“The Blessing of Forgiveness”

“The Blessing of Forgiveness”

 

“Our LORD, you BLESS everyone whose sins You forgive and wipe away.  You BLESS them by saying, “You told Me your sins, without trying to hide them, and now I FORGIVE you.”  Psalm 32:1-2

If anyone knew anything about FORGIVENESS, it was King David.  Even though David was a man after the HEART of GOD, he still sinned against God, but the thing is this:  David SUFFERED greatly whenever he would SIN against God, and would NOT CONFESS his sins, he said to God:  “Before I confessed my sins, my bones felt limp, and I groaned ALL day long.  Night and day Your Hand weighed HEAVILY on me, and my STRENGTH was gone as in the summer heat”. (VV 3, 4)

David SUFFERED, and he felt the POWER of GOD weighing HEAVILY upon him.  So, he KNEW what the problem was, and he ACKNOWLEDGED and NAMED all his SINS before the ONLY ONE who could bring him the BLESSING of FORGIVENESS. This is what David did, he came before God and said: “I CONFESSED my SINS and told them All to You, I said, “I’ll tell the LORD each one of my sins,” then YOU FORGAVE me and TOOK AWAY my GUILT.” (V 5).

Have YOU been MISERABLE, because you have NOT CONFESSED your SINS to God, and have failed to SEEK His FORGIVENESS.  Is the FEELING of GUILT TORMENTING you? If so, you are MISSING OUT on His BLESSING of FORGIVENESS, and the JOY and PEACE of KNOWING that you have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the ALMIGHTY GOD.  And that HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS will be your ETERNAL HOME. 

In order to RECEIVE that WONDROUS BLESSING, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, and the ONLY WAY to get FORGIVENESS. He GAVE His LIFE to SAVE your SOUL from 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.  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 ENJOY the BLESSING of FORGIVENESS!!!  Do this NOW while you STILL CAN!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“How Can This Be?”

“How Can This Be?”

 

“Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief.  “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” He thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”  Genesis 17:17.   Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen”. I’m an old man now and my wife is also well along in years.”  Luke: 1:17

Have you ever asked the question “HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?”   We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, should KNOW and BELIEVE that with the ALMIGHTY GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE”.  We can KNOW this, because, in Matthew 19, Jesus was talking to His Disciples, and, in verse 26 He tells them, “With God EVERYTHING is POSSIBLE”. 

Abraham found it DIFFICULT to BELIEVE that he, being 100 years old, could father a child.  Would you want to celebrate your 100th birthday with the announcement that you were going to have a BABY?  The Bible tells us Abraham LAUGHED in DISBELIEF. And to complicate this situation, How Can This Be?  Sarah was NINETY years old, which was WELL BEYOND her CHILD-BEARING YEARS. 

If it’s in GOD’S PLANS, “EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE”.  Our God is in the MIRACLE MAKING business.  And it was in God’s Plans, as was the, Birth of JESUS.

Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was married to Elizabeth, who was kin to MARY, the Mother of our LORD JESUS. Zechariah was also a PRIEST.  And while he was in the Sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, Zechariah was SHAKEN and OVERWHELMED with FEAR when he saw the Angel.  The Angel told Zechariah that he and Elizabeth will give BIRTH to a son and that his name will be JOHN. And John would be the FORERUNNER of the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

Zechariah, said to the Angel, “How Can This Be?” “I am an OLD man, and my wife is ALSO along in years.  And the Angel told Zechariah, that since he did NOT BELIEVE what the Angel had told him, Zechariah would be SILENT, not able to SPEAK until the child is born.  And so, it happened JUST as the ANGEL had told Zechariah.  From that moment until JOHN was born, Zechariah could NOT SPEAK a WORD. 

There’s a song, that says: “GOD WILL MAKE A WAY, where there seems to be NO WAY.  So, when you think your situation is to BIG, COMPLICATED, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, and BELIEVE that GOD is ABLE, because NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE with GOD.  Because EVERYTHING is POSSIBLE with GOD! Don’t LET your UNBELIEF stand in the WAY of a MIRACLE. 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God through His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you are LIVING in UNBELIEF.  And God doesn’t want you there.  He’s giving you the OPPORTUNITY NOW to:  Admit that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, the ONE who GAVE His LIFE to SAVE YOUR SOUL from 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 BELIEVE with ALL your HEART!  HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN?  GOD!!!  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“From the Word to the Light, to the Incarnate Christ”

 “From the Word to the Light, to the Incarnate Christ”

 

In the BEGINNING the Word already existed.  The Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He existed in the BEGINNING WITH GOD.   John1:1-2.   The Word gave LIFE to everything that was CREATED, and His LIFE brought LIGHT to EVERYONE. (v 4) (The Word)

The One who is the TRUE LIGHT, who gives LIGHT to EVERYONE, was coming into the world. (V 9).  (The Light)

So, the Word became HUMAN and made His Home among us.  He was full of UNFAILING LOVE and FAITHFULNESS.  And we have seen His Glory, the glory of the Father’s One and Only Son.  (V14) (The Incarnate Christ)

 

In the BEGINNING, ETERNITY PAST, the WORD, the SON of GOD, who is the ETERNAL EXPRESSION of GOD, was with God in the BEGINNING of CREATION.  The Father made the WORLD through the DIVINE WORD, His Son.  “For through Him God made EVERYTHING in the Heavenly Realms on Earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—-such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was CREATED THROUGH Him (Jesus), The WORD gave LIFE to EVERYTHING that was CREATED, and His LIFE brought LIGHT to EVERYONE.  That LIGHT shines in the darkness and the darkness can NEVER EXTINGUISH it!!   (The Word)

God sent John the Baptist, to tell about the LIGHT, the TRUE LIGHT, Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  And the One who gives LIGHT to EVERYONE was COMING into the WORLD that He created. John was NOT the LIGHT, only a witness to tell about the LIGHT.  (The LIGHT)

So, the WORD became LIGHT, and the LIGHT became FLESH, the INCARNATE CHRIST, GOD’S ONLY SON, He was FULL of UNFAILING LOVE and FAITHFULNESS.  He came into the world He created, but the world DIDN’T RECOGNIZE Him.  He came to His OWN people, and even they REJECTED Him.  But to ALL who BELIEVED in Him and ACCEPTED HIM, He GAVE the RIGHT to become the CHILDREN of GOD.  (JESUS, the INCARNATE CHRIST)

Have you BELIEVED and ACCEPTED Him (Jesus) as GOD’S ONLY SON, and the ONLY WAY to be able to have ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO way to ESCAPE, once you are there?  You have the OPPORTUNITY NOW to BELIEVE and ACCEPT Him as your SAVIOR and LORD:  This is what you MUST DO:

ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, CHRIST, who gave His LIFE to SAVE YOUR 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 God’s Gift of SALVATION and be ASSURED of an 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 LORD Is GOD”

“The LORD Is GOD”

So, remember this and keep it firmly in mind:  The LORD is God both in Heaven and on earth and there is NO other.  Deuteronomy 4:39

 

The Nation of Israel was about to enter the PROMISED LAND, and GOD had FORBIDDEN Moses to enter the Land that He had promised to Israel. This was the PUNISHMENT of Moses for his DISOBEDIENCE to the Almighty God. 

When the Nation first started their journey into the WILDERNESS, they faced many TRIALS. And one was the NEED for WATER.  They complained to Moses and Moses spoke to God about the problem.  God told Moses to gather the people and to SPEAK to a rock, close by. When Moses came CLOSE to the ROCK, he STRUCK the rock the staff in his hand.  And the water gushed from the rock.  So, the COMPLAINING people and their LIVESTOCK had plenty of water.

Now, you see, God provided the much-NEEDED WATER, but the BIG PROBLEM was Moses COMPLETELY IGNORED God’s Directions and did what HE wanted to do.  Moses DISOBEYED GOD, and because of that, God told Moses that he would NOT LEAD the people into the PROMISED LAND. 

 Moses KNEW about the CONSEQUENCES when you DISOBEY the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.  When God LEADS us to do ONE THING and we do SOMETHING ELSE, we can EXPECT to be REPRIMANDED by GOD.  How PAINFUL it must have been when God said, “NO!” To him LEADING the Nation INTO the PROMISED LAND.

Moses told the people: “REMEMBER THIS and KEEP it FIRMLY in MIND:  THE LORD is GOD BOTH in HEAVEN and on EARTH, and THERE IS NO OTHER!!! Moses also gave them a WARNING AGAINST IDOLATRY!!  “If YOU will SEARCH for GOD with ALL your HEART and SOUL, you will FIND Him. 

When you become a CHILD OF GOD, you MUST KNOW this:  DO YOUR BEST to OBEY GOD’S DIRECTIONS OR face the CONSEQUENCES!!!  God tells us that in order to become His CHILD we MUST ADMIT that we are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, God’s ONE and ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST, who came to EARTH as a BABE and GREW-UP in the NURTURE of GOD to SEEK and to SAVE those who are LOST and on their way to HELL for ALL ETERNITY. And He was the ONLY ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE for the SALVATION of MANKIND.   If this is your DESTINY, then 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 an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with JESUS, who is WORTHY to SAVE and with the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, CREATOR of ALL!!!  Do this NOW, while you STILL can!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“Mountains Would QUAKE, and Nations Would TREMBLE”

 “Mountains Would QUAKE, and Nations Would TREMBLE”

 

“Oh, that You would burst from the heavens and come down!  How the mountains would QUAKE in Your presence!  As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, Your coming would make the nations TREMBLE.  Then Your enemies would LEARN the REASON for Your fame!  Isaiah 64:1-2

 

In these final verses, we see the Prophet Isaiah, PlEADING with GOD for DELIVERANCE, on behalf of the Nation of Israel.  The Israelites were EXILES, in EGYPT.  They were BADLY treated.  And were DESPERATE for HELP.  So, the Prophet Isaiah, called out to God for DELIVERANCE, on behalf of the Nation.  It was a very HARD and DIFFICULT time. 

They were so distraught, that the Prophet CRIED OUT for GOD to BURST from the heavens and COME DOWN to earth, where the people were.  Isaiah indicated that if God would do this that the MOUNTAINS would QUAKE, just from the PRESENCE of the ALMIGHTY GOD. 

The FIRE and BOILING WATER, indicated JUDGMENT, which would DEFINITELY make the NATIONS TREMBLE.  And God’s enemies would come to KNOW the REASON for His FAME!

In the past, when God performed His AWESOME DEED, oh, how those mountains QUAKED! For since the world began, NO EAR has HEARD and NO EYE has SEEN a GOD like YOU, who works for those who WAIT for Him and FOLLOWS in GODLY WAYS. 

And they ACKNOWLEDGED that God was ANGRY with them because they were NOT GODLY, but they were CONSTANT SINNERS, INFECTED and IMPURE with SIN.  And because of their SINFULNESS and REBELLION AGAINST GOD, their CREATOR, they were TURNED OVER to their SINS. 

Until there was TRUE REPENTANCE there would NOT be MERCY and GRACE.  They would NOT have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with GOD.  And they would KNOW that their JUDGMENT was at hand. Is this the situation YOU are IN? 

One day, and it might be SOON, the MOUNTAINS will QUAKE, and the NATIONS will TREMBLE at the SECOND COMING of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  The ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD, who is the ONLY ONE, who can provide mankind with SALVATION, and an ETERNAL LIFE with GOD, the FATHER, and His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

For those who will NOT or have NOT GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, will end up SPENDING their ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, UNLESS they will ADMIT that they are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR and BELIEVE with ALL their HEARTS, that HE is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for them, before God.  They MUST CONFESS their SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  They MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL LIFE-STYLE, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  They MUST Be WILLING To ACCEPT GOD’S Gift of SALVATION and an ETERNAL LIFE with Him and His Heavenly Father.  You NEED to DO this NOW, BEFORE it’s to LATE.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Mountains

“The Unique One”

 “The Unique One”

 

For the law was given through Moses, but God’s UNFAILING LOVE and FAITHFULNESS came through Jesus Christ.  NO ONE has EVER seen God.  But the UNIQUE ONE, who is Himself God, is near to the Father’s Heart.  He has REVEALED God to us.   John 1:17-18

We are going to find out some things that will reveal the uniqueness of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the LIVING GOD. First of all, the UNIQUENESS of the BIRTH of our LORD, was very UNIQUE in that His Mother, Mary, was betrothed to a POOR, LOWLY carpenter, named JOSEPH.  They had NOT come together as husband and wife.  They were in, what we will call the ENGAGEMENT part of the BETROTHAL.  And so, MARY was a VIRGIN, she had never been with a man.  She was PURE, and CHASTE, a GODLY young lady who was devout in her worship of her LORD GOD. She was a PERFECT CHOICE for the one who would give birth to the SON of the LIVING GOD.  So, the CONCEPTION of JESUS was pretty UNIQUE.

And so, it was that the SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD came upon Mary and she became WITH CHILD, the CHILD of the LIVING GOD. And He is HIMSELF GOD.  The HOLY TRINITY tells us that, God the Father, God the SON, and God the HOLY SPIRIT.  In the GOSPEL of John, John tells us that Jesus was with God and HE IS GOD.  John tells us that:  In the BEGINNING, the WORD (who is JESUS) was with God.  And the WORD was GOD.  He EXISTED in the BEGINNING with GOD.  God created EVERYTHING through the WORD (Jesus), and NOTHING WAS CREATED EXCEPT THROUGH HIM.  In verse fourteen, it tells us that the WORD became FLESH (human) and made His Home among mankind.  Again, I would say that this is UNIQUE. 

John the Baptist called Jesus, “the LAMB of GOD, who takes AWAY the SINS of the WORLD.” He is the CHOSEN ONE of GOD.  In John 6:38-40, Jesus says: “For I have come down from Heaven to do the Will of God Who sent Me, not to do MY OWN will.  And this is the Will of God, that I should NOT lose even ONE of all those He has GIVEN Me, but that I should RAISE them up at the LAST DAY.  For it is My Father’s will that All who SEE His Son and BELIEVE in Him SHOULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.  I will RAISE them UP at the LAST DAY.” This IS what the BELIEVER calls the “RAPTURE” and I MUST SAY, we are SO LOOKING for that NEXT PROPHETIC EVENT to TAKE PLACE.  This too, is UNIQUE about the LORD JESUS.  Are YOU looking for that DAY when ALL TRUE BELIEVERS will be RAISED UP to an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN??  It COULD BE ANY DAY!! 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God through His ONLY Son, JESUS CHRIST, you have the OPPORTUNITY to do this NOW!  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 LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, YOU MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and ENJOY a UNIQUE ETERNAL LIFE with JESUS, the UNIQUE ONE!!! Do this NOW while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

 

 

 

“Praying with a THANKFUL Heart”

 “Praying with a THANKFUL Heart”

 

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.  Colossians 4:2

Many American families will gather together, on Thursday, Nov. 27th and share a HUGE meal together.  They will laugh, cry, sing, and carry on.  But I wonder how many households will offer up a PRAYER of THANKSGIVING with a THANKFUL HEART.  I’m sure a lot of CHRISTIANS will, but will they REALLY PRAY with a THANKFUL HEART?  If we are TRULY, SINCERELY THANKFUL to the ALMIGHTY GOD for ALL the things HE has provided for us, to help make this life on earth more tolerable, the LEAST we can do is OFFER up our PRAYERS with THANKFUL HEARTS and a lot of PRAISE mixed in. 

Here are some challenges to EFFECTIVE PRAYING.  The Apostle Paul is speaking to the COLOSSIANS, who have GIVEN their HEARTS and LIVES to God through the SHED BLOOD of His ONE and ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who DIED and was RESURRECTED, in order for all mankind to RECEIVE SALVATION and to become the BORN AGAIN CHILDREN of the LIVING GOD.   

The first challenge to have EFFECTIVE PRAYERS is to DEVOTE YOURSELF to PRAYER, in other words DEDICATE yourself to PRAYING, make it a point to incorporate it into your DAILY, MORNING RITUAL. Now, don’t tell me you DON’T have time, if that is the case, then you MAKE TIME by getting up EARLIER in the morning, or do some things, that you can, in the evening.  Make sure you DON’T forget to PRAY over those PRECIOUS CHILDREN that GOD has BLESSED you with. And your SPOUSE, if you have one, we all NEED PRAYERS, and DON’T FORGET to PRAY with a THANKFUL HEART!

Another challenge is for us to NOT be SLUGGISH in our PRAYER TIME; Paul tells us to be ALERT!  Have a MIND that is EAGER to TALK to your HEAVENLY FATHER. You will find that He is EAGER to HEAR from His Child.  And Don’t FORGET to have a THANKFUL HEART!

The last challenge is PLEASE, don’t let your PRAYERS be only FILLED with REQUESTS, but LACKING THANKSGIVING.  You NEED to STOP and REFLECT on ALL the things that FATHER GOD has allowed you to POSSESS.  Let the VERY FIRST THING be your SALVATION. 

And if YOU have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to God through His ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST, then God will NOT HEAR your PRAYERS, because you have SIN in your HEART.  In Psalm, chapter sixty-six, King David says that: “If I had NOT CONFESSED the SIN in my HEART, the Lord would NOT have LISTENED.” (V-18) But God did LISTEN to David’s prayer, because David CONFESSED HIS SINS to God. 

Now is the TIME for you to COME to God by calling on the NAME of JESUS and ADMITTING that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, 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 have a SURE, EFFECTIVE PRAYER-LIFE, that is FILLED with THANKFULNESS and PRAISE.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Evidence of Our Relationship with the Invisible God”

 “Evidence of Our Relationship with the Invisible God”

 

No one has ever seen God.  But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His Love is brought to FULL expression in us.  1 John 4:12

 

There is NO REASON to doubt the EXISTENCE of God just because you or no one else has EVER seen God.  You can’t see the WIND, but you know that it is there because you NOTICE the EFFECTS of it.  Such as, the trees swaying or bits of paper swirling in the air.  And we TRUST that it is there, because we are still breathing it. 

One of the MOST IMPORTANT EVIDENCES that those who have GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to God, is the RELATIONSHIP we have with Him.  In verses seven to the end of the chapter, it tells us that God is LOVE, and ANYONE who LOVES is a Child of God and KNOWS GOD. Therefore, they would have a RELATIONSHIP with Him. Anyone who does NOT LOVE  does NOT KNOW GOD, for GOD IS LOVE.

God showed how much He LOVED US by sending His ONE and ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST, into the world so that WE might have ETERNAL LIFE through HIM.  This is REAL LOVE, EVERLASTING LOVE, AGAPE LOVE. Not LOVE like a love between a man and a woman. But it is a PURE, UNENDING LOVE.  It is NOT based on the fact that we LOVED Him, BUT that HE LOVED US. And SENT His Son as a SACRIFICE to take AWAY our SINS. 

And since the INVISIBLE GOD LOVED us that much, we surely ought to LOVE each other with a LOVE like God loves us.  And if we LOVE EACH OTHER like that we will have a RELATIONSHIP with HIM, and the EVIDENCE of that RELATIONSHIP will be EXPRESSED to a LOST and DYING WORLD, through US, the TRUE CHILDREN of the INVISIBLE, ALMIGHTY, EVERLASTING GOD, CREATOR of ALL THINGS.  

Do YOU have a RELATIONSHIP with Him?  Anyone who will CONFESS that JESUS is the SON of GOD, has a RELATIONSHIP with Him, and it will SHOW that GOD ABIDES in THEM.

This is what you MUST DO:  ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, God’s ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE that JESUS, the SON of GOD, SUFFERED, BLED, DIED, and was RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE.  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 SHOW that you have a RELATIONSHIP with GOD by the EVIDENCE of your LOVE for Him and His Family.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Hearing and the Believing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”

 “The Hearing and the Believing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”

 

He is the One all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.  Acts 10:43

There are two things a person MUST DO in order to obtain SALVATION, and Eternal Life in Heaven.  One is HEARING the WORD, but you MUST BELIEVE what you are HEARING, in order to RECEIVE God’s WONDERFUL Gift of SALVATION, which brings God’s PROMISE of an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN. 

A person can HEAR a lot about JESUS, and thus they have a KNOWLEDGE of Him.  Yet they DON’T REALLY KNOW Him and so, even though they may have a KNOWLEDGE of Him, and REFUSE to ACCEPT HIM as their SAVIOR and LORD, mainly because they don’t BELIEVE in what they have HEARD. They will still face God’s Judgment and Condemnation because of their UNBELIEF. 

The Apostle Peter tells us: “Each of you MUST REPENT of your SINS and TURN to God and be baptized in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST for the FORGIVENESS of your SINS. (2:38) He also tells us that: “There is SALVATION in NO ONE ELSE! God has given NO OTHER NAME under Heaven by which we MUST BE SAVED.”  (4:12).  It’s JESUS CHRIST and HIM ALONE!!!

Don’t be a HEARER ONLY but HEAR and BELIEVE in the LORD JESUS, because there is NO OTHER WAY you can 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. 

This is what you MUST DO; ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, 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 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 BELIEVE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST as YOUR MESSIAH.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“What Should We Do?”

 “What Should We Do?”

 

So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!  Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”  Acts 2:36-37

 

This scripture is the HIGH POINT of Peter’s Sermon, that he delivered at Pentecost, just after the CRUCIFIXION of the LORD, JESUS CHRIST.  And it was the time of the COMING of the Holy Spirit, a part of the TRIUNE GOD, who came at that time, and is presently indwelling ALL TRUE BELIEVERS. 

His mission is to BRING SALVATION to the UNBELIEVER, and then to bring CONVICTION up on the UNBELIEVER’S HEART. And He will CAUSE the UNBELIEVER to SEE the TRUTH of the GOSPEL in a CLEAR LIGHT.  Those who RESPOND to this CONVICTION and will PLACE their FAITH in JESUS CHRIST will RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE and they will possess a NEW NATURE. 

Peter’s ANSWER to the DISTRESSED PEOPLE, was for them to REPENT, to TURN AWAY FROM their SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. Then there will be a TOTAL CHANGE in their THOUGHT and their BEHAVIOR. 

There is a DIFFERENCE between REPENTANCE and FAITH.  REPENTANCE is the STARTING POINT of the NEED for God’s FORGIVENESS.  And FAITH is the TRUST and UNDERSTANDING that this FORGIVENESS comes from GOD, Himself.  So, if you are concerned about your ETERNAL DESTINY and the SPIRIT of God, has been CONVICTING you of your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and you’re asking; “WHAT SHOULD I DO? 

This is what YOU MUST DO:  ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. You MUST BELIVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOU, and that HE is NOW ALIVE, in Heaven, making intercession for YOU before God.  Then 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 ABLE to ESCAPE 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!!!

“Shout!”

 “Shout!”

 

A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, what should I shout?”  “Shout that people are like grass.  Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD.  And so, it is with people.  The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:6-8

In these verses, we are told that there are TWO voices.  There is NO indication as to WHO these voices are.  Personally, I believe them to be, GOD speaking to ISAIAH, and telling him to SHOUT to the PEOPLE, the words that He was about to give him.  And these are the words: “SHOUT! That the People are like grass.  Their beauty fades as quickly as the FLOWERS in a field.  The concept of, “HERE TODAY and GONE TOMORROW.” 

They are NOT permanent, they have “NO ETERNAL DESTINY.  But HUMANITY does POSSESS an ETERNAL DESTINY.  And therefore, the CHILD of the LIVING GOD has the HOPE of spending THEIR ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS and ESCAPING HELL with ALL its HORRORS. 

We have this HOPE because, we have the PROMISE of GOD’S HOLY WORD. And His WORD will NEVER FAIL.  Its BEAUTY will NEVER WITHER, nor will it FADE AWAY.  And this is exactly what the Israelites NEEDED to hear! THEY like WE, NEED to KNOW that we have a SURE and STEADFAST HOPE.     Do YOU have a HOPE like that?  Are you SURE that you have GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY?  You can be! 

Here is what you MUST DO;  First, ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, GOD’S ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who SUFFERED, BLED, DIED, and was RESURRECTED to SECURE YOU a PLACE in HEAVEN. 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 READY and 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 SHARE THE GOOD NEWS! “JESUS SAVES and COMING SOON!!” GET READY for HIS COMING!!! And DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!  It COULD BE TODAY!! 

“A Crucial Decision

“A Crucial Decision”

 

 …if you refuse to serve the LORD then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates?  Or would it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? As for me and my family we will serve the LORD.  Joshua 24:15

 

The Children of Israel at this time were settled in the land that the LORD had promised them.  Joshua was very OLD and about to die.  But he wanted the Israelites to make a very CRUCIAL DECISION.  Joshua reminded them of ALL the things that God had done for them and even for their ancestors.

The ISRAELITES, to whom Joshua, was speaking to, were the adult children that were born in the wilderness, their parents were the ones that Moses led from EGYPT into the WILDERNESS. And were not allowed to enter the PROMISED LAND, because of the SINS they had committed during their journey. 

Throughout the twenty-fourth chapter, Joshua is reminding them of ALL the things God had done for them.  And there was ONE thing that bothered Joshua and that was, the fact that NOW, they were WORSHIPPING IDOLS, the ones that were left to them by their deceased family members.

So, Joshua told them to FEAR the LORD, which meant to take God SERIOUSLY and not to take their RELATIONSHIP with Him as a mere CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP.  They were to PUT AWAY the IDOLS FOREVER and to SERVE GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY.  And to SERVE the LORD ALONE. But if they REFUSED to SERVE the LORD then they had a very CRUCIAL DECISION to make:  Did they prefer the IDOLS that their ANCESTORS left, or would they WORSHIP and SERVE the gods of the Amorites?  And Joshua told them: “But as for ME and my FAMILY, we WILL SERVE the LORD. 

The Israelites reply was: “We would NEVER ABANDON the LORD and SERVE other gods.  We, too, will SERVE the LORD, for He ALONE is our GOD.”   The Israelites had a problem with IDOL WORSHIP. Do you have that SAME PROBLEM?

An IDOL is NOT just a statue that someone has made, and that one bows down to and PRAYS to it.  An IDOL is any UNJUSTIFIED PERSON, PLACE, or THING that a person may look to as a source of PURPOSE, PROMISE, or PROVISION.  An IDOL can be MONEY, POWER, POPULARITY, SEX, INFLUENCE or another PERSON, etc. There’s ONLY ONE OVERALL SOURCE to MEET our NEEDS——GOD!! 

You MUST make that CRUCIAL DECISION NOW, will you come to Him by way of His ONLY SON, who SUFFERED, BLED, DIED and RESURRECTED, in order to REDEEM mankind from their SINS.  Well, this is what you MUST DO:  ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED 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.  WILLINGLY TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and MAKE that CRUCIAL DECISION, NOW, because if you REJECT IT, YOU will end up being REJECTED by GOD. And HELL will be your FINAL DESTINATION. So, make that CRUCIAL DECISION NOW, PLEASE!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON, Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!