“Driven By Love”

 “Driven By Love”

 

Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  And who can win this battle against the world?  Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  1 John 5:3-5

 

When you TRULY LOVE someone, you want to make them HAPPY.  And you CARE about their WELL-BEING.  And so it is with the CHILDREN of GOD, those who have given their HEARTS and LIVES to God through their RELATIONSHIP with His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. The ONE who GAVE His LIFE in order to SAVE mankind from their sins.   What would make Him do that?  

 

The ANSWER is LOVE, JESUS was DRIVEN BY LOVE, and OBEDIENCE to His Heavenly Father.  And for the TRUE HAPPINESS and WELLBEING of the CROWN of GOD’S CREATION—-MANKIND.  So, our SCRIPTURE, today, tells us:  If we TRULY LOVE GOD, then we will WANT to be OBEDIENT to Him by KEEPING His COMMANDMENTS, and these COMMANDMENTS are NOT a BURDENSOME TASK for us, IF we are DRIVEN by our LOVE for God.  

 

If we have TRUSTED in Christ by FAITH, we will have the SPIRITUAL VICTORY over this EVIL WORLD.  And that is ONLY POSSIBLE through our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ.  In other words, have we TRULY given OUR HEART and LIFE to Christ, and are we BEING OBEDIENT to the COMMANDMENTS of OUR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY because we are DRIVEN BY LOVE?  Or are we being OBEDIENT because of a FEAR of JUDGMENT.  When we are DRIVEN BY LOVE, that OBEDIENCE is NOT a BURDEN, and we can LIVE a TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE.  

 

Now, the ONLY ONE who can WIN this BATTLE against this SINFUL WORLD, are those who BELIEVE that JESUS is the ONLY, TRUE SON of the LIVING GOD.  Are YOU a TRUE BELIEVER, that is OBEDIENT to GOD, because you are DRIVEN BY LOVE?  If you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to God through a RELATIONSHIP with His Son, then you are being DISOBEDIENT to God and you are RISKING having an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  This is what MUST BE DONE to have a SPIRITUAL VICTORY over this SINFUL WORLD.  You MUST COME to JESUS CHRIST, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that He 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 OBEDIENT to Him because you are DRIVEN BY LOVE.  Then be a VICTOR over this EVIL WORLD.  And start LIVING a TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!   Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Our Great High Priest”

 “Our Great High Priest”

 

So then, since we have a Great High Priest who has entered Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold FIRMLY to what we believe.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did NOT sin.  So let us come BOLDLY to the throne of our Gracious God.  There we will receive His MERCY and we will find GRACE to help us when we NEED it MOST.  Hebrews 4:14-16

 

I wonder how many of us REALIZE that we have a GREAT HIGH PRIEST in the man of JESUS CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD.  In our Scripture, today, we see that we are URGED to HOLD FIRMLY to what we BELIEVE.  Our High Priest UNDERSTANDS and SYMPATHIZES with our weaknesses, for He faced the SAME testings we do, yet HE DID NOT SIN.  And because He was the SINLESS LAMB of God, without FAULT or BLAME, He became not ONLY our GREAT HIGH PRIEST, but He, HIMSELF, became our ONLY SACRIFICE and our HOPE for the FORGIVENESS of our SINS and to provide for ALL who will ACCEPT it, a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with our CREATOR GOD.

 

When we are WILLING to TURN FROM our SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, we can come BOLDLY to the Throne of our GRACIOUS GOD, where we will RECEIVE HIS MERCY and the place where we will FIND GRACE to HELP US, just when we NEED it MOST.  

 

Is Jesus Christ your Great High Priest?  Do you have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY GOD?  Have you given your HEART and LIFE to God, through the PRECIOUS BLOOD of His ONLY SON, JESUS?  If you have NOT, then you do NOT have a GREAT HIGH PRIEST, who is your ONLY WAY to an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, instead you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You can change that destiny if you will do the following things: First, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus, the Son of God.  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.  Then 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 JESUS, GOD’S SON, as your HIGH PRIEST, and RECEIVE MERCY and FIND GRACE in your time of NEED.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!       

 

 

 

 

“The Keys of the Kingdom”

“The Keys of the Kingdom”

 

“I will give you the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth is already bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in Heaven.”  Matthew 16:18-19

 

This announcement by the LORD JESUS CHRIST, was made at the time He had asked His Disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  And of course, Peter QUICKLY and CORRECTLY answered; “You are the MESSIAH, the Son of the Living God.”  And that is when Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, or the GREEK form is pronounced: Petros, which means: STONE. Then Jesus announced that “upon that ROCK He would build His Church, and ALL the POWERS of HELL will NOT CONQUER IT.” Then He told Peter, “I will give you the KEYS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.  Now, let us look at these KEYS.

 

KEYS was a symbol of AUTHORITY.  So, Jesus told Peter that he would possess the KEYS of the KINGDOM, and he would be ABLE to BIND and LOOSE people.  To BIND and LOOSE is to RESTRAIN and SET FREE.  Peter received his INSTRUCTIONS from HEAVEN, because the BINDING and LOOSING FIRST began in HEAVEN.  So, Peter was FOLLOWING God’s DIRECTIONS.  This BINDING and LOOSING was seen in Peter’s life on the DAY of PENTECOST, when he had the PRIVILEGE to PREACH the GOSPEL and ANNOUNCE to ALL that RESPONDED in SAVING FAITH that their SINS were FORGIVEN.  This SAME privilege was given to ALL the Disciples.  

 

BINDING and LOOSING doesn’t mean that you can PULL GOD’S STRINGS and He will be under YOUR CONTROL.  First of all, it MUST BE in ACCORDANCE with the WILL of GOD.  You are able to ONLY BIND and LOOSE what has ALREADY been BOUND and LOOSED in HEAVEN.  

 

The Church is to USE the Keys of the Kingdom, which are:  HEAVEN’S VIEWPOINT and SPIRITUAL RESOURCES on matters.  The USE of THE HOLY WORD of GOD, and PRAYER.  We who have once been BOUND by SIN and LOOSED by the PRECIOUS BLOOD of JESUS, should keep in mind that ANSWERS to PRAYERS are not ONLY for our benefit.  They are for the BENEFIT of others.  We are CALLED to be a BLESSING.  Are YOU a BLESSING?  And do YOU POSSES the KEYS to the KINGDOM of HEAVEN? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to JESUS, then you FALL short of being a BLESSING, and you DO NOT POSSES the KEYS to the KINGDOM.  But you ARE HEADED for an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  In order to be UNBOUND and LOOSENED, you MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:  First, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD.  Then 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.  Then 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 a part of the CHURCH that JESUS BUILDS, and RECEIVE the KEYS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON !!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND 

“The Fishing Net”

 “The Fishing Net”

 

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.  When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away.”    Matthew 13:47-48

 

Jesus, often taught people, using parables as His teaching technique. A parable is an EARTHLY STORY with a HEAVENLY MEANING. He did this to HELP them UNDERSTAND what He was telling them.  And they were definitely familiar with FISHING and the FISHING EQUIPMENT.  

 

For most it was their LIVELIHOOD.  So, one of the things they had to help them pull in the LOADS and LOADS of FISH was the NET.  Now, the FISHERMEN knew that the MOST IMPORTANT thing was to KEEP their NETS READY for the BIG LOADS.  And they MADE SURE that their NETS were READY for the BIG LOADS that would be coming in SOON. 

 

In His telling of this parable, Jesus COMPARED the Kingdom of Heaven to that of a FISHING NET. The FISHING NET was thrown into the water, and it would be dragged along the bottom of the river or lake to catch the FISH.  Then the fishermen would take the NET to shore, and they would SORT the FISH.  The GOOD FISH would go into BASKETS, and the BAD FISH would be thrown away.  

 

Then He gave them the HEAVENLY MEANING to the PARABLE.  He told the people that the SORTING represented the Angelic separation of the WICKED from the RIGHTEOUS ones, The Angels will THROW the WICKED into the FIERY FURNACE, where there will be WEEPING and GNASHING of teeth. This will take place at the END of the AGE.  It will happen when JESUS, GOD’S ONLY SON, returns to earth to set up His KINGDOM.  

 

The Righteous, those whose NAME is WRITTEN down in the LAMB’S BOOK of LIFE, will be the ONES who will spend their ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and be able to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  Is your NAME written down in the LAMB’S BOOK of LIFE?  It CAN be, IF you will ACCEPT JESUS as your SAVIOR and LORD.  To do that you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, and 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 a GOOD FISH, with YOUR NAME written in the LAMB’S BOOK of LIFE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies”

 “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies”

 

God is our Refuge and Strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So, we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.  Let the oceans roar and foam.  Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!  Psalm 46:1-3

 

The ALMIGHTY God is our SECURITY.  He is NEVER too busy, and ALWAYS available, especially in times of TROUBLE. Even if it is EARTHQUAKES that CRUMBLE mountains and cause tsunamis.  Even in the WORST of times, we SHOULD NOT be AFRAID, for our HEAVENLY FATHER, is NEAR to HELP His Children.

 

Verses four through seven gives us a little picture of the reign of JESUS CHRIST, our MESSIAH who will reign in JERUSALEM, the CITY of GOD.  The Creator of the Universe will be CLOSELY ACCESSIBLE to those who BELONG to HIM.  God in the person of JESUS CHRIST, will have His Throne in JERUSALEM, and He will be her SOURCE of HELP.

 

There will be an environment like Eden.  It will be a place where ENEMIES, no matter how STRONG they may be, will NOT be able to harm her.  Because the LORD of HEAVEN’S ARMIES, is the STRONGHOLD of His People.  In this Psalm the Psalmist, brings ENCOURAGEMENT, and COMFORT to God’s People.

 

This ENCOURAGEMENT comes with the KNOWLEDGE that God will fight their BATTLES and DEFEND them AGAINST their ENEMIES. They had NO reason to WORRY or FRET, whenever they were faced with CHALLENGES or DIFFICULTIES.  This KNOWLEDGE is APPLICABLE for God’s Children, today.  We MUST REMEMBER:  GOD is OUR REFUGE and STRENGTH, an EVER-PRESENT HELP in TIMES of TROUBLE. The LORD of HEAVEN’S ARMIES is our STRONGHOLD!!

 

Is He your STRONGHOLD?  IF you have not given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through the work of SALVATION, which is made POSSIBLE by COMING to the CROSS of CHRIST JESUS and ASKING Him for His FORGIVENESS. Then He is NOT your STRONGHOLD, because HE is NOT your SAVIOR and LORD.  This is what YOU MUST DO in order for the LORD of HEAVEN’S ARMIES to bring you into His Family.  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 God’s Gift of SALVATION and ALLOW the LORD of HEAVEN’S ARMIES to be your STRONGHOLD.  And ENJOY an 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!!!

 

 

“What Makes Someone Defiled?”

 “What Makes Someone Defiled?”

 

Jesus said: “It is what comes from inside that defiles you.  For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”   Mark 7:20-23

 

In this part of Mark, chapter seven, Jesus is teaching about INNER PURITY.  And the subject was, “What makes someone DEFILED?”  Could they be DEFILED by eating without first washing their hands? And Jesus told them, “It’s NOT what goes into your body that DEFILES you, you are DEFILED by what COMES FROM your HEART.”

 

Then Jesus proceeded to teach the people and His DISCIPLES, that it is what comes from WITH-IN that DEFILES a PERSON.  Remember, mankind is BORN with a SIN-

 NATURE.  Therefore, it is what is in the HEART, such as:  EVIL THOUGHTS, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, THEFT, MURDER, ADULTERY, GREED, WICKEDNESS, DECEIT, LUSTFUL DESIRES, ENVY, SLANDER, PRIDE and FOOLISHNESS.    ALL these VILE things COME FROM WITHIN, and THEY ARE WHAT DEFILES YOU.

 

You cannot live with a DEFILED heart and expect to get into Heaven.  No matter how much money you give to the church or to the poor.  You see, it’s NOT BY WORKS that you do or MONEY that you GIVE.  But ONLY through the MERCY and GRACE of GOD and your OBEDIENCE to GOD’S PLAN of SALVATION, and by your TRUE FAITH in Him and His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who SUFFERED, BLED and DIED for the FORGIVENESS OF YOUR and MY SINS. And to GIVE us an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  So, if you are harboring ANY of the things that DEFILE the HUMAN HEART, and will give you an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You MUST DO the FOLLOWING THINGS in order to SECURE your ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN. 

 

First:  ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD 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.  And like David, ask God to: “Create in You a CLEAN HEART, and to RENEW a LOYAL SPIRIT WITHIN YOU.” (Ps. 51:10). Then ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and let the CLEANSING BLOOD of the LORD JESUS CHRIST wash AWAY all those things that would make you a DEFILED PERSON.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

 

 

“God’s Ultimate purpose”

 “God’s Ultimate Purpose”

 

And having chosen them He called them to come to Him.  And having called them, He gave them RIGHT STANDING with Himself.  And having given them RIGHT STANDING, He gave them His GLORY.   Romans 8:30

 

There are THREE steps that is incorporated in God’s ULTIMATE PURPOSE for the TRUE BELIEVER.  The FIRST STEP is: Being CALLED, this is a calling to be made into the IMAGE of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who is the SON of the ALMIGHTY GOD, and it is a part of His ULTIMATE PURPOSE. In verse twenty-eight it tells us that; “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who LOVE GOD and are CALLED according to His PURPOSE for them.”

 

The SECOND STEP is: Being JUSTIFIED, is having a VALID, RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God. Since we have been made RIGHT in God’s SIGHT by FAITH, we have PEACE with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. (5:1) It was because He took OUR SINS to the CROSS, and they are COVERED by His PRECIOUS BLOOD.  NEVER to be REMEMBERED again.  And that is JUSTIFICATION. 

 

The THIRD STEP is:  Being GLORIFIED, is having the riches and GLORY of CHRIST, and this is the SECRET: That CHRIST LIVES in YOU.  And it gives us ASSURANCE of SHARING His GLORY. (Col. 1:27) This GLORIFICATION is another way of saying that GOD’S CHILDREN will be “CONFORMED” to His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. And this is God’s ULTIMATE PURPOSE.

 

So, what is your status?  Have you been CALLED, JUSTIFIED, and GLORIFIED?  Is God working in your life to complete His ULTIMATE PURPOSE?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST because you have been REJECTING His invitation to become a part of His Family, then you are missing the CALL. And He’ll not KEEP offering it, if you are NOT going to ACCEPT IT.  However, IF you are being CONVICTED of YOUR SINS, you have the OPPORTUNITY to ACCEPT the INVITATION to become part of the Family of GOD.  And this is what you MUST DO:  First, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus Christ, who made a WAY for you to have an ETERNITY in Heaven, and to ESCAPE 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 Gift of SALVATION and let Him work His ULTIMATE PURPOSE in YOUR LIFE.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Inward Hostility”

 “Inward Hostility”

 

For God in ALL His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s Blood on the cross.    Colossians 1:19-20

 

The reconciliation of mankind is NECESSARY because mankind is born with a SINFUL nature.  They naturally have the desire to sin.  It is NOT the OUTWARD acts (sins) that causes INWARD HOSTILITY, but it is the alienation between man and God from the very FIRST sin.  Sin is the OUTWARD SIGN of the INWARD HOSTILITY between mankind and the HOLY GOD.  And the HOLY GOD DEEPLY DESIRED an act of RECONCILIATION because of the DEEP LOVE that God had/has for the CROWN of His CREATION, which is MANKIND.

 

So, God in ALL His FULLNESS was PLEASED to LIVE in Christ, and through this act of RECONCILIATION we have the OPPORTUNITY to have that INWARD HOSTILITY and being ALIENATED from the ALMIGHTY GOD REMOVED and REPLACED with GOD’S FORGIVENESS and His PEACE and ASSURANCE of our SALVATION by the BLOOD of His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ONLY ONE who could bring RECONCILIATION between GOD and MANKIND.  Are you enjoying that RECONCILIATION?  

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD through the CLEANSING process of the BLOOD of JESUS then you do NOT HAVE that RECONCILIATION, but you do have an INWARD HOSTILITY towards God and His RULES, PLANS and PURPOSES for you.  And because of that INWARD HOSTILITY, and the SINS that go with it, you are destined FOR an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. God is giving you an OPPORTUNITY NOW to: ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who SUFFERED, BLED, AND DIED for YOU.  BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS did DIE for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU, before God.  Confess YOUR SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and get RID of that INWARD HOSTILITY, and be able to have an 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!!!