Category Archives: Salvation

Grace For The Journey??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #256

05 Thursday Sep 2024

Posted by in Gospel, Grace, Lift up mine eyes, Lifting up Jesus, My Help Cometh from THE LORD, Not hearers only, Now is the time...., Salvation, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, Sayers or Doers, Trials, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Victory IN Jesus!

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Grace For The Journey???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #256

We were traveling a bit this week; we made it home, and while the view was amazing and we had a lovely time (except for a bit of illness), saw people we love, and met some new friends, the trip was a bit tiring, and we got home unloaded, cleaned up a bit and I crashed!  After a good night’s rest, I sit here thinking about the goodness of my Lord and His grace, and thought I’d simply share some thoughts and scripture to encourage your heart on this Thursday (as everyone looks forward to Friday!)

“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

We are saved by God’s grace, and I am personally so grateful for His grace and mercy, and praise Jesus for it; I also pray that you have been saved by that very grace as well.  If you haven’t you can be by repenting of your sin and trusting/believing in the blood that Jesus shed as our substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!  Yet there is so much more to God’s grace than just our salvation; His grace is sufficient for every day’s joys, sorrows, trials and difficult decisions, so here are a few scripture passages that I pray will encourage your heart and help you walk in victory, joy and the fulness of grace that God pours out on us today.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

 that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

The Apostle Paul had great trials and speaks of a particular issue that he had taken to God multiple times, and God’s answer to Paul is just as apropos for us today as it was when God spoke it to Paul. Our God is faithful and trustworthy!

“And lest I should be exalted above measure

through the abundance of the revelations,

 there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,

the messenger of Satan to buffet me,

lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,

that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect

in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory

in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure

in infirmities,

in reproaches,

in necessities,

 in persecutions,

in distresses for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak,

then am I strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:7-10

How amazing that God can and will take our weakness and display His strength, sufficient grace, love and power to a world in need!  And in closing I would like to share one of my favorite Psalms which doesn’t mention the word grace, but it does display the character of grace, power, love and provision that reflects the amazing God that we serve.  May you find hope, grace and encouragement in these words today!  (I would encourage you to print off this Psalm and keep it near as a reminder of God’s presence and provision for us!). Also a note to remind us that our hope isn’t in the “hills” or the valleys, the beaches or cities, the powers that be or the rulers of this world, but our hope is  “My help cometh from the LORD”—remember, our hope is in God’s grace, in the Creator NOT the creation!

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help. (?)

2 My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot

to be moved:

he that keepeth thee

will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper:

 the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

 7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:

he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth, and even for evermore.”   Psalm 121:1-8

Amen and Amen!!!

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!!!

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!!!

Hearing The Watchman??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #240

17 Wednesday Jul 2024

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Salvation, The Word

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Hearing The Watchman???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #240

Just a reminder that the “perilous times” are here, and we need to pray for the watchmen to call out the warning and that we and others will listen to them.  Oh, Lord send us faithful watchmen—male and female!  The souls around us are at stake, may we not here the claim of the lost at the end, “You never mentioned HIM to me!” (A Song written by James Rowe.). Ezekiel makes it clear that we are to proclaim the warning of truth, and judgment, whether the people listen or not.

“And it came to pass at the end of seven days,

that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

17 Son of man,

I have made thee a watchman

unto the house of Israel:

therefore hear the word at my mouth,

and give them warning from me.

18 When I say unto the wicked,

Thou shalt surely die;

and thou givest him not warning,

nor speakest to warn the wicked

from his wicked way,

to save his life;

the same wicked man

shall die in his iniquity;

but his blood

will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked,

and he turn not from his wickedness,

nor from his wicked way,

he shall die in his iniquity;

but thou hast delivered thy soul.

20 Again, When a righteous man doth

turn from his righteousness,

and commit iniquity,

and I lay a stumblingblock before him,

he shall die:

because thou hast not given him warning,

he shall die in his sin,

and his righteousness which he hath done

shall not be remembered;

but his blood will I require at thine hand.

21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man,

that the righteous sin not,

and he doth not sin,

he shall surely live,

because he is warned;

also thou hast delivered thy soul.”  Ezekiel 3:16-21

This message is of such import that God repeated it to Ezekiel more than once, and reminded him, as He is reminding us, to be faithful watchmen, if that is our calling; and to heed the warning if we are not.  We will each give an account of our own choices.  Remember, the choice is yours, but there is a test, and Jesus will be the judge!

“Son of man, speak to the children of thy people,

and say unto them,

When I bring the sword upon a land,

if the people of the land take

a man of their coasts,

and set him for their watchman:

3 If when he seeth the sword come

upon the land,

he blow the trumpet,

and warn the people;

4 Then whosoever heareth

the sound of the trumpet,

and taketh not warning;

if the sword come,

and take him away,

his blood shall be upon his own head.

5 He heard the sound of the trumpet,

and took not warning;

his blood shall be upon him.

But he that taketh warning

shall deliver his soul.

6 But if the watchman see the sword come,

and blow not the trumpet,

and the people be not warned;

if the sword come,

and take any person from among them,

he is taken away in his iniquity;

but his blood will I require

at the watchman’s hand.

7 So thou, O son of man,

I have set thee a watchman

unto the house of Israel;

therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth,

and warn them from me.

8 When I say unto the wicked,

O wicked man, thou shalt surely die;

if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked

from his way,

that wicked man shall die in his iniquity;

but his blood will I require at thine hand.

9 Nevertheless,

if thou warn the wicked of his way

to turn from it;

if he do not turn from his way,

he shall die in his iniquity;

but thou hast delivered thy soul.”  Ezekiel 33:2-9

And Jesus’ own warning.  Remember it’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!  And I truly believe that Jesus, the examiner is returning more quickly than we expect.  And if you are a watchman, be sure you are giving others God’s Word not your own!!!  We will give an account!

“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 3:16-19

It’s your choice.  I pray that you will hear, heed and receive the One who died for you and me!

Amen and 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!!!