Category Archives: Abiding IN Jesus or the World?

Standing In Confidence??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #250

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word

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Standing In Confidence??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #250

 

I have a few things to share with you this morning, and I pray that they will encourage your heart on this hot summer day (at least here in Oklahoma it’s scorching hot–), but no matter your location, our God is faithful in all things, and we can prevail over the evil around us!

Paul’s great chapter on the confidence that we can have in the resurrection and the return of our Lord concludes with an amazing passage of encouragement.  No matter your situation—God knows your grief, your sorrow, your fears, your uncertainty in the future, your confusion over the world situations—take heart for the Apostle John made it clear in The Revelation!

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”   Revelation 19:6

So, let’s consider Paul’s words of encouragement—We win!!!

“O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

 be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

 in the work of the Lord,

 forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:55-58

So, my friends, take heart, God has not stepped down from His throne, nor has He relinquished His omnipotent control of all things!  You can trust to His care, for He keeps His Word!  Always!  We can know truth because Jesus IS truth, and the only way to God and heaven.  So if you know Him, you can “withstand in the evil day” (See Ephesians 6:10-18); and if you don’t know Jesus you can, by simply repenting of your sin, and believing that HE is the one who paid for your sin by His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice on the cross.

“Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:5-6

Jesus loves us, and offers us life and victory by His death, burial and resurrection for sin.  Keep your eyes on the prize—JESUS!!!  He is coming again and sooner than we may think!

“In hope of eternal life,

which God,

that cannot lie,

promised before the world began;”   Titus 1:2

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s In Your Sights??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #248

11 Sunday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, By His Grace, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Confidence, Grace, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Many or Few?, My Grace Is Sufficient, The Word, When Will You Bow?, Where your treasure is--Your heart is!, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Whom are you trusting?

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What’s In Your Sights???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #248

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

While Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to God, Paul also reminds us that it’s our relationship with God through Jesus that saves, not works of any kind, no matter how hard we try to see ourselves as holy or right before God Almighty!

“But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness

toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 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 2:4-10

Let’s look at this backwards, if you would, so we can understand that salvation is all of God, through Jesus; righteous works are a result of Jesus’ righteousness imputed (credited) to us when we come to the cross in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!  When we were lost in sin, Jesus paid the price, and because that price has been paid, we can have eternal life, but not apart from the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin”!  We are saved by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus’ payment for our sin. Works don’t bring us to salvation, rather real works of righteousness are the result of God’s work in us because of the blood sacrifice that Jesus became for me and you!

“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

So the question isn’t what have you done, but who are you counting on for your salvation?  Are you trying to do good things, positive things, being kinder, smarter, gentler?  Are you being more religious, philosophical, quoting Bible verses, but not knowing the author?  Are you counting on a childhood profession that has never brought forth any fruit in your life?  Paul says it all in Romans chapter 5, and I simply want to let it speak to each of us.  I pray that you will hear the voice of The Holy Spirit speaking to your heart, and you will respond as He leads.  I played church for years, because I knew all the jargon, but until I met Jesus face-to-face my heart never changed.  Yet just as Jesus says in Matthew 7, He knows those who are born again unto life in HIM; those who are truly transformed into the children of God; born of God, not just saying so!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

Jesus also said:

“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.”  Matthew 7:20-23

What will you say to Jesus?  What will Jesus say to you?  Have you experienced what Paul is describing to the Roman believers?  I pray that if you don’t know Jesus, you will come to Him today!  Please ponder Paul’s message—it’s a boat load of truth.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

 in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if,

when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.” Romans 5:1-11

Have you received the atonement?  Have you bowed before Jesus?  The question isn’t ‘will you bow’, but rather ‘when will you bow’?  Will you bow before Him now in repentance and faith in His sacrifice for your sin and mine, and be born again?  Or will you bow before HIM as your judge with no opportunity for grace or salvation?  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“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 2:10-11

Paul says it better than I could, for God has already done the work at Calvary through His Son Jesus. If there’s no change in. your heart, you may want to re-examine what is in your sights as your salvation.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Amen and Amen!!!

Which Way Am I Going??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #245

02 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Broad road or the Straight Gate?, Building on The Rock or The Sand?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation

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Which Way Am I Going???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #245

“There is a way which seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14:12                          (also repeated in Proverbs 16:25)

As we watch the world sink deeper and deeper into chaos, fear and sin, we must take the advice of Paul, and “withstand in the evil day”!  And my dear friends, that evil day is here!  So I just want to spend time with you all today considering which way we are headed.  There are only two choices—heaven or hell; for the “blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin” and promises eternal life to those who will come to Him in faith/trust in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—and sin is the issue.

Jesus also talked about the choice of ways to go, let’s peruse His advice.  And one of the things that Jesus tells us is that we are to be wise about who we listen to—we must know HIS WORD—for there are those who are false.  Just because someone says “Baa Baa” doesn’t mean they are real sheep!  The wolves are all around us.

“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.”   Matthew 7:13-15

Joshua also called the children of Israel that they had a choice about the way they would go.  Things haven’t changed—the choice is still yours and mine, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“Now therefore

fear the LORD,

and serve him in sincerity

and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt;

and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,

choose you this day whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.”  Joshua 24:14-15

What I want each of us to consider is which way are we going; for we can’t say we are going Jesus’ way, and live like the devil, following the false prophets, and living wicked lives and claiming the grace of God, while walking the other way.  The writer of Proverbs said it, Jesus said it, and Joshua said it—which way will you choose?  I’ll stand with God’s truth, and Paul said it best in my mind.  Will you join me in choosing to follow Jesus rather than the world?  Remember God knows, and there is a test!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

Who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Gal. 2:20

Amen & Amen!!!

Inside Out Or Outside In??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #239

14 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Inside out or Outside In?, It's All About The Cross, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Living Stones, Living TODAY!, Salvation, Seeing Truth, SIN, Sin IS the issue, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Blood Of Jesus, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way, The Broad or Narrow Way?, The Call of God!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Word, This is the Way, Tomorrow, Too Late To Call?, Transformed life, Words Matter, Worldliness, You can't get yesterday back!

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Inside Out Or Outside In???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #239

I heard a message today that pricked my heart, for we seldom hear a message which reminds us that, contrary to popular opinion, it’s not what’s on the “outside” that counts; and scripture is replete with teachings that God’s work is always from the inside out (not to say that we are to neglect the outside!)!

“Thus saith the LORD;

Cursed be the man

that trusteth in man,

and maketh flesh his arm,

and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert,

and shall not see when good cometh;

but shall inhabit the parched places

in the wilderness,

in a salt land

and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man

that trusteth in the LORD,

and whose hope the LORD is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters,

and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,

and shall not see when heat cometh,

but her leaf shall be green;

and shall not be careful in the year of drought,

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?

10 I the LORD

search the heart,

I try the reins,

even to give every man

according to his ways,

and according to the fruit of his doings.”                  Jeremiah 17:5-10

We must recognize that we choose to hear the voice of God and respond to Him in repentance and trust in His saving power through the blood of Jesus; or we choose to refuse His call to our hearts and trust in ourselves, the arm of man, or just depart from God, His Son and His Word.  It’s a matter of the heart and what we choose to believe, follow and live out—but we can never live good enough to change our heart, apart from Jesus’ sacrifice.

One of the greatest reminders of this is found in Proverbs 3.

“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.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

The problem is that we have exalted ourselves to think that we are “god”!  But there is only One God and One Way to Him, The Lord Jesus Christ.  You get to choose but the consequence comes without your control.  God gives us the privilege to choose, but the consequences are in His hands.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:7-9

Are you listening to God?  Are you sowing to the flesh or seeking Jesus’ provision for being born again and having new life in Jesus.

“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.”   Matthew 7:13-14

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Isaiah shares this same message from the Lord to the people of Judah—a word that is also apropos to us today.

“Wherefore the Lord said,

Forasmuch as this people draw near me

with their mouth,

and with their lips

do honour me,

but have removed their heart

far from me,

and their fear toward me

is taught by the precept of men:

14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed

to do a marvellous work among this people,

even a marvellous work and a wonder:

for the wisdom of their wise men

shall perish,

and the understanding of their prudent men

shall be hid.

15 Woe unto them

that seek deep to hide their counsel

from the LORD,

and their works

are in the dark,

and they say,

Who seeth us?

and who knoweth us?”  Isaiah 29:13-15

People who claim the name of Jesus, yet go their own way, not the way of Jesus or His Word are who this passage is referring to.  Whom are you following? Believing? Trusting in?  Ordering your steps after?  Jesus paints one of the most profound pictures of the choices that face us, reminding us that “saying so, doesn’t make it so”.  Are we just talking about Jesus, or have we been transformed by His blood?  Are we being led by His precious Holy Spirit.  (See Romans 8:9, it tells us that if we don’t have The Holy Spirit, we don’t belong to Jesus!)  The Word said it, not just me.  Is your house built on the “Rock of Ages” or the “sand”?   Note that the storms will come no matter who you are—and the foundation does matter—in fact it’s a life and death choice.

“Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree

that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

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.

24 Therefore whosoever

heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one

that heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”                  Matthew 7:17-27

Have you been changed from the inside out—by being born again?  Are you trying to put on a show by impressing others with the outside, but have not received God’s work of salvation to transform a lost sinner into a saint of God?

“The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man,

thou dwellest in the midst

of a rebellious house,

which have eyes to see,

and see not;

they have ears to hear,

and hear not:

for they are a rebellious house.”  Ezekiel 12:1-2

Rebellion is costly and can cost your soul, or your walk with The King.  It cost King Saul his kingdom—all because he did it his way, rather than God’s.  (Read all of 1 Samuel 14 & 15). There is a point of no return, which forgiveness can’t always restore.

“And Samuel said,

Hath the LORD as great delight

in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey

is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion

is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness

is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,

he hath also rejected thee from being king.

24 And Saul said unto Samuel,

I have sinned:

for I have transgressed the commandment

of the LORD,

and thy words:

because I feared the people,

and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee,

pardon my sin,

and turn again with me,

that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul,

I will not return with thee:

for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,

and the LORD hath rejected thee

from being king over Israel.”  1 Samuel 15:22-26

May God open our eyes and show us the true condition of our heart, so that we may receive the true work of redemption and recreation, and live it before a lost and dying world!

“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.”   Romans 12:1-2

Amen & Amen!!!

Get It? Got It? Holding To It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #238

12 Friday Jul 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Eternal Consequences, Eternal Treasures, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Laying up treasure in heaven, Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Living For Jesus, Nothing New, Now is the time...., Order my steps, Salvation, The Word, Trendy Or Truth, Worship Him!

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Get It? Got it? Holding To It???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #238

We continually wrestle with the draw of the world, the call of the bling, the ads, promos, and enticement to get the newest, fastest, most fashionable things of some celebrity; all the while not realizing that these things will pass away.  We will pass away; and when we do, we will face Jesus as our Lord and Savior and give an account of our life; or we will stand before Jesus The Judge and pay for our own sin!  It’s not about stuff, it’s about peace, joy and loving Jesus more than the world.  And even more subtle, the people and things that offer to make us healthier, wealthier and smarter by using, promoting and making money off of some new thing.  Solomon said it best.

“All things are full of labour;

man cannot utter it:

the eye is not satisfied

with seeing,

nor the ear

filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said,

See, this is new?

it hath been already of old time,

which was before us.”  Ecclesiastes 1:8-10

We lost two people in our circle this week, one knew Jesus intimately and went right into the presence of Jesus (See 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.); the other may or may not have met Jesus, I don’t know.  But one thing I do know, each of them carried nothing with them but the life they lived, and everything they had collected, they left behind.  What are you collecting?  What did you get that you had to have, and now you’re ready to put it in a garage safe?  Even the priceless treasures that we may value greatly can’t be held onto when we die and face eternity.  What have we invested in that is of eternal value.  First and foremost to be born again, secondly (in my opinion) is to have sent on treasures to heaven that are of true eternal value.  As I heard someone once say, the only thing we can take to heaven with us is love and those we have helped to come to salvation in Jesus!  It has merit!  While I don’t find anywhere is scripture that we are bound to take a vow of poverty, we are called throughout scripture to hold the value of riches loosely and not hoard them to ourselves, but to use them to bless others as we have opportunity.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also…

…24 No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life,

what ye shall eat,

or what ye shall drink;

nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

Is not the life more than meat,

and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air:

for they sow not,

neither do they reap,

nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.

Are ye not much better than they?…

…33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Portions of Matthew 6:19-34

Peter also reminded the early believers that riches are not eternal, but Jesus and His Word is!  May we not lose sight of the things that are truly eternal, important, and of real value!

“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.

10 But the day of the Lord will come

as a thief in the night;

in the which the heavens shall pass away

with a great noise,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat,

the earth also

and the works that are therein

shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation

and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting

unto the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens being on fire

shall be dissolved,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we,

according to his promise,

look for new heavens

and a new earth,

wherein dwelleth righteousness.”                            Portions of 2 Peter 3:9-13

So, my friends, the question comes to us, “What will we spend our life on?”  Will we spend our lives accumulating things or pursuing the Kingdom of God and sending our real, eternal treasures on before us.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  May we ask God to search our heart and reveal to us the true state of our affairs?  James has a stern word to those claiming the name of Jesus; will we take heed?

“Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

 ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.”  James 4:3-8

May we get it!  May we ever keep it in our heart!  May we ever hold to JESUS in true love and devotion, as we “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil…”!

Amen and Amen!!!