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE of 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.  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 experience the RESULTS of His FORGIVENESS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"The Lord's Charge"

“The Lord’s Charge”

 

Hear the Word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land:  “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.  By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed.     Hosea 4:1

 

Even though this message was given for the nation of Israel, it sure is a STRONG CASE for the Lord God, against many other nations today.  We live our lives in peril and uncertainty.  Our future holds a lot of UNCERTAIN outlooks, we make plans, but we don’t know if we will be able to carry out those plans.  Proverbs 16:9 tells us:  “A man’s heart plans his way.  But the Lord directs his steps.”  Even nations will attempt to make plans, but the Psalmist tells us in Psalm 33:10: “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing:  He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.”  So we SHOULD LIVE according to the WILL of the ALMIGHTY GOD, who is in TOTAL CONTROL of EVERYTHING.

 

As it was for the Children of Israel, the nation was NOT LIVING according to God’s covenant.  And MUCH AS it is TODAY, the NATION was living in SIN.  There was NO TRUTH, MERCY, or KNOWLEDGE of GOD.  Instead the inhabitants were LYING, KILLING, STEALING, and COMMITTING ADULTRY.  They were devoid of FAITHFULNESS, LOVE and MERCY.  This was/is NOT PLEASING to God, and because of their SINFUL DEEDS, the Lord brought a CHARGE AGAINST the inhabitants of the land, and JUDGMENT was carried out in the matter of a SEVERE DROUGHT, which swept across the land, and people and animals perished.  Then came RESTORATION because of the people’s REPENTANT HEARTS.

 

What is it going to take for the NATIONS of today, whose inhabitants are living sinful lives, to TURN AWAY FROM THAT SIN, and to TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART?  Just as God had a CASE against Israel, He truly has a CASE AGAINST the NATIONS of today.  What will be the JUDGMENT for these nations and their inhabitants?  Are you contributing to the SINFUL CONDITION of your nation?  PROBABLY SO, if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are headed for His JUDGMENT, and an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  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.  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 spend ALL of ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!