Tag Archives: Are you ready to see Jesus?

Being Ready??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #320

31 Friday Jan 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Are you ready?, Are you training your children, Following Jesus or the World?, Footprints, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, Just As I Am?, Someone is following you!, Where are you leading those following you?, Who are YOU following?

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Being Ready???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #320

With recent tragedies, I want to share a few passages from God’s Word which call us to “be prepared”!  Are you ready to meet Jesus?  If He comes in the sky or if you leave this life and find yourself in His presence, are you ready?  Do you really know Him, not just about Him but know Him as your Lord, Saviour, Redeemer and King?  It’s your choice but choose wisely and don’t be fooled by the wolves in “sheep’s clothing”!

I don’t wish to be morbid, but I do pray that you will take time to examine your own heart and ask God to reveal your true condition to you.  That is my prayer for today; for your choice will not only affect your eternal destiny (heaven or hell) but it will affect those following behind you!

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered

to bear the sins of many;

and unto them that look for him

shall he appear the second time

without sin unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:27-28

Jesus’ own words often resound in my ears and in my heart; HE is the only way to The Almighty God of this universe!  Jesus is The Son of God, and He came to pay our sin debt.

“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

“But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 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 10:26-30

Do you belong to Jesus?  If not and you hear His voice calling you, please respond—it’s a life-or-death choice.

“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

 And on a bit of a heavier note, we all need to understand that the “judgment” referred to above is for all; but which judgement we will appear at is up to us.  We can trust in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin and be born again, and stand before the “judgment seat of Christ” to answer for our works after we are saved (the good and the not-so-good), or if we choose to pay for our own sins without Jesus offer of forgiveness and salvation, we will stand before the “Great White Throne” and receive the due penalty of our sin.  I’ll just post those scriptures here for your consideration, as they are relatively self-explanatory.  (Just let me add that the “wood, hay and stubble represent the things done in our flesh, the gold, silver and precious stones represent the things that we do in and at the Holy Spirit’s bidding and supply!). It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test.  The first passage is the judgment seat of Christ, the second The Great White Throne judgment.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold, silver, precious stones,

wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

 he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.”  1 Corinthians 3:11-15

The judgment of the lost—those who have not come to Jesus.  It’s God’s Word, not mine—but it’s truth.

“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

Are you ready?  Where will you stand in the judgment?  I’m praying that you will hear God’s voice speaking to you.  Let me just add this, (my commentary) those who have died in recent tragedies never got in that car, or on that plane or train thinking that they would never get out of it alive.  Ready or not their time came to an end.  What are you doing with your time?  If you were taken today, are you ready?  I pray that you are. Are we believers sharing Jesus like we ought to?

Amen and Amen!!

Have You Been To The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #202

27 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abundant Life In Jesus, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Are you ready?, Cleansed from all sin, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Consider Your ways, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Lifting up Jesus, Peace, Peace of God, Peace Of The Rock, Peace that passeth ALL understanding, Power of The Cross, Seeing Truth, Serving God or Using God?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Speaking The Truth In Love

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Have You Been To The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #202

As we celebrate this time of the end of Jesus Christ’s earthly life, and the salvation that He provided in His death, burial, and victorious Resurrection this week, may we remember that  He arose victor over sin, death, and hell; He arose to offer eternal life to all who will come to Him in repentance of sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for that sin—for all who sin, and that my friend is all, everyone!

“And when I saw him,

I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me,

saying unto me,

Fear not;

I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth,

and was dead;

and, behold, I am alive

for evermore, Amen;

and have the keys

of hell and of death.”  Revelation 1:17-18

John saw the risen Lord and He spoke to Him and assured him that it was He!  I love reading and studying The Revelation, and while it is a difficult book, it is a great comfort to those who will delve into its riches; there’s even a blessing promised to those who will read it.  Yes, a promised a blessing, yet it’s to those who don’t just read it, but more importantly, to those who will heed the messages in it, or as the KJV says the blessing is to those who keep it.

“Blessed is he

that readeth,

and they that hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things which are written therein:

for the time is at hand.”  Revelation 1:3

And my dear friends, the time is truly “at hand”!  Yet, the cross is still calling to all who will hear and heed Jesus’ message to “come unto me”!  Have you come to Jesus?  Do you need to come?  Many have convinced themselves that they are fine, productive people, and Satan is purporting that message at every hand.  But Jesus’ message is still the call to “come unto me”.

Who needs to come?   Let’s look to scripture to answer that question, for scripture will be the judge of every man, woman, boy, and girl—and that day is nearing, my friends.

“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

Paul gives us even more clarity in his beautiful message to the believers at Philippi. Jesus paid the price for my sin and yours, if we will but bow before Him and receive the gift of salvation that His blood purchased; will you receive it or reject it, to pay your own debt. (And FYI, “propitiation” means the payment in full…)

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;” Romans 3:23-25

Jesus’ precious blood shed at Calvary bought salvation for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith.  What will you do with The One whose resurrection from the dead we celebrate this week?  He died for you; and God has proclaimed that “every knee shall bow”, so the question isn’t “Will you bow?” for God has declared that all will bow!  The question is, “when will you bow”!  Will you bow before Him as your Lord, Savior, and King, receiving the salvation that He died to provide; or will you bow before Him at His throne of judgment with no recourse for salvation, and pay your own sin debt in hell?  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test, and there is no cheating, for God knows!

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

And Paul’s mighty message of truth, Jesus did it all for me and you:

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 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 2:5-11

I invite you to consider the cross, the peace of God that flows out from it, and the joy of The Lord that Jesus imparts to His own.

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things,

which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace shall be with you.”  Philippians 4:6-9

And in closing the most gracious and merciful invitation of The Savior—The One who redeemed my soul, and He is here for you as well.  You will never walk alone when you come to Jesus.  “Today is the day of salvation”, what will you do with it?  I pray that you will hear the call of Jesus and respond in repentance and faith to His invitation to salvation.

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father:

and no man knoweth the Son,

but the Father;

neither knoweth any man the Father,

save the Son,

and he to whomsoever the Son

will reveal him.

28 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 11:27-30

And some food for thought as you go about your week thinking about Jesus being lifted up (His death on the cross).  Jesus said He would draw all men to Him by this death on the cross, but He never said He would remove the free will that He imparted to all humans!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there IS a test. (See Numbers 21 if you want to know about the “serpent in the wilderness”!)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 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 3:14-19

May you know the true joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!  He is coming again soon.  Are you ready? I pray that you will come to Him.

Amen and Amen!!!

Smile!! Jesus Is On The Way!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #176

19 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Broken Cisterns, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Living in Christ, Living Waters

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Smile!!  Jesus Is On The Way!!!  A Word from THE WORD!!! #176

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know,

and the way ye know.

5 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 14:1-6

Jesus is not only our Savior and Lord, but He is also our soon-coming King, and we can rejoice in that hope and assurance.  Take a few minutes today and look up and thank God for our living hope—the living water; and we remember to follow Daniel’s example not fretting over the lions but looking up to praise Jesus that He has paid the price, is our eternal hope.

“For my people have committed two evils;

they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters,

and hewed them out cisterns,

broken cisterns,

that can hold no water.”  Jeremiah 2:13

Amen and Amen!!!

Noah’s Day??? Your Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #129

08 Friday Sep 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Choices And Consequences, Following Jesus or the World?, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Saves!, Lot's Day?, Noah's Day?, Your Day?

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Noah’s Day??? Your Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #129

I would like to talk about the “days of Noah/Noe” and our ‘days’; not only the ‘days’ but the effect of sin which Jesus paints so clearly for us, that we might be ready for His return–whether the rapture or what shall follow upon the earth.  Regardless of what you believe about the timing of the events of Jesus’ return, we can all agree that HE IS coming, and while the sequence of events is subject to debate, the things that we can learn from what Jesus taught is worthy of our consideration.  Let the word say what it says, and may we base our opinions on God’s Word not simply the opinions of others!  Let’s make our choices based upon The Word of God, not the popularity of people, places, and personalities.  Let’s dig into some passages of Jesus’ teaching on His way to the cross–before He left this world.

“And as it was in the days of Noe,

so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat,

they drank,

they married wives,

they were given in marriage,

until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

and the flood came,

and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;

they did eat,

they drank,

they bought,

they sold,

they planted,

they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom

it rained fire and brimstone from heaven,

and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be

in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”  Luke 17:26-30

Luke records this account of Jesus’ warning to the people that they might take heed and understand that evil times are just that–evil, and that judgment will come! (See Galatians 6:7 about “reaping what we sow…”)!  It is important that we don’t miss the significance of what Jesus is saying, as we too live in an evil day.  (Don’t miss Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 6:10-18 about having our armor on!). So what is Jesus telling us?  I think the exact thing that Peter proclaimed to the scattered believers–evil will not always prevail, sin will be judged, as it has been in the past, for God IS sovereign!

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned,

but cast them down to hell,

and delivered them into chains of darkness,

to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world,

but saved Noah

the eighth person,

a preacher of righteousness,

bringing in the flood

upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha

 into ashes

condemned them with an overthrow,

making them an ensample

unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot,

vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man

dwelling among them,

in seeing and hearing,

vexed his righteous soul from day to day

with their unlawful deeds😉

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly

out of temptations,

and to reserve the unjust

unto the day of judgment

to be punished:” 2 Peter 2:4-9

Peter reiterated the truths that Jesus spoke and warned the people to stand fast knowing that God will take care of the evil –in HIS time!  But are we standing fast, are we living ‘righteous’ lives before this sinful world?  Noah preached righteousness and I’m sure endured the ridicule of the people around him; and we will encounter the same response from some around us; or we can be like Lot and be righteous before our God but have said so little that when the warning came of the coming judgment, his own family laughed at him and received the judgment of God, his wife was turned to a pillar of salt for looking back (in regret for having to leave Sodom), and his two daughters who did leave committed acts of incest in their perverted world view!  (See what Jesus said about persecution!  John 15:19-21)

Well, if you haven’t noticed, we live in a world that is going head-long down the “broad way” that leads to ‘destruction’ in pursuit of the wickedness of Sodom. But don’t miss what else Jesus is pointing out, not just their sexual sin, but their heedlessness to any coming judgment. Notice that Jesus doesn’t list their sins (like we would have), instead He emphasizes their heedlessness to what was going on, what might be coming, and the fact that there is a God who sees, and only the Cross can deliver!  They were living their lives like there was “no tomorrow” –where are you?  Where are those you love?  Do they have any confidence in your faith, or do they see a life that has said nothing about Jesus–heaven–sin–death–hell–God’s coming judgment?  It’s real! It’s important! It’s urgent! It’s essential to their future!  We must care enough to speak!  Jesus said that the last days would be just like the past, only worse, for His return and judgment is eminent!  What are you doing about it?  Are you ready?  Do your loved ones ignore your efforts to reach them?  We must faithfully share truth with those around us, even when they won’t receive it–that’s God’s job!  Our job, and privilege is to be continually “speaking the truth in love” as we have opportunity.  Let’s check out Matthew’s account, and I’ll make a brief commentary on what he says.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away,

but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour

knoweth no man,

no, not the angels of heaven,

but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were,

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood.

they were eating and drinking,

marrying

and giving in marriage,

until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not

until the flood came,

and took them all away;

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then

shall two be in the field;

the one shall be taken,

and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill;

the one shall be taken,

and the other left.

42 Watch therefore:

for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”                      Matthew 24:35-42

We’ll do this a bit backwards, for verse 42 is the key: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”!  Jesus IS coming, and while we don’t know the day or the hour, we are to be ready at every turn!  And while the message about the flood is the same, there is a piece of information that just jumps out at us if we will but take heed, for if we neglect the truth there is a consequence, and the people of Noah’s day refused the truth:

“knew not

until the flood came,

and took them all away”!

There will be a dividing between the just and the unjust; and only those who are in Jesus have HIS righteousness and can be declared just.  (See Romans 5:1-11, read the entire chapter)

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory of God.”  Romans 5:1-2

Paul gives us another message that is hard to hear, and for many hard to accept, but there is a time coming that those who are ingenuous, false, and heretical will receive their just dues.  If we reject the opportunity to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior in repentance and faith, there will come a time when there will be no more opportunity!  Not what many want to hear, but truth none the less.  (I encourage you to read all of 2 Thessalonians!)

“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 2:8-12

So, my question for you is simple, do you belong to Jesus? Where are you living in “your day”; in and with the evil around us, or standing in righteousness, vexed but separate from the sin that abounds?  Have you taken a stand for righteousness or are you entrenched in the destructive clutches of the sin that abounds in our world?  Are you grieved over the sin around you, or totally complacent and comfortable with it?  Will your loved ones laugh when you try to share truth with them because you’ve been keeping it hidden?  Are you trying to fit in, or stand up and out for Jesus?  Only you can answer these questions!  Jesus is coming, sooner that we may think, are you ready?  Are you praying for and reaching out to those who don’t know HIM with HIS truth, as you have opportunity?  Let’s lift JESUS up today in your/my world, regardless of the cost! Jesus paid the price for me with HIS own blood.  How about your world?  How about YOU?  Praying for you all!

“My little children,

let us not love in word,

neither in tongue;

but in deed

and in truth.”  1 John 3:18

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s On Your Tree??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #721

14 Wednesday Apr 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Are You Ready, Be not conformed to this world, Believe IN Jesus, Born Again, Faith, Fruit of the Spirit, JESUS, Jesus IN You!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #721  What’s On Your Tree???

 

Jesus gives us a great measuring tool for our lives, and I’d like us to consider what kind of “fruit” we are exhibiting before the world.  As I’ve talked about before, we can be like the “egg trees” that we see all around us at this spring season—where people will hang plastic-colored eggs on their bare tree and call it an “egg tree”; but we all know there is no such thing as an “egg tree”!  Yet many people who claim the name of Jesus have no fruit, just plastic eggs hanging on their tree/lives.  What about you and me?

May we ponder the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and measure our lives by what HE has to say rather than using popular standards—even the standards of many churches.  After all—there is only one “right” way and that is Jesus, and God’s Word will stand as the measuring stick/plumb line!

“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

There is only one thing that makes a “good tree”—being born again of The Spirit of God—born again through the blood of Jesus, by repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for our sin.  Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection for sin IS the “strait gate”—the only “gate” to God!  (See John 1:11-13)

“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

Jesus IS the only way to have a relationship with God, and when we receive HIS salvation, we are being made like HIM (see Romans 8:28-29)!

“Hereby perceive we the love of God,

because he laid down his life

for us:

and we ought to lay down our lives

for the brethren.”  1 John 3:16

John used a different example of darkness and evil in contrast to The Light of God!

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.”  1 John 1:6-8

Paul paints one of the most profound pictures of the difference between what Jesus does to make the flesh able to produce good fruit, and the corrupt fruit of the flesh—and there is a difference!  (Also see 2 Corinthians 5:21)

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings, and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21

And the contrast—which we should all take note of–(I would encourage you to put this fruit of The Spirit to memory!):

“But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:22-25

What’s on your tree?  Spiritual gifts or fleshly lusts?  Is Jesus IN you?

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!  Amen!!!