Category Archives: Jesus IS Lord–bow before Him!

What’s The Verdict??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #288

15 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Eyes that SEE HIM, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Living by Faith or Entertainment?, Living For Jesus, Living in Christ, Living Right, Living TODAY!, Living Waters

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What’s The Verdict???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #288

There’s a proverb that’s been around for a while, and I think it worth our consideration, especially in the day in which we are living; “If you were put on trial for being a Christian (a believer in and a follower of Jesus), would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  With our culture of “offence”, it is often easy to let our silence be construed as approval.  Now, I don’t think we need to go everywhere with “guns a blazin’ ” as the saying goes, but we are to speak the truth in love.  Oh, how needy our world is of real love—not lust, but real God centered, helping people centered, love of God.

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head,

 even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted

by that which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying

of itself in love.”   Ephesians 4:14-16

Is our light shining for Jesus, reflecting His work in us, or are we letting the enemy have his way in our daily walk; what does my walk—my talk—my actions—my compassion and grace say to people about my Lord Jesus.  Would my life bring a verdict of guilty of belonging to Jesus?  Would there be a hung jury, for the compromise that prevails too often?  Would there be so little evidence that I would be set free for lack of evidence?  Am I more concerned with blending in than shining for Jesus.  Yes, it may have a cost, but nothing like the price that Jesus paid to save me!

Let’s look at what Jesus said our lives ought to look like.

“Blessed are ye,

when men shall revile you,

and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil against you

falsely,

for my sake.

12 Rejoice,

and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets

which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:11-16

Nuff’ said!

Amen and Amen!!!

He Lives Within My Heart??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #287

13 Wednesday Nov 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, He lives in my heart., Jesus is able, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Saves!, My sheep hear my voice..., Who's in your heart?

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He Lives Within My Heart???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #287

I grew up singing the old song “He Lives” written by Alfred Ackley, and I encourage you to look him up on the internet and read the story behind this song.  The last line of the chorus is what I want us to think about today, “You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart…!”!  Amen to that—it’s how I know. How about you?

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;

These things saith he

that hath the seven Spirits of God,

and the seven stars;

I know thy works,

that thou hast a name that thou livest,

and art dead.”  Revelation 3:1

Jesus’ words to a church, a group of professing believers who claimed to know Him, yet He goes on to call them to repent!  I encourage you to read the seven letters this week and ask Jesus to reveal what is in your heart; who is in your heart.

I want to share God’s Word today and ask you to peruse the passages and let God examine your heart.  Stop, look and listen!

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

Jesus also makes it clear in the Sermon on the Mount.

“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.”  Matthew 6:24

If I might make an observation; we often relegate “mammon” to money, and it does include money, but the deeper meaning is anything that we allow to stand between us and God; be that money, fame, popularity, power, success, social standing, ladder climbing, you name it!  We are called to submit to Jesus as Lord and King of our life, not to put him in some back closet until we have a prayer request, or an illness or some other crisis.  There’s an old saying, while not out of scripture, it does lend itself to consideration, “If Jesus isn’t Lord of all, He isn’t Lord at all!”  You decide.  We can all be deceived, I was for many years—but Jesus is the only way, and if we are His, He is ours and the difference should show.  Let’s consider another part of this ‘sermon’, we’ll consider Jesus’ own words and call it a day!  Remember, saying so doesn’t make it so, and Satan is the “father of lies” and he does his job well.  Don’t believe everything you hear or even see—liars will go a long way to convince people of their stories!  Beware and listen to Jesus—and dig into The Word for yourself.  (If you want to see a most specific and truthful picture of false teachers/preachers/prophets read 2 Peter 2—the whole chapter!)

“Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 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.”  Matthew 7:15-23

May we heed the words of Jesus!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  Calling wrong right doesn’t make it so.  Be sure you’re standing on God’s Word not man’s!  Please?

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

 is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

Amen & Amen!!!

A Friday Prayer of Praise??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #262

20 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding In The Vine, Creator, Creator of ALL, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Praise Encourages our Heart, Praise God Today!, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Press ON!, Search me O God?, Seasonal or Steadfast?, Thankful, True Friendship, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth, Try yourselves

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 A Friday Prayer of Praise???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #262

“I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee,

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought

in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect;

and in thy book all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned,

when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me,

O God!

how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them,

they are more in number than the sand:

when I awake,

I am still with thee.

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:

depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly,

and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD,

that hate thee?

and am not I grieved with those

that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred:

I count them mine enemies.”  Psalm 139:14-22

This Psalm of David is an amazing account of David’s recognition of the creator of all things, including us!  How often we forget that we are God’s creation, even as David reminds us in the 100th Psalm:

“Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves…”. Psalm 100:3a

As David rehearses the wonder of man’s creation and the worth of our God, not just because of what He does, but because of Who He Is!  Even as Paul told the Corinthian believers—because we are so apt to forget in our pride and arrogance as human beings—even as born-again human beings we can be distracted by our own flesh (and of course Satan is right there handing us the fuel!)

“Not that we are sufficient

of ourselves

to think any thing

as of ourselves;

but our sufficiency is of God;” 2 Corinthians 3:5

Jesus said it Himself as He spent the last hours of His life teaching His followers truth; even knowing that they wouldn’t get it until much later!  After His death, burial and resurrection they not only got it, but shared it unto their death.  And many of them died martyr’s deaths!

“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

The bottom line is relatively simple—we must abide in Jesus, praising Him through thick or thin, happy or sad, simple or difficult—for we are the sheep of His pasture.  I am His and He is mine—and He has never failed me!  Ever!!!  This brings us back to the ending of Psalm 139, a prayer that I pray often, and encourage you to pray it, memorize it (if you haven’t already) and ask God to bring it to your heart as often as necessary!  May our hearts be drawn to The Master!

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see

if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

Amen and Amen!!!

Which Way Is The Way??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #257

08 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True

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Which Way Is The Way???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #257

The is the question of all questions; it is the question that will determine our eternal destiny!  And yes, everyone has an eternal destiny—heaven or hell; not a popular subject and one that many if not most in our culture don’t accept or just outright object to such a statement.  A statement that we as believers in Jesus proclaim to be truth; truth based on the scriptures which we believe and accept as absolute truth.  It’s your choice of what you will believe, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“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 claimed to be the way, and He was, is and ever shall be the only way to the Father, because He is the sinless, Son of God—the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.  Because He was, is and ever shall be that, for He is God.  (See 1 Cor. 15:1-5)

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man

pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father,

which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able

to pluck them out of

my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

Many people say that Jesus never claimed to be God, but they miss this absolute, declarative statement that Jesus clearly makes, and the proof is in the response of the religious leaders of the day. (And note that John 14:6 Jesus says, “I AM”! God!)

“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them,

Many good works have I shewed you

from my Father;

 for which of those works

do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying,

 For a good work we stone thee not;

but for blasphemy;

and because that thou,

being a man,

 makest thyself God.”  John 10:31-33

The religious leaders who continually opposed Jesus, understood what He had just said, and they wanted to kill Him for it.  In fact they eventually did have Him put to death on the cross, but as the scripture records again and again, “His time had not yet come…” Jesus also talks about the truth of there being only one way to God, and one of the most profound is found in Matthew chapter 7, and we can almost interpret John 14:6 right out of Matthew 7.

“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.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 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.”  Matthew 7:13-20

I would ask you to go back over this part of Matthew 7 and compare it to John 14:6!  Can you see why we hold fast to firmly to the truth that Jesus IS the only way?  I pray that you not only see it, but if you don’t know Him, that you will fall before His cross and give your heart and soul to Jesus!   He is waiting for you to answer His convicting Holy Spirit’s knocking on the door of your heart.

“Behold,

I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

 and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Paul reiterates this thought a bit differently, but just as powerful a message.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17

The Gospel—the Good News of Jesus—is the truth that we stand on, and like Paul, I am not ashamed to say so.  As you think of the way that you are going—Jesus’ way or not—may we all heed the words that Jesus also spoke in Matthew 7.  I know I post them a lot, but they are so important for “Saying so, doesn’t make it so…”. The choice is life or destruction.

“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 7:21-27

God is concerned with our genuine conversion unto salvation, and the forth-coming righteousness and holiness which the Holy Spirit of God works in those who have truly bowed before Jesus.  God, even as Jesus spoke above, isn’t interested in our arrogance or self-righteousness; God will simply look to see if the blood of Jesus has been applied to your life?  For you see, the question isn’t, “Will you bow?”; for all will bow.  The question is “When will you bow?”  Will you bow before Jesus Christ as Lord when you hear the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, and be saved?  Or you will bow before Jesus Christ as your judge with no opportunity of grace and salvation.

“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

Jesus is calling each of us to understand that HE IS the only way to The Father!  And if we will only accept John 14:6 and Matthew 7, we will see what Jesus was talking about:

       He is The Way—enter at the “straight gate”

                               Walk down the narrow road

                               Be among the Few there be who find it—

 (often because we are obstinate, and the broad way seems to be easier—the reason why there are so “many”)

       He is The Truth—accept it or reject it, it is still Truth.

       He is The Life—The house built on His foundation—the Rock-

                                    will never fall for Jesus Is and gives

                                    Abundant, eternal life.

Will you be among the many on the broad road, or will you follow Jesus down that narrow road, and receive His gift of life.  I encourage you to read all of John chapter 3 this week.  Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus that God sent Him to give eternal life to all who would believe and receive Him in repentance and faith.  He also made it clear that those who reject Him will suffer the consequences of their choice.  Please don’t miss the right and true road—Jesus died for you to be saved.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  (Be sure and read Revelation 20:11-15 if you don’t know about the test.)

I know this is heavy, but heaven is worth the effort, and to miss hell is worthy of your consideration, for Jesus is the only way!  I choose Jesus, how about you?

“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.” Galatians 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Lift Up Your Eyes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #252

21 Wednesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus is able, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Look UP, Look up and Praise The Lord, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, The Word

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Lift Up Your Eyes???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #252

“And there shall be signs

in the sun,

and in the moon,

and in the stars;

and upon the earth

distress of nations,

with perplexity;

the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men’s hearts

failing them for fear,

and for looking after those things

which are coming on the earth:

 for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 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 21:25-28

I want to speak to the little words in this passage, rather than the nature of the prophecy; Jesus said that “there shall be signs”, and notice that this is plural—not just one but multiple signs—sadly multiple signs that most will not heed as from Jesus!  If we took time to go back and look at Matthew 7, we’d remember that Jesus referred to the “many” and the “few” in regard to finding and walking on the “narrow way”; a message much needed today, especially to remind God’s own that we are NOT in the majority!  From Genesis to Revelation, there is always a remnant of God’s own in this world, but they have seldom been in the lead!  But we are called to take note.  Jesus was speaking to His closest followers, yet even they doubted when He was put in the grave!  But, three days later they believed, and some 40+ days later they received the Holy Spirit to speak, preach and display the power of heavenly fire!

But to get back to our passage above, notice that Jesus said that “Men’s hearts” would be failing them because they will be looking at the “signs” and not the Savior!  He also implies that the signs will go on for some time, culminating in His return.

Then—and most importantly to we who belong to Jesus—Jesus told His followers that when:

“these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh…”!

Note that Jesus told us that when we see these thing “begin to come to pass” we aren’t to let our hearts fail (not over the weather, the politics, or the world crises, nor any earthly events) but we are clearly told what to do:

look up,       

lift up your heads;

And He tells us why we are to look up and lift up our heads, not let our hearts or our heads droop down over the events taking place but we can confidently look up because:

your redemption draweth nigh!

So, don’t fret over the events of the times, but rather take The Word of God and stand fast in “the evil day”!  Remember, Jesus has promised victory, and He will come, rule, judge and reign as God of all!!!  Get in The Word:

“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

Amen and Amen!!!