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!!!