“Standing FIRM For Christ”

 “Standing FIRM For Christ”

It is God who enables us, along with you, to STAND FIRM for Christ.  He has commissioned us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us.    2 Corinthians 1:21, 22

The Apostle Paul is reminding the TRUE BELIEVERS, not only in Corinth, but throughout the ages, that their CHRISTIAN LIFE comes from the ALMIGHTY GOD.  And that they are ESTABLISHED or COMMISSIONED in CHRIST JESUS, this is done by the work of the HOLY SPIRIT, and they are IDENTIFIED as GOD’S OWN POSSESSION.  

This is done by God placing the HOLY SPIRIT in the HEARTS of the TRUE BELIEVERS, and it is the Spirit who, then ANOINTS, and SEALS the TRUE BELIEVER, and they are then given the EARNEST (down payment) or INSTALLMENT, which GUARANTEES EVERYTHING that God has PROMISED His Children.   The ANOINTING is the SETTING APART of the BELIEVER, and it EMPOWERS them for the ALMIGHTY GOD’S MINISTRY.  The SEALING is for MARKING them for the ETERNAL SALVATION, which is done once they TRUST CHRIST JESUS, and it is then that they are SEALED and SECURE in CHRIST.  Those who are TRUE BELIEVERS should WORK HARD to prove that they are really among those God has CALLED and CHOSEN.  If they do these things, they will never fall away.  Then God will give them a GRAND ENTRANCE into the ETERNAL KINGDOM of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  (2 Peter 1:10-11)

In other words, BE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAVED!  A TRUE BELIEVER, cannot SAVE themselves, but it is their RESPONSIBILITY to BE SURE they POSSESS the TRAITS  of a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD.  Are you SURE?  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you do NOT POSSESS those TRAITS, which are: Don’t be IDLE, but be DILIGENT and WORK for CHRIST.  STUDY the WORD of God so that you will be FRUITFUL and possess a KNOWLEDGE of CHRIST JESUS.  And DON’T be SPIRITUALLY BLIND, but gain SPIRITUAL INSIGHT, and REMEMBER ALL that GOD has done for you.  These are EVIDENCES of a TRUE BELIEVER, who is GROWING in CHRIST JESUS.  

The one who has NOT GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to GOD, does NOT have those DESIRES, but they HUNGER after the ways of this WICKED WORLD, and their destiny will be an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE once they are there.  But God is giving you the opportunity to CHANGE that DESTINY, to an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL ITS BLESSINGS.  Here is what you MUST DO:  You MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, God’s SON, who DIED for YOUR SINS, and was RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE.  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 life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.   You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION, and STAND FIRM for CHRIST, and receive HEAVEN as your ETERNAL HOME.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Awakening Of An Unrepentant Heart”

 “The Awakening Of An Unrepentant Heart”

You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.  But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry.  How then can we be saved?   Isaiah 64:5

What a GLORIOUS time it is when one comes to the REALIZATION that they are a SINNER in NEED of a SAVIOR, and they take action to CHANGE the LIFE-STYLE of an UNREPENTANT HEART.  When they fall on their faces before the RIGHTEOUS GOD, and seek His MERCY and GRACE.  And CONFESS ALL their SINS before Him.  And with a CONTRITE HEART, seek the ALMIGHTY GOD’S FORGIVENESS.  And PLEAD for Him to bring HIS SALVATION to their wretched, sin-drenched, souls.  And with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, they RECEIVE God’s FORGIVENESS  and SALVATION because of His ABUNDANT MERCY and His AMAZING GRACE, which was carried out through the REDEMPTIVE WORK of His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who took on ALL the sins of ALL mankind, and SHEDDING His BLOOD He DIED and was RESURRECTED to pay the price for the REDEMPTION of ALL who will CALL on His NAME.  This is HOW we are SAVED from ALL our SINS, and have an ETERNAL LIFE in 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 AWAKENING of the UNREPENTANT HEART can ONLY be done through the CONVICTING WORK of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT.  And through this CONVICTING work, the UNREPENTANT HEART, comes to the SAVING KNOWLEDGE of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  And the person is PERSUADED to ACCEPT GOD’S GIFT of SALVATION, through the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  In order to do this, they MUST first ADMIT that they are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  And they MUST BELIEVE with ALL their HEART, that JESUS died for THEM, and 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 to TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  And they MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION.  And that is HOW TO BE SAVED.  So, if the HOLY SPIRIT has been DEALING with your UNREPENTANT HEART, and you have not ACCEPTED GOD’S SALVATION, you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, if you don’t do the above instructions NOW, while you still can, because He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Origin Of the Plan Of Salvation”

 “The Origin Of the Plan Of Salvation”

God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory.  And it was only right that He should make Jesus, through His suffering a PERFECT Leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.    Hebrews 2:10

I believe this whole chapter of Hebrews tells us of the ORIGIN of God’s Plan of SALVATION for the SOULS of ALL MANKIND.   We know the Bible speaks a lot of the DEPRAVITY of MANKIND, and what this WICKEDNESS in their HEARTS, can do to their ETERNAL DESTINY.  So, God, in His ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE, has a PLAN for the CURE of this SIN-SICKNESS, which affects ALL of MANKIND, from ADAM to the very LAST person to be born. 

 ALL of mankind are born with a SINFUL NATURE, and therefore they have within them the DESIRE to sin against the Almighty God, and His Laws.  But it is GOD’S Choice to bring MANY CHILDREN into GLORY, (Heaven).  So, from birth to the age of ACCOUNTABILITY, they are SAFE in JESUS.  This AGE of ACCOUNTABILITY varies with each individual.  But once they have reached that AGE of ACCOUNTABILITY, where they are AWARE of their SINS, they will be HELD ACCOUNTABLE for them.  And they will face the same CHOICE of ACCEPTING or REJECTING God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who SUFFERED and DIED, for them to be ABLE to be brought into GLORY.  

Since mankind are FLESH and BLOOD, Jesus, became FLESH and BLOOD, and was made a little lower than the angels, like mankind, and NOW is crowned with GLORY and HONOR, because He SUFFERED DEATH so that by GOD’S GRACE He might taste death for EVERYONE.  In carrying out GOD’S PLAN of SALVATION, Jesus also, destroys the one who holds the power of death—the devil, and FREES those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  (Vv 9,14) They NOW can have the HOPE of an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, and be ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, through His Son, JESUS CHRIST, which will you choose, to ACCEPT or REJECT?  

In order to ACCEPT, you MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, 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.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.   And 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 receive 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 Victory That Overcomes the World”

 “ The Victory That Overcomes the World”

For everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only they who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.    1 John 5: 4-5

The VICTORY of EVERY TRUE BELIEVER in JESUS CHRIST, is their FAITH.  There is a GREAT old hymn that was written by John Henry Yates, titled:  “Faith Is the Victory”.  And the Chorus is : FAITH is the VICTORY, FAITH is the VICTORY, O GLORIOUS VICTORY, that OVERCOMES the world.”  As God’s Children we have OVERCOME the WORLD, with ALL its DECEPTION and WICKEDNESS.  We are able to do this because we have the VICTORY in JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, who DIED to PROVIDE and SECURE our SALVATION through His HORRID DEATH, and GLORIOUS RESURRECTION.  Through His REDEMPTIVE work, we have been SET FREE, from ALL our sins and because Jesus provided the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell us, and to help us, we have this GLORIOUS VICTORY, and we have BECOME an OVERCOMER of the World and its WICKED, PERVERTED, UNGODLY ACTIONS.  

We, who are TRUE BELIEVERS in the Lord Jesus Christ, and God’s  SALVATION PLAN can have VICTORY over SPIRITUAL DEATH and the GRAVE, just like JESUS did. We can rest ASSURED that we will have HEAVEN as our ETERNAL HOME, and be able to ESCAPE HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  Are you a TRUE BELIEVER and an OVERCOMER, one who has VICTORY in JESUS CHRIST, because of your FAITH in HIM?

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, through JESUS CHRIST, then you are NOT a CHILD of GOD, and you do NOT possess the VICTORY that OVERCOMES the WORLD.  In order to be a Child of the LIVING GOD, and an OVERCOMER, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, 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.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION, and possess the VICTORY that OVERCOMES the WORLD.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!

“Our Rock, Refuge, And Salvation”

 “Our Rock, Refuge, And Salvation”

My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my MIGHTY ROCK, my REFUGE.  TRUST in Him at ALL times, O people; pour out your HEARTS to Him, for God is our REFUGE.     Psalm 62:7-8

Our Psalmist, King David, KNEW what it was like to be able to REST in the Lord God.  He KNEW that GOD ALONE was his ROCK , REFUGE and his SALVATION.  David had a CONFIDENT TRUST in the ALMIGHTY GOD’S STRENGTH, SECURITY, and His SALVATION.  David also had a CONTINUAL TRUST.  He KNEW that GOD was ABLE to PROTECT and PROVIDE him with a STRONG and SECURE SALVATION, if He would BELIEVE and TRUST in GOD at ALL times.  

So, David IMPLORES people to POUR our their HEARTS to GOD, because He is the ONLY ONE, Who has the STRENGTH to be able to, not only, be our SALVATION, but to SECURE our SALVATION.   In HIM and HIM ALONE, should we put our CONTINUAL, CONFIDENT TRUST.  For He is our MIGHTY ROCK, REFUGE and SALVATION.  He is our ONLY HOPE.  In whom do you put your TRUST?  If you are TRUSTING in YOURSELF, or SOMEONE else, that is a FOOLISH thing to do, because this LIFE is TEMPORARY, and nothing more than BREATH or VAPOR.  Neither, they nor yourself can provide a STRONG, SECURE, SALVATION. They are NOT a ROCK, REFUGE nor are they a means of an ETERNAL SALVATION.    These are ATTRIBUTES of the ALMIGHTY GOD, and it is a very WISE thing to POUR out your HEART to HIM.  And to CONFESS your SINS to Him, in order to be able to have ETERNAL LIFE in 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.  

In order to have the ALMIGHTY GOD as your ROCK, REFUGE, and your SALVATION, you MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who SHED His own BLOOD for your SALVATION.  And you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He 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 sinful life-style, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and with CONFIDENT, CONTINUAL TRUST, LEAN ON HIM, as your ROCK, REFUGE and SALVATION.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  JESUS is WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“The Continual Lack of Wisdom”

 “The Continual Lack of Wisdom”

“When they cry for help, I will NOT answer.  Though they anxiously search for Me, they will not find Me.  For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.  They rejected My Advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.”     Proverbs 1:28-30

The purpose of the PROVERBS by King Solomon, King David’s son, is to teach people WISDOM and DISCIPLINE, and to HELP them UNDERSTAND the INSIGHTS of the WISE.   In verse seven, Solomon tells us that the FEAR of the LORD is the foundation of TRUE KNOWLEDGE, but fools despise WISDOM and DISCIPLINE.  The word, FEAR means to have REVERENCE for the ALMIGHTY GOD and His WORD.  

In verse twenty-four and twenty five we see the PLEA that was offered to the UNWISE, those who has CONTINUALLY responded to God with indifference and contempt towards Him.  This is His response to them:   “I called you so OFTEN, but you wouldn’t come.  I reached out to you but you paid NO attention.  You IGNORED My Advice and REJECTED the correction I offered.”    “When they CRY for HELP, I will NOT answer.  Though they anxiously SEARCH FOR ME, they will NOT find Me.  For they HATED knowledge and CHOSE NOT to FEAR the LORD.  They REJECTED My Advice and paid NO attention when I corrected them.”  This is a part of God’s WRATH expressed in the abandonment of the UNBELIEVERS, who CONTINUALLY REJECT God and His SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  And because of this CONTINUAL REJECTION, God will WITHDRAW, His invitation to them.  And the LORD said:  “My Spirit shall NOT always STRIVE with mankind.” (Gen. 6:3)  NOW is the DAY of SALVATION, don’t gamble with your ETERNITY.  

If you have been CONTINUALLY ignoring and REJECTING God’s Invitation, then you are at RISK of spending your ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  But God has given you another opportunity to come to JESUS CHRIST, His Son, who DIED and was RESURRECTED for your SALVATION, and to give you an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  To do that you MUST ADMIT 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.  And 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 possess the WISDOM and DISCIPLINE that He wants you to have, and ENJOY your ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON, it COULD BE TODAY!!!  DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!!!  

“The Message of Reconciliation”

 “The Message of Reconciliation”

That God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s Ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.     2 Corinthians 5:19-20

The act of RECONCILIATION is REMOVING the HOSTILE, REBELLIOUS and SINFUL attributes from those who are at ENMITY with the ALMIGHTY GOD.  The moment a person becomes a TRUE BELIEVER, their OLD LIFE of SLAVERY to sin is GONE, and they receive a NEW LIFE, which is one of DEVOTION to Christ Jesus.  They will possess NEW ATTITUDES and ACTIONS, and they become a NEW CREATURE in CHRIST. 

RECONCILIATION is one of the MANY WONDERFUL accomplishments of the ETERNAL GODHEAD, and it is awarded to those who COME to CHRIST JESUS, and TRULY BELIEVE in Him for SALVATION from their SINS.  Jesus made PEACE between mankind and God, and THOSE who BELIEVE will no longer be the OBJECTS of GOD’S WRATH.  By placing their TRUST in the RECONCILING WORK of CHRIST, they pass from SPIRITUAL DEATH to SPIRITUAL LIFE.  And their SINS are NO LONGER counted AGAINST THEM, for JESUS CHRIST, the ONE and ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD, who had NO SIN became SIN for US, so that in HIM we MIGHT become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD. NOW, that ought to make us want to SHOUT HALLELUJAH!!!  And this is the MESSAGE of RECONCILIATION.  Do YOU possess the RECONCILIATION from JESUS CHRIST?

If you have NOT been RECONCILED to God, then you do NOT POSSESS the SALVATION of your SINS and you are FACING a SPIRITUAL DEATH that will bring you an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  In order to be RECONCILED to GOD, and to POSSESS a SPIRITUAL LIFE, with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS, YOU MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS  CHRIST, who gave HIS life to SAVE YOURS.  He took on ALL the SINS of ALL MANKIND, to be able to RECONCILE them to ALMIGHTY GOD.  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 be willing to become His AMBASSADOR sharing the MESSAGE of RECONCILIATION, and become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.   He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  DON’T be LEFT BEHIND!!!