“Guilty or Innocent?”

 “Guilty or Innocent?”

 

For this world is not our permanent home, we are looking forward to a home yet to come.  Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His Name.  Hebrews 13:14-15

 

A while back, there was a popular question that was posed to a lot of people and that question was: “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you, or would you be INNOCENT of ALL charges?”  The author of the Book of Hebrews, whom I believe to be the Apostle Paul, tells us that this CORRUPT, SINFUL, FALLEN WORLD, is NOT our PERMANENT HOME.  For we are LOOKING FORWARD to an ETERNAL HOME, not made with human hands, and it is yet to come.

 

So, we are “sojourners” on our way to a NEW HOME that will be FREE of SIN, CORRUPTNESS, HATRED, PAIN, HEARTACHE, DESPAIR and ALL UNGODLY ACTS.  Yes, we can TRULY SAY; “This WORLD is NOT my HOME, I’m just PASSING THROUGH.  And I BELIEVE, with ALL my Heart, that we, those who have given their HEART and LIFE to JESUS, will be making that transition SOON, maybe SOONER than we think.   

 

In the meantime, there are some things we NEED to be doing. Paul tells us that we should OFFER a CONTINUAL SACRIFICE of PRAISE to our HEAVENLY FATHER, PROCLAIMING our ALLEGIANCE to His NAME.  Let ALL the PEOPLE, you come in contact with KNOW without a DOUBT that you BELONG to the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  So, get your PRAISE ON and CONFESS the NAME of the LORD.   The Word of God says: “OFFER a CONTINUAL SACRIFICE of PRAISE.” Are you GUILTY of that or INNOCENT?  This is one thing that God wants us to be GUILTY of.  I think we should PROCLAIM what King David said: “Let ALL that I am PRAISE the LORD, with my WHOLE HEART, I will PRAISE His Holy NAME.” “Let ALL that I am PRAISE the LORD; may I NEVER FORGET the good things He does for me.  He FORGIVES ALL my SINS and HEALS ALL my diseases. He REDEEMS me from DEATH and CROWNS me with LOVE and TENDER MERCIES.”                Psalm 103:1-4

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, through His Son, JESUS CHRIST, who DIED for the SALVATION of your sinful soul, you do not have a NEW HOME to look forward to.  However, you can have that NEW HOME if you will ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  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 you MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be GUILTY of CONTINUAL SACRIFICIAL PRAISE to the ALMIGHTY GOD.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“God-Confidence”

“God-Confidence”

 

Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You!  I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer.  You satisfy me more than the richest feast.  I will praise You with songs of joy.  Psalm 63:3-5

 

Oh me, how I LOVE this Psalm.  Some people believe that anything in the OLD TESTAMENT, is NOT applicable for the TRUE BELIEVERS today.  However, I strongly disagree with that mindset.  

The TRUE BELIEVER of today, can gain a lot of KNOWLEDGE and the RIGHT PERSPECTIVE about the HOLY GOD and His PLANS, PROMISES and PURPOSES that are directed towards mankind.  

 

Let’s look at King David and his situation.  He was in hiding (so to speak) in the Wilderness of Judah.  His son, Absalom’s rebellious attitude towards his father, caused an up-rising within the kingdom, a USURPING of the throne of David.  And David had to FLEE in order to save his life.

 

David was without the necessities of life.  He had NO WATER, and you know he developed a thirst.  Well, David began to think about what he really thirsted for was NOT water but for GOD.  He had been SATISFIED when he was in the Tabernacle, gazing upon the LORD GOD’S GLORY.  And while he was in the WILDERNESS, he LONGED for God’s Glory.  So, even in the WILDERNESS, David offered PRAISES to the LORD GOD, ALMIGHTY.  

 

Sometimes, when we are in the WILDERNESS of LIFE’S JOURNEY, facing difficulties and situations that seem OVERWHELMING we NEED to get alone with God, in a quiet place, just you and God, and pour out your PRAISES, first of all, to HIM, then offer up your petitions of prayer. And TRUST HIM to do what is BEST for YOU.  After all, you are HIS CHILD, aren’t you?

 

Notice in our verses, that David had a GENUINE GOD-CONFIDENCE.  He is saying to God: “Your UNFAILING LOVE is BETTER than LIFE itself.”  Whenever you, like David, REALIZE that the FAITHFULNESS of GOD is MORE IMPORTANT than ANYTHING ELSE in this LIFE. When you REALIZE this, YOU too WILL PRAISE GOD with JOY UNSPEAKABLE.  And you will have, like King David, GOD-CONFIDENCE that will SUSTAIN you through YOUR WILDERNESS EXPERIENCES.

 

David was SO CONFIDENT in God’s FAITHFULNESS to him, that he PROMISED to PRAISE GOD as LONG as he LIVED, and with the LIFTING of his HANDS, he prayed to his HEAVENLY FATHER, showing his CONFIDENCE in GOD’S FAITHFULNESS, David says; “You, SATISFY me more than the RICHEST FEAST.  I WILL PRAISE YOU with SONGS of JOY.”   

 

How about YOU? Do YOU have GOD-CONFIDENCE?  Can you say that GOD means MORE to YOU than LIFE ITSELF?  If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through His ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who SHED HIS BLOOD in order to SAVE your SINFUL SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You can have an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS, if you will:  First, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU, before GOD.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINS and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.

You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and have GOD-CONFIDENCE and PRAISE HIM for His UNFAILING LOVE and FAITHFULNESS to YOU!!!  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

“Our Declaration in the New Year”

“Our Declaration in the New Year”

 

May all who search for You be filled with joy and gladness in You.  May those who love Your Salvation repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”   Psalm 40:16

 

This Psalm of David begins with a celebratory past instance of God’s DELIVERANCE, for David from his TROUBLES.  David tells us that he WAITED patiently for God to help him, and God turned to David and HEARD his cry.  Then God lifted David OUT of the pit of DESPAIR, out of the MUD and MIRE.  And He set David’s feet on SOLID GROUND and STEADIED him as he walked along.  

 

Part of David’s DECLARATION appears in verse three, “He has given me a NEW SONG to sing, a HYMN of PRAISE to OUR God.  And HOPING that MANY will see what He has done and be AMAZED.  And that they will put their TRUST in the LORD. Oh, what JOY for those who TRUST in the LORD, and has NO CONFIDENCE in the UNBELIEVER.   David DECLARES that the PLANS for God’s Children are too numerous to list.  And that God has NO EQUAL! 

 

Another DECLARATION of King David was that he takes JOY in doing the WILL of GOD. Because God’s instructions are written on David’s heart. In verses eleven through fifteen David’s CELEBRATORY instance becomes a DESPERATE instance.  It seems as though David’s iniquities had brought him NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES, which resulted in some INTENSE pleas for God’s COMPASSION and DELIVERANCE.  Then David turns his ATTENTION from himself to others who SEEK GOD, and his hope is that they would REPEATEDLY SHOUT: “The LORD GOD IS GREAT!”

 

That SHOULD BE our DECLARATION NOW and in the NEW YEAR to come.  If you are a CHILD of the LIVING GOD, then you KNOW that the “LORD GOD is GREAT and GREATLY to BE PRAISED!!”

However, if you are NOT a CHILD of the LIVING GOD, your KNOWLEDGE of GOD is probably LIMITED in scope.  And you have very LITTLE to PRAISE Him for and your DESTINY is not looking GOOD at all.  In order to have His BLESSINGS and His COMPASSIONATE HELP, YOU MUST come to His ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who DIED for YOU and to be able to have FORGIVENESS of your sins and an ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  And to be able to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there. You MUST BE DRAWN by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, and you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for YOU, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and DECLARE that: “The LORD GOD is GREAT!!  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!  

“The Sacrificial Lamb”

 “The Sacrificial Lamb”

 

“The Savior —yes, the Messiah, the Lord— has been born today in Bethlehem, the City of David!  And you will recognize Him by this sign:  You will find a Baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:11-12

 

The King of Kings, the ONE and ONLY Son of the LIVING GOD, was NOT BORN in a FANCY, MANSION, in the BEST part of TOWN, but his LOWLY BIRTH was one of MEAGER circumstances. He was born to MARY and JOSEPH, who was not in the least bit WEALTHY.  And they had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be taxed, along with a HUGE crowd of other people. And to make matters WORSE, Mary was VERY CLOSE to giving birth to her FIRST CHILD. 

 

Now, the ONLY LODGING that was available to them was a SMELLY, DIRTY, STABLE that housed the animals that belonged to the patrons of the INN of which was packed with people that were in Bethlehem to be TAXED also.  Mary was TIRED, WEAK, and in PAIN, so Joseph took the STABLE, after all they would have some privacy, probably more than they would have at the Inn.  That place was PACKED, people were even sleeping on the dirt floor. So, Joseph got Mary settled and sometime in the darkness of the night, Mary gave birth to a HEALTHY, BABY BOY!!  

 

Well, their surroundings may have been MEAGER but the ANNOUNCEMENT of the BIRTH of THE SON of GOD, was BEYOND MAGNIFICENT!  And it was delivered NOT to the Roman Government, or the RELIGIOUS LEADERS, but it was delivered by an ANGEL of the LORD to some LOWLY SHEPHERDS who were watching their sheep on a hillside near the Little Town of BETHLEHEM. The poor SHEPHERDS were TERRIFIED, but the Angel reassured them, saying to them; “Don’t be afraid! I bring you GOOD NEWS that will bring GREAT JOY to ALL people—the SAVIOR, yes, the MESSIAH, THE LORD HAS BEEN BORN today in Bethlehem, the City of David!  And you will RECOGNIZE Him by this sign”. You will find a baby WRAPPED SNUGLY in STRIPS of CLOTH, lying in a manger.”

 

Now, this DESCRIPTION of the BABY being WRAPPED SNUGLY in STRIPS of CLOTH, was familiar to the SHEPHERDS, because they were responsible for making sure that the newborn lambs had nothing wrong with them, since the SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS had to be WITHOUT SPOT or WRINKLE.  So, the shepherds would WRAP the LAMBS in the cloth to keep them from being BLEMISHED or bringing INJURY to themselves.  This is why Luke has brought out the fact that JESUS was WRAPPED SNUGLY or TIGHTLY with the cloth.  Since He was the SINLESS, LAMB OF GOD, the SUBSTITUTIONARY, SACRIFICIAL LAMB, the ONLY ONE who COULD take away the SINS of ALL MANKIND.  And by that description, the shepherds would be ABLE to RECOGNIZE the SAVIOR of the WORLD.

 

Now, how can you RECOGNIZE the SAVIOR of the WORLD, that’s EASY, by the NAIL PRINTS in His hands.  And this RECOGNITION is the WORK of the Holy Spirit, who INDWELLS the one who belongs to JESUS. They have COME to the CROSS for the FORGIVENESS of their SINS. And they RECEIVE the GIFT of SALVATION and an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.

 

This is how you can be a RECIPIENT of GOD’S AMAZING GRACE.  FIRST, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who is the ONLY ONE ABLE to FORGIVE and SAVE your soul. You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINS, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be ABLE to RECOGNIZE JESUS by the NAIL PRINTS in His Hands.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Greatest Miracle in Human History”

 “The Greatest Miracle in Human History”

 

…...” Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”   Matthew 1: 20b-21

 

Mary, the Mother of Jesus was engaged to be married to a carpenter by the name of Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was STILL a VIRGIN, she became pregnant through the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT of the Almighty God.  Now Joseph was a RIGHTEOUS man, and he did NOT want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he decided to QUIETLY break the ENGAGEMENT.  And while he was considering this, an Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream.   

 

The Angel told Joseph not to be AFRAID to take Mary as his wife, because the Child she was carrying was CONCEIVED by the HOLY SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD.  And the Angel informed Joseph that they would have a SON and they should call Him JESUS, because He will SAVE His people from their sins. These events were NOT unexpected, they were part of God’s Plan, and Mary and JOSEPH were also, a part of that plan.  It was a FULFILLMENT of Old TESTAMENT prophecy.  The Prophet Isaiah prophesied: “The Virgin will give birth to a Son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’  This IS the ESSENCE of CHRISTMAS!!

 

The GREATEST MIRACLE in HUMAN HISTORY is when the ALMIGHTY GOD became MAN.  The SON of GOD took on HUMAN FLESH and it was combined with the FULLNESS of DEITY and the FULLNESS of HUMANITY.  And the ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD became the GOD-MAN.  He is the ONLY ONE who can give SINFUL MANKIND FREEDOM from their SINS, and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS. And to be ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  

 

This is what YOU MUST do in order to ACCEPT GOD’S GIFT of SALVATION and to spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN. You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus Christ.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM, your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT the GREATEST MIRACLE in HUMAN HISTORY, the LORD JESUS CHRIST as your SAVIOR and LORD.  And spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

 

 

“The Conquering King”

 “The Conquering King”

 

He will repay His enemies for their evil deeds.  His fury will fall on His foes.  He will pay them back even to the ends of the earth.  Isaiah 59:18

 

This time of year, we celebrate the Birth of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ADVENT of His FIRST COMING to the earth.  He came as a TINY, NEWBORN BABE, and NOT a CONQUERING KING.  This event was first made known to some LOWLY SHEPHERDS on a hillside near the little town of BETHLEHEM of JUDEA.  This was God’s Way of showing that His MERCY and GRACE was extended to ALL people, that is to ALL who will ACCEPT His act of REDEMPTION.  And those who BELIEVE in the Lord JESUS CHRIST as their SAVIOR and LORD.  And the rest of the world was UNAWARE of this MIRACULOUS EVENT that had taken place.  

 

The Prophet Isaiah, however, tells us of another MIRACULOUS EVENT, that will take place in the future.  This event is KNOWN as the SECOND COMING of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to set up His KINGDOM on EARTH.  But first, there needs to be a little house cleaning done.  When this event happens, it will be KNOWN ALL OVER the WORLD.  EVERY KNEE will BOW and EVERY TONGUE will CONFESS that JESUS CHRIST is LORD.  

 

Christ will CLOTHE Himself with a ROBE of VENGEANCE and a CLOAK of DIVINE PASSION, and He will REPAY His ENEMIES for their EVIL DEEDS.  He will CRUSH His ENEMIES and will REIGN with RIGHTEOUSNESS.  And to ALL of GOD’S ENEMIES, JESUS CHRIST will come as a TERRIFYING, CONQUERING KING, who will SWEEP them away like a RAGING FLOOD TIDE driven by the Breath of the LORD GOD.  This is the SECOND COMING of the CONQUERING KING!

Are you one of those ENEMIES?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God through the REDEMPTIVE WORK of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, then you are an ENEMY of God.  But you have the opportunity NOW, to come to JESUS and let Him make you a CHILD of GOD.  This is what YOU MUST DO:  First, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, God’s Only Son.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for YOU, before GOD.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.   You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and ACCEPT that JESUS is the CONQUERING KING, over SIN, DEATH and the GRAVE.  HE is the ONLY WAY to spend your ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS and to MISS an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  So, do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Incredible Gospel of Salvation”

 “The Incredible Gospel of Salvation”

 

This Salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you.  They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ’s Suffering and His Great Glory afterward.   1 Peter 1:10-11

 

The main purpose for the BIRTH of JESUS CHRIST was for the REDEMPTION of mankind.  Remember, “For God so LOVED the WORLD that He GAVE His Only Son that WHOSOEVER, BELIEVES in Him will NOT PERISH but have ETERNAL LIFE. (John 3:16). 

 

The prophets were so enthralled with what they were prophesying about this COMING SALVATION that they wanted to know MORE about this Incredible Gospel, a plan that was in the HEART of the Almighty God from the very beginning.  I would imagine that they had MANY questions about this GRACIOUS SALVATION, even the part of Christ’s Suffering and His GREAT GLORY.  One thing they did know was that they were NOT SERVING themselves.  

 

And through the PREACHING of PETER and the other Apostles this GOOD NEWS has been PREACHED even to US.  This GOSPEL is so INCREDIBLE that EVEN the ANGELS are WATCHING as it is unfolding. They too are ENTHRALLED with this INCREDIBLE GOSPEL of SALVATION.

 

How about YOU?   Are you experiencing this INCREDIBLE GIFT of SALVATION?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, through His ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, then you are NOT experiencing GOD’S GIFT for YOU.  In order to RECEIVE this INCREDIBLE gift of SALVATION, you MUST FIRST, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your SOUL from spending an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s INCREDIBLE GOSPEL of SALVATION and be able to SPEND your ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

  

 

 

“A COMPLETE Cleansing”

 “A COMPLETE Cleansing”

 

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?  Cleanse me from these hidden faults.  Keep Your servant from deliberate sins!  Don’t let them control me.  Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.   May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19: 12-14

 

In this Psalm, we see David’s concern for a COMPLETE CLEANSING.  In his prayer to the Lord God Almighty, his CONCERN was ALL the SINS lurking in his heart.  So, he asks God to CLEANSE him from those HIDDEN FAULTS.  The HIDDEN FAULTS, the ones that ONLY God sees.  The ones that are committed out of not knowing that they are not PLEASING in GOD’S SIGHT.  So, we don’t acknowledge them.  But David realized that there were so many of them hidden in the recesses of his heart.  And he ASK God to CLEANSE him from ALL the HIDDEN FAULTS.

 

Then we see David’s concern for a COMPLETE CLEANSING from the DELIBERATE or WILLFUL sins and implores God to NOT let them CONTROL him.  He realized and TRUSTED God to CLEANSE him so he might be FREE of GUILT and INNOCENT of GREAT SIN.  These sins were actually KNOWN SINS and PLANNED to be carried out.  

 

At that time, David did not have the HOLY SPIRIT abiding in him as the TRUE BELIEVER of today has in them.  And when we SIN, HIDDEN or DELIBERATE, God’s Spirit CONVICTS us of that SIN.  And it is our RESPONSIBILITY to CONFESS our sins, and like David, we NEED to SEEK the CLEANSING POWER of the ALMIGHTY GOD, so WE too can be FREE from the GUILT.  Even though OUR SINS are FORGIVEN, PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.  We need to CONFESS and REPENT. And this is why:  So, the words of my mouth and the MEDITATION of my HEART is PLEASING to You, O LORD, my ROCK and my REDEEMER. And that we would be a CLEAN, FIT VESSEL to be USED by GOD for the FURTHERANCE of His KINGDOM.

 

If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to God, then YOU are NOT PLEASING to HIM, but you are a SINNER that is DESTINED for an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO way to ESCAPE, once you are there. You NEED the COMPLETE CLEANSING from the BLOOD of God’s ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your SOUL from an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL.  And to GIVE you an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  This is what you MUST DO.  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS YOUR SINS to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, and a COMPLETE CLEANSING from ALL your SINS, HIDDEN or WILLFUL.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and receive a COMPLETE CLEANSING and may the WORDS of your mouth and the MEDITATION of your HEART be PLEASING to God.  So, do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!! 

“Secure and Undefeated”

 “Secure and Undefeated”

 

Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.   Psalm 125:1

 

The Psalmist of 125 is informing us that those who BELONG to God and TRUSTS in Him are as SECURE as Mount Zion. The illustration of the SECURITY of God’s Children, is FAMILIAR to them.  Mount Zion will REMAIN even after the geographical changes that will be made during the RENEWAL of heaven and earth. And just as MOUNT ZION is SECURE so will be those who have BELIEVED and TRUSTED in the LORD JESUS CHRIST as their SAVIOR and LORD.  He is the BLESSED SON of the LIVING GOD.  And the ONLY ONE who is ABLE to bring God’s Gift of SALVATION to this LOST and DYING WORLD.  God’s Children will also be as SECURE as MOUNT ZION, they will NOT BE MOVED.  And just as MOUNT ZION is PERMANENT PLACE, God’s Children are a PERMANENT PEOPLE. 

 

The SECURE and PERMANENT PEOPLE will also be ruled by God’s DIVINE, BLESSED SON, who will rule in Zion from what is NOW KNOWN as the TEMPLE MOUNT, and this place is currently occupied by the Muslims.  However, when JESUS CHRIST comes back to earth.  He will set up His KINGDOM and will REIGN with a RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER, for ALL of ETERNITY.  And those who have given their HEARTS and LIVES to Him will become a SECURE, PERMANENT PEOPLE and also an UNDEFEATED and VICTORIOUS PEOPLE. And CHRIST will RULE with His RIGHTEOUS and VICTORIOUS SCEPTER FOREVER.  

 

Are you a part of the SECURE and UNDEFEATED PEOPLE?  If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to the LORD JESUS CHRIST then you are NOT a part of this group and are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  But if you will ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER (as we all are), in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, 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 be WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.   You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and become a SECURE and UNDEFEATED CHILD of the LIVING GOD.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Foolishness of Resisting Repentance “

  “The Foolishness of Resisting Repentance”

 

 

Therefore, let all the godly pray to You while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.  For You are my Hiding Place; You protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory. Psalm 32:6&7

 

This Psalm of David gives us a CLEAR picture of those who are RESISTING REPENTANCE and those who belong to the LORD GOD.  In verses one and two, we see that David knows that ALL of mankind has SINNED AGAINST God and that they NEED to CONFESS their sins to Him, and they SHOULD NOT RESIST the act of REPENTING of their transgressions.  David says when those whose DISOBEDIENCE is FORGIVEN, their SIN is put OUT of SIGHT.  And what JOY there is when the LORD has CLEARED their RECORD of GUILT. That is REPENTANCE!

 

In verses three through five, David explains his experience when he REFUSED to CONFESS his sin.  He says that his body wasted away, and he GROANED all day long.  Day and night God’s Hand of DISCIPLINE was HEAVY on David.  And David’s STRENGTH evaporated like water in the summer heat. But we see in verse five that David FINALLY CONFESSED his SINS to God, and he stopped trying to HIDE his GUILT.  David made the decision to CONFESS his REBELLION to God and God FORGAVE him! And ALL his GUILT was gone.

 

Then in verses six and seven David is ENCOURAGING ALL TRUE BELIEVERS to PRAY, while there is STILL TIME, that they may NOT DROWN in the FLOODWATERS of JUDGMENT.  Those in Noah’s day RESISTED REPENTANCE, they REFUSED to LISTEN and OBEY God’s COMMANDS.  And was therefore SWEPT AWAY by the FLOODWATERS of JUDGMENT.  But Noah responded to God and found himself and his family COVERED and PROTECTED by God, who became David’s HIDING PLACE and now he could rest easy, knowing that God would PROTECT him from his troubles.

 

The BENEFITS of REPENTANCE are; FORGIVENESS from GOD, INTIMACY with GOD, and JOY in GOD.  However, the WICKED, those who DO NOT have a RELATIONSHIP with GOD and KEEP RESISTING REPENTANCE, will SUFFER throughout ETERNITY.  But those who are OBEDIENT and TRUSTS in GOD will be bathed in His UNFAILING LOVE and can SHOUT for JOY.  Are you practicing the FOOLISHNESS of RESISTING REPENTANCE?  Or can you say with ALL CERTAINTY that GOD is your HIDING PLACE?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are experiencing the FOOLISHNESS of RESISTING REPENTANCE and your destiny is an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. But you have the OPPORTUNITY, NOW, to give your HEART and LIFE to GOD.  This is what you MUST DO:  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, the SON of GOD, and the ONLY ONE who is ABLE to SAVE your SINFUL SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL. You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to the LORD and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and STOP! The FOOLISHNESS of RESISTING REPENTANCE.  And receive ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Promise of Spiritual Blessings”

 “The Promise of Spiritual Blessings”

 

All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be My Children.  Revelations 21:7

 

The Apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the Word of God and for his testimony about Jesus.  And while John was there God gave him visions of what the end of time and the NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH would be like.  And John wrote everything down for EVERYONE to READ and STUDY.  His words are FAITHFUL and TRUE.  They will come about someday SOON!  

 

The scripture I would like to talk about is in John’s account as God revealed it to him.  It takes place after the Tribulation, and the THOUSAND YEAR REIGN of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  The Apostle John was giving an account of the NEW JERUSALEM and the NEW EARTH, because the OLD heaven and the OLD earth had DISAPPEARED.  

 

And it is revealed to John what it will be like in this NEW JERUSALEM and the NEW EARTH.  The One on the THRONE tells John that God will make His Home among His People.  He will live with them.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be NO MORE DEATH or SORROW or CRYING or PAIN.  All these things are GONE FOREVER!!

 

And to those who are VICTORIOUS will INHERIT these SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.  God will be their GOD and they will be His CHILDREN.  This indicates the INTIMACY that will exist between God, the FATHER and ALL the SAINTS (His Children).  This sounds like a GLORIOUS TIME, and I am SO LOOKING FORWARD to being there.  Are you?  

 

Spending time with the SAINTS of OLD, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and MORE than that, BEING in the PRESENCE of the ALMIGHTY GOD.  That is SHOUTING TIME for SURE!!  And the BLESSINGS of NO MORE SICKNESS, PAIN, DEATH, CRYING, and NO MORE SORROW.  I pray that you are LOOKING FORWARD to that time.  But if you are NOT LOOKING FORWARD to it, for whatever reason, maybe, you are NOT a CHILD of the LIVING GOD, verse eight, tells us that COWARDS, UNBELIEVERS, the CORRUPT, MURDERERS, the IMMORAL, those who practice WITCHCRAFT, IDOL WORSHIPERS, and ALL LIARS—their FATE is in the FIERY LAKE of BURNING SULFUR. 

 

This does NOT have to be YOUR FATE, if you will COME to JESUS with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and receive ALL the BLESSINGS of an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“TOTALLY Identify with Jesus”

 “TOTALLY Identify with Jesus”

 

If you hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  Is anything worth more than your soul?   Matthew 16:25-26

 

Jesus was talking to His Disciples (followers), and He said to them “If any of you wants to be My FOLLOWER, you MUST give up your OWN way, take up your cross and FOLLOW ME.”

 

Then He told them If you HANG ON to your life, you will LOSE it.  Basically, what He was saying was, if you are NOT WILLING to TOTALLY TURN AWAY FROM your OLD WAYS and want to try and incorporate them in with His ways of LIVING, you WILL LOSE EVERYTHING.  BUT, if you GIVE UP YOUR old SINFUL WAYS and start LIVING for HIM, you WILL SAVE your life.  

 

And just what would you BENEFIT IF you GAIN the WHOLE WORLD, but LOSE your OWN SOUL?  You CAN’T have it BOTH WAYS.  You MUST DENY your OLD LIFESTYLE, and TOTALLY IDENTIFY with JESUS, God’s ONLY SON, OUR REDEEMER, KING and JUDGE.  The ONE and ONLY ONE who has the POWER to TAKE AWAY mankind’s SINS and GIVE them ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.   Then Jesus asks: “Is ANYTHING worth MORE than your SOUL?”

 

In order to become a FOLLOWER of the LORD JESUS CHRIST and REAP the BENEFITS of your FAITHFULNESS to Him and HIM ALONE, You MUST TOTALLY IDENTIFY with JESUS, and GIVE UP your OWN WAYS, and TAKE UP your CROSS and FOLLOW HIM.  DON’T MISS OUT on ETERNAL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS for TEMPORAL WORLDLY THINGS.  

 

At the Second Coming of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, He will REPAY EVERYONE of His FOLLOWERS according to their DEEDS.  Are you READY?  If you areTRULY SAVED and having a HARD time with GIVING UP some of your OLD WAYS, you NEED to make it a PRIORITY to DENY YOUR OLD LIFESTYLE and TOTALLY IDENTIFY with JESUS.   Make it a MATTER of PRAYER, seeking GOD’S HELP. 

 

If you are NOT a follower of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you can be by:  ADMITTING that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  And you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You must be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN to GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and BECOME a FOLLOWER of JESUS CHRIST and TOTALLY IDENTIFY with JESUS. And spend your ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  And ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can! He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

 

 

“Only the Spirit”

 “Only the Spirit”

 

The Spirit alone gives eternal life.  Human effort accomplishes nothing.  And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  John 6:63

 

Jesus had just fed a crowd of FIVE THOUSAND, with only five barley loaves and two fish, which He was able to get from a young boy that was in the crowd.  The people were hungry and did NOT have food.  So, Jesus being the COMPASSIONATE person that He is, worked another MIRACLE by providing food for five thousand with just FIVE small barley loaves and TWO small fish. 

 

Then as He spoke about Him being the SON of GOD and that He was the BREAD of LIFE.  Many were perplexed about what He was saying.  Now, Jesus KNEW they were complaining and even leaving Him.  So, He said to them, “Does this offend you?”  Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to Heaven again?  Would that change their minds?  

 

Then Jesus told them, “The Spirit ALONE, gives ETERNAL LIFE.”  The FLESH of MANKIND can NOT give ETERNAL LIFE.  ONLY the HOLY SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD can do that. He does it by taking the BELIEF of a person, who has BELIEVED and ACCEPTED the WORDS of Christ Jesus, then the HOLY SPIRIT will induce the Spirit of CHRIST, in that person and will PROVIDE for them, ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  And that individual will then belong to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ONLY ONE who COULD bring them SALVATION and ETERNAL LIFE.  

 

HUMAN EFFORT will NEVER give you ETERNAL LIFE.  NO matter how GOOD you are, or THINK you are.  It’s NOT GOOD ENOUGH, because human effort is of the FLESH and the FLESH is SIN and DEATH, which means that all HUMAN EFFORT will provide is an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  But the WORDS of JESUS brings SPIRIT and LIFE.  

 

No matter WHO you are, or HOW MUCH MONEY you have, or WHO you KNOW.  If you have NEVER come to JESUS CHRIST, for the FORGIVENESS of your SINS and if you DON’T BELIEVE nor ACCEPT the WORDS of CHRIST JESUS then you DO NOT HAVE an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  When you feel a tugging on your HEART STRINGS, that is the WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT.  And He’s CONVICTING you of your SINFULNESS.  He’s letting you KNOW that it is TIME for YOU to COME to JESUS and TRULY BELIEVE with ALL your HEART and ACCEPT His FORGIVENESS and receive ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.   

 

This is what you MUST DO.  YOU MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE YOUR SOUL.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE.  And TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and REMEMBER:  ONLY the SPIRIT can give you ETERNAL LIFE.  Don’t THINK that YOUR GOODNESS will get you an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  IT WON’T!  So, do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING REAL SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“ Increased Spiritual Strength”

 “Increased Spiritual Strength”

 

I pray that from His Glorious, Unlimited Resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.  Then Christ will make His Home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Your roots will grow down into God’s Love and keep you strong.   Ephesians 3:16-17

 

This passage of Scripture is the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Believers in Ephesus, it was his earnest desire that they would EXPERIENCE Spiritual Power from the ALMIGHTY GOD.  The FIRST thing Paul expressed in his prayer was for them to be able to have INCREASED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, this was the WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

The one thing that is NEEDED in this INCREASED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH is an INTERNAL CHANGE.   EXTERNAL CHANGES will NOT help at all.  In order to have INCREASED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, there MUST be an INCREASED SPIRITUAL INTIMACY with the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Paul was NOT talking about SALVATION, remember, he was talking to the TRUE BELIEVERS of EPHESUS.  The TRUE BELIEVERS should have a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with the LORD JESUS and His PRESENCE will DWELL in their HEARTS, as they TRUST in HIM.  

 

If you want this INCREASED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, you will have to let JESUS have FULL REIGN in EVERY PART of YOUR HEART.  If you want ALL that the LIVING GOD has for YOU, you MUST LET JESUS be LORD of your HEART.  One thing that will DEVELOP from this is your roots will grow down into GOD’S LOVE and KEEP you SPIRITUALLY STRONG. 

 

If you have NEVER given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you will NOT be able to receive ALL that God wants for YOU.  If you will COME to HIM by the WAY of the CROSS and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. BELIEVING with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS, and you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN to GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.   If you will ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and an INCREASED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, He WILL BE FAITHFUL to FORGIVE you of your SINS and bring you into His FAMILY.  So, won’t you PLEASE do this NOW, while you STILL CAN?  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!   Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Conformed or Transformed “

 “Conformed or Transformed”

 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   Romans 12:2

 

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Christians in Rome, gives them instructions on their actions and attitudes concerning their lifestyle now that they are BELIEVERS of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

 

The first thing is that they NO LONGER COPY or CONFORM to the WAYS of this SINFUL WORLD.  But they are to be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of their MINDS.  In other words, they are to THINK differently than how the WORLDLY people think.  These people are the ones who THINK, SAY, and DO what THEY want to THINK, SAY and DO.  They are influenced by the DESIRES of the FLESH and of the ways of this SINFUL WORLD, in which they LEAVE GOD OUT of their lives. They become SELF-ABSORBED or SELF-CENTERED.  And they are SWALLOWED-UP by the EVIL and WICKED WAYS of this CORRUPT WORLD.  They are BLINDED to the TRUTH and could care less about LIVING a CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

 

However, the Christians, the TRUE BELIEVERS, those who have TOTALLY SURRENDERED to the TENDER MERCIES of the LIVING GOD.  And have been TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of their minds, the way they THINK.  Those who have an INTIMATE, and PRODUCTIVE INVOLVEMENT with the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD, and are LIVING by FAITH and TRUSTING in GOD ALONE, will be able to TRULY EXPERIENCE a TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.  And when they do that, their THOUGHTS will come TOGETHER with God’s Thoughts, so He can BRING His PLANS into their LIVES.  God has a PURPOSE and PLAN for EACH of our LIVES.  This PURPOSE and PLAN comes to us, when we are TOTALLY SURRENDERED to God, THROUGH His ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who GAVE His own life to SAVE mankind FROM their SINS, and to RESCUE them from a DESTINY of an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there. 

 

The way to be TRANSFORMED into a NEW LIVING CREATURE, is to SURRENDER ALL to your CREATOR, GOD.  And DON’T go BACK, but go FORWARD with your NEW MIND, HEART and SOUL.  Remember; You are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. You CANNOT have a RELATIONSHIP with GOD, until you COME to JESUS.  You MUST BELIEVE that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU, before God.  

You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be TRANSFORMED into the PERSON GOD wants YOU to be.  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!   Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“A Prayer of Confidence”

 “A Prayer of Confidence”

 

LORD, you are my Strength and Fortress, my Refuge in the day of trouble!  Nations from around the world will come to You and say, “our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols.  Can People make their own gods?  These are not real gods at all!”   

Jeremiah 16:19-20

 

Jeremiah is one of my favorite prophets in the Old Testament period of time.  He spoke boldly in relaying God’s Messages to the Nation of Judah.   The nation was steeped in IDOLATRY, and God was NOT HAPPY with them.  So, He told Jeremiah to warn the people that He was planning DISASTER FOR THEM.  And that they SHOULD turn away from their EVIL WAYS.  But the people refused to LISTEN to JEREMIAH.  

 

Jeremiah was OBEDIENT to God and DELIVERED His MESSAGES to the PEOPLE.  But the REJECTION of the people left Jeremiah with a HEAVY HEART.  So, he went before the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, and PRAYED for what seemed like to him, a HOPELESS situation.  Beginning his prayer with the AFFIRMATION of his TRUST in God, and with ACKNOWLEDGMENT of his CONFIDENCE in God by using the words: “You are my STRENGTH and FORTRESS, my REFUGE in the day of trouble!”  Then Jeremiah continued with the acclamation that nations from around the world will come to God and say, “our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols.  Can people make their OWN gods?  These are NOT real gods at all!”  This indicated the WICKEDNESS of the people.  

 

The LORD replied: “Now I will show them My POWER, now I will show them My MIGHT.  At last, they will KNOW and UNDERSTAND that I am the LORD.”   I am SURE that MUST have BOOSTED Jeremiah’s CONFIDENCE LEVEL. The LORD GOD, KEEPS His WORD.  And so, the nation of JUDAH was in for a RECKONING, an UNDERSTANDING and KNOWLEDGE of WHO the ONE and ONLY GOD REALLY IS, and I BELIEVE it was carried out the HARD WAY!

 

I see so much of a correlation between Judah and the time in which we are living.   Some of us, are like JEREMIAH, we try HARD to be OBEDIENT to God, and to put OUR TRUST in HIM and Him ALONE.  And like the prophet, we have CONFIDENCE and TRUST in the ABILITIES of GOD.  We see Him as our STRENGTH, our FORTRESS, and our REFUGE in times of trouble.  We can come to Him, putting our TRUST in HIM and we can do this because of our CONFIDENCE in Him.  However, there are some who are like the NATION of JUDAH, they put their TRUST and CONFIDENCE in something they VALUE or someone they believe COULD do BETTER than God.  And they are FACING an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there. 

 

If you are in the latter group, YOU NEED to do the following, in order to CHANGE your DESTINY:

You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who SACRIFICED His LIFE, to SAVE your WRETCHED, HELL-BOUND soul.  You MUST BELIEVE that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and put your TRUST and CONFIDENCE in the ALMIGHTY GOD.  And ALLOW Him to be your STRENGTH, FORTRESS, and REFUGE.  And be ABLE to OFFER your PRAYERS with CONFIDENCE.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“Repentance and Judgment”

 “Repentance and Judgment”

 

“I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike —-the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.”   Acts 20:21

 

The Apostle Paul sent a message to the Elders at the church at Ephesus, asking them to meet with him.  When they arrived Paul declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears.  I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.  I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.”

 

Paul preached and taught BOLDLY, COURAGEOUSLY, and with GREAT ENDURANCE.  And with UNWAVERING FAITHFULNESS, he shared ONE MESSAGE, which was the SAME for the JEWS and GENTILES alike.  That MESSAGE was one of REPENTANCE.  The Apostle Paul KNEW the IMPORTANCE of the act of REPENTANCE, which is TURNING AWAY FROM SIN and TURNING TO GOD, and to have FAITH in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONE and ONLY SON, and the ONLY ONE who is ABLE to SAVE the SOUL of mankind, NO MATTER if they are JEW or GENTILE, they MUST COME TO GOD through the CROSS of CHRIST, who shed HIS BLOOD in order to bring SALVATION to a LOST and DYING WORLD.  

 

So, why was Paul so DETERMINED to SUFFER PERSECUTION and RISK His LIFE FOR SHARING the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST?  Paul KNEW that those who REJECTED God’s Gift of SALVATION would one DAY face JUDGMENT for their SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and their REBELLIOUS NATURE.  He knew what awaits those who TURN FROM GOD and CONTINUE to TURN TO SIN.  

 

In the Book of Zephaniah, Chapter one, verses two and three, the LORD tells Zephaniah of the COMING JUDGMENT AGAINST the WORLD: “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth says the LORD.  I will sweep away PEOPLE and animals alike.  I will sweep away the birds of the sky and the fish in the sea.  I will reduce the WICKED to heaps of RUBBLE, and I will WIPE HUMANITY from the face of the earth,” says the LORD. 

 

Paul KNEW this and was determined to SPREAD the GOOD NEWS to EVERY PART of the WORLD that he could.  Even if it cost him his life.  So, for those of us who are TRUE BELIEVERS, the message for us is:  To get OFF our SEATS, and on our FEET, and into the STREETS to PROCLAIM the GOOD NEWS that JESUS SAVES and He is the ONLY WAY to be able to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there. 

 

I truly BELIEVE that we are living in the LAST DAYS. I BELIEVE that the RAPTURE of ALL the TRUE BELIEVERS can happen at ANY TIME!!  Then starts the TRIBULATION, GREAT TRIBULATION, and the SECOND COMING of the LORD JESUS.  Are YOU ready?

 

If NOT, you can be by; ADMITTING that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who PAID IN FULL the PRICE of SALVATION that YOU COULD NOT PAY.  You MUST BELIEVE that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION through REPENTANCE and ESCAPE the JUDGMENT of the UNREPENTANT.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!