"A Ransom for Redemption"

“A Ransom for Redemption”

No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them---the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough---so that they should live on forever and not see decay.               Psalm 49:7-9



God created mankind, with the ability to live FOREVER, somewhere, either HEAVEN or HELL.  The wise and the foolish all face a PHYSICAL death, where the BODY dies, ceases to exist, but the SPIRITUAL body, will spend ETERNITY somewhere.  And God has given mankind the opportunity to make their OWN choice, as to where they will spend that ETERNITY.  What I am saying is THERE IS LIFE AFTER the DEATH of the PHYSICAL BODY.  And the ONLY WAY for you to prove me right or wrong is to die, and find out for yourself, but then it will be to late, and you cannot come back from the dead to PROVE it.



Our Psalmist, tells us that:  “NO ONE can REDEEM the life of another or give to God a RANSOM for them---the RANSOM for a life is COSTLY, NO payment is ever enough---”  In other words, no matter how RICH you are, you DON’T have the way or means to obtain ETERNAL LIFE for another nor for yourself, for that matter.  Because ETERNAL LIFE is COSTLY, after all, God GAVE His ONLY SON to DIE, in order that those who BELIEVE on His NAME, and ACCEPTS Him into their HEARTS, might have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with all its BLESSINGS.  Ephesians 1:7, says:  “In Him we HAVE REDEMPTION through His BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s GRACE.” 



This is the ONLY WAY that mankind can be REDEEMED.  The RANSOM is the SHED BLOOD, of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  For the UNBELIEVER, they are DESTINED for an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  The RANSOM has already been paid for the REDEMPTION of those who will ACCEPT IT by FAITH.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you will SPEND your ETERNAL LIFE in HELL.  But God is giving you an opportunity NOW, to change your DESTINY by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and KNOW that the RANSOM for your REDEMPTION has been PAID IN FULL, and you will receive an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Believing=Eternal Life"

“Believing=Eternal life”

Anyone who believes in Him (Jesus Christ) is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.    John 3:18

To BELIEVE is to have confidence or faith in the TRUTH of the existence or credibility of something or someone.  To BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ, is to put your FAITH and TRUST in the very name of JESUS, not ONLY in the PERSON, but in the very NAME of the ONE and ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD.  Because the NAME tells us exactly who the person is, and we are acquainted with Him on a more PERSONAL level, it is one thing to SEE or recognize the person, and it is another thing to KNOW their name.

It is the WILL of God, the Father, that EVERYONE who SEES the Son and BELIEVES in Him may have eternal life.  And they will be raised up on the LAST DAY. (John 6:40) But, those who DO NOT BELIEVE are CONDEMNED, because they DO NOT BELIEVE in the NAME of the ONE and ONLY SON of GOD.  Because, there is SALVATION in NO ONE else, for there is NO OTHER NAME under Heaven given to people, by which they MUST BE SAVED. (Acts 4:12)   And EVERYONE who CALLS on the NAME of the Lord Jesus shall be SAVED from an ETERNITY in HELL.  (Acts 2:21) 

 Do you BELIEVE?  Have you ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST as your SAVIOR and LORD?  If you are REJECTING God’s gift, His ONE and ONLY SON, then you are already CONDEMNED to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after you’re there.  The ONLY WAY to ESCAPE HELL, is to BELIEVE and ACCEPT JESUS as your SAVIOR and LORD.  And be WILLING=to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION, and BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST, and ACCEPT an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"God is GREAT!"

“God is GREAT!”

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation continually say, “God is great!”       Psalm 70:4



How GREAT is our God?  He is GREAT enough to be our ROCK, FORTRESS, DELIEVERER, and the MOUNTAIN, where we RUN to and SEEK REFUGE, in times of TROUBLE.  He is our SHIELD, and the HORN of our SALVATION, He is our STRONGHOLD in times of NEED. (Ps. 18:2) Isn’t it WONDERFUL to have the ASSURANCE of the LOVING ARMS of our HEAVENLY FATHER, wrapped around His Child, and speaking PEACE and COMFORT to their TROUBLED SOUL?



The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 94:19: “When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me Joy.”  We too, can have JOY in our souls, when we are in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP, with God.  He wants to COMFORT us in our times of despair and heartache, because of His GREAT UNFAILING LOVE, and His ABUNDANT MERCY and His AMAZING GRACE.  But, in order for you to experience the GREATNESS of the ALMIGHTY GOD, you MUST HAVE a RELATIONSHIP with Him, and that is ONLY POSSIBLE through His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who gave His own LIFE to SAVE your LIFE, and to give you an ETERNAL HOME in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  And for you to be able to ESCAPE HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. 



In order for you to have this PROMISE, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION, and start EXPERIENCING the GREATNESS of the ALMIGHTY GOD, and to be able to proclaim from the rooftop: “God is GREAT!!”  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!







  

"Who is My Strength?"

“Who is My Strength?”

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore, my heart rejoices, and I praise Him with my song. The Lord is the strength of His people; He is a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.     Psalm 28:7,8



To me, these two verses of Scripture, are some of the most beautiful verses that King David ever penned.  When I am WEAK in, not only, my body, but especially my spirit, and I think of where I can receive some STRENGTH to carry on, I, like King David, go to the ROCK of my SALVATION.  Because, the LORD is my STRENGTH, and in Him, I can and will receive the STRENGTH I NEED.



And because He is my STRENGTH and my SHIELD, my HEART can and will TRUST in Him.  He lifts my feet out of the miry clay and sets them on the SOLID ROCK, which is the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and He is the SOURCE of my SALVATION.  And because I KNOW God’s UNFAILING LOVE is the FOUNDATION of my STRENGTH, my HEART REJOICES and yes, even though I cannot sing, I can make a JOYFUL NOISE to the LORD with my songs of PRAISE, which brings my HEART BURSTING with LOVE and ADORATION for MY STRENGTH and MY SHIELD is the LORD GOD, ALMIGHTY. 



Verse eight, says that the LORD is the STRENGTH of His people; He is the STRONGHOLD of SALVATION for His anointed, those who are CALLED to be His Children, those who have given their HEARTS and LIVES to Him, and have TRUSTED in His SALVATION, and His UNFAILING LOVE.  Therefore, they can REST ASSURED, that He IS their STRENGTH and the STRONGHOLD of their SALVATION.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you do NOT possess this inner STRENGTH, which, is the LORD GOD.  And you are destined to spend your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after you’re there. 



But you can change that DESTINY, by TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING to GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him be your STRENGTH, SHIELD, and STRONGHOLD, and receive HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, as your ETERNAL HOME.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"What About Tomorrow?"

“What About Tomorrow?”

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.    Matthew 6:34



We are living in UNCERTAIN times, and these times are a hot-bed for FEAR, WORRY, DOUBTS and a LACK of FAITH in the ONE who is ABLE to HELP us in our times of NEED.  Matthew tells his readers, that we are NOT to WORRY about what TOMORROW might HOLD, because even though we DO NOT KNOW what tomorrow holds, those of us who are God’s TRUE CHILDREN, knows who HOLDS tomorrow.



As the Apostle Paul told the TRUE BELIEVERS in CORINTH, so the TRUE BELIEVERS of today, also KNOW that:  God is ABLE to make EVERY GRACE overflow to us, so that in EVERY WAY, ALWAYS having EVERYTHING we NEED, that we may EXCEL in EVERY GOOD WORK.  (2 Corinthians 9:8)



In other words, our GOD is ABLE to supply ALL our NEEDS, and we NEED NOT to WORRY about what TOMORROW HOLDS.  Because GOD is ABLE to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than we ASK or IMAGINE, according to HIS POWER that is at work WITHIN us.  And when we PUT all our CARES and BURDENS on Him, He is ABLE to BEAR ALL that we bring.  This is a GOOD DEMONSTRATION of our FAITH in Him, and it dispels the FEAR, WORRY, and DOUBTS about what TOMORROW HOLDS, because we KNOW and TRUST in the One who HOLDS TOMORROW.  Do you TRUST in GOD for your TOMORROWS?



You can, if you will GIVE your HEART and LIFE to Him. And become His Child, He will bring you COMFORT and PEACE when your tomorrows are UNSETTLING and UNRESTFUL.  He will be with you and will SEE YOU through EACH TOMORROW, if you are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS, God’s ONLY SON, died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God. And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let GOD HOLD ALL your TOMORROWS, because He is ABLE.  And have PEACE and COMFORT KNOWING you have HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!


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"The Good Shepherd and Guardian of Our Souls"

“The Good Shepherd and Guardian of Our Souls.”

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; you have been healed by His wounds.  For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.      1 Peter 2:24-25



In this Scripture, in verse twenty-four, we see Christ’s involvement in God’s PERFECT PLAN of SALVATION for mankind.  First, we see that He BORE or CARRIED OUR sins to the Cross of CALVARY, so that having DIED to SINS, WE might LIVE for RIGHTEOUSNESS; In other words, He who KNEW NO SIN, BECAME SIN, by carrying OUR SINS to His SUBSTITUTIONARY DEATH on that OLD RUGGED CROSS.   He SUFFERED for the TRUE BELIEVER to be able to FOLLOW His example, both in our SUFFERING and in our LIVING a RIGHTEOUS life.  He was/is NOT ONLY our SAVIOR of our sins, but He was/is the HEALER of our SIN SICK souls.  The sentence here:  “You have been HEALED by His wounds,” refers to our SPIRITUAL HEALING, and NOT a PHYSICAL HEALING.



Verse twenty-five, says that we are LIKE SHEEP going astray, but we have TURNED ABOUT to the GOOD SHEPHERD and GUARDIAN of our SOULS.  In John 10:11, Jesus, says: “I am the GOOD SHEPHERD. The GOOD SHEPHERD lays down His life for the sheep.”  And that is EXACTLY what Jesus did.  He laid down His LIFE for mankind.  He being the GOOD SHEPHERD, and MANKIND being the SHEEP.  In verses 14-15, of the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John:  Jesus goes on to say: “I am the GOOD SHEPHERD.  I know My own sheep, and they KNOW Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father.  I lay down My life for the sheep.”



The Prophet Isaiah, shows us a good picture of the Pre-incarnate Christ, as not only a SHEPHERD, but as a GUARDIAN as well.  In chapter forty, verse eleven, Isaiah says: “He PROTECTS His flock like a SHEPHERD; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the folds of His garment.”  A GUARDIAN is one who GUARDS, PROTECTS or PRESERVES. And that is what JESUS does, until He RETURNS to gather ALL of God’s PRECIOUS FLOCK up to their ETERNAL HOME, HEAVEN.  Is JESUS your GOOD SHEPHERD and GUARDIAN?  Do you have an ETERNAL HOME in HEAVEN?



If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your answer to both of these questions is NO.  In order to have JESUS as your GOOD SHEPHERD and GUARDIAN, and HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME, and to be 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. And CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him be your GOOD SHEPHERD and the GUARDIAN of your SOUL.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Most Perfect, Accepted Sacrifice"

“The Most Perfect, Accepted Sacrifice”

He entered the most holy place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.      Hebrews 9:12







Jesus Christ, the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, SINLESS SON of the LIVING GOD, is the PERFECT, ACCEPTED SACRIFICE, whereby mankind might be SAVED from their sins and from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there. 



For Christ did NOT enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into Heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.  He did NOT do this to offer Himself many times, as the High Priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of ANOTHER.  But He has appeared ONE time, at the end of the ages for the REMOVAL of SIN by the SACRIFICE of HIMSELF. (vv24-26)



For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,  how MUCH MORE will the BLOOD of Jesus Christ, who through the ETERNAL SPIRIT offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to SERVE the LIVING GOD? (vv13-14)



He did this so that those who are CALLED might receive the PROMISE of the ETERNAL INHERITANCE, because a death has taken place for REDEMPTION from transgressions committed under the Old Covenant.  Without the SHEDDING of BLOOD there is NO FORGIVENESS.  (v15,22)  And just as it is APPOINTED for people to DIE ONCE---and after this, the JUDGMENT---so also CHRIST JESUS, having been offered ONCE to bear the sins of MANY, will appear a SECOND TIME, NOT to bear sin, but to bring the act of SALVATION to completion for those who are WAITING for Him.  Are you WAITING for God’s PERFECT, ACCEPTED SACRIFICE, the LORD JESUS CHRIST to RETURN, and then the JUDGMENT?



If the thought of CHRIST’S RETURN puts FEAR in your HEART, because you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you SHOULD be FEARFUL of your DESTINY, without Christ.  In order for you to have an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS, the ONE and ONLY PERFECT and ACCEPTED SACRIFICE, of the LIVING GOD, died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be LOOKING FORWARD to the RETURN of JESUS CHRIST.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Overcoming Temptation"

“Overcoming Temptation”

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.     1 Corinthians 10:13



TEMPTATION, the act of being TEMPTED, especially to evil.  Mankind, is subject to TEMPTATION, every day.  Both BELEIVER and UNBELIEVER, the difference is the CONDITION of one’s HEART, and what one does with the TEMPTATION. 



For the UNBELIEVER, they are not ONLY ATTRACTED to the TEMPTATION, but they are constantly LIVING a FALLEN LIFESTYLE, meaning that TEMPTATION has WON the battle in their life.  They are DEFEATED, and SIN and DISOBEDIENCE to God is controlling their very existence.  They cannot, on their OWN, SAVE themselves from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING, once they have reached their DESTINY.  



However, for the TRUE BELIEVERS, they are a POSSESSION of the Almighty God, they are His Children, and He will NOT allow them to be TEMPTED beyond what they are able to handle.  With the TEMPTATION, He will PROVIDE a WAY of ESCAPE so that they can bear it.   This is possible because, there is NO TEMPTATION that has OVERTAKEN them, except what is COMMON to HUMANITY.  The ONLY WAY for the TRUE BELIEVER to fall to the TEMPTATION is through their OWN DESIRES of the FLESH, and their WILLINGNESS to fulfill those DESIRES.



The Holy Spirit of God indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, and it is His place to bring CONVICTION into the HEART of MANKIND, when they are TEMPTED and FALL to the TEMPTATION, in order to SATISFY the FLESH.  It is the TRUE BELIEVER’S place to TURN AWAY FROM the TEMPTATIONS and TURN TO GOD, ASKING and SEEKING a way to ESCAPE the clutches of that DASTARDLY DEVIL, who wants NOTHING MORE than to SHAME the TRUE BELIEVER, before their HEAVENLY FATHER.  And God WILL PROVIDE a WAY of ESCAPE, in order for them to bear it.  If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, and you have FALLEN to the TEMPTATION, God is FAITHFUL and READY to show you the WAY to be a VICTOR and OVERCOME the TEMPTATION.  So, go to Him, NOW, and CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  TRUSTING Him, for His POWER to DELIVER you.  DRAW CLOSE to Him, and He will DRAW CLOSE to you.  Do this NOW!



If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are destined for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS.  However, God is giving you the opportunity NOW, for you to come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and a WILLINGNESS to TURN AWAY FROM your TEMPTATIONS, and SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and to CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS CHRIST died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become His Child, an OVERCOMER, and VICTOR over your TEMPTATIONS. And receive HEAVEN, as your ETERNAL HOME.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Righteousness Based on Faith"

“Righteousness Based on Faith”

Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found  in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ---the righteousness from God based on faith.     Philippians 3:8b-9



The Apostle Paul is basically telling us that:  Everything he had that he looked at as GAIN, he NOW, considered it to be a LOSS because of his RELATIONSHIP with Christ.  And also, in view of the SURPASSING VALUE of KNOWING Christ Jesus as his Lord.  And he felt this in his HEART, so that he might GAIN CHRIST.



Paul KNEW that his own RIGHTEOUSNESS, which would come from keeping the law, was NOTHING more than FILTHY RAGS, in comparison to the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the ALMIGHTY GOD.  And Paul’s own RIGHTEOUSNESS could NOT give him a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God.  But he MUST obtain RIGHTEOUSNESS through the LORD JESUS CHRIST---RIGHTEOUSNESS from GOD, and based on FAITH.



Paul also tells us that: “God presented Him (Christ Jesus), to demonstrate His RIGHTEOUSNESS at the present time, so that He would be RIGHTEOUS and declare RIGHTEOUS the one who has FAITH in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)  In order to obtain the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God, you MUST be a TRUE BELIEVER, one who has given their HEART AND LIFE to Him. And possesses FAITH in Him as God’s Son, the REDEEMER of ALL mankind, and the ONLY WAY to obtain an ETERNAL LIFE 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.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you, before God.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS based on your FAITH.  And ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO RELIEF whatsoever.   So, do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Humility by Obedience"

“Humility by Obedience”

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.  He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death---even to death on a cross.    Philippians 2:5,8



The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippian believers, asked that they would have the same attitude of Christ Jesus.  And you might ask:  What is the ATTITUDE of Christ Jesus?”  So, we are going to look at some of our Lord’s attributes that make Him, who He is. 



First, verse seven, tells us that; “He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.”  This word “emptied” means that He made Himself NOTHING, and became a MAN.  He, even though He was God in the FLESH, did NOT consider Himself EQUAL with God, the King of Glory. He did not use His DEITY as something to use for His own ADVANTAGE.  He HUMBLED Himself to the lowest form of humanity, in the eyes of mankind, and He became a SERVANT, by taking on the very NATURE of a LOWLY SERVANT.   He, who is KING of Kings and LORD or Lords, became a POOR SERVANT. 



He who was EVERY BIT GOD, was also EVERY BIT MAN, but He was different in the aspect that He was SINLESS.  He, who knew NO SIN, became SIN, in order for MANKIND to have SALVATION and an ETERNAL HOME in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.



Jesus Christ, was truly MAN in other areas.  He experienced pain, anger, happiness, sleeplessness, hunger, all forms of discomfort.  Yet He HUMBLED Himself, by being OBEDIENT to the point of DEATH, and not from natural causes, but from the MOST DESPICABLE form of death---even DEATH on a cross!  This form of punishment, was for the WORST criminals, yet, Christ went WILLINGLY to the CROSS, in order for ALL MANKIND to have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  



We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, need to have the SAME ATTITUDE of CHRIST, and be HUMBLED by our OBEDIENCE to our HEAVENLY FATHER, WILLINGLY doing ALL that He wants us to do. FOLLOWING His Word, and LIVING by His SPIRIT, and NOT by the FLESH.  Are you HUMBLED because of your OBEDIENCE to Father God?  



If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT FOLLOWING His SON, and you will NOT INHERIT an ETERNITY in HEAVEN. But your destiny is an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after your there.  But IF you WILL HUMBLE yourself by being OBEDIENT to God’s Word, and TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. And CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  And ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and HUMBLE yourself by your OBEDIENCE, you will receive an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Resist the Enemy!"

“Resist the Enemy!”

Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.  Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.   Now the God of all grace, who called you to His Eternal Glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.     1 Peter 5:8-10



The World in which we live is FULL of the Devil’s handiwork.  Peter, the Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, gives us a WARNING and ENCOURAGEMENT for our Spiritual well-being.  The first thing Peter tells us is, for us, who are the TRUE BELIEVERS of Jesus Christ, to BE SERIOUS! And BE ALERT!  Don’t let the Devil catch you off guard and weakened in your FAITH.  But we SHOULD have a STRONG CONFIDENCE in God’s UNFAILING LOVE, and His SOVEREIGN POWER over that DASTARDLY EVIL Devil, who wants nothing more than to SHAME you, in God’s presence. 



The Devil is CONSTANTLY prowling around like a ROARING lion, looking for those who are VULNERABLE, WEAK and MISGUIDED in their FAITH, those who are easy targets.  Peter tells us to RESIST him and to be FIRM in the FAITH.  This word RESIST means: to withstand or oppose.  And the way to RESIST the Devil is to be STEADFAST or to STAND FIRM in your FAITH in JESUS CHRIST, who by the way, has ALREADY DEFEATED the Devil.  This means to LIVE according to God’s Word, LIVE by the SPIRIT of God, and to OBEY the Word of God. 



All of God’s Children are going through like trials and sufferings, and we MUST put our FAITH and TRUST in God, who will SEE us through the TOUGH TIMES.  We MUST PERSERVE in order to OVERCOME, to reap the BLESSINGS of an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN. 



So, REMEMBER, the God of ALL grace, the One who CALLED you to His ETERNAL GLORY in Christ JESUS, will PERSONALLY RESTORE, ESTABLISH, STRENGTHEN, and SUPPORT you after your sufferings.  This SUFFERING is TEMPORARY, and is bringing us into the state of PERFECTION for God’s ETERNAL KINGDOM.



However, for the UNBELIEVER, your SUFFERINGS are permanent and will be INTENSIFIED, many, many, times over, as you spend your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after you’re there.  In order to CHANGE your destiny, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS. BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and BE SERIOUS! BE ALERT! and RESIST the DEVIL, by STANDING FIRM in the FAITH.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Never Forsaken"

“Never Forsaken”

Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.    Psalm 9:10



We are living in a sinful, wicked World, and we are susceptible to MANY things that can WRECK our WORLD, such as Covid-19.  The last couple of months, have proven to many of us, just how FRAGILE and VULNERABLE we are.  I would venture to say that the Throne-room of Heaven has been bombarded with prayers for God’s protection, and maybe even asking that He would make this HORRIBLE THREAT to mankind disappear.



Now, for “those who KNOW His Name, which indicates that they are the ones who have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP, with Him, they are the ones who TRUST Him, not ONLY for this life, but for their ETERNITY.  Should it be His will, to take His TRUE CHILDREN home to HEAVEN, they have that ASSURANCE, and they KNOW this, because of His UNFAILING LOVE, and He has NEVER FORSAKEN them.  They may have to face adversities and hardships, just like ANYONE ELSE, but the difference is the outcome.  For the TRUE BELIEVER, God will either, take them through the adversity, or take them HOME to HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, for ALL ETERNITY.  Either way, GOD has NOT FORSAKEN His Children.



In Psalm 37:25, King David penned: “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”  This does NOT mean, that when one becomes a Child of God, they will NOT face ADVERSITIES, if anything they may find themselves facing HORRIBLE situations, but they KNOW, they can TRUST in GOD to provide a way, where  there is NO WAY, whether He takes them through or takes them HOME, He will NEVER FORSAKE them.



However, for the UNBELIEVER, those who have NO RELATIONSHIP with God, the Prophet Isaiah, warns: “Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption!  They have FORSAKEN the LORD; they have spurned the HOLY ONE of Israel and turned their backs on Him.” God’s wrath will fall on them, and they will not only suffer the adversities here, but also throughout ALL of ETERNITY.  They will stand CONDEMNED before the, HOLY RIGHTEOUS GOD of the UNIVERSE, and will spend their ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after they are there.  Is this your destiny? 



God has a plan for YOU to be able to ESCAPE that DESTINY.  He has provided a WAY for you to spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and TRUST Him with ALL your being, because HE WILL NEVER FORSAKE you.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Blot Out, Wash Away, and Cleanse!"

“Blot Out, Wash Away, and Cleanse!”

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.   Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.                   Psalm 51:1-2



King David penned this Psalm, which is a PETITION of PRAYER for God’s FORGIVENESS of his SINS.  David ACKNOWLEDGED his sin with Bathsheba, but this prayer came a year after his transgression with her.  Could it have been that David tried to RATIONALIZE his sin, like so many people do, today?  Maybe, he thought that God’s UNFAILING LOVE would cause Him to look the other way, because David had NOT felt his own guilt. And it had been about a year after the sin took place.  And when the Prophet Nathan confronted David with his transgression.  David realized and ACKNOWLEDGED his sins, before God.



So, we too, like David, need to SEEK the MERCY of the ALMIGHTY GOD, appealing to His UNFAILING LOVE and His GREAT COMPASSION.  Pleading to Him, that He would BLOT OUT or ERASE, our TRANSGRESSIONS, the VIOLATIONS of God’s Laws. 



And we too, need to ask Him to WASH AWAY ALL our iniquity or WICKEDNESS, and to CLEANSE us from our SINS. Sin stains our WRETCHED souls, and when those sins are UNCONFESSED, we are UNRIGHTEOUS before the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS God of the Universe.  And our UNRIGHTEOUSNESS is like FILTHY, PUTRIED, rags to God.  We have NO RIGHTEOUSNESS, and we are UNCLEAN and in need of being CLEANSED, by the SHED BLOOD of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, because without the SHEDDING of HIS blood, there is NO REMISSION of SINS. And we cannot have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God, except through the CLEANSING or PURIFYING of our souls. 



A person who has NOT given their HEART and LIFE to God, is UNCLEAN and UNRIGHTEOUS, they are DOOMED to spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there.  BUT GOD, in His UNFAILING LOVE and GREAT COMPASSION is willing to BLOT OUT your transgressions, WASH AWAY ALL your iniquity, and to CLEANSE YOU FROM your SINS, if you are willing to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO Him, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him BLOT OUT your transgressions, WASH AWAY ALL your iniquity and CLEANSE you from ALL your sins.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Plan

“The Plan”

 God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.   Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.     John 3:16-18



God’s plan for the SALVATION of mankind, was brought about because of His ABUNDANT MERCY, AMAZING GRACE and His AWESOME, UNFAILING LOVE for the Crown of His Creation, MANKIND.  In John, chapter one, it tells us that:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD was GOD.  This is referring to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and verse four tells us that: “In Him, (Jesus) was LIFE, and that LIFE was the LIGHT of ALL MANKIND.  But the World did NOT recognize Him.  Yet to ALL who did RECEIVE Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God. (v12)



You see, the world was so SINFUL and HOPELESS, without any way to RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and to be able to ESCAPE HELL, with ALL it’s HORRORS.  So, God’s PLAN was to provide a WAY for mankind to be FREED from their SINFUL LIFE, by providing a SPOTLESS SACRIFICE, one who was ABLE to carry out the PLAN of SALVATION.  So, the WORD became flesh and made His dwelling among mankind.  The ONE and ONLY SON, Jesus Christ, came from the FATHER, full of GRACE and TRUTH.  And He was/is the ONLY WAY for mankind to be REDEEMED and for them to become a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD. 



Whoever BELIEVES in the SON of God has ETERNAL LIFE, but whoever REJECTS the Son will NOT see life, for God’s WRATH remains on them. (3:36) And their DESTINY is ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  



Part of God’s PLAN is for those who are the CALLED, to take the Gospel to a LOST and DYING world.  Jesus gave His life so that the World might be SAVED.  He LIVED, He DIED, and was RESURRECTED, and shortly after His resurrection, He gave instructions to His Disciples; “Go into ALL the world and PREACH the gospel to ALL creation.   Whoever BELIEVES and is baptized will be SAVED, but whoever does NOT BELIEVE will be CONDEMNED.”  Will this be your FATE??



It will be, IF you REJECT God’s PLAN of SALVATION, by REJECTING His Only Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.   If you have NOT BELIEVED in God’s SON, nor ACCEPTED God’s PLAN of SALVATION, you will stand CONDEMNED to an ETERNITY in HELL.  However, you NOW have the OPPORTUNITY to ACCEPT GOD’S PLAN, and become His Child, with an ETERNAL HOME in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, IF you are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS. BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and God’s PLAN for your ETERNITY.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Called"

“The Called”

For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.  Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.                                   1 Corinthians 1:22-25



The CALLED, those whose SPIRITUAL EYES have been opened to BELIEVE the BLESSED GOSPEL of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  The Apostle Paul’s ministry was mainly to the Gentiles, anyone who was not Jewish.  Paul and the other CALLED-OUT ones PREACHED CHRIST CRUCIFIED, and this became a STUMBLING BLOCK to those of the Jewish faith and it was FOOLISHNESS to the GENTILES. 



It was/is NOT by mankind’s desire nor their initiative that they are drawn to the GOSPEL, but it was/is by GOD CALLING them, and their POSITIVE response, in which they saw things in a different perspective.   What was once a STUMBLING BLOCK to the Jews, and FOOLISHNESS to the GENTILES, became ENLIGHTENMENT to those CALLED by God.  They came to the realization that God’s foolishness is WISER than HUMAN WISDOM, and God’s weakness is STRONGER than HUMAN STRENGTH.  This was made POSSIBLE through the PREACHING of CHRIST CRUCIFIED.  And this message OPENED the eyes of those who were/are CALLED through FAITH to BELIEVE the GOSPEL, and to become the CALLED, and to SPREAD the GOSPEL to a LOST and DYING WORLD. 



Has God been CALLING YOU to REPENTANCE, to BELIEVE by FAITH, that JESUS CHRIST gave His life, so that you might have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN?  What is your RESPONSE?   If you REJECT His CALLING, you will spend your ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING, after you are there.  In order to ACCEPT His CALLING, you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and to TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and be one of the CALLED, and SPREAD the GOOD NEWS of CHRIST CRUCIFIED, RESURRECTED, and COMING SOON.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Set Free!"

“Set Free!”

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.”       Acts 13:38-39

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When this Covid-19 pandemic is over and we are SET FREE from our “SAFER AT HOME” mandate. We will APPRECIATE the FREEDOMS that we so WHOLEHEARTEDLY took for granted.  Things like:  Going out to eat and actually eating inside the restaurants, actually attending Church inside the Church building, visiting friends, taking vacations, going back to school and jobs, going to malls, movie theaters and sports events.  Things that make us FREE!  Things that we are SO looking forward to doing, once again.



There is another FREEDOM that we MUST FOCUS on, and that is being SET FREE from our SINS.  Like this Covid-19 pandemic, the SIN-SICKNESS pandemic kills and destroys, but the WORST part of the SIN-SICKNESS, is that it causes HEARTACHE, PAIN, AGONY and DESPAIR, which will, last for ALL of ETERNITY. There is NO IMMUNITY, you cannot ESCAPE its deadly clutches, under your OWN power.  



The writer of the Book of Acts, tells us that there is HOPE of being SET FREE from this DEADLY SICKNESS, known as SIN.  That through JESUS CHRIST, there is FORGIVENESS of our SINS.  We are able to have a COMPLETE CURE known as SALVATION, but this is AVAILABLE ONLY IF we will BELIEVE in JESUS and ACCEPT Him as our SAVIOR and LORD. 


John 8:36 says: “So, if the SON, JESUS, SETS you FREE, you WILL be FREE indeed.”  And you will NOT have to face an ETERNAL SPIRITUAL DEATH, but you will be JUSTIFIED and HEALED from your SIN-SICKNESS.  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.  CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be SET FREE from EVERY SIN. Then you will be CURED and on your way to an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON

"In God's Presence"

“In God’s Presence”

In the shelter of Your presence You hide them from all human intrigues; You keep them safe in Your dwelling from accusing tongues     Psalm 31:20



Have you ever given thought to what it would be like to CONTINUALLY LIVE in God’s presence?  As TRUE BELIEVERS, we can experience times when we FEEL the PRESENCE of the LIVING GOD.  But because of our SINFUL NATURE, we LIMIT the BENEFITS of CONTINUALLY LIVING in God’s PRESENCE.   I know God’s presence is ALWAYS with us, but when we SIN and don’t CONFESS that sin, we break our FELLOWSHIP with God, and we have to restore it, before we can reap the BENEFITS of His PRESENCE.  And with the UNBELIEVER, they do not possess a RELATIONSHIP with Him at ALL, and until they come to Him for the SALVATION of their souls, they cannot experience ANY BENEFITS of His PRESENCE.



For those who are TRULY God’s Children, those who take REFUGE in Him, they can BENEFIT the SHELTER of His PRESENCE.  And they are PROTECTED from ALL human intrigues. Meaning they are SHELTERED from being DRAWN into UNGODLY situations.  And they can BENEFIT from the SHELTERING PRESENCE of the Almighty God, from ACCUSING TONGUES.  Because they have run to Him for their REFUGE, in times of the ATTACKS from the ENEMY.



King David tells us that we can BENEFIT from God’s SHELTERING PRESENCE, because of our RELATIONSHIP with Him.   David penned this, in Psalm 41:12; “Because of my INTEGRITY You uphold me, and set me in Your PRESENCE FOREVER. We can BENEFIT from God’s PRESENCE when we are RIGHT with Him, and this is ONLY possible, when we have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Him and His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.



The TRUE BELIEVER can experience the JOY of God’s SHELTERING PRESENCE, and UNENDING BLESSINGS.  Psalm 21:6 says:  Surely You have granted him (David) UNENDING BLESSINGS and made him glad with the JOY of Your PRESENCE.  Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with JOY in Your PRESENCE, with ETERNAL PLEASURES at Your Right Hand.



God’s PRESENCE is like a SEARCH LIGHT, which ILLUMINES our souls, and sheds LIGHT on our INIQUITIES, (secret sins).   Psalm 90:1 says; “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the LIGHT of Your PRESENCE.



Then there is the TERROR of His PRESENCE, when He JUDGES the DEAD, better known as the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT: “Then I (John) saw a Great White Throne and Him who was seated on it.  The earth and the heavens fled from His PRESENCE, and there was NO place for them.”  Rev. 20:11, “Anyone whose name was NOT found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the Lake of Fire.  (V 15)   Is YOUR name written in the BOOK of LIFE?



If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD then, your name is NOT there, and you will be JUDGED and THROWN into the Lake of Fire.  The HOLY WORD of the LIVING GOD says so.  However, God has a PLAN to KEEP you from that DESTINY.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and RUN to HIM for REFUGE, and LIVE in GOD’S SHELTERING PRESENCE.  Do this NOW, while you still can. He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

  

"Endurance and Encouragement"

“Endurance and Encouragement”

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.    

Romans 15:4-6



ENDURANCE:  The fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships etc.



The TRUE BELIEVER, of Jesus Christ, can learn exactly what ENDURANCE truly is, from the Saints of both the Old Testament and the New Testament eras, as well.  Many of the Saints suffered greatly because of their alliance and RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ.  Many suffered intense persecution and even death at the hands of the WICKED ENEMIES of God and His Son, Jesus, who himself was PERSECUTED like no other.  But His persecution, DEATH and RESURRECTION brought about the SALVATION of ALL mankind, even to this very moment and beyond.



Jesus told His disciples: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first.” “Remember what I told you ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.”  (John 15:18,20) And so it has come to pass, as it was  with Saints of Old, so it is with the TRUE BELIEVERS of today.  Yet, because of their STEADFAST FAITH and a TRUE TRUST in God, they were then, and are, today, able to ENDURE.



The TRUE BELIEVER of today, can be ENCOURAGED, like the Apostle Paul, who suffered much PERSECUTION, but he ENDURED to the end.  And Paul, told Timothy that he was NOT ASHAMED of his suffering, because of being entrusted with the GLORIOUS GOSPEL of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And he could be ENCOURAGED, because he KNEW whom he BELIEVED, and was CONVINCED that God was ABLE to GUARD what Paul had entrusted to Him UNTIL that Day. (2 Tim. 1:12) Paul was ENCOURAGED through his suffering, and able to ENDURE it, because he KNEW that ALL the SUFFERING and PERSECUTION paled in comparison to his ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its blessings.  ALL of God’s promises enables the TRUE BELIEVER to ENDURE through their PERSECUTIONS, and to be ENCOURAGED because, it will be WORTH it ALL.  Thus, the ENDURANCE and ENCOURAGEMENT that God provides, brings HOPE to those who REMAIN FAITHFUL.  Where is your FAITH?  Are you TRUSTING God for your DESTINY?  If NOT, you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after you are there.  However, God is offering you HOPE for an ETERNAL DESTINY in HEAVEN.  If you are WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ENDURE and be ENCOURAGED in following Jesus Christ.  So, on that Last Day, He will say to YOU: “Well done, My GOOD and FAITHFUL Servant.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Examination of the Heart and Mind"

“Examination of the Heart and Mind”

“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”       Jeremiah 17:10



In verse nine, Jeremiah tells us that the HEART of mankind is, above ALL things, DECEITFUL and beyond cure, except NOW, the cure is the SHED BLOOD of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, which not only CLEANSES mankind but it CHANGES the HEART of mankind.   In Psalm 26:2-3, King David gives us a GREAT EXAMPLE of what should be our plea to God,  He says:  “Test me, LORD, try me, EXAMINE my HEART and MIND; for I have always been MINDFUL of your UNFAILING love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. 



When we live in ACCORDANCE to God’s WILL, we are prone to do GOOD WORKS, and we are PLEASING to Him.  Our verse in Jeremiah, tells us that we are REWARDED ACCORDING to our CONDUCT.  Romans 8:4-7 says:  “In order that the RIGHTEOUS requirement of the law might be FULLY met in us, who do NOT live ACCORDING to the FLESH, but ACCORDING to the SPIRIT.”  Verse five states:  “Those who live ACCORDING to the FLESH have their minds set on what the FLESH desires; but those who live in ACCORDANCE with the Spirit (Holy Spirit), have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The MIND governed by the FLESH is DEATH (spiritual), but the MIND governed by the Spirit is LIFE and PEACE.  The LIFE governed by the FLESH is HOSTILE to God; it does NOT SUBMIT to God’s Law, nor can it do so.” 



So, that is why an EXAMINATION of the HEART and MIND of ALL TRUE BELIEVERS are ESSENTIAL to the LIVING BODY of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the CHURCH.  It would be HARMFUL to the HEALTH of the Church, if there were some LIVING by the FLESH or to COMPROMISE, by trying to LIVE both by the FLESH and the SPIRIT.  You cannot LIVE this way.  You must CHOOSE which way you will LIVE, by the FLESH, which is NOT PLEASING to God, or by the SPIRIT which is VERY PLEASING to God, and your CHOICE will determine what your DEEDS are, and what REWARD, if any, you will receive.   What will your EXAMINATION reveal about your HEART and MIND? 



If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have FAILED your EXAMINATION.  And you are SPIRITUALLY DEAD and your ETERNAL DESTINY is HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after your there.  However, God has a CURE for your SIN-SICK HEART and MIND. It is the SHED BLOOD of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.   In order to PASS the EXAMINATION, you MUST be WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENANT HEART.  CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART and MIND, that JESUS died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and let Him EXAMINE your HEART and MIND, and receive your REWARD of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"TRUST"

“TRUST”

My salvation and my honor depend on God, He is my Mighty Rock, my Refuge.  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our Refuge.     Psalm 62:7-8



We are living in a day and age, where TRUST is really a hard thing to do.  It seems as if there are very FEW people you can TRULY TRUST these days.  So many people are living only for their OWN well-being.  Oh, sure there are a few exceptions along the way, I don’t mean to put EVERYONE in the UNTRUSTABLE category.  However, whether it be in SOCIETY, GOVERNMENT or even within FAMILIES, there are times when you wish there was SOMEONE you could PUT your FAITH and TRUST in, a GENUINE, CARING, person who would have your best interest at heart, and wouldn’t want to bring you harm or despair in any way.



Our Psalmist, who is King David, knew that TRUST is a very PRECIOUS and VALUABLE asset of mankind.  It is necessary for people to be able to TRUST in SOMEONE or SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY, in this lifetime.  David makes the statement:  My SALVATION and my HONOR DEPEND on God, and he goes on to tell us WHY he feels this way: “He is my MIGHTY ROCK, my REFUGE.”  In other words, David tells us that the ALMIGHTY GOD is TRUSTWORTHY!  He CARES for His OWN.  



How OFTEN can you put your TRUST in Him?  David implores us to TRUST in Him at ALL TIMES, we should POUR OUT our HEARTS to Him, because He is OUR REFUGE, OUR SALVATION!  Who are you putting your TRUST in?  Are they TRULY TRUSTWORTHY?  Do they have YOUR best interest at heart? 



Why not follow King David ‘s advice, and TRUST your SALVATION and HONOR to the One who LOVES and CARES so much for you, that He gave His ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST, to SUFFER and DIE, in YOUR place, for the REDEMPTION of YOUR soul, and to KEEP you OUT of HELL, for ALL ETERNITY. In order to TRUST in HIM, you must FIRST, TRUST Him with your SALVATION, and to do that, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and TRUST HIM, not ONLY with THIS life, but with your ETERNAL LIFE also.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Purity of the Truth"

“Purity of the Truth”

You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.      Ephesians 4:22-24



When a person comes to Jesus Christ for the SALVATION of their soul, they are in essence; “putting-off” their old self, which is CORRUPTED by DECEITFUL desires.  And they are no longer SEPARATED from God; their HEARTS are no longer FULL of DECEITFUL desires, because Jesus Christ is the CENTER of their LEARNING.  This LEARNING PROCESS is DEEPLY ROOTED in the TRUTH.  Jesus Christ is the SUBJECT of this process, because He is the TRUTH, and in Him is found FORGIVENESS and the REDEMPTION of one’s soul.



This NEW SELF is being RENEWED in the spirit of one’s MIND and HEART.  This is part of the process of being made in GOD’S LIKENESS in RIGHTEOUSNESS and in the PURITY of the TRUTH.  This PURITY of the TRUTH is in direct CONTRAST to the DECEITFUL DESIRES, which CORRUPTS mankind’s soul and leads them down a path to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there.  Once a person becomes a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD, they have a NEWNESS of the MIND, because of the NEWNESS of the CONTENT of the HEART. 



They are no longer locked into the EVIL DARKNESS of the MIND and HEART, and headed to an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, but they NOW have a reason to REJOICE and be GLAD, because they have RECEIVED an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  And they are NO LONGER living a LIE, that they have received from the FATHER OF LIES, the devil, who wants nothing more than to snatch, as many as he can AWAY from God, and into the DARKEST PITS of HELL for ALL of ETERNITY.  Don’t let this be YOUR destiny.



COME and GIVE your HEART and LIFE to GOD, and be clothed in the PURITY of TRUTH, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who DIED so you might LIVE for ALL ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  In order to exchange the LIE, you have been living in, for the TRUTH you NEED, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be CREATED according to GOD’S likeness in righteousness and in the PURITY of the TRUTH.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!