“Why Easter?”

 “Why Easter?”

 

For God loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have Eternal Life.   John 3:16

 

What is the purpose of having EASTER?  It’s NOT new clothes, or vacation time, it’s not Easter baskets filled with LOTS of GOODIES, like CHOCOLATE Bunnies, and CHICKS, with pretty-colored Easter eggs, and ALL kinds of other things.  

The TRAGEDY of EASTER DAY is that most children believe that these material things are the reason for the holiday.  They don’t know what the REAL REASON is for celebrating this DAY.  To be honest with you, I try NOT to call it EASTER, but instead I like to call it RESURRECTION DAY!  Because JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, was horribly beaten to the point of not being able to recognize who He was.  He was tortured when he hung on that old rugged cross. And He shed His BLOOD to SAVE ALL mankind.  He was laid in a TOMB and then in THREE DAYS, He was RESURRECTED or BROUGHT OUT of the TOMB.  And so, His part of the SALVATION PLAN was FINISHED.  Now, it was time for MANKIND to RESPOND to GOD’s INVITATION to become a part of His Family.

Would they RESPOND in a POSITIVE manner?  NO!  Some people have ACCEPTED God’s Invitation, but MOST have NOT.   God did NOT send His Only Son into the world to be its JUDGE, but to be its SAVIOR.  And those who BELIEVE in the Son are NOT JUDGED, but those who do NOT BELIEVE are ALREADY JUDGED, because they have NOT BELIEVED in God’s Only Son.  

And so, this is the TRUE BELIEVER’S HOPE:  That they are SET FREE from their SINS and will one day be RESURRECTED, like our LORD JESUS and become a part of God’s Family with an ETERNITY in Heaven with ALL its BLESSINGS and be able to ESCAPE HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  This is WHY we CELEBRATE RESURRECTION DAY.

The Bunny Rabbit, the Witches and Ghosts, nor Santa Claus, SUFFERED, BLED, and DIED to SAVE your SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL.  Does your CHILDREN or GRANDCHILDREN, know who JESUS is and what He has done for them?  Do you KNOW the IMPACT this KNOWLEDGE will have on YOUR and THEIR ETERNITY?

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, who PAID THE PRICE to SECURE you an ETERNITY in HEAVEN then you TRULY don’t KNOW or BELIEVE, but you can, if you will ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, 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.  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 KNOW the REAL REASON for CELEBRATING RESURRECTION DAY (Easter) and SHARE IT with YOUR CHILDREN.  Do this NOW while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!! 

“The Plot of Betrayal “

 “The Plot of Betrayal”

 

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?”   Matthew 26:14-16

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples, and the one who handled the group’s funds.  And in doing so, we can see him for what he REALLY was.  He was GREEDY, DECEIVING, SCHEMING and BAD to the BONE!!  

There was MORE to it, than JUST BETRAYAL, he also was willing to WITNESS AGAINST Jesus when He came to trial.  He was truly UPSET with Jesus, because just prior to Judas’ betrayal, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over the head of Jesus.   Well, that didn’t sit well with the disciples. They became indignant when they saw what she had done. “What a waste!”  They said.  “It could have been sold for a HIGH PRICE and the money given to the poor.”  Now, I’m sure that JUDAS was the INSTIGATOR in this matter. And he kept a TIGHT REIGN on the purse strings. He seemed to always grumble when they took from the funds to help with the Ministry of the Lord.   Jesus rebuked them with: “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me.” You will always have the poor among you, but you will NOT ALWAYS have Me.”  

Then Judas paid a visit to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And with that, they PAID him THIRTY PIECES of SILVER.  And from that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to BETRAY JESUS!!  And he FOUND IT.  This took place on WEDNESDAY of what is known as: “HOLY WEEK.”  But that is NOT the END of the STORY, the Word of God, tells us that:  The LORD’S Plans STAND FIRM forever; His INTENTIONS can NEVER be SHAKEN.  (Ps. 33:11). Stay tuned for the REST of the STORY!

This word “BETRAYAL” means to be DISLOYAL or UNFAITHFUL we are sometimes, quick to judge Judas for his actions against our Lord.  And he was GUILTY of his UNFAITHFULNESS, that is why he could BETRAY JESUS and so he did.  But God KNEW ahead of time, and it was part of HIS PLAN to SAVE MANKIND.  However, I, wonder how many times we BETRAY our LORD with our UNFAITHFULNESS.  Are we DISLOYAL in our RELATIONSHIP with Him?   If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, the HOLY SPIRIT will CONVICT you of your UNFAITHFULNESS, and you SHOULD CONFESS your sin and SEEK to be MORE FAITHFUL to our LORD JESUS.  However, if you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER, then you will find it EASY to BETRAY our LORD, by your REJECTION of His LOVE and SALVATION.  In order to NOT END up like JUDAS, who more than LIKELY is suffering in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  But God in His LOVING MERCY, has a PLAN for you to ESCAPE HELL, and gain 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 is NOW ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to HIM and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Your 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 DON’T POSSESS an UNFAITHFUL HEART.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Power Over Sin”

“The Power Over Sin”

 

When Christ died, He died once to break the power of sin.  But now that He lives, He lives for the Glory of God.    Romans 6:10

 

As we approach RESURRECTION DAY known as EASTER, for some, we are focused on what the Word of God tells us about the IMPORTANCE of RESURRECTION DAY.  And what it means for ALL mankind.  For those who are TRUE BELIEVERS it is truly a manifestation of God’s AMAZING GRACE.  GRACE is RECEIVING what we DON’T DESERVE.  And we, in our SINFUL NATURE, definitely do NOT DESERVE God’s GRACE, which is:  Spending ALL of ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and ESCAPING an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.  

 

The Bible tells us that JESUS CHRIST, gave HIS life to SAVE our WRETCHED SOULS, from that ETERNITY in HELL.  When JESUS died, He DIED ONCE for ALL, which BREAKS the POWER that SIN has OVER us, and it REMOVES any POWER that SIN has over us.  Our problem is where our eyes are FOCUSED, we sometimes take our EYES off of the CROSS, and start drifting BACK, when we NEED to be FOCUSED on the CROSS. And STAY AWAY FROM our OLD SINFUL LIFESTYLE.  

 

Jesus was RESURRECTED (raised) from DEATH and the GRAVE, which is PROOF that He has POWER OVER SIN and DEATH (spiritual), and they NO LONGER RULE.    When He DIED, He DIED ONCE to break the POWER of SIN.  And NOW that He LIVES, He LIVES for the GLORY of GOD.  So, you also SHOULD consider yourself to be DEAD to the POWER of SIN and ALIVE to God through CHRIST JESUS, God’s ONE and ONLY SON.

 

And HOW do you do that?  First, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus Christ, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your SOUL from the POWER of SIN that RULES OVER YOU.  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 because when we DIED with Christ, we were SET FREE from the POWER of SIN. And we have an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  So, do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!! 

“The Hard Truth”

“ Simeon’s Blessing”

 “Simeon’s Blessing”

 

“Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised.  I have seen Your Salvation, which You have prepared for ALL people.  He is a Light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the Glory of Your people Israel!”   Luke 3:29-32

 

 

I suppose some of you may be wondering why I am doing this Scripture at this time.  When you may think this to be strictly a part of the Christmas Story.  Let us face the FACT that Jesus was BORN for ONE REASON, and that was to PAY a DEBT mankind could NOT pay.  He did this to provide SALVATION to a LOST and DYING world and to fulfill the prophecies that predicted His MISSION.  

Simeon, a RIGHTEOUS man, was given a PROMISE, from the Holy Spirit of God.  That PROMISE was that Simeon would NOT die until he saw the LORD GOD’S MESSIAH.  So, when Mary and Joseph came to present the Baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the Child in his arms and praised God, saying,” Sovereign Lord, now let Your Servant die in peace, as You have promised.  I have seen Your Salvation, which You have prepared for ALL people.  He is a LIGHT to reveal God to the nations, and He is the Glory of Your people Israel!”

However, that was NOT the end of Simeon’s BLESSING.  He then turned to the parents and BLESSED them, and he said to Mary, the Mother of Jesus,” This Child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many others to rise.  He has been SENT as a sign from God, but MANY will OPPOSE Him.  As a result, the deepest thoughts of MANY hearts will be REVEALED.  And a sword will PIERCE your very soul.”    (Vv 34,35)

There was MORE than a BLESSING for Mary, she would MISUNDERSTAND, exactly what her Son’s MISSION truly entailed. And she would suffer the GRIEF and SORROW of the CRUCIFIXION, but she would have JOY for the RESURRECTION part of His MISSION to SAVE the WORLD from their SINS, and from the DESTINY of SPENDING an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there.  

 

So, you see that SIMEON’S BLESSING has a CONNECTION with GOD’S PLAN to bring LIGHT that would REVEAL GOD and PROVIDE a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God. JESUS CHRIST, the ONLY MESSIAH that can bring SALVATION to this LOST and DYING world.  Have you experienced the LIGHT?  In the BLESSING of SIMEON, he said that the MESSIAH would cause some to FALL because they OPPOSED HIM and His MISSION.  But He would cause some to RISE because of their BELIEF that He TRULY IS the MESSIAH.  If you have been OPPOSING Him and have NOT given YOUR HEART and LIFE to God, then you are FALLING into an ETERNITY in HELL.  God sent His Son JESUS to SAVE the SOULS of ALL who would BELIEVE in Him and have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with FATHER GOD.  In order to do this, YOU MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE HIS LIFE to SAVE your WRETCHED SOUL from 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 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 His Gift of SALVATION and RECEIVE an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS. Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The LORD Reigns!”

 “The LORD Reigns!”

 

Give to the LORD the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come into His courts.  Worship the LORD in all His Holy splendor.  Let all the earth tremble before Him.   Psalm 96:8,9

 

Our relationship with the Lord God Almighty, is MORE than RELIGION, it is a LOVING FAMILY RELATIONSHIP.  One that should COMPEL EVERY TRUE BELIEVER to SING to the LORD; to PRAISE His NAME.  And EACH day PROCLAIM the GOOD NEWS; He SAVES.  The Psalmist is calling ALL Believers to WORSHIP the LORD in ALL His HOLY SPLENDOR. And that the WHOLE earth should TREMBLE before Him.  And to tell ALL the NATIONS: “The LORD Reigns!”

One day it will be UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED at the time when the MESSIAH, the Lord Jesus Christ, discloses His GLORY in His WORLD-WIDE REIGN.  And at that time ALL CREATION will REJOICE and SHOUT for JOY, because He is COMING! He is COMING to JUDGE the WORLD with JUSTICE, and the NATIONS with His TRUTH.

And may ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, live EXPECTANTLY of the SOON COMING of our KING.  “That at the NAME of Jesus EVERY knee should BOW in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY tongue DECLARE that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the GLORY of GOD the FATHER. (Phil. 2:10-11) 

May our CONDUCT be MOTIVATED to SERVE Him with JOY and COMPASSION.  May we LIVE with great expectation of His INTERVENTION in EVERY part of the believer’s life.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, through the SHED BLOOD of His ONLY SON, the Lord Jesus Christ, who GAVE His life to SAVE your SOUL from an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you’re there. Then this will be your DESTINY. 

However, the ALMIGHTY God, wants the WHOLE WORLD to KNOW that they don’t have to face an ETERNITY in HELL, if they will: ADMIT that they are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  And BELIEVE with ALL their HEART that JESUS DIED for them, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for them before God.  And they MUST CONFESS their SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then they MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And they MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and WORSHIP the LORD and PROCLAIM that: “The LORD Reigns!” And that He is COMING AGAIN! So, do this NOW while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Never Lose Hope”

“Never Lose Hope”

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping-believing that he would become the father of many nations.  For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”  Romans 4:18

 

Now, let us take a look at this PROMISE that God made to Abraham.  If we go back up to verse 13, it tells us that: “Clearly, God’s Promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based NOT on his OBEDIENCE to God’s Law, but on a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God that comes by FAITH.”  

Let’s look at this PROMISE, it started with God promising Abraham and his wife Sarah a SON, which would come from them both, and that Sarah would be the one to give BIRTH to this baby.  The MIRACULOUS thing about this PROMISE is Abraham was about 100 yrs. Old, and Sarah was 90 years old.  They MUST HAVE had DOUBTS about this, and they did.  But the fact is that God kept His PROMISE and Sarah, eventually gave birth to a SON, just as God had PROMISED.  

And Abraham NEVER WAVERED in BELIEVING GOD’S PROMISE.  In fact, Abraham’s FAITH grew STRONGER, and in this he brought GLORY to GOD.  He was TOTALLY CONVINCED that GOD is ABLE to do WHATEVER HE PROMISES.  And because of Abraham’s FAITH, God counted him as RIGHTEOUS. And this PROMISE was a MAJOR ELEMENT in the PROMISE that GOD made to Abraham that he would become the FATHER of ALL who BELIEVE.  

Those who have given their HEART and LIFE to GOD and have FAITH and HOPE that GOD IS ABLE to do WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO.  And that He will KEEP His PROMISES to those who TRULY BELIEVE and have the HOPE and FAITH that they will ONE DAY receive the FULFILLMENT of the PROMISE of an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  And they will NOT EXPERIENCE an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there. That is set aside for ALL UNBELIEVERS.  

Have YOU given your HEART and LIFE to God, through His ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST?  If NOT, you will EXPERIENCE an ETERNITY in HELL, and MISS the CELEBRATION of the HOMECOMING of ALL GOD’S CHILDREN, the BLESSED HOPE of the REDEEMED.  You have the OPPORTUNITY NOW to CHANGE your DESTINY by:  ADMITTING that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your SOUL from that 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 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 DON’T LOSE HOPE!!!  Do this NOW, while you STILL can!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

  

“The Teabag”

 “The Teabag”

 

He who says he abides in Christ ought himself also to walk just as Christ walked.  1 John 2:6

 

In studying this verse of the Bible, I read an analogy of some Christians and tea bags.  This analogy was in Dr. Tony Evans’ Commentary of the Bible, I thought this was a very good illustration of the meaning of the word “remains” (or abides).  These words mean to “hang out with” and you can’t hang out with Christ and not have Him rub off on you.

 

Here is the analogy of the TEABAG and some Christians: “When it comes to making tea, some people dip their teabags in and out of the hot water.  Many Christians approach their relationship with Jesus like this—-dipping in and out of church on Sunday mornings, with little change resulting.  Other tea drinkers place their teabags in the water and let them remain.  In time, the tea seeps into the water and transforms it.  For Christ to influence and transform your life, you must remain in Him.”  And how TRUE that is!

 

So, when we SIN are INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP with Christ is next to nothing, because Christ Jesus is SINLESS and has ALWAYS BEEN SINLESS.  So, our RELATIONSHIP with Him SUFFERS, until we CONFESS OUR SINS and WILLINGLY TURN AWAY FROM THEM. And then our ABIDING in Him takes on a whole different way of living.  When you put your FAITH in Christ, you were given a NEW SPIRITUAL LIFE, which is PURE and SINLESS.  Then why do we still SIN?  We still SIN because of the FLESH, which is CONTAMINATED by SIN.  The Apostle Paul, had problems with this, READ Romans 7:13-25.

 

Our HOPE is this:  When Jesus Christ returns, He will ABOLISH the FLESH, or our SINFUL NATURE.  And we will then be COMPLETELY without sin.  Until then, we MUST ALWAYS, REPENT of our sins, submit to the Word of God, and WALK (remain) in the SPIRIT so that our NEW DIVINE NATURE may become MATURE.

 

If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, which tea making process do you fall into?  If you are truly abiding in CHRIST JESUS, then you would be with the Steeping group, BUT if you are a PART-TIME CHRISTIAN, then you are NOT ABIDING CONTINUALLY with Christ and it’s very likely that He is NOT RUBBING OFF ON YOU!  And if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are NOT a teabag at all.  And you are SINNING and doing the devil’s deeds. The devil will INFLUENCE (tempt) you to carry out his EVIL DEEDS, and this will get you an ETERNAL DESTINY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  However, God has a PLAN to FREE you from your SLAVERY to SIN.  This is what you MUST DO:  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who DIED 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 WALK DAILY with JESUS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL CAN.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!