Who Will You SEE??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #74

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Who Will You SEE???       A Word from THE WORD!!! #74

A simple but profound question for today; there is a day coming for each of us, and our choice in this life will set our eternal consequence; what will you choose?  We will either see Jesus our Savior, Lord and King and spend eternity with HIM, or we will face HIM as our judge at the Great White Throne of judgment and find that our choice about Jesus was the wrong one, and face eternity in the Lake of Fire.  Not a subject that most want to discuss today, but a subject that I feel led to state simply with the truth of God’s Word not mine!

“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

Jesus Himself shared this with Nicodemus who came to Him to know truth, which Jesus provided.

“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

Even as Jesus told Nicodemus earlier:

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:3-7

“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 1:12-13

The test question is simply, “What have you done with Jesus?”  Have you been “born again” or not.  The question isn’t “will you bow” before King Jesus; but rather when will you bow?  For God says that “every knee shall bow” and “every tongue… …confess that JESUS IS LORD”!  Will you bow before The Lord Jesus in this life and receive HIS forgiveness for your sin, or will you bow before HIM as your judge with no opportunity for salvation by grace through faith?

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 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 2:8-11

Jesus will be the judge and HIS WORD will be the standard.  No matter how much the world says that there are new rules–God hasn’t changed, nor will HIS Word.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday,

and to day, and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”   Hebrews 4:12-13

The choice is yours!  Will you bow before Jesus, seeking His forgiveness of your sin (which HE paid for at Calvary with His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our salvation) and receive His new birth, or reject HIS love, grace, and provision for you to spend eternity with HIM?

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:14

The choice is yours, what will you do?

“For as the Father raiseth up the dead,

and quickeneth them;

even so the Son quickeneth

whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man,

but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son,

even as they honour the Father.

He that honoureth not the Son

honoureth not the Father

which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that heareth my word,

and believeth on him that sent me,

hath everlasting life,

and shall not come into condemnation;

but is passed from death

unto life.”  John 5:21-24

It’s your choice, but there is a test coming!  Please receive this KING who loves you and died for your salvation.  He paid the price so you don’t have to, but you must come to Him in repentance and faith, trusting to HIS perfect sacrifice!  I pray that you will heed His call while there is still time.

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Please join me at Jesus’ table for eternity!!!

This IS The Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #73

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This IS The Day???         A Word from THE WORD!!! #73

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

What will you and I do with our “day”?  Whatever you are facing, whatever trials have come your way, whatever choices are crushing your soul–God is in your day!  If we will but look up and be willing to receive the answers that God whispers into our hearts!  Just a word from an old grandma–the choices that you make today can be led by God or your own fleshly desires–they will be the delights or regrets of your old age!  Let God rule in your day today–and today–and today–and today!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek

and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

And as God spoke long ago, I have found this to be a dependable truth!

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,

This is the way, walk ye in it,

when ye turn to the right hand,

and when ye turn to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21

Amen and Amen!!!

Why Holiness??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #72

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Why Holiness???     A Word from THE WORD!!! #72

Just a few thoughts this morning to help us examine our hearts and lives.  Jesus said our heart is the source of our behavior.

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart

proceed evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:” Matthew 15:18-19

The Psalmist has great advice in this regard.

“Set a watch, O LORD,

before my mouth;

keep the door

of my lips.

4 Incline not my heart

to any evil thing…”. Psalm 141:3-4a

We are called by God to live “holy” lives, so we must keep a diligent watch over our heart, our mind, and our mouth, to preserve our testimony before the world.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-16

We are to pursue holiness as a lover of, and follower of Jesus!  Yet we can only do it because God has laid our sin on Jesus and imparted to us the “righteousness of God”!

“17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new…

….. 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

 Because of God’s grace and love, Jesus became sin (he did no sin, but God made HIM be sin for us) so that we could receive the “righteousness of God in him”!  Oh, praise God HE has done a work of grace that we might live holy lives! May the world see Jesus in us–in our speech, in our behavior, in our responses, and in our love toward them; not by our own strength but as Paul reminds us:

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

 Will join me today in striving to be Jesus before a lost and dying world–someone’s eternal destiny may depend on you or me!

Amen and Amen!!!

Whose Side??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #71

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Whose Side???        A Word from THE WORD!!! #71

I have a simple but hard word to share this morning.  I am so grieved over the things I see around us–especially what I see and hear coming from the “churches”!  Much like Jeremiah, I grieve over the corruption, greed, lust, and just plain old SIN that is being accepted, promoted, and justified!  God hasn’t changed nor has HIS Word; but it seems that we have.

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

We have presumed upon God’s mercy and grace and tried to make our sin a non-issue; but my friend SIN is the issue and no matter what the popular voices may say being born again makes us a new creation IN JESUS; it’s not a ‘get out of jail free’ card!

“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

It seems that America (our whole world) has rebelled and denied the God who has been the One we have claimed to trust.  It appears to me that God has become not only a “byword”, but just a token that we name when we are in need, or tragedy or crises… we talk about God and prayer, but our lives reveal a total disregard for HIS ways, HIS Word and HIS SON, JESUS!  But there is a day of testing, and judgment coming–which side will you be on?  Paul gives us a warning that many neglect, but it is true, no matter what the movies, books and false prophets say!

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:

only he who now letteth will let,

until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed,

whom the Lord shall consume

with the spirit of his mouth,

and shall destroy

with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming

is after the working of Satan

with all power

and signs

and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness

of unrighteousness

in them that perish;

because they received not

the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause

God shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure

in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

And if I might add a note from Jeremiah (which I hope to dig into next week, as The Lord leads) who was grieved over the fall of Jerusalem and the captivity of his own people, because they rejected his word for some 40 years (and God’s for longer). While God is merciful and I pray for His continued grace and mercy toward us, His judgment is coming.  Will you be on HIS side?

“It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good

unto them that wait for him,

to the soul that seeketh him.

26 It is good

that a man should both hope and quietly wait

for the salvation of the LORD.”  Lamentations 3:22-26

While God is merciful, judgment is coming, will you be among the deceived who reject HIS mercy, grace, and salvation in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN, or will you believe and be saved?

“(For he saith,

I have heard thee in a time accepted,

and in the day of salvation

have I succoured thee:

behold, now is the accepted time;

behold, now is the day of salvation.)”.  2 Corinthians 6:2

I pray that you will heed the voice of the Lord if HE is speaking to your heart and calling you unto Himself; that you won’t wait and try to come one day too late!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Whose Power??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #70

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Whose Power???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #70

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,

This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel,

saying,

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts.”  Zechariah 4:6

This is one of my very favorite verses in all of scripture, and I rehearse it to myself again and again, especially in those times when I feel overwhelmed by the issues and trials of life!  I am reminded so ‘powerfully’ that it isn’t about me–it isn’t about issues–it isn’t about trials–it isn’t about being strong, or being smart, or being in charge, or knowing the best way to go–it IS about God and HIS Holy Spirit at work within me.  Paul reminds us of the uniqueness of Jesus, and the truth that HE not only saves us from our sin but imparts to us HIS own Spirit to lead, direct, strengthen, and encourage in those difficult times when we have fallen, failed, or just feel like we can’t face the battle one more step.  It’s not just me–it’s my LORD and REDEEMER at work in me if I will but yield to HIS Spirit’s leading!

“Whereof I am made a minister,

according to the dispensation of God

which is given to me

for you,

to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery

which hath been hid from ages

and from generations,

but now is made manifest

to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known

what is the riches of the glory

of this mystery among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:25-27

Paul also reminded the believers at Rome of the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit which Jesus promised to HIS own, those who will come to Him in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin!  And yes, SIN is the issue!

“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.”  Romans 5:5-6

We have been given the gift of God’s precious Holy Spirit, the new covenant which God promised and was revealed to/through Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for sin for you and me, providing the gift of The Holy Spirit of God to dwell within HIS own; which was fulfilled at the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension to The Father. (And while I won’t delve into that in this post, you can find the prophecies in Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:25-27, and the fulfillment in Acts 1:8, and Acts 2:1-4). And I hope to start a series from the book of Lamentations soon, a message that grieves my heart like it did Jeremiah’s–a message that I believe is for America today.  A message I pray that God will grant me the grace to deliver with love, grace, by HIS power, not mine!  May God bless you this week?  Remember John 15:5

“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.”

Amen and Amen!!!