“Faith That Gives HOPE and ASSURANCE “

 “Faith That Gives HOPE and ASSURANCE”

 

 

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s Promise.  In fact, his FAITH grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.  He was fully convinced that God is ABLE to do whatever He promises.  And because of Abraham’s FAITH, God counted him as RIGHTEOUS.         Romans 4:20-22

RIGHTEOUS:  Honorable, pure, upright, virtuous.

Abraham’s FAITH in God’s Promise to give the WHOLE earth to him and his descendants was NOT BASED on his OBEDIENCE to God’s Law, but it was based on a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with GOD, which comes by FAITH. (V13). If it had been based on OBEYING the LAW, then FAITH would not be necessary, and the PROMISE would be POINTLESS.

The Law brings PUNISHMENT on those who try to OBEY it.  (The ONLY way to avoid breaking the law is to have NO law to break). (V15).

So, the PROMISE is received by FAITH, and it is given as a FREE GIFT, whether or not we live according to the Law of Moses, if we have FAITH in God like ABRAHAM.  Even when there was NO reason for HOPE, Abraham KEPT HOPING—BELIEVING that he would be the father of many nations.  For God told him: “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham BELIEVED in God’s PROMISE.

Therefore, a FAITH like ABRAHAM’S brings HOPE and ASSURANCE to ALL who have put their TRUST in CHRIST JESUS, God’s ONLY SON, who SUFFERED, BLED, and DIED, and was brought back to LIFE, in order to PAY the PRICE for MANKIND’S SALVATION.  And the ASSURANCE of an ETERNAL LIFE 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 the PROMISE that God has given to EVERY BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER.

Do you have a STRONG FAITH, one that provides a STRONG HOPE and ASSURANCE of that PROMISE?? If NOT, you CAN if you will GIVE your HEART and LIFE to GOD, by COMING to CHRIST JESUS, and ADMITTING 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 is NOW 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 TRUST in His PROMISES, with a STRONG FAITH that provides HOPE and ASSURANCE to carry on UNTIL He RETURNS.  So, do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Hypocrisy Exposed”

 “Hypocrisy Exposed”

 

Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.   Luke 12:3

 

Hypocrisy: A pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.

The religious leaders in Jesus's day, were always trying to trap Him.  And the crowds were thronging Jesus.  But He was not afraid of His enemy, nor was He impressed by the multitudes.  His life was one that was LIVED to PLEASE GOD and Him alone.

Jesus knew that His Disciples, (the TWELVE) were worried about the PHARISEES. So, Jesus gave them a WARNING:  FEAR GOD ALONE and NOT men.  If we FEAR GOD, we do not need to FEAR anyone or anything else.

COMPROMISING comes when we start FEARING people.  When we are PLEASING MANKIND and PROTECTING OURSELVES, then we are in danger of HYPOCRISY or PLAYACTING.  JESUS wanted His Disciples to have the RIGHT PRIORITIES in their lives.  So, He compared HYPOCRISY to YEAST.  And His Disciples were somewhat familiar with YEAST.  The fact that it begins SMALL then SPREADS and infects the WHOLE being.  Jesus told His Disciples to be on guard against the YEAST of the PHARISEES, which is HYPOCRISY.  (V1)

The religious hypocrite plays the part of a religious person, but in reality, there is NO relationship with God.  HYPOCRISY is very deceptive; it’s a LIE in ACTION.  Jesus explained it like this: “There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known.  Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12: 2-3).  NOTHING remains HIDDEN forever.  One day, HYPOCRISY will be EXPOSED for what it is: Nothing but a FRAUDULENT ACT. 

Do you have a TRUE, REAL RELATIONSHIP with God, by coming to Him, through His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST?  Or are you a HYPOCRITE, playacting, to PROTECT your REPUTATION?  REMEMBER: NOTHING remains HIDDEN or SECRET forever.  One day, the HYPOCRISY will be EXPOSED. 

You can STOP being a FRAUD, and have a REAL, RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH the REAL HOLY GOD, by coming to Him by way of the CROSS of CALVARY.  To do that, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD 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. And DON’T BE A HYPOCRITE and up spending your ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and 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!!!

 

 

“The Appointed Time”

 “The Appointed Time”

 

“Precious in the Sight of the LORD is the death of His Saints.”  Psalm 116:15

God’s Word tells us that:  It is APPOINTED for PEOPLE to DIE ONCE, and then the JUDGMENT.  (Hebrews 9: 27) So, let’s look at what is to come, concerning the DEATH of GOD’S CHILDREN, those who are at the AGE of ACCOUNTABILITY, those who KNOW RIGHT from WRONG, and those who have, given their HEART and LIFE to GOD, through JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, the ONLY ONE who COULD BE the SACRIFICE for MANKIND to be ABLE to LIVE in HEAVEN for ALL ETERNITY and to ESCAPE HELL with ALL it’s HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE ONCE you are there. 

EVERYONE has an APPOINTED TIME, a time when they will LEAVE this WORLD, either by DEATH or the RAPTURE.  Those who have REJECTED GOD’S SON, and continues to LIVE in an UNGODLY manner, will have an APPOINTED TIME, when they will LEAVE this WORLD, and at ANOTHER APPOINTED TIME they will face the JUDGMENT SEAT of GOD, where they will RECEIVE their JUST REWARD. 

If our Heavenly Father pays attention to the LITTLE SPARROWS and KNOWS every time one falls in death, He SURELY KNOWS and CARES about His PRECIOUS SAINTS.  And His ONLY SON, being PRECIOUS TO HIM, He was WILLING to SACRIFICE Him for MANKIND, and through the DEATH and RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, His PRECIOUS SON who SHED His PRECIOUS BLOOD to WIPE AWAY ALL OUR SINS.  Then WE, who have GIVEN our HEARTS and LIVES to Him are PRECIOUS to the ALMIGHTY GOD. 

And the POINT of it ALL is that the DEATH of ALL HIS CHILDREN is VERY PRECIOUS to God. And just like JESUS had an APPOINTED TIME, SO DO WE!!!  Are YOU READY?

In order to be READY to meet your ETERNAL DESTINY of an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN with ALL ITS BLESSINGS, YOU MUST come to GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the ONE and ONLY 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 LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and KNOW that as HIS CHILD, your APPOINTED TIME to GO HOME and be with HIM is PRECIOUS to HIM.  Do this NOW, while you STILL CAN. He is WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!