"Who is Your Light Source?"

“Who is Your Light Source?”

 

Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant?  Who walks in darkness and has no light?   Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon His God.   Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks:  Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled---This you shall have from My hand:  You shall lie down in torment.   Isaiah 50:10-11

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”  “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words has that which judges him---the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”    John 12: 46, 48

 

We live in a DARK world, and in a DARK, FOREBODING time.  A time where a lot of people are stumbling around in their own DARKNESS, depending on their OWN source of LIGHT.  And really LOST in their OWN environment.  They may be SEARCHING for a LIGHT SOURCE that will lead them to a BETTER environment, one that is not so GLOOMY and DANGEROUS.

 

In Isaiah 50:10-11, the Prophet of Israel, is talking to the Israelites, concerning their LIGHT SOURCE.  He tells them that if they will TRUST in the Lord and RELY on His God, they will receive the PROPER, WELL-NEEDED LIGHT SOURCE.  But Isaiah also WARNS those who choose to WALK or LIVE in the LIGHT of their OWN FIRE or LIGHT SOURCE, and because of that choice, they will lie DOWN in TORMENT.   In other words, if they REJECT the ALMIGHTY GOD, and His Word, they will DIE SPIRITUALLY and PHYSICALLY be in Hell, the place of UNENDING TORMENT.

 

Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, tells us that He has come into this DARK world, as a LIGHT to the world, so that WHOEVER BELIEVES in Him, would NOT abide in DARKNESS, but they would LIVE in His LIGHT.  But those who REJECT Him, and His words, which will bring JUDGMENT on them in the LAST DAY, and they will receive UNENDING TORMENT in HELL for ALL of ETERNITY.  Are YOU living in the LIGHT of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Or are you STUMBLING around in your DARKNESS with a very INADEQUATE LIGHT SOURCE? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then your LIGHT SOURCE is VERY INADEQUATE and will only bring you an ETERNITY in Hell, the place of UNENDING TORMENT, TORTURE, HEARTACHE, PAIN, AGONY and DESPAIR, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  It is VERY MUCH to your BENEFIT to have the PROPER, WELL-NEEDED LIGHT SOURCE, Jesus Christ, in order to obtain it, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN 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 and be BROUGHT INTO THE GLORIOUS LIGHT, of the Lord Jesus Christ, and ESCAPE HELL, and GAIN HEAVEN.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

 

 

 

"The Shepherd and Overseer of Our Souls"

“The Shepherd and Overseer of Our Souls”

 

“He Himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed.”  For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.          1 Peter 2:24-25

 

Jesus Christ, Himself, bore our sins, as His bloody, limp body hung on an old rugged cross, between two common criminals.  The KING of kings and the LORD of lords, HOLY, PURE, SPOTLESS, RIGHTEOUS Lamb of the Living God, took on Himself ALL the sins of mankind.  He who knew NO SIN, became SIN, so that MANKIND might DIE to SINS and LIVE for RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

 

Mankind lives in a SIN-SICK soul, one that DESPERATELY NEEDS to be HEALED from this HORRIBLE DISEASE that will cause the soul to be thrust into an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, and with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  But Jesus Christ took the punishment for the sins of mankind, and was mercilessly beaten and wounded for our transgressions, and by His wounds we have been healed of our sin-sickness.

 

People are like sheep who wander away from the Shepherd and Overseer, and they make the WRONG CHOICES, which is DANGEROUS for the WELL-BEING of their souls.  But the GOOD SHEPHERD and OVERSEER, comes SEARCHING for them, and when He finds them, those who are WILLING to come to Him, He will SAVE. However, there are some who will continually RUN AWAY from Him, and ALL the SAFETY and PROTECTION, LOVE and TENDER CARE, that He offers. 

 

Which kind of sheep are YOU, one who will come to Him for SALVATION, PROTECTION, and ETERNAL SECURITY?   Or are you one who will CONTINUALLY RUN FROM Him and REJECT His LOVING, TENDER CARE and the HOPE of an ETERNITY in Heaven?  And instead you are willing to spend an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are headed for Hell, with NO WAY of ESCAPE, for ALL of ETERNITY, unless you TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN 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, and let Him be your SHEPHERD and OVERSEER of your soul, and have the HOPE of an ETERNITY in Heaven.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"The Devil's Trap"

“The Devil’s Trap”

 

Gently instruct those who oppose the truth.  Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap.  For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.       2 Timothy 2:25-26

 

In the Apostle Paul’s last letter to Timothy, he gives him instructions on dealing with those who have been swayed by the teachings of FALSE TEACHERS.  He instructs Timothy to NOT quarrel but to be KIND and PATIENT with difficult people.  He tells him to be GENTLE in instructing the ones who oppose the TRUTH, in hopes that God will change their HEARTS and they will learn the TRUTH.

In the world we live in, there are so many different FALSE DOCTRINES that are being spread across this planet, and so many in our own homeland.  Many people are being DUPED by the devil’s trap of DECEPTION, and being led astray, because they DO NOT KNOW the TRUTH, and in a lot of cases they DO NOT WANT to KNOW the TRUTH.  It takes a Christ-like Spirit to be able to help them ESCAPE the DEVIL’S TRAP. 

 

Most of the time the devil will lure the IMMATURE believer into his trap by using just enough of God’s Word to make it sound like the TRUTH, but it is so twisted that it is FAR from being the TRUTH, and thus begins the DECEPTION and BRAIN WASHING of those that the devil has trapped.  Many are so indoctrinated with FALSE BELIEFS that it takes much PRAYER and PATIENCE, on the part of the MATURE, TRUE BELIEVER, to be able to help them come to their senses and ESCAPE the devil’s trap.  They are held captive by the devil, in order to do whatever he wants them to do.  So the TRUTH must be GENTLY instructed to them in a Christ-like manner.  

 

The devil has MANY trapped into BELIEVING LIES, and SHUNNING the TRUTH, which will lead those caught in his trap, straight to Hell with ALL of its HORRORS.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, or if you are being taught ANYTHING that is NOT in the Word of God, or goes against JESUS CHRIST being the ONLY WAY to Heaven, through ACCEPTING and BELIEVING in His SACRIFICIAL DEATH and RESURRECTION for your SALVATION.  Then you are TRAPPED and HEADED for Hell, unless you TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then ask Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus Christ, died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ESCAPE the DEVIL’S TRAP and Hell, and LIVE in the TRUTH, for Jesus, and receive the HOPE of Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Our Guaranteed Inheritance"

“Our Guaranteed Inheritance”

 

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.         Ephesians 1:13

 

If you have TRULY given your HEART and LIFE to God, and BELIEVED in Jesus, the One who GAVE His life, so you might have ETERNAL LIFE with Him in Heaven.  Then you have TRULY, or HONESTLY started the SALVATION process in your life.   And you have been SEALED with the Promised Holy Spirit.  And because you have been SEALED with the Promised Holy Spirit, you are GUARANTEED the INHERITANCE that God has PROMISED all His TRUE CHILDREN.

 

Since the Holy Spirit is the Guarantee of our Inheritance, and we have been SEALED with Him, or He indwells us, at the time of our conversion, He is in our HEARTS and has SEALED us as a PRECIOUS POSSESSION of the ALMIGHTY God.  And we will receive our GUARANTEED INHERITANCE, which is the COMPLETED SALVATION process, at the culmination of the ages, and ALL to the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.  Our Heavenly Home is awaiting our ARRIVAL.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you don’t have a GUARANTEED INHERITANCE, only an ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL of its HORRORS.  However, you can receive a GUARANTEED INHERITANCE, if you will TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN 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, and receive your GUARANTEED INHERITANCE.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

 

"The Self-Condemned Person"

“The Self-Condemned Person”

 

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time.  After that, have nothing to do with them.  You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.      Titus 3:10-11

 

Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in them.   For everything in the world---the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life---comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.          1 John 2:15-17

 

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope---the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.       Titus 2:11-14

 

A SELF-CONDEMNED person is one who EMBRACES the world and its sinful vices, such as the LUST of the FLESH and EYES, and is PRIDEFUL about ALL their accomplishments in this world, no matter what they have to do to be so accomplished.  They REJECT GOD and His laws.  And they bring JUDGMENT upon themselves.  They are people who are DECEPTIVE, DEVISIVE, and DOOMED.  They are LOVERS of this WORLD and ALL it has to offer.  They don’t think about their ETERNITY.  I would venture to say that anyone who has died, and is in Hell, would tell you, if they could, that living for the WORLD is NOT WORTH the AGONY, HEARTACHE, PAIN, MISERY, TORTURE, TORMENT and DESPAIR that they are SUFFERING right NOW.  They would BEG you to ACCEPT God’s gift of SALVATION, which is made possible because of His AMAZING GRACE and ABUNDANT MERCY.

 

They would tell you to say “NO!” to ungodliness and worldly passions.  And to LIVE a SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT and GODLY LIFE in this present age, while waiting for the BLESSED HOPE, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the SAVIOR of ALL mankind. 

 

He is the one who gave HIMSELF for us to REDEEM us from ALL wickedness, and also, to PURIFY for Himself a people that are His very OWN, who are EAGER to do what is GOOD.  In order to NOT be a SELF-CONDEMNED PERSON, and have to spend ALL ETERNITY in Hell, with ALL its HORRORS, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN 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, and ESCAPE Hell, GAIN Heaven, and be PURIFIED as a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

 

"Heavenly Wisdom"

“Heavenly Wisdom”

 

But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.      James 3:17

 

Wisdom is using GOOD JUDGMENT that is based on KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE.  We gain WISDOM by interacting with situations, which gives us KNOWLEDGE and EXPERIENCE in that particular situation, therefore, we KNOW something about the situation, and then gain WISDOM concerning it.  Knowing how to deal with it, and how to help others who might be facing the same or similar situations.

 

In this life we have two different forms of WISDOM.  We have the EARTHLY WISDOM, first of all, which usually harbors bitter envy and selfish ambition, and where there is envy and selfish ambition you will have disorder and every evil practice.  (VV 14, 16)

 

But the other form of WISDOM is HEAVENLY WISDOM, which offers us purity, WISDOM that is NOT tainted with EVIL practices and is HOLY and RIGHTEOUS.  Then we see that HEAVENLY WISDOM is peace-loving, it seeks to PRACTICE keeping peace among God’s Children.  It is free from SELFISH AMBITION, which can cause discord, and is UNSPIRITUAL, and even DEMONIC.  HEAVENLY WISDOM is considerate of others and their feelings, fears and frustrations, and not to CONDEMN, but to share your KNOWLEDGE of the situation they might be in.  HEAVENLY WISDOM is submissive, it is submissive to the WILL and WISDOM of God’s Holy Spirit.  HEAVENLY WISDOM is full of mercy and good fruit, where there is MERCY there will be GOOD FRUIT, for example, God’s MERCY brings the GOOD FRUIT of SALVATION.  So we too must practice MERCY, towards others that they will be able to come to a SAVING KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ.   HEAVENLY WISDOM is also impartial and sincere.  It does not make differences, by being partial to one over another, and it is sincere, it is HONEST and not trying to fool others.  HEAVENLY WISDOM is yours for the asking, but ONLY if you are a TRUE CHILD of the LIVING GOD.

 

In order to obtain HEAVENLY WISDOM, you must FIRST, come to God, by TURNING AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURNING 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, and then SEEK His HEAVENLY WISDOM.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

"Forgiveness"

“Forgiveness”

 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.   Forgive as the Lord forgave you.      Colossians 3:13

 

Forgive:  To give up being angry with or wanting to punish: pardon (Webster’s Dictionary)

Forgiveness:   A being ready to FORGIVE (Webster’s Dictionary)

 

FORGIVENESS is probably one of the hardest things a person can and will practice in their lives.  For most people, when they are wronged by someone, they want RETRIBUTION, in other words, they want the person who wronged them to be PUNISHED for their wrong doing. 

 

FORGIVENESS is out of the picture, the last thing they want to do is to FORGIVE that individual.  However, the Bible, God’s Holy Word, says:  If you FORGIVE other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also FORGIVE you.  But if you do NOT FORGIVE others their sins, your Father will NOT FORGIVE your sins.   (Matthew 6:14-15) 

 

FORGIVENESS is CRUCIAL to our SALVATION, in fact it is SALVATION.  To FORGIVE is to PARDON, we were FORGIVEN or given a PARDON from our sins by God, through the shed blood of His Only Begotten Son, on an old rugged cross.  Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will FORGIVE their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 

 

God wants His Children to be CHRISTLIKE in their lives and in order to do that we MUST be willing to FORGIVE as Jesus Christ FORGIVES us.  It is a FAMILY TRAIT, which can only be TRULY carried out within the HEART of mankind, when they are SAVED or FORGIVEN of their wrongdoings.   If you are NOT PRACTICING FORGIVENESS, then you are NOT RECEIVING FORGIVENESS. 

 

And if you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are NOT FORGIVEN of your sins and will NOT spend your ETERNITY in Heaven, but will spend it in HELL, with ALL of its Horrors.  In order for you to be FORGIVEN and to have an ETERNITY in Heaven, and to ESCAPE HELL, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN 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, and PRACTICE FORGIVENESS so that you might RECEIVE FORGIVENESS.   Do it NOW, while you still can.   He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!