Category Archives: A Call To Look Unto Jesus!

Have You Heard God’s Call??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #210

19 Friday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Are you ready?, God's Call, God's Faithfulness, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Judgment, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Salvation, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, The Blood of Jesus Cleanses from SIN, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way, The Broad or Narrow Way?, The Call of God!, Wolves in sheep's clothing!

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Have You Heard God’s Call???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #210

I have what I consider an important word for us this morning which will hopefully call each of us to examine our heart to see if we have heard the call of The Lord and Savior and responded in repentance and faith.

“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver,

if she lose one piece,

doth not light a candle,

and sweep the house,

and seek diligently

till she find it?

9 And when she hath found it,

she calleth her friends

and her neighbours together, saying,

Rejoice with me;

for I have found the piece

which I had lost.

10 Likewise, I say unto you,

there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner that repenteth.”  Luke 15:8-10

We seem to have morphed the Gospel into a “formula” of speaking Jesus’ name and thinking we are His, just because we know His name.  I know a lot of famous people by their name, but I don’t “know” them; the same way many call Jesus’ name like a talisman or a heavenly slot machine—put in His name, pull the handle and you have what you want.  NOT!  Jesus made it clear that it’s not just His name, it’s knowing HIM through faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, and repentance of my sin!

“There were present at that season some that told him

of the Galilaeans,

whose blood Pilate had mingled

with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them,

Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners

above all the Galilaeans,

because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

 ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen,

upon whom the tower in Siloam fell,

and slew them,

think ye that they were sinners

above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:1-5

John chapter 6-8 can be called the hard sayings of Jesus, and many walked away during those teachings of hard things, yet Jesus makes some statements that we need to consider. We can’t come to Jesus just anytime we want, it requires the conviction of the precious Holy Spirit of our sin, God’s calling us to repentance and faith in His Son.  If you’ve heard the voice of God speaking to your heart, I beg you not to turn that voice away—it may not come again.  We never know when God will stop speaking to our heart—don’t miss heaven by neglecting to be a “whosoever will, may come”!  You can choose to be one who walks away from Him, but as Joshua proclaimed, “As for me and my house, we will serve The Lord.”

“The Jews then murmured at him,

because he said,

I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42 And they said,

Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph,

whose father and mother we know?

how is it then that he saith,

I came down from heaven?

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them,

Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day…

…64 But there are some of you that believe not.

For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were

that believed not,

and who should betray him.

65 And he said,

Therefore said I unto you,

that no man can come unto me,

except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples

went back, and walked no more with him.”  Portions of John 6:41-66

Don’t miss God’s voice speaking to you—even if you are a church member without Jesus, don’t be ashamed to repent and receive His saving grace and proclaim it to the world!  If you are a religious leader but have never responded to the voice of God—if He is calling you, answer in repentance and faith and proclaim it to the world!  God is looking for such bold servants, who proclaim the truth over error; don’t be misled down that “broad road” of “easy believeism” and miss Jesus and heaven. Jesus says it better than I can!  The many or the few—it’s your choice!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves…

…. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth

the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Portions of Matthew 7:13-23

These are hard sayings, but they are of eternal import, and your soul’s destiny is at stake.  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test—and it’s God’s standard not yours that will prevail.  Ready or not Jesus is coming—and God has given Him the right of judgment!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea

gave up the dead which were in it;

and death and hell

delivered up the dead which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

Please don’t turn away from the voice of Jesus calling you—no matter your station, your place in the religious community, your pride, power or success, the people who might ridicule you—turn to Jesus in repentance and faith when HE calls to you, and don’t be ashamed of His saving grace!

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,

him will I confess also before my Father

which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men,

him will I also deny before my Father

which is in heaven.”  Matthew 10:32-33

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness;

but is longsuffering to us-ward,

not willing that any should perish,

but that all should come to repentance.”   2 Peter 3:9

Don’t miss Jesus today!  He’s calling!  He’s coming!  He loves you and so do we!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Is My Life Preaching??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #209

17 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Blood of Jesus cleanses us, Bloom Where You're Planted!, Born Again, Narrow way or The Broad way?, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!, Preaching Jesus, Preaching truth about SIN, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Blood Of Jesus, The Blood of Jesus Cleanses from SIN, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way, The Broad or Narrow Way?, The Call of God!, The Cross or the world?, The foolishness of preaching, Without a Word?, Witness, Worldliness, You can overcome, You can't get yesterday back!

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What Is My Life Preaching???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #209

God has given us physical life, and the saving power of Jesus in imparting to us the new birth—being born again by the blood of Jesus, through faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice—but does the world see Jesus IN me, IN you, In the lives of those calling themselves part of the church of Jesus Christ—His bride?  We are called to be faithful witnesses—in fact we are witnesses—the question seems to be, what are we being faithful to?  Are we living in such a way that others see Jesus not only in us, but in our display before the world in our interactions with others.  Do I correct a clerk who undercharged me for an item?  Do I display Jesus when I am being mistreated?  Do I extend Jesus’ love to those who are cross with me?  Do I respond in grace, peace, and love when I am being falsely accused?

“And he said unto them,

It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,

which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power,

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me

both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things,

while they beheld,

he was taken up;

and a cloud received him

out of their sight.”  Acts 1:7-9

When we read through the book of Acts, we see the accomplishing of this commission from Jesus to the disciples.

I love reading through Acts, to see the successes, the failures, the boldness, and failures to really believe.  Our world is no different!  We must remember that it is the power of The Holy Spirit, who enables us to accomplish God’s work, so I’d like to share a few passages for us to ponder today, and ask God to reveal to us our own heart, and examine our path to see if we are going His way—on that narrow road—or have we slipped into the worldliness of the broad way? (See Matthew 7:13-14.)

The author of Hebrews gives us great advice.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction

of sinners against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.”  Hebrews 12:1-4

Are we resisting the devil and standing for Jesus, or just floating downstream along with the flow?  We have only one message that will help others and that is the cross and Jesus Christ crucified, risen, and coming again—His blood that saves and transforms lives.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize,

but to preach the gospel:

not with wisdom of words,

lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.

19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom

of the wise,

and will bring to nothing the understanding

of the prudent…

….21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign,

and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified,

unto the Jews a stumblingblock,

and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called,

both Jews and Greeks,

Christ the power of God,

and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God

is wiser than men;

and the weakness of God

is stronger than men.”  Portions of 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

And one of my favorite passages, a familiar one in part, and while many often quote Ephesians 2:8-9 to prove that we are only saved by grace through faith, we often stop and don’t read on in verse 10 that we are saved “unto good works”, and not just a doing good deeds, but working out that which God has put in!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

The very thing that Paul was referring to in his letter to the Philippian believers.

“Wherefore, my beloved,

as ye have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only,

but now much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13

We can’t work “for” our salvation, but when we are saved, born again, we are to be a display of what God has worked in us.  Working it “out” because God has put it “within” us!  So, my friends, what are our lives “preaching”; even without words?  In fact we preach way more with our actions than our words!  God bless your day my friends, and thanks for joining us!

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

Amen and Amen!!!

Do You Not See? Not Hear??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #204

03 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Do you not hear?, Do you not see?, God Who Sees, God's Call, God's glory NOT mine!, God's Judgment, Hear ye HIM!, Hearing God, Independence, Iron Sharpens Iron, Isaiah, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Responding Rightly, Resting Or Wrestling?, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Righteousness exalts a nation, Seeing Truth, Servanthood, Serving God or Using God?, When Is True NOT?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Who's Listening?, Witness

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Do You Not See? Not Hear??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #204

I don’t know why this particular passage was laid upon my heart, but as it was, I want to share as simply and humbly as I know how the truth that God keeps bringing to my heart.  We are in a difficult place, and I don’t see a lot of people ready to truly come to God The Father, Jesus Christ The Son, through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, in true, honest, repentance and longing for the fire of revival to start in “me”!  May we truly come to the feet of Jesus for the touch of The Master’s hand to cleanse and make us usable, even as Isaiah did.  Lord please open our eyes to see you as YOU are, not as we have tried to conform you to.  When Isaiah saw you, he was humble and open to your will—may I be so!

“In the year that king Uzziah died

I saw also the Lord

sitting upon a throne,

high and lifted up,

and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims:

each one had six wings;

with twain he covered his face,

and with twain he covered his feet,

and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said,

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts:

the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved

at the voice of him that cried,

and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I,

Woe is me! for I am undone;

because I am a man of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of a people

of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,

having a live coal in his hand,

which he had taken with the tongs

from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said,

Lo, this hath touched thy lips;

and thine iniquity is taken away,

and thy sin purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?

Then said I,

Here am I; send me.

9 And he said,

Go, and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.”  Isaiah 6:1-9

Isaiah was brought to see his sin and the sin of his people, he realized that he was unsuitable to serve God, “but God”—oh, that is one of my favorite phrases in all of scripture, “but God”!  I am so glad that God has a plan, and if we will but humble ourselves and turn from our own way, He will send the fire of salvation to our soul.  While the “but God” isn’t specifically in this passage the principle is—as Isaiah saw his own condition before God and then the “but God” principle changed him; and God will change us if and when we let go of our own pride, self-will, and independence and fall on our faces before His holy presence and the convicting power of The Holy Spirit!  We are transformed into the “sent” to share His glory with a lost and dying world—but notice the message isn’t one that most want to hear; and it’s not the only time that Isaiah was compelled by God to speak this message.  Paul’s challenge to us reminds me that we are called today to share the same message of the finished work of Jesus Christ our Lord—the Risen LORD!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man the measure of faith.”  Romans 12:1-3

And as we ask God to touch our own hearts, may we hear another of Isaiah’s messages, and lay ourselves open before God, truly seeking conviction to the revival of the saved, conviction of sin, unto repentance for the lost, yielding a great harvest from God not our own hands!  Unlike many preach and teach today, it’s not about being “happy”—God is calling us to holiness; and I think God is often offended by what we have tried to make holy for our own convenience; have we become those who hear with our hears but don’t understand, and see with our eyes yet don’t perceive what God is asking from us or even doing around us?  And while Isaiah’s message is a lengthy one, I think it valuable for our consideration.

“To whom then will ye liken God?

or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

19 The workman melteth a graven image,

and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold,

and casteth silver chains.

20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation

chooseth a tree that will not rot;

he seeketh unto him a cunning workman

to prepare a graven image,

that shall not be moved.

21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard?

hath it not been told you

from the beginning?

have ye not understood

from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,

and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;

that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,

and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

23 That bringeth the princes to nothing;

he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

24 Yea, they shall not be planted;

yea, they shall not be sown: yea,

their stock shall not take root in the earth:

and he shall also blow upon them,

and they shall wither,

and the whirlwind shall take them away

as stubble.

25 To whom then will ye liken me,

or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high,

and behold who hath created these things,

that bringeth out their host by number:

he calleth them all by names

by the greatness of his might,

for that he is strong in power;

not one faileth.

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob,

and speakest, O Israel,

My way is hid from the LORD,

and my judgment is passed over from my God?

28 Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God,

the LORD,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power

to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths

shall faint and be weary,

and the young men

shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:18-31

Oh, to be one that waits “upon the LORD”, that is the desire of my heart; and there have been times that I have waited patiently, other times that I waited but not very patiently, but oh my friends, the victory that God will bring is so much more than “worth it”!  Jesus is coming again—hold fast, my friends—our redemption “draweth nigh”; so don’t put off what God is calling you to do!  Will you hear?  Will you see?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming

in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

 and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”   Luke 21:27-28.

Amen and Amen!!!

Have You Been To The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #202

27 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abundant Life In Jesus, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Are you ready?, Cleansed from all sin, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Consider Your ways, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Lifting up Jesus, Peace, Peace of God, Peace Of The Rock, Peace that passeth ALL understanding, Power of The Cross, Seeing Truth, Serving God or Using God?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Speaking The Truth In Love

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Have You Been To The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #202

As we celebrate this time of the end of Jesus Christ’s earthly life, and the salvation that He provided in His death, burial, and victorious Resurrection this week, may we remember that  He arose victor over sin, death, and hell; He arose to offer eternal life to all who will come to Him in repentance of sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for that sin—for all who sin, and that my friend is all, everyone!

“And when I saw him,

I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me,

saying unto me,

Fear not;

I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth,

and was dead;

and, behold, I am alive

for evermore, Amen;

and have the keys

of hell and of death.”  Revelation 1:17-18

John saw the risen Lord and He spoke to Him and assured him that it was He!  I love reading and studying The Revelation, and while it is a difficult book, it is a great comfort to those who will delve into its riches; there’s even a blessing promised to those who will read it.  Yes, a promised a blessing, yet it’s to those who don’t just read it, but more importantly, to those who will heed the messages in it, or as the KJV says the blessing is to those who keep it.

“Blessed is he

that readeth,

and they that hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things which are written therein:

for the time is at hand.”  Revelation 1:3

And my dear friends, the time is truly “at hand”!  Yet, the cross is still calling to all who will hear and heed Jesus’ message to “come unto me”!  Have you come to Jesus?  Do you need to come?  Many have convinced themselves that they are fine, productive people, and Satan is purporting that message at every hand.  But Jesus’ message is still the call to “come unto me”.

Who needs to come?   Let’s look to scripture to answer that question, for scripture will be the judge of every man, woman, boy, and girl—and that day is nearing, my friends.

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things

are naked and opened unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

Paul gives us even more clarity in his beautiful message to the believers at Philippi. Jesus paid the price for my sin and yours, if we will but bow before Him and receive the gift of salvation that His blood purchased; will you receive it or reject it, to pay your own debt. (And FYI, “propitiation” means the payment in full…)

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;” Romans 3:23-25

Jesus’ precious blood shed at Calvary bought salvation for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith.  What will you do with The One whose resurrection from the dead we celebrate this week?  He died for you; and God has proclaimed that “every knee shall bow”, so the question isn’t “Will you bow?” for God has declared that all will bow!  The question is, “when will you bow”!  Will you bow before Him as your Lord, Savior, and King, receiving the salvation that He died to provide; or will you bow before Him at His throne of judgment with no recourse for salvation, and pay your own sin debt in hell?  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test, and there is no cheating, for God knows!

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

And Paul’s mighty message of truth, Jesus did it all for me and you:

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:5-11

I invite you to consider the cross, the peace of God that flows out from it, and the joy of The Lord that Jesus imparts to His own.

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things,

which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace shall be with you.”  Philippians 4:6-9

And in closing the most gracious and merciful invitation of The Savior—The One who redeemed my soul, and He is here for you as well.  You will never walk alone when you come to Jesus.  “Today is the day of salvation”, what will you do with it?  I pray that you will hear the call of Jesus and respond in repentance and faith to His invitation to salvation.

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father:

and no man knoweth the Son,

but the Father;

neither knoweth any man the Father,

save the Son,

and he to whomsoever the Son

will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:27-30

And some food for thought as you go about your week thinking about Jesus being lifted up (His death on the cross).  Jesus said He would draw all men to Him by this death on the cross, but He never said He would remove the free will that He imparted to all humans!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there IS a test. (See Numbers 21 if you want to know about the “serpent in the wilderness”!)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:14-19

May you know the true joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!  He is coming again soon.  Are you ready? I pray that you will come to Him.

Amen and Amen!!!

This IS What It Takes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #199

20 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Apart from ME you can do nothing, Approved Unto God, Great white throne, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Saves!, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, Just Jesus!, Justified by Jesus, King Jesus

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This IS What It Takes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #199

We talked about “What Will It Take” last time, and I’d like to take it a bit farther and share just some thoughts on what scripture tells us that it takes to be right with God, to understand His ways, and to follow His Word.  Simply put the main thing is that we have come to Jesus for salvation and that we choose to walk with HIM—not just invite Him to rubber stamp our plans, projects, and programs, but rather to walk with HIM in all our ways.  Let’s start with a passage that is partially familiar to many of us, but sometimes we stop reading too soon.  Consider what the Proverb reveals.

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance,

and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,

and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD;

neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth;

even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,

and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it

is better than the merchandise of silver,

and the gain thereof than fine gold.”   Proverbs 3:5-14

The author of Hebrews addresses this issue of discipline as well, and as I often teach in my classes, if you claim to be a follower of Jesus and can go your own way without the corrective hand of Jesus in your life, you might check out what you think got you saved.  Scripture makes it clear that we are to reflect the nature of our “Father”!

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation

which speaketh unto you as unto children,

My son, despise not thou

the chastening of the Lord,

nor faint

when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth

every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening,

God dealeth with you as with sons;

for what son is he

whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh

which corrected us,

and we gave them reverence:

shall we not much rather

be in subjection unto the Father of spirits,

and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us

after their own pleasure;

but he for our profit,

that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening

for the present seemeth to be joyous,

but grievous:

 nevertheless afterward

it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness

unto them which are exercised thereby.”  Hebrews 12:5-11

Jesus Himself warned us of trying to “go it on our own”, we must abide with Him, in Him, and He in us!  It’s all about our relationship with Jesus, not our worldly success, wealth, position or seeming importance to the world.  It’s all about Jesus!

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch

that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch

cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:1-5

Jesus also reminds us that there is a time of accounting—in fact so much of scripture reminds us that we will give an account of our life, our choices, our words, and our influence on others—what we do with it, not just that we have it.

“A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”                      Matthew 12:35-37

How are you using your words?  What words are you using that are inappropriate, unhelpful, or just plain harmful to others.  Is your speech so vitriolic that others avoid you at all costs?

The Apostles had an impact after the resurrection, ascension, and the imparting of the Holy Spirit upon them, such that even those who hated them were brought to make a profound statement of them; one that I pray would be the accusation toward us, if and when we are called into account.

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,

said unto them,

Ye rulers of the people,

and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day be examined of the good deed

done to the impotent man,

by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness

of Peter and John,

and perceived

that they were unlearned and ignorant men,

they marvelled;

and they took knowledge of them,

that they had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:8-13

In bringing these thoughts to a close, I want to remind each of us of the accounting that will come—for the believer–we will stand before the “judgment seat of Christ” to give an accounting of our deeds done in the flesh; for the lost who have rejected Jesus, there will be a different accounting.  May you consider these truths and ask God to reveal to us the true state of our hearts.

“But why dost thou judge thy brother?

or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?

for we shall all stand

before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written,

As I live, saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us

shall give account of himself to God.”  Romans 14:10-12

“For other foundation

can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold, silver, precious stones,

wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try

every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.”  1 Corinthians 3:11-15

And the last word is God’s!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things which were written

in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

The choice is yours.  Where is your name written? Choose wisely there is a test—ready or not Jesus is coming back to gather His own, who have chosen to believer and receive His salvation, but as judge to all who have not.  How will He find you?  May you reach out to Jesus today if you haven’t yet done so, and trust to His saving grace and not your own resources.  If you belong to Jesus, is it time for you to reevaluate your walk with The Master?  May He find us faithfully serving and following His way!

Amen and Amen!!!