"The Cornerstone"

“The Cornerstone”

 

So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, the Stone that the builders rejected---this One has become the Cornerstone, and a Stone to stumble over, and a Rock to trip over.  They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.              1 Peter 2:7-8

 

Those who BELIEVE consider Christ PRECIOUS and of EXTREME VALUE to them.  He is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE of the ETERNAL CHURCH of the LIVING GOD, which is made up of ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, from ALL over the world.  These TRUE BELIEVERS are considered to be LIVING STONES and they are built upon the CHIEF CORNERSTONE, Jesus Christ. 

 

The Apostle Peter may have been thinking back to his conservation with the Lord, when Jesus told him:  “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build My Church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.”  (Mat. 16:18).   In this conversation with Peter, the Lord Jesus said “I WILL build My Church, this is speaking in a future tense.  Jesus was telling Peter that He would build His Church on the Chief Cornerstone, which is Jesus Christ Himself.  And the FORCES of Hades will NOT overpower it.  The ‘gates of Hades’ refers to physical death.  Jesus was saying that His physical death would NOT prevent the building of His Church.  He would and is building His Church.

 

To the BELIEVER, the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE to the building of the ETERNAL CHURCH of the LIVING GOD.  However to the UNBELIEVER, the CHIEF CORNERSTONE is a STUMBLING STONE or a ROCK to TRIP over.  This is because of their UNBELIEF.  To REJECT Jesus Christ is a SPIRITUALLY FATAL thing to do.  It is a part of being DISOBEDIENT to God’s message, His Word.  And to do this is SPIRITUAL SUICIDE.  The UNBELIEVER, who is being DISOBEDIENT to God’s Word and REJECTING His Son, the Chief Cornerstone, will one day face Him as the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.  And the Chief Cornerstone will become for them a “STUMBLING” STONE, which will hurl them headlong into an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY of ESCAPE.

 

So is JESUS your CHIEF CORNERSTONE or your STUMBLING STONE?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, you are being DISOBEDIENT to Him, and you are REJECTING His Son, the Chief Cornerstone.  You are DESTINED for an ETERNITY in HELL.  In order for Jesus to become your CHIEF CORNERSTONE and NOT your STUMBLING STONE, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be one of His LIVING STONES, built on the CHIEF CORNERSTONE, and be a part of His Church, with an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Inheritance"

“The Inheritance”

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in Heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.       1 Peter 1:3-5

 

The Holy, Righteous God, is more than WORTHY of our PRAISE, because of His GREAT MERCY, or His UNMERITED favor toward sinners, who are in a hopeless condition.  He has provided for those sinners a NEW BIRTH or a NEW BEGINNING.  This is made possible through the DEATH and RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of His ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, made for mankind, He provides us with a LIVING HOPE, which is possible, because, it is LIVING hope, and it is based on the LIVING, RESURRECTED Christ. 

 

This SACRIFICE of Jesus, His death and resurrection, also gives the TRUE BELIEVER an INHERITANCE, it is a very SPECIAL inheritance, one that will NEVER perish, spoil or fade, and it is KEPT in Heaven for us.  It is a SURE HOPE for a FUTURE INHERITANCE, which awaits those who have given their HEART and LIFE to Jesus Christ.  This INHERITANCE will NOT be DESTROYED by ANY means. 

 

Not only is the INHERITANCE SHIELED or PROTECTED by God’s POWER, but the TRUE BELIEVER, the Heir to the INHERITANCE is SHIELDED also.  What GREATER assurance or HOPE to those who are going through persecution, than to KNOW that they KNOW, that God’s power is guarding them from within, and KEEPING them for their INHERITANCE of SALVATION.

 

The TRUE BELIEVER already POSSESSES SALVATION.  However, the REVEALING of the FULLNESS, the ULTIMATE COMPLETION of SALVATION of mankind’s soul will take place in God’s presence, at the RETURN of JESUS CHRIST in the LAST TIME.   Are you READY?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have NO INHERITANCE, other than an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.   However, because of God’s GREAT MERCY, He is offering you the opportunity to become an Heir of His INHERITANCE of SALVATION and an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  To do that; you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO Him, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is 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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and LOOK FORWARD to RECEIVING your ETERNAL INHERITANCE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The True Form of Worship"

“The True Form of Worship”

 

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation.  Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.  Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.          Psalm 95: 1, 2, 6, and 7

 

Why do you think it is that we don’t WORSHIP the LORD GOD, ALMIGHTY?  Could it be PRIDE? Which would definitely be a sin.  Maybe it’s a little bit of UNBELIEF that God really exists, and so why should we SING or SHOUT ALOUD praises to the ROCK of our SALVATION if we don’t BELIEVE that He does exists.   Because IF you don’t BELIEVE in God, He is NOT the ROCK of YOUR SALVATION.  You have NO SALVATION. 

 

Some, who are TRUE BELIEVERS, fall short of the TRUE FORM of WORSHIP.  For whatever reason, they act as though God is dead, and they do not exhibit any form of TRUE WORSHIP or PRAISE.  The Psalmist, instructs us on the PROPER FORM of WORSHIP.  He says we are to COME before the ROCK of our SALVATION with JOY.  Now, I have seen many dear saints who look like they have been baptized in PICKLE JUICE, very SOUR PICKLE JUICE at that.  If we have JOY in our HEART, and we SHOULD, it should show on our faces.  We NEED to come before Him with THANKSGIVING and PRAISE Him with MUSIC and SONG.  HE is our ROCK and our REDEEMER.  He has provided a WAY for us to ESCAPE HELL and GAIN HEAVEN.  HE IS WORTHY of our PRAISE and WORSHIP. 

 

The Psalmist, also says we NEED to BOW DOWN.  Now, for some that may be difficult to do, because of health reasons.  I believe that God KNOWS about our health, and if it is warranted that you cannot BOW DOWN, I think He would ACCEPT your WORSHIP and PRAISE, as long, as you do it from your HEART.  We need to COME before Him with a BROKEN SPIRIT and a CONTRITE HEART.  PRAISING Him because HE is the LORD and MAKER, and our GOD, and we are the PEOPLE of HIS PASTURE. And we are the flock that is under His Care!   So we NEED to put into PRACTICE the TRUE FORM of WORSHIP.

 

If you have NOT come to God for the SALVATION of your soul.  You cannot TRULY WORSHIP or PRAISE Him, and if you went through the motions, but it wasn’t in your HEART, He would not ACCEPT your WORSHIP or PRAISE.  In order to practice TRUE WORSHIP and PRAISE, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU, and 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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and then you should put into your DAILY PRACTICE, the TRUE FORM of WORSHIP.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

"The Voice"

“The Voice”

 

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”     John 10:3-5

 

Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, concerning His followers, and He used the Shepherd/sheep relationship in describing the leadership of the shepherd and the response of the sheep.  Jesus considered Himself to be the GOOD SHEPHERD, while the Pharisees were, in all actuality, spiritually BLIND, yet they claimed to have spiritual insight, thus making them FALSE SHEPHERDS. 

 

The shepherds KNEW their sheep well, so much so that they gave their sheep names, and the Sheep KNEW their own name, and they KNEW the sound of their shepherd’s VOICE.  Whenever, the shepherd called their name, the sheep would COME and FOLLOW their shepherd.  The shepherd would go ahead of the sheep and his sheep would FOLLOW, because they KNEW his VOICE.  But should a stranger call the sheep they would NOT respond, because they did NOT recognize the VOICE of the stranger.  Instead the sheep would RUN AWAY.

 

Jesus is the GOOD SHEPHERD, and the TRUE BELIEVERS are His SHEEP, and as His sheep we NEED to be able to RECOGNIZE His VOICE, whenever He calls us to FOLLOW Him.  We must be WILLING to FOLLOW Him WHEREVER He LEADS us.  But we MUST be ABLE to RECOGNIZE His VOICE, to make sure we are NOT following a STRANGER or FALSE SHEPHERD.  We can recognize His VOICE by having a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Him.  In other words, we MUST be WILLING to spend some QUALITY time with Him, so we can HEAR and RECOGNIZE His VOICE.  Then we NEED to be WILLING to FOLLOW Him.  Are you FOLLOWING the GOOD SHEPHERD?

 

If you are NOT FOLLOWING Jesus, then you are in DANGER of being led to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, God is giving you an opportunity NOW to LISTEN to the VOICE of the GOOD SHEPHERD as He says, “Follow Me!”  He will lead you to an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.   In order to HEAR and FOLLOW, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before GOD.  And you MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and LISTEN and RECOGNIZE His VOICE and FOLLOW Him to an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Take Heart!"

“Take Heart!”

 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”        John 16:33

 

WE WIN!!!  I have read the BACK of the Book, the BIBLE that is, and the TRUE BELIEVERS WIN!!  Now this statement should bring UNSPEAKABLE JOY to every TRUE BELIEVER.  We are in a battle, the battle is between GOOD and EVIL, and I can TRUTHFULLY say that GOODNESS is the VICTOR!  EVIL and all its co-horts are DOOMED, and will NEVER be a part of God’s domain.

 

But until we reach the CLIMAX of time as we know it, we may face some PERILOUS times.  Hard times, times of HEARTACHE and HARDSHIPS.  Times that will try our souls.   BUT TAKE HEART!!  Because BETTER times are ahead.   You may doubt it, when you are living through these PERILOUS times, but, you can definitely, TAKE HEART, because Jesus proclaims that He has OVERCOME the world!”  He has OVERCOME death!  He has OVERCOME the devil.  He is the GREAT OVERCOMER!!  Especially for those who BELIEVE and are GOD’S CHILDREN.   Where do you stand?  Are you a part of EVIL’S co-horts?  Or are you a Child of God?   

 

The battle won’t be easy, but it will be worth it all.  So TAKE HEART, TRUE BELIEVER, an ETERNITY in HEAVEN awaits.   If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are part of EVIL’S co-horts, and you are DOOMED to an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING.  But TAKE HEART!  God, in His INFINITE MERCY and ABUNDANT GRACE, is offering you the opportunity to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and to TURN TO Him, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is 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 ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and TAKE HEART!  He has OVERCOME the world!!!   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"No Future for the Wicked"

“No Future for the Wicked”

 

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.  But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.    Psalm 37:37-38

 

I truly believe that we are living in the LAST DAYS, and I believe that verse thirty-seven, gives God’s Children HOPE for these days and the days to come, because I believe that we are headed for some PERILOUS TIMES, HARD TIMES, times, in which, we NEED to be READY SPIRITUALLY as well as other ways.

 

To be READY SPIRITUALLY, we MUST draw CLOSE to God, by that, I mean, having a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with Him.  PRAYING and STUDYING His Word DAILY, will give us SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, which we DEFINITELY NEED, and more so as this battle of GOOD vs EVIL rages on.  Our Psalmist, gives us HOPE, in telling us that: “a FUTURE awaits those who seek peace.”  That FUTURE is an ETERNITY in Heaven, with ALL its blessings, and with NO MORE battles, hard times, hatred, hostilities, illnesses, pain, death or despair.  ONLY ETERNAL peace, love, kindness, happiness, holiness, and unspeakable JOY. 

 

However, for those who REJECT God’s gift of SALVATION, they have NO FUTURE, to speak of, they will spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and there is NO WAY of ESCAPE.  They will experience: pain, agony, hatred, torment, torture, and despair, beyond degree.  But, God doesn’t want this for you.  He wants you to:  TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and to TURN TO HIM, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST then, ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and have a FUTURE in HEAVEN, with ALL its blessings, for ALL of ETERNITY.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Mouth and Heart Connection"

“The Mouth and Heart Connection”

 

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.  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.       Romans 10:9-10

 

The MOUTH, through speech, speaks the content of one’s HEART.  The MOUTH exemplifies the character of a person.  It reveals the intentions of the HEART, sometimes, not meaning to.  Nevertheless, once words are spoken, they can never be taken back.  Thus the intentions of the HEART are spoken of by the MOUTH.

 

The MOUTH can also reveal the SPIRITUAL part of mankind.  Jesus said, “A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart.  An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the over flow of the heart.”   (Luke 6:45)   Jesus also says: …”What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man.”  (Matthew 15:18)  

 

So, in order to become a Child of God, clothed in RIGHTEOUSNESS, you must have a CLEAN-UP of your HEART and MOUTH.  Paul told the Romans:  “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.  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)  Have you CONFESSED with your MOUTH and BELIEVED in your HEART?  Or are you living an EVIL existence, headed for an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPING.

 

If this is your destiny, you have the opportunity NOW, to change it by allowing JESUS to CLEAN UP your HEART and MOUTH.  You do that by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU.  Then CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING that God raised Him from the dead, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and His RIGHTEOUSNESS, and have a GOOD, CLEAN, MOUTH and HEART connection.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!