Category Archives: Jesus Is The Only Way!

With Or Without??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #255

01 Sunday Sep 2024

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Great white throne, Guard Your Heart, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, Salvation, Saved by Grace Through Faith, The Word

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With Or Without???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #255

Is your life being lived with Jesus, or without Him?  Are you doing things your way, or God’s way.  God makes it clear in the closing chapters of The Revelation of Jesus Christ that it’s all about Jesus.  Before we approach the Revelation, let’s see Jesus’ own words about the decision of most import in life and death.

“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.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”  John 3:16-21

Jesus made it very clear to Nicodemus, the religious leader in search of answers; answers that Jesus supplied with insight that we can heed or reject.  The choice is yours and mine—you and I are the “whosoever”—but remember there is a consequence to every choice, and not to be redundant, but Paul said it better than I ever could.

“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

The issue is, what have you done with Jesus?  Have you been born again, by the blood of Jesus?  If you belong to Jesus, are you living for Him and sharing His truth with others as God gives you opportunity?  If you don’t know Him yet, you can; by the repentance of your sin, and trusting/believing in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.  Payday is coming, and the only acceptable payment is Jesus. (See John 14:6)

“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

So, the choice is yours; will you live your life with Jesus and His saving, transforming grace; or will you live your own way?  As I said, the choice is totally yours, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Even as Joshua called Israel so many years ago, “choose you this day”!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

The Lord Is Enough!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #254

29 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by in Confidence, Conformed to HIS image, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Dare To Be Different!, Encouragement, Jesus Is The Only Way!

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The Lord Is Enough!!!  A Word from THE WORD #254

 

I would simply like to borrow part of David’s cry of praise to The Lord for His deliverance.  I pray that you will find encouragement in his words today—I always do!  God is so good, I pray that you know Him and rejoice in not just what He does, but Who He Is!  If you don’t know Jesus, you can—if you hear His voice calling you simply admit your sin to Jesus, repent (simply turning from your sin to Jesus precious, cleansing blood!) of it, and trust in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for you!!!  Jesus still saves and changes lives today!

“I will love thee,

O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is

my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

 my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me,

and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about:

the snares of death prevented me.

6 In my distress

I called upon the LORD,

and cried unto my God:

he heard my voice out of his temple,

and my cry came before him,

even into his ears.”  Psalm 18:1-6. 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!!!

Today Is Important??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #251

18 Sunday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word, TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Tomorrow, Too Late To Call?

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Today Is Important???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #251

“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

We all fall into the habit of thinking and saying, “I can do that tomorrow! Right?” Well, maybe we can and maybe we can’t; as Joshua told the people of Israel, we are to “choose you this day” what we will do, whom we will follow, whom we will serve—God or ourselves (and remember whatever you put before God is your choice!)!  We can only live in the todays; for only God knows what tomorrow holds—and you can trust Him!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

We must remember that the choices we make today, will affect tomorrow, and sometimes many tomorrows; that is why it is important to choose wisely today. I want to share a few things that may help us make wise choices.  The Psalmist shares great principles of living godly, it’s one of my favorites.

“Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight

is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law

doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff

which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly

shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:

but the way of the ungodly

shall perish.”  Psalm 1:1-6

Consider the contrast that the Psalmist makes between the one who chooses to delight in God and His ways, and the ungodly who go their own way—and don’t forget that God keeps accurate accounts, and there is a consequence to every choice.  You and I are free to choose our actions but not the consequences.  And remember we will always reap what we sow, later than we sowed it, and more than we sowed!

Notice the principle here, the blessed man, chooses to cling to godly things and avoid the harmful things that will draw us away from God; yet when we choose the things of God, we will be able to stand like a tree “planted by the rivers of water”; fruitful, unwithered, and successful in following God’s path.

The ungodly “are not so”!  Remember that!  Make wise choices.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness

with unrighteousness?

and what communion hath light

with darkness?”  2 Corinthians 6:14

Be wise in your choice of companions and activities.

“Be not deceived:

evil communications   (or companions)

corrupt good manners.”  1 Corinthians 15:33

The go-to reminder of scripture is from Paul’s letter to the Galatian believers.

“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.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”   Galatians 6:7-10

Remember that tomorrow will bring and reveal the consequences of what we choose today.  Choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

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!!!