"Where Does Righteousness Come From?"

"Where Does Righteousness Come From?”

 

 

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.          Romans 3:22-24

 

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS is given to ALL who BELIEVE, it is given through FAITH in Jesus Christ.  RIGHTEOUSNESS is given to EVERY one who TRULY BELIEVES by FAITH in Jesus Christ, by God, our Heavenly Father.  RIGHTEOUSNESS is having a RIGHT or JUST standing with the Almighty God.  Our RIGHTEOUSNESS is like ‘filthy rags’ to the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD of CREATION, therefore He gives us His RIGHTEOUSNESS, when we come to Him through the shed blood of Jesus Christ for the SALVATION of our souls.  There is NO other way to obtain this RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

For ALL of mankind, Jew and Gentile alike have SINNED, there is NO difference between them, we ALL fall short of God’s glory.  His glory is the outward demonstration of His HOLY attributes.  It is God’s desire for ALL TRUE BELIEVERS to be CHRISTLIKE in their daily lives, and to be a witness to others, but because of the FLESH we sin and our sins keep us from being a part of God’s glory and sharing it with others.   

 

Because of God’s AMAZING GRACE we ALL are JUSTIFIED or made RIGHTEOUS through our REDEMPTION, which was provided to us by Christ Jesus.  When we come to Him with a TRUE REPENTIVE HEART, seeking FORGIVENESS He will make us RIGHTEOUS before Him.

 

Have you come to Him for the FORGIVENESS of your sins?  If not, then you have not received His RIGHTEOUSNESS nor His FREE gift of SALVATION.  You can be a recipient of His RIGHTEOUSNESS now, by; CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING that Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and receive His RIGHTEOUSNESS as your own, and be made NEW.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Search Me, Know Me, Test Me!"

“Search Me, Know Me, Test Me!”

 

 

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.          Psalm 139:23-24

 

 

This is a prayer that SHOULD be prayed EVERYDAY, by EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.  It is a SCRUTINIZING prayer, asking God to SEARCH ME, AND KNOW MY HEART.  There are many who would NOT want God to SEARCH and KNOW their hearts, because of what they are hiding in them.

 

God doesn’t need an invitation from you to SEARCH and KNOW your HEART, He already knows what is in it.  Then why should we ask Him to SEARCH and KNOW it?  Because if we profess to be His Child, a TRUE BELIEVER, that has been SAVED and SANCTIFIED  for Him, we SHOULD want to be PLEASING in His sight, and OPEN to His SCRUTINY.  We NEED to be OBEDIENT to His WILL and WAYS.

 

The Psalmist, David, goes on to ask God to TEST him and to KNOW his anxious thoughts.  David was in a very stressful situation and sought God’s MERCY and PROTECTION.  In order for David to have PEACE of mind, he wanted God to TEST him, like metal that is REFINED by fire, and to KNOW his ANXIOUS thoughts.  To KNOW what was going through his mind, which was being controlled by his HEART.   The same thing should be our prayer, we should want God to TEST our resolve, our FAITH and to KNOW what is in our MIND and HEART. 

 

Then David, ends his prayer with a plea for FORGIVINESS, MERCY and GRACE, by saying: “See if there is ANY OFFENSIVE way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  David was convinced that such SCRUTINY would prove his LOYALTY or FAITHFULNESS to Almighty God.  And because of his FAITHFULNESS to FOLLOW and be OBEDIENT to God, he would be led by God to EVERLASTING LIFE.

 

When we allow the Holy Spirit to SEARCH, KNOW and TEST us, the TRUE BELIEVERS of the Lord Jesus Christ, we too, like David, can with CERTAINITY say:  “See if there is ANY OFFENSIVE WAY in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”   However, if you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER of the Lord Jesus Christ, you don’t have that security of being led to EVERLASTING LIFE, until you come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING  your sins to Him asking for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession, for you before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and you too can say, with CERTAINITY, “SEARCH ME, KNOW ME, TEST ME, and SEE if there is any OFFENSIVE WAY in me, and lead me in the way EVERLASTING.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Losing All Things, and Gaining Christ"

“Losing All Things, and Gaining Christ”

 

 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ---the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.        Philippians 3:7-9

 

After Paul’s DRAMATIC conversion on the Damascus Road, his outlook on life changed DRAMATICALLY.  Those things that he had once held dear to his heart became insignificant to him.  To him, the worth of KNOWING Christ Jesus, not JUST KNOWING ABOUT Him, but KNOWING Him, having a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Him, became MUCH MORE valuable then ALL of his earthly things and his selfish ambitions. 

 

Paul’s outlook reflected the content of his heart. The same as it does with each of us.  Paul begin to realize that ALL those things he possessed were NOW to him garbage, in order for him to GAIN Christ and be found in Him RIGHTEOUS, NOT with a RIGHTEOUSNESS of Paul’s own, which would come from his obedience to the law, which in the eyes of Almighty God, Paul’s own righteousness is like filthy rags, but it is a RIGHTEOUSNESS that comes through FAITH in Christ---that is from GOD and it is obtained on the basis of FAITH.

 

When we come to Jesus Christ, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, for the SALVATION of our soul, we should follow the Apostle Paul’s example and seek a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Christ, realizing that NOTHING we own is more VALUABLE than KNOWING Christ, and having a RIGHTEOUSNESS that is NOT of our own doing, but comes from allowing the Holy Spirit of God to work in our HEART, and to CLOTHE us in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ Jesus.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you really don’t have a relationship with Him at all, and are destined for Hell, the place of torment, torture, pain, agony, heartache, and despair.   However, you can change that destination, by coming to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, be clothed in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ Jesus, and on your way to HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"Who is God?"

“Who Is God?”

 

 

“I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.      Isaiah 42:8

 

 Who is God?  He is the CREATOR of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and Life to those who walk on it. (v5). 

 

He is the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE of Justice, He judges the people of the earth with WISDOM and JUSTICE.   (Ps. 50:6)

 

He is my STRENGTH and my DEFENSE; He has become my SALVATION.  (Ex. 15:2)  When I am weak He is STRONG.  When I am facing danger He is my DEFENSE.  He SAVES me from ALL my transgressions and makes a way when there seems to be NO way.

 

He is our PROVIDER:  “You PROVIDED bread from heaven for their hunger; you brought them WATER from the rock for their thirst.  You told them to go in and possess the land You had sworn to give them.” (Neh. 9:15)  He PROVIDES Spiritual bread for our Spiritual hunger and He is our LIVING WATER.  He gives us the land in which we live, and it is up to us to take care of it, and govern it properly and RIGHTEOUSLY. 

 

He is our HEALER:  “Heal me, Lord, and I will be HEALED; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.  (Jer. 17:14)  Not only does God HEAL our physical body, but He brings HEALING to our SPIRITUAL body, especially when we are sin-sick, He will bring a HEALING TOUCH to our poor, old, wretched, sin-sick body that will provide SALVATION for our soul, and a NEWNESS of LIFE.

 

He is our SALVATION:  “The Lord is my LIGHT and my SALVATION---whom should I fear?”  (Psalm 27:1)  NOT ONLY is He our SALVATION, giving us a release from our sins, but He is our LIGHT in a very, dark and foreboding world.  He LIGHTS our way to the HOPE of our SALVATION----HEAVEN.

 

He has a multitude of names, but you can call Him “LORD!” If you come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be able to call Him, “LORD!” Because He will become the LORD of your LIFE.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

"Who Are These People?"

“Who Are These People?”

 

 

 They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works.  They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.         Titus 1:16

 

“Who are these people,” that profess to KNOW God, but deny Him by their works?  They are the UNBELIEVERS who live detestable, disobedient, and defiled lives, yet they possess a HEAD-KNOWLEDGE of God.  They KNOW about God, but they DON’T KNOW God.

 

Some people will go to church, and walk the aisle and say a prayer, because they KNOW that is a part of the SALVATION process and that is what they are supposed to do to receive SALVATION.  However, they are missing the MAIN PART of the SALVATION process, which is NECESSARY in order to gain SALVATION, which is having a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  KNOWING what is required of the SALVATION process, and ACTUALLY possessing what is NEEDED are two different things. 

 

If an unbeliever KNOWS that they need to do certain things in order to obtain SALVATION, but they are lacking the NECESSARY part, a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, they can carry out all the other actions and still be LOST. 

 

Romans 10:9 says:   “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and BELIEVE in your HEART that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  It is NOT enough just to KNOW it, you MUST BELIEVE IT IN YOUR HEART!! 

 

SALVATION is a HEART THING, MANY people will miss Heaven by about fourteen inches, the distance between the mind and the heart.  They KNOW all about it, but it is not in their HEART.  So they are deceived into believing that they are saved, when in all actuality they are still LOST, and NOTHING has changed in their lives, they go back to their OLD SINFUL ways, but believing a big fat lie.  2Corinthians 5:17 says:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation.  The OLD has passed away; behold, the NEW has come.”  This is a TRUE litmus test for whether a person genuinely possess SALVATION.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God or have been deceived into believing that you have, because you KNOW what to do, but you were missing the NECESSARY element of a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, and are LIVING or PRACTICING a sinful life.  God is giving you the opportunity NOW, to come to Him with that TRUE REPENTANT HEART and CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be TRULY SAVED.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"What Can the Righteous Do?"

“What Can the Righteous Do?"

 

 

For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.  When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?        Psalm 11:2-3

 

 

We are living in very perilous times, and they really don’t seem to be getting any better. The foundations of our ONCE great nation are cracked and crumbling, day by day they are being destroyed.  The question is; HOW is this happening to what use to be a STRONG and MIGHTY nation in the eyes of our allies? 

 

The answer is really quite clear.  We are being MORALLY eroded.  We are being forced to accept things that in the past we would NEVER have allowed.  Our dignity is being stripped away from us little by little.  We are calling things that were once considered bad, good, and the things that were once considered good are NOW being considered bad.   We are exchanging the TRUTH for a LIE. 

 

Those who are carrying out such wicked schemes have set their arrows at the upright in heart, God’s people.  So what can be done about all of this?   We as God’s Children, NEED to SEEK God’s face, PRAY DAILY for GUIDANCE and WISDOM, be ALERT, and STEADFAST in our FAITH, and to take REFUGE in Him. 

 

A nation that does NOT honor God and His people is a nation that is teetering on the brink of destruction.  We NEED to get back to our roots and HONOR God, SEEK His face, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!! 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are part of the wicked, those on whom God’s judgment will fall.  A judgment that will be likened to a scorching wind.  However, God is giving you an opportunity to come to Him with a TRULY REPENTANT HEART, and to CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and become a Child of the Living God, SEEKING, PRAYING, and HONORING Him.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"An Enemy of God"

“An Enemy of God”

 

 

You people aren’t faithful to God!  Don’t you know if you love the world, you are God’s enemies?  And if you decide to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.          James 4:4

 

 

In this part of James’ letter to the twelve tribes of Israel, his tone changes.  He is not addressing them as; “my brothers,” but as “UNFAITHFUL PEOPLE.”  They were allowing “worldly” actions to invade their lives.  They were arguing with each other, being selfish, self-centered, arrogant and prideful, they were even coveting what their neighbor had, to the point of killing to get what they wanted.

 

Then James confronts them with the TRUTH of the matter.  They were embracing worldly things and actions.  They were becoming friends with the world.  Doing these things produced enmity between them and the Almighty God.

 

Things have NOT changed.  We live in a society that is “WORLDLY MINDED.”   People will embrace worldly things, and bend over backwards to appease the WORLDLY MINDED, yet they will abandon their SPIRITUAL MINDSET and become friends with the world, even though it could put their children and grandchildren at RISK. 

 

The Bible clearly states things that are considered PERVERTED, DEPRAVED, WICKED, or SINFUL in the eyes of Almighty God are the very same things that the WORLD embraces.  1Corinthians 6:9-10 says:  “Don’t you know that evil people won’t have a share in the blessings of God’s kingdom?  Don’t fool yourselves!  No one who is immoral or worships idols or is unfaithful in marriage or is a pervert or behaves like a homosexual will share in God’s kingdom.  Neither will any thief or greedy person or drunkard or anyone who curses and cheats others.”  This is the WORD of GOD, and this WORLD and ALL its ways will be judged by God’s WORD. 

 

Don’t be fooled by the concept that, if you don’t agree with or support the ways of the world, you are narrow minded.  I would rather be considered ‘narrow minded,’ by this world, then to be considered an enemy of God, and end up in Hell for ALL of eternity.  Where do you stand?  Are you a friend of the world and an enemy of God?  Or are you a TRUE, FAITHFUL Child of God, who does NOT embrace the world and its ways?    You can change your mind by coming to God with a TRULY REPENTANT HEART, and CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a TRUE, FAITHFUL, Child of God who will share in God’s kingdom throughout eternity.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!