Heart Condition

Romans 10:9 "That if thou halt confess with thy mounth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,thou shalt be saved".

The relationship with God that is of salvation is a matter of the heart, and here in this 10th chapter of Romans it is revealed how a man can be saved from sin and death and be made the righteousness of God. The righteousness and salvation of God is right before man,it lies within his heart and only need be confessed with his mouth.

The gospel demands that man only believes and confesses that Jesus has both died for his sins and have been raised from the dead, for him to have everlasting life with the Father.All that man desires,perfect peace, righteousness,and salvation, are found in mans mouth and in his heart.Man only needs to do three simple things to be saved from sin, death and hell, and enter into the rest of the Lord.Man must confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus.He must confess that Jesus Christ is theLord from heaven,the only begotten of the Father.He must believe in his heart. Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. He must believe that Jesus died for man,and was raised from death because he perfectly satisfied God's demand for justice.God was perfectly satisfied with Jesus dying for the sins of man,taking the sins of mankind,and his punishment upon His back, therefore God raised Him from the dead.Man must believe with the heart,and then confess with the mouth as you can't confess that which you don't believe.

When we believe with our hearts that Jesus is the Christ who accepted for all mankind the wage paid by sin,God takes that faith and counts it as righteousness.Then the man confesses Christ unto salvation, that is he is saved by openly confessing Christ,no man can deny Christ and be saved by Him.

A Love I Can See

John 12:3 "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of Spikenard,very costly,and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair:and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment".

There are many who profess a love for God but it can barley seen if at all in their worship or service to Him.Love is an action word and when one loves another, you should be able to see evidence of that love in the actions of the one doing the loving."For God so loved the world that He gave".......

Here we have a love that can be seen,a love shown by Mary who loves the Lord with her whole being. Here she is sacrificing all that she is and has ,as out of a pure heart she expresses a repentant love.Mary had critized and accused Jesus of neglecting her family when He didn't come sooner to save Lazarus, and here she is now repenting of her sins.Her love is sacrificial and costly, in fact it says very costly. Mary is here taking her most precious possession and giving it to the Lord.Her love was a believing love as she believed that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, the resurrection and the life,and simply put ,Mary is anointing Jesus to show how deeplyshe loved Him and believed Him to be the anointed one of God.He was her Savior,Lord and King.He had done so much for her and her family that she wanted Him to know how much she  appreciated and loved Him.

What is it that we do to show our love and faith to Christ?Imagine how difficult it was for Mary to do what she did in the presence of so many men.She set aside pride and embarrassment in order to show her Love for her Savior.She gave her best possession to the Lord,and publicly showed her love for Christ for all to witness.Have you given Christ your best possession,your life?Is your love for Christ on public display for all to witness? Is yours a love that can be seen?

  

Refusing to Compromise

Daniel 1:8a " But Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine which he drank:"

There are many who started this journey on fire for the Lord only to find themselves in a position of compromise.In an effort to fit in, to be politically correct, or for prestige,prosperity and/or power they have given into the temptaions,will and desires of this world.They have compromised their message, their walk and what they once believed in favor of the joys,toys,treasure and false pleasures of this world.They have eaten of the kings meat and drank of his wine.

In our story today,we see 4 who refuse to compromise,they refuse to eat the Kings meat or to drink his wine.We who profess Christ have to be careful that we don't swallow that which the world tries to feed us.We must continue to feed on the truth of God's word,and walk in His spirit,even if it means to stand alone.We can't succome to the doctrine or spirit of this world and continue to profess to be a child of God.The world is enemy to the ways of God.The world's food allows us to live anykind of way that we want.It say" it's your thing do what you want to do", the world is about "me ,myself and I".The world is selfish,selfrighteous,and self serving.The worlds spirit is one of greed and is uncaring.But we who profess to be children of God, must esteem others higher than ourself; We must be willing to lay down our life for a friend.We must bless others with that which God blesses us with, and live in a way that leads a lost world to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

In these times of the self claimed, self named and the self fame, there is much compromise.Our religious practices has gotten further and further from the word of God.We have allowed the world to dictate what a Christian is and what type of behavior is acceptable to God.The bible says" Jesus Christ the same yesterday,today and forever" which tells me God's word  has not and will not change.So I ask have you compromised? 

Commitment For Life

Joshua 24:24"And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord God will we serve, and his voice will we obey."

Joshua didn't sigh in relief when the Israelites responded to his challenge to serve the Lord and him only.Instead, he questioned them to say,"Do you really mean what you say?"He wanted them to make a conscious decision for God,and he even presented the alternatives so they could make a clear choice. He wanted them to understand this was a commitment for life,and for to them to now the consequences of failing to follow through on their commitment.

This was wise on Joshua's part. Sometimes people are made to feel that choosing God is simple and easy, so they choose to serve Him,but then wonder if they knew what they were doing.Or they choose to follow God,but then don't think much about it. They allow their days just to flow without a focus on serving Him.There is more to serving God than spending a couple of hours in a church house on Sunday morning.Those who haven't chosen to serve God, need to hear Joshua's challenge."This day", right now is the time to choose to follow Him.See this is a serious lifetime commitment, that involves putting Him in charge of your life.Even if we have already chosen to serve God, we choose everyday whether we will honor that commitment in the things we do and say.It is through a heart felt conviction that we will cleanse ourselves of the things in life that might distract us from our committment to God.God has lead us through life and with his shepherd's rod, he has pulled us out of ruts and fought off the enemy.

God still calls us to follow Him by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.Once we have made that commitment, we must still choose to keep our lives free of those things that can keep us from feeling the joy of his presence, or that divert our attention away from a single-minded devotion to him. This is a commitment for Life.

I'll Pray For You

Colossians 1:9 "For this cause we also since the day we heard it,do not cease to pray for you,and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;"(read vs.9-11)

Prayer,the single most powerful weapon the believer has in this war on sin.The sad things is many have no ideal what it is to pray for.The world has us believing we need the things of this world and thus we spend our time praying for these things.The bible tells us Our Father in heaven know we have need of these things and to"take no thought" for them.Our prayers need to be for the things which will allow us to seek first the kingdom of God and His will for our lives.So here Paul tells us what we should pray for:

The first great request is to know God's will.He prays that we are filled with the knowledge of God's will.It is not enough just to know God's will,but we are to be filled with the knowledge of God's will.The will of God is essiential to our very being.There should be nothing flowing in or out of us which is not the will of God.This includes the whole scope of our life,everything we do and every moment that we do it.The will of God must invole in what we say,where we go, what we think,and who we associate with.Simply stated we are to live and move and have our every being in the will of God.God has willed a life that he wants us to live.We are to learn about that life and be filled with the knowledge of that life.

The second great request is to  walk worthy of Christ.This is the critical point in the believers life and this point should be hammered home over and over again.Knowing something and having the ability to do something are very important.We must pray for the wisdom to put what we know into practice,to live the life we talk about.We are to live out the will of God.Knowing the will of God is useless unless we are going to live the will of God,we must committ our lives to this.The will of God is to control our behavior as much as it did the behavior of Christ.

The third great request is for the power of God.God's power is absolute essential for the believer.How can we walk worthy of Christ without the power to walk worthy.It is through and with the power of God that we are able to live the will of God.Only God's power can make us acceptable,can conquer death,and infuse enough strength to endure to the end and walk worthy along the journey. Let us now pray that we be filled with the knowledge of God's will and the wisdom and power to fulfill it.

Salvation;It's In The Word

Acts 19:20 "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed".

The word Of God; the power of God unto salvation.If we just once again trust in this word like the saints of old did what a wonderful world we would live in.In these times God's word is so badly needed yet we seem to share everything but the truth and purity of God's word.We agree and disagree with it as it relates to us and what we are doing or trying to do. If it goes against our agenda's we don't want anything to do with that part and will de-friend and remove people from our sights because we're convicted by God's word.How can we lead the lost to Christ when we who profess Christ can't follow one another to his truths.We must continue to share God's word and  we will see the Word of God grow and prevail. 

The gospel is the same as it ever was,God hasn't changed.There are still sinners in the world, the sins that need to be overcome are the same, and the Holy Spirit is just as mighty to convict and renew,but we have changed how we share this good news.We must understand it is a blessed time in the soul,a blessed time in the family,a blessed time in the congragation and in the country when the word of God grows mightily and prevails in the hearts of the people.But Faith comes by hearing,and hearing the word of God.But to many are sharing their books, motivies,ideals and philosophies over the truth of God's word, thus giving birth to so many faithless christians.It is a blessed time when the open sinner is seen leaving his sinful ways and seeking the salvation of the Lord.When men are seen giving up their unholy gains, and changed their lives to follow the word ,will and way of God.When the leaven of the gospel begins to work, there will be no need of  arguments to prove how unworthy it is for a christian to turn to the amusement of the books of the world or those who proclaim the messages of said books.

The grace of the gospel produces a new taste,it alters everything about us,our friends, our pursuits,and even that which we find entertaining.Is the word of God growing amoung us?If not why not?It is a living seed and it should grow,and will grow unless it is hindered or wrapped with the imagination of man.There is no other power in our ministry which will equal that which is produced when one hears the truth of God's word.If you plant it, it will grow;"So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed". It won't come back void! 

All Souls Matter

Hebrews 5:2"Who can have compassion on the ignorant,and on them that are out of the way;for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity".

Those who are ignorant of the salvation of the Lord should not be met with scorn,nor fault-finding,nor neglect,for they need compassion.We should lay ourselves out to bear with such for their good.A disciple who has been taught all that he knows by a gracious Savior should have compassion on the "ignorant". A wanderer who has been found should have compassion on those who are still out there lost and wondering.A priest should have compassion on all with whom he is one flesh and blood,and assuredly our Lord,who is our great High Priest,has abundant compassion upon the ignorant for He died that all might be saved.

What is this ignorance?It is moral and spiritual,and it deals with eternal things.It leaves the ignorant strangers to themselves,as they know not their own ignorance.They are unaware of their heart's depravity. They are unconscience to their actual sin or that they even need saving, for they have no ideal that they are lost.They are unaware of the danger they are in,unable to know what is truly good,and they don't know the way of salvation as they choose the other way,the broad way.This leaves them without knowledge of who Jesus is,not knowing his work,his person,his power, his character or his readiness to save them. They are strangers to the Holy Spirit, ignorant to regeneration, cannot comprehend the truths of the bible or the things the spirit teaches,and thus he is a lost,wondering aimlessly through life.

But the Lord's compassion toward the ignorant is shown,by offering to teach them,and willing to receive them as disciples.By instructing them little by little,teaching them the same thing over and over with patience and in unconditional love.By never despising them even through their rebellious nature.By never casting them off by tiring of their stupidity.To such a compassionate Lord let us labor among the ignorant and never cease to pity and pray for them.Jesus shed his blood for all mankind,and at one time we were the wayward,and the ignorant, what if God had given up on us?What if those who prayed for us had given up.The lame sheep belong to the Lord also.

Behold the Truth

Revelations 21:5 "And he that sat upon the throne said, behold,I make all things new.And he said unto me,Write:for these words are true and faithful".

Everything is new,John did his best to put into words his vision of the new heaven and earth.There is nothing representing this old life there upsetting God's perfect peace.John saw Jerusalem,the holy city, comming down from heaven, made beautiful like a bride, adorned in wisdom and holiness,prepared to meet her groom, Jesus Christ. In this new city a thunderous voice says, Look! God is here,dwelling with his people in this city. A prepared place for a prepared people, no un-righteous ness,no more tears, no death, crying, or pain,everything is new.

God not only wants us to be saved to eternal life with him,but he also wants us to be holy now as well. This means in believing in him as our Lord and Savior, this belief must bring about an action,one that leads us to live our lives differently.Faith without works,(or proof of that faith) is dead.With salvation we should experience new feelings of hope, joy, and being loved.But there must also be a change when one becomes a new creature in Christ.As Paul told the Corinthians,if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creature;the old has gone,the new has come!We shouldn't be the same as we now have a new nature, a new heaven(spirit) now abides in us,making a new earth(flesh).This new spiritual life now controls the old fleshly life, for Jesus has power over all flesh. John said those who are truly born again,those born of the spirit of God, who persevere through the trails and tribulations of this world, will inherit eternal life in the new world.

However,John also saw in his vision that nothing old, sinful, and corrupt will enter the new Jerusalem. Those who cowardly deny Christ or who continue in sinful practices such as lying,sexual immorality, and following the occult have not been reborn and will not spend eternity with the Father, but will be eternally separated from him.Their "first death" will be a physical one,from this earth,but their second death will be in a lake of burning sulphur.Spiritual renewal is not easy, but it can be accomplished by relying on the Holy Spirit. He guides us and transforms us as we cooperate with him. The first step is repentence and submission to Him. He will then guide us through the process of pursuing holiness when we allow him to cleanse and renew our minds.The process of renewal is like changing to new clothes. We all like new clothes,but when we have them, we need to get rid of the old ones.The Holy Spirit will help us change clothes if we let Him.......



The Eyes of Faith

2Kings 6:17 "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee,Open his eyes, that he may see. and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man:and he saw: and ,behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha".

Faith serves as eyes to the true believer,and allows him/her to see what others cannot see.This allows the believer to remain calm and at peace when all around him might be in termoil.From today's text we might learn much about ourselves,and yet it might seem invisible to the natural eye.We have learned God is everywhere,yet sin-blinded eyes do not see him.His law touches the thoughts and intents of the heart , yet it's wonderful spiritual meaning is not understood.Mankind is evil, guilty,and fallen ,yet we do not see the danger of our actions.The danger is imminent, yet there is dancing at hell's door by many who cannot see.We are proud, thinking we know all things,but not realizing there is much we don't see. With our blind sight we cannot always see that which God has instore for us, we don't see that God has provided us with all that we need to keep us and protect us.We sometimes can't see that he gave us Jesus.

The good news is that God alone can open the eyes of man.He alone can open the eyes of man heart, to enlighten his understanding that he who once was blind can now recieve his sight. One of the saddest conditions of a man is to read God's word with an unbelieving heart, to pass blindly through all the wondrous testimonies of redeeming love and grace which the scriptures contain.If we say that we believe in and trust in Jesus, then we cannot doubt and not trust the word of God.We walk by the faith we have in the word of God, the love of Christ, and the power of his holy spirit.We might not always see a way ,but we must by faith believe that He is the way .I remember, when God  brought me across the Red Sea, so I have faith that he'll bring me over the Jordan river.

See Elisha and his servant was surrounded by the enemy,the servant was worried,because he didn't see what Elisha saw, but Elisha the man of God told him not to worry,see Elisha knew by faith the God was there.The servant couldn't see him so Elisha Prayed for God to open His eyes that he might see the salvation of the Lord.We too in this life must pray that God opens the eyes of those that are in darkness those that are lost in sin that they too might see the salvation of the Lord.That they to when surrounded by the enemy, feeling trapped,seeing no way out, might thru the eyes of faith trust in God's promises.

Like Father Like Son

1John 3:10 "In this the children of God and the devil are manifest:Who ever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother".

The scripture reveals that God's children occasionally sin after baptism.But, if they wish to continue in His favor,they must not only confess to Him but also ask Him to"cleanse them from unrighteousness". We  cannot please God if we deliberately practice sinning.However,some habits deeply ingrained from early childhood may not be that easily overcome.The effects of such sin fosters serious weaknesses in our walk.It may take a long period of diligent striving to finally overcome.Paul put it this way:"Put to death, therefore,whatever belongs to your earthy nature".We can accomplish this through the power of God's Spirit.

James puts God's requirements in perspective:"Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?Can a fig tree, my brethren,produce olives, or a vine produce figs?Neither can salt water produce fresh.Who among you is wise and understanding?Let Him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentlness of wisdom.But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.This wisdom is not that which comes down from above,but is earthly,natural, demonic.For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing".

God is love,and love is the foundation of God's character.God's love in us should transform our character and we should bear a resemblance to our Father.We should be patience with one another as our Fathers love is longsuffering.We must be kind,not envious of one another;seeking to do harm one to another.That is not the character of our Father which art in heaven.See God's love seeks good and to do good in all circumstances and rejoices with the truth;bears all things, believes all things,hopes all things, endures all things.God's love never fails. No matter what the situation God's love will be just that ,God's love.We are not just to love our friends and family,but we are to love all that Christ died for and he died to save the whole world.We must with God's love,overcome evil with good. Let us be known as a child of God by portraying the fruits of God's Spirit

Life For The Lifeless

John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her,I am the resurrection,and the life:He that believeth in me, though he were dead,yet shall he live."

Mary and Martha were upset that Jesus did not come immediately to help Lazarus when they sent for Him.They knew that Jesus could save their brother,if he would only come before he died.While they believed in Jesus, they could not understand His hesitation in helping them.Their pain was almost unbearable for them,and they needed Jesus as much as a dying Lazarus did.

All Mary and Martha could see was their grief; they had no joy left in their lives.However, if it had not been for this major crises they may never have seen Jesus as the Son of God and fully realized His resurrection power.Not only did Jesus physical life back to Lazarus,He gave Mary and Martha a new hope and story to tell others.This crisis became a victory because Jesus gave everyone,Mary, Martha and Lazarus new life.Sometimes we are guilty of thinking just like Mary and Martha.When we are facing a major crisis in our lives,like a death of a loved one or a loss of a job,and the very life seems to have been sucked out of us,we want Jesus to come and make everything better,and now.We wonder why He has not intervened and helped us.We can even feel abandoned by Him in the time we think we need Him most.

It is during these times we need to remember that Jesus is the resurrection power and that He will bring new life.It won't happen when we think the time is right,but it will happen when Jesus knows the time is right.

Consider Christ Jesus

Hebrews 3:1 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,Christ Jesus:"

When you have a problem consider Christ, for he is a way out of no way, and a problem solver; When troubled or burdened, consider Christ for He is a heavy load bearer;When anxious,consider Christ, He is a peace which surpasses all understanding;In all you do consider Christ, let Him be the head of your life, let Him govern your life.

Jesus is kind,and sympathetic He wept for Lazarus,wept over Jerusalem,and He felt for all who are burden, for He asked that we cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for us.He is compassionate,He help the leper,He look upon the multitude just before feeding them,He had mercy as the blind cried out to Him Jesus suffered with and for others,He is our perfect example to follow.He is our teacher as He has set forth the perfect plan for salvation and life.Teaching us the way, the truth and the life desired of us from the Father.He is our Savior a perfect sacrifice for an imperfect people,for He provides a flawless redemption, and our High Priest, our advocate as He stands in the gap reconciling us back to God,observing and providing our every need.

So no matter what situation you find yourself in be it lost in darkness in danger of eternal damnation, or just struggling to to through the day, consider Christ Jesus Gods gift to all mankind.Will you consider Christ Jesus?

The Lost Believer

Matthew 22:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them,Ye do err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God".

Many believe there is a God,many have confessed that Jesus is the Son of God,but do they know the scriptures or the power of God? I ask this question not to question any ones walk with Christ or the relationship they profess to have with Him.No I ask this question that we might examine ourselves and see, does the life we live coincide with the life we profess?

The point is ,how can we lead a lost world to the truth of God's word when we who profess Him walk outside of His word.Come on let us be honest with ourselves,How many are shacking up with our girlfriends/boyfriends?This goes against God's word yet we still do it.Why?How many of us profess living one way on facebook ,while having a totally different life in the real world.How many of us regularly attend bible study and sunday school, not just attending but preparing to go, and being on time.How many make God's word important in the home,I mean where you make your children study it like you ,make them study their regular school work.Where they see you actually studing His word. Jesus said our mistake is in not knowing the scriptures,nor the power of God,but we don't attend bible study or sunday school;many don't even open the bible until the preacher gives them the text for the day, and thats only if they remember to bring their bible to church. We are  being destroyed for a lack of knowledge,we are unaware of the power of God because we don't know the scriptures.

We say God can do anything ,yet we live defeated lives like He can do nothing.We tell the drunk or dope addict that God can deliever them from their addictions, yet we live like  He can't deliever us from our shortcomings. Jesus rose with all power,and it is sad that we don't live as though we know He has all power.We sometimes live as lost believers.

Worthy Is The Lamb

John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,and saith, Behold the Lamb of God ,which taketh away the sin of the world."

One day when I was lost ,Jesus died upon a cross,to take away the sin of the world.He saved me;God took on the image of man, that man might once again be made in the image of God.He took on my image,endured my punishment and suffered my death, to take away my sin.Worthy is the Lamb to be praised.

 

Jesus the Christ, the precious lamb of God,who is standing at the door of our hearts knocking,will you let Him in? John said "he seeth Jesus coming unto him"; Do you see Jesus coming unto you?Will you invite Him in? Today is the accepted day of salvation harden not your heart.John said "behold or Look" the Lamb of God".We must look too the Lamb of God that we might be saved from our sin.What must truly look to Him when we fall into divers temptations,for Jesus said "I have power over all flesh". Jesus and Jesus alone has the power to make the flesh behave.It is when we walk in the spirit of Christ that we don't give in to the lust,will, and desires of the flesh.John tells us why we must look to Him,he says "which taketh away the sin of the world".Notice sin is singular,the sin that started all this was mans disobedience to God.When man obeys God man is without sin, it is our disobedience to God that opens the door to all the evil of this world.Jesus is the only way man can be obedient to God.

Now I'm not saying you will never have sin in your life.The flesh is full of sin, and you have to carry it where ever you go.But think of it like a bottle full of whiskey,you can have it in your pocket,but as long as you don't open it and drink of it, you won't get drunk.Look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,for worthy is the Lamb of God.

Ignorance; The great destroyer

Hosea 4:6 " My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:Because thou hast rejected knowledge,I will also reject thee,that thou shalt be no priest to me:seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God,I will also forget thy children".

It is a must to learn about the Lord.How can you know his will for your life if you don't know him, and I mean know him for yourself.Yes what mommy and grand mommy,and even daddy tells you is good, but you have to know God personally and for yourself.We take the time to learn our Jobs, careers and we will even read on how to operate and better understand the t.v. remote, yet God who we say is the head of our life, we won't take the time to read and study his how to book.How is it that we make sure our kids go to regular school, study and do home work, yet when it come to the knowledge of God we don't have the same urgency.Don't you know a relationship with Jesus will take your child futher in life than the best education from the greatest college!Now I'm not knocking a good education, "but what profit it a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul".

Paul scolded the Corithian Christians for their unspiritual attitudes and conduct. He explained that their problems were cause partly by some of them having too little knowledge of God's ways.Most of the division the church now suffers, is from our lack of knowledge and a understanding of the knowledge we think we have about our Lord,  his will for our lives, and the purpose of His church.We cannot properly honor and serve God or his Son, Jesus Christ, unless we have knowledge of his will.We can only aquire that knowledge through regular, diligent Bible study.We must study to show ourselves approved unto God, that we might truthfully live the word of truth.See all scripture is given by the devine inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that we may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.It is through our knowledge of God and his word that we are equipped to do that which he calls us to do.

Now God said since we reject his knowledge he will reject us, and we reject his knowledge by rejecting the opportunity to learn of him.When we reject Sunday school we reject his knowledge, when we reject Bible study , we reject his knowledge.You might feel you don't need it , but it is not about you, someone there might need something which only you can share. Remember Jesus did't need saving, but we down here needed what he had up there, so he came down here that we might have a chance to live with him up there.So let us make it a point to make ourselves available to Bible study and or Sunday school where we can ask questions and become better soilders in the army of the Lord.That we might walk worthy of the person whose name we bear, that all in darkness might seek his marvelous light.



One Way Street

Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life,and few there be that find it".

People hold varying ideals about what constitutes Christianity.Few who profess Christ actually know what he taught and even fewer practice what he preached.As a result most people believe Jesus way of life is impractical and unworkable in the real world.But this is not based on what the bible actually teaches.Many think as long as they believe in Jesus,attend church occasionally and are basically good people,they are pleasing God and have their ticket in their hand.Religion to many is more or less whatever they want it to be,and this is taught in many congregations today by leaders who are more interested in filling the pews than saving the souls.They think that any personal religious preference or practice, as long as it is motivated by good intentions is acceptable to God. They see modern christianity as being a mile wide and a inch deep, but mile wide Christianity is not the path to God's kingdom,rather according to Jesus it is the highway to destruction.

Many teach all you need to do is believe in Jesus and you go to heaven,there is no need for change just  believe.But remember the devil believes, so is the devil going to heaven? It has become acceptable to believe we are free to worship God the way we want,to refashion God in our own image,and to taylor his word to fit our life style.But I ask, is this the godly way of life?Is this traveling on the narrow road?Is simply believing on Jesus as Lord and savior enough to enter eternal Life? Jesus said not all who cry Lord, Lord will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but them who do the will of the Father.So is simply believing enough? What does it mean to believe? Remember God said "your ways are not my ways"; Man believes with his mind,but God's word says to believe in thine heart.See our belief in Jesus must be in the heart so that it can change our heart.It is when we believe in our hearts that we can truly deny ourselves,and follow Christ on the narrow road.It is when we believe in our heart that we can honestly and boldly confess with our  mouth that Jesus is Lord.Then we can live by faith,a faith that will keep us when the cares of this world try to lead us down the broad road.

The way leading to eternal life is the way of living within the boundaries defined in God's law.It is not the broad popular way that approves of any behavioral preference and practice.As it was in Jesus day,many put their faith in the words and opinions of the religious teachers they like the most and whose teaching agrees with their lifestyles.Few look to God's word  in the scripture as the primary source of their belief.If you really want to follow God according to His instructions,let us honestly take a look at where our current worship habits and the way we live our lives come from.We need to ask ourselves whether they come from scripture or not,are the teachers we follow,faithful to God's word or are they teaching ideals and opinions to fill the pews and collection plates.The answer to these question will help you determine if you are on the road lest traveled or not.Because the road to heaven is a one way street,that way is Jesus.

All The Way

Luke 22:33 "And he said unto Him,"Lord I'm ready to go with thee,both to prison and to Death".

There are many who profess to be willing to surrender and forsake all and follow Jesus, but their words don't always coincide with their actions.We say we love the Lord,that he is the head of our life, that He is our everything,and I do believe that we who profess this truly believe we mean what we say at the time.Yet when it comes right down to it,we have things in our lives that we choose hold on to that hinders our following Jesus.We really feel we want to follow Him, but we either refuse to or don't know how to let go of some things in our life which hinders our ability to walk with Him.

Here Peter professed to willing to not only follow the Lord but to go to prison and even die with Him, yet we all know that before the cock crowed Peter denied the Lord three times.But are we really that different from Peter? How many times have we denied the Lord in word or by and ungodly action when a witness of Him might have save a lost soul.How often do we hang on to old habits which exclude Christ in our lives, instead of creating new habits which  will make Him a bigger part of our life?How many things do we have in our life which when we think about it honestly, hinders our ability to walk with Chrsit in the truth of His word.I'm not talking about saying we are walking with Him, but others can actually see Him in our walk.Remember the story of the rich young ruler,He came to Christ and asked how he might inherit eternal life.Now he came to the right person, he came the right way as it says he fell at Christ feet, He asked the right question,and he seemed to know what the word of God said.But there was one thing he lacked,he wouldn't let go of his riches to follow Christ.

Are you really willing to forsake all and follow Christ? Are you willing to make a sacrifice and go to Sunday school?Are you willing to forsake "Ladies Night" at the club to make prayer meeting and bible study?Are you willing to make changes in your life to be a better witness for Him.Are you willing to search yourself and ask God to remove all in your life that is hindering your walk with Him, and then let it go? Willing forsake an ungodly lifestyle?Are you truly willing to go all the way?

Jesus is Calling You

Matthew 11:28 "And when she had so said,she went her way,and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come and calleth for thee".

Do you hear Him? God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to save us and so that we could have everlasting life with Him.Now He is calling you to accept this free gift of salvation. Calling you out of a life of sorrow, death and despair into a life of peace, Joy, and happiness.Do you hear the call? 

His call is a personal call,He is calling you by name.He is calling you to Himself,"come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"is His call.It is a call to peace,so cast all of your cares upon Him for He cares for you.It is a call to a guilt free conscience as he calls you to a full pardon from sin into a new life with Him.He is calling you through His word,for it is a call of faith and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.He is calling you to confess your sins for He is faithful and just to forgive your sins.He is calling you to repent of your sins that you might experience a new birth,and have a Holy life an abundant life.He is calling you to live an eternal life with Him in a prepared place, prepared just for you. Jesus is calling you, do you hear His call.

He is calling you because He wants to save you soul,He is calling you from your sorrows, from death, calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light.He is speaking to your heart,He is calling you,will you answer the call?

He First Loved Me

Luke 15:20 "But when he was yet a great way off, His Father saw him,and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him."

Saints this 15th chapter of Luke shows the great pleasure God has when one sinner repents and returns to him.Through a series of parables, Jesus shows us the Joy that takes place when the lost are found ,and the backslider returns.We have a story of a lost sheep, one who was in the fold and wondered away, the lost coin, the lost member inside the house. And then the most famous of all the stories the prodical son.

While in darkeness, a servant to sin and the various lust it powers,my Father saw me.While a great way off, while still in my degraded needful condition, while I was yet a sinner,My Father saw me and a great thing happened.He loved me.Before the foundation of the world he called me from darkness into his marvelous light.While still waddling in the pig pen of life, he looked beyond my faults and saw my needs. When everyone else around could only see the worst in me,He saw the best in me . While I was yet a great way off, my Father saw me, like a concerned parent awaiting the arrival of his child, looking in the direction he should come.While a great way off my Father saw me, the eyes of mercy looking on his lost son,while I was yet a sinner. When he saw me, my Father had compassion on me,had pity on my fallen condition,forgiving me for I knew not what I was doing.My Father ran to me,as I was burden down with guilt,sin ,shame and fear. I came slowly,but he ran to me with the urgency of salvation.He met me with encouragment, he gave me hope,comfort and peace as he accepted me into his rest. The arms of mercy stretched out to embrace me. He fell on my neck,even though I had just gotten out of the pig pen of life,covered with the stinch of sin and filth, the Father takes me in his arms and falls on my neck.

He lays me in his bossom, The bossom a place of honor,like lazarus in the bossom of Abraham,The bossom a place of the beloved,As John the beloved, the disciple Jesus loved,laying in Jesus bossom at the last supper.The bossom the place of the blessedness,as Jesus the only begotten of God, rest in the bossom of his Father.Then He kissed me,not only assuring me of my welcome,but also sealing me with my pardon.My sins forgiven, never to be mentioned again. He cleans me and dresses me in new clothing, as I am a new creature, reconciled back to my Father.Because he saw me ,God gave his only begotten son, who was whipped in my place, punished for my transgressions,and died for my sins,while I was yet a sinner.He rose with all power in his hands, that I might have ever lasting life with him in his Kingdom.Because he saw me. Thank you Jesus!

Purchased For A Purpose

1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price:therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit,which are God's".

Paul in this letter to the Corinthians,used some very pointed language in an effort to make people see that they were not the Christians they should be(read verses 9-11).He deals with the fact that the Corinthians were indulging in, and giving pre-eminence to the desires and lust of the flesh. Way too many who profess Christ today,give in to the lust and desires of the flesh,denying the power of God to keep them.

We are a purchased possession.The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,the spirit of God is to dwell in the temple of man.We are not our own,we can't do as we will with this body,it no longer belongs to us.God purchased it with the life and blood of His only begotten Son.We were bought with a price,one that no man could pay or repay.Now this body is the property of Christ,to do as He wills,we are just trustees of this earthen vessel.We are to use it wisely and to bring glory to God,by leading lost souls to the salvation of the Lord.So let us live a life of obedience and submit to the will of God, and do His will.Nothing hurts God more than direct disobedience.

Remember! God will allow you to do as you please.Even to your sorrow and destruction,you are the loser not God.God wants us to do His will,and thereby receive blessing for ourself and bring Him glory.

He Loves Inspite Of

1Samuel 18:3 "Then Jonathan and David made a Covenant,because he loved him as his own soul".

This noble prince counted it his joy to further the intersest of the man who was to be preferred before him.There was something very beautiful in Jonathan, and this came out in his unselfish, magnanimous love of David.How much more beauty is there in the unparalleled love of Jesus to us poor sinners. "Jonathan and David made a covenant,because he loved him".The covenant was made, not so much because of their mutual love,but because Jonathan loved David.Jesus made a covenant with us ,not so much because we love him,but because of His love for us.

Christ loves us unconditionally,but Him and the believer that loves him live as if they have but one soul between them.It is not the distance between earth and heaven that can separate them:true love will find Christ wherever he is.When he was upon the earth,they that loved him kept his company;and now that he is gone to heaven,and out of sight, those that love him are sending up their hearts in prayers to him. We belong to the Lord's,in opposition to all competitors.The Lord love for us will not allow him to share us with the enemy,if we take the way of the Lord,all others must go.We must let go of everything else and take hold of the Lord to find rest for ur souls.The soul til it comes within the covenant, is in a restless state;like a bee going from flower to flower;but when it is married to Jesus, his love settles our soul with him,and cuts off all ties to others.The covenant is an offensive and a defensive one. We have common friends and common enemies with the Lord.His people must be your people,and His enemies must be your emenies.

Christ love for us is not based on our loving Him back.In fact we love him because he first loved us.But His love for us is sacrificing,and giving.For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.He did this knowing not all would believe His word,not all would accept His atonement and knowing not all would seek His salvation."Jonathan mad his covenant with David because he loved him." Jesus died for us because he loved us!

Be Ye Holy

Proverbs 11:3 "The integrity of the upright shall guide them:but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them."

Integrity is a choice,in a society entertained and amused by deception, manipulation,seduction, and witchcraft, many people have convienced and even comforted themselves with the notion that they do not have a choice as to whether or not to engage in the same sins.But we are called to lead the world, not follow it.When Elijah explained to God that he was the only God-worshiper who remained,God replied that "yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." Although many people are, not everyone is living a lie, a life of compromise.It is unwise to justify your sins by your presumption of everyone else's sin.Our example must be Christ and him alone.

Christians are called to a higher standard of commitment and responsibility.Our bodies are God's temple,we bear the name of his only begotten son,dedicated solely to his service.In everything we do, we must glorify God.We are called to a lifestyle that is higher than the world's.Using God's word as our guide for life, we build relationships of commitment,responsibility and trust,with integrity and truth. We are a walking recommendation for Christ,and must live accordingly.It is more important for us to know what is important to God, than to know how doing the right thing will benifits us directly.In a world where it seems it's "every man for himself " is there any benifit to living a righteous life? God says that living a life of integrity results in a fruitful life.Integrity in this sense means living a life of high moral principles, a life characterized by honesty,sincerity, and good judgment.Those who live a life of integrity do what's right even when they can get away with doing something else.They choose to do right when it is more convient to do wrong.They are called to be ye holy.

Living a life based on ungodly principles and practices is destined for diffculty.Duplicitous people base their life on cunning and decption, they are driven by the pursuit of self gratification and material comfort. However, on the Day of Judgment their material wealth and gain will be of no value.Choosing a path of integrity is always beneficial in the long term,for those who walk in the integrity of God, walk in a clear path, for they walk in the light , Jesus the light of the world. So in everything you do and everywhere you go,remember whose you are, and be ye Holy as your Father in heaven is Holy.

Esteeming Others

Philippians 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things,but every man also on the things of others".

What differecnce has God made in our life? Do all christians talk and act the same?No.But we should all have a love for God first of all,and then love for one another.The sweetness Christians experience in knowing Jesus as Savior and all the good he brings into our lives, inevitably reflects in everyone of our relationships.Paul  asked the believers at Philippi,"Has being a follower of Jesus Christ made any difference in your life? Has the fact that he loves you with an everlasting love caused you to make different  life choices? Have you experienced the Holy Spirit's presence and enjoyed being a part of this glorious unified body? Is Christ's love flowing in, out, and through this unified body with tenderness and lots of mercy?"

If you answered yes to any of these questions ,then you should spend more time talking about the things we have in common, than our differences.We should love each other unconditionally,strive for unity in all we do by lifting up Christ.Saints all have sinned and come short of God's glory, the enemy wants us to focus on the short comings which lie in all of us.But Jesus is the one thing we have in common and it is through him and by him that we are perfected even with our shortcomings,so when we lift Jesus up in the lives of others, we have all things common.We should be thrilled to the heart to lead people to the Lord, and then see them interacting and developing deep, caring, and lasting friendships, as their walk with Christ becomes stronger.

How honest are your conversations? It's a good practice among brothers and sisters in Christ to put self aside, help others move forward ,and constantly check our motives. We must be sure that which we do in the unity of the body is for the glory of God and not to fulfill a personal agenda.Remember the enemy is a deciever,you may want to do it for God's glory,but if un checked pride and self righteousness will creep in, and your good will be evil spoken of. We can emphasize the good in others while still acknowledging their faults and weakness. And the weak should be able to handle correction which is done in love for the building up of the body.(too many of us get mad when someone points out a fault or a shortcoming in our character, but how can we grow stronger if we don't know where we are weak). The Body of Christ can only become unified,loving, and like-minded when we care for the inerest of others as much as we do our own.

He's Coming Back

Mark 13:26 "And then shall they see the Son of man comming in the clouds with great power and glory."

The daily headlines are never very hopeful, they are filled with stories of hopelessness..But we are to be of good cheer,none of this has any bearing on what God has in store for His children.His word says he will supply our every need.This is not His plan for us,let us not be blinded by the gods of this world, to the good things which God has for those who love Him.

Upon completetion of each intricate part of his creation, God said,"it is good!"Each element of creation was brilliant! Today's headlines are but a representation of how the evil designs of satan, and our own sin have taken the beauty of God's creation, and changed it into a distorted world of chaos and dispair. Hatred, plagues,murder,and hunger are not God's will for His creation.Jesus, our blessed hope, will  come and set things right.Jesus is comming back,and when Jesus returns to earth,He will return as our triumphant King,and all eyes will see him.Every knee will bow to him, and every tongue will confess of him, that he is Lord.He is greater than anything on earth and anything occuring in the earth, so be not discouraged. He is our reigning Lord, Savior and conquering King.When Christ returns, the sun shall be darkened,and the moon shall not give her light, as the true light will take center stage,Jesus the light of the world. And then they shall see the Son of man, in the clouds with great power and glory.(ride on king Jesus) Then he shall gather His elect from the four winds,from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

But until he returns, we have his Holy Spirit to comfort us,and his word to assure us and to hold on to. His word tells us"we wait in hope on the Lord he is our help and our sheild" :"But now,Lord, what do I look for?My hope is in you":"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long".So saints hold on for "we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior,Jesus Christ." Hold on ,He is an on time God!

A Way That Seems Right

2Samuel 6:7 "And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error;and there he died by the Ark of God".

In our story today God had given specific instructions on the contructing of the Ark of the covenant,He also commanded them to transport it by using poles.He warned them that anyone touching the Ark would die.

As we see when David moved the Ark to Jerusalem, the people ignored God's directions,and place it on a cart for transporting.Yes on the cart was an easier way to carry the Ark,and what the people did seemed harmless and right.But it went against the commandment of God.Many today go against God's commandment in a search for a way of making things easier.The word of God tells us that Jesus is the way,there is no other way to eternal life with the Father except through His darling Son.Yet there are many ingnor God's word and do things their own way, saying God understands to justify their actions. Many think they can pick and choose who to love, how to live,how to worship,how to serve,and who to forgive.As our story tells us that when Uzzah in an effort to prevent the Ark from falling,reached over to secure it ,he fell dead. See God cannot lie,so when he said anyone who touches it will die,he meant that.When He said the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God, He also means that.

Are the specific details of God's will important?They were to Uzzah! God was teaching His people to take His word seriously.We too must take God's word seriouly, He can't lie and every part of His word must and will come to past.He even gave us a fair warning as he said" There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but in the end is th eway of death". Let us pay careful attention to every point of His word and be obedient and enjoy everlasting life with our Father which art in Heaven.....

Left at Church!

Luke 2:43"And when they had fulfilled the days,as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem;and Joseph and his mother knew not of it."

Here we have a the parents of Jesus, leaving worship service believing Jesus was with them, but in reality, he was left at the temple.

This story is really not all that strange, it happens each Sunday. Jesus is left at the temple,and left by those who suppose he is with them. While in church,we worship him,we praise him,we pray to him,call on him, preach about him,and lead people to him, while inside the walls.But it seem that when we leave the church, we leave Jesus.We suppose that he is with us, yet we have left him.We have left him at church and He is missing from  the rest of our life. We sometimes get so busy with our praise, and being a christian, that we forget to take Jesus with us when we leave the church.We are so busy trying to show the world how saved we are, that we forget to let them know there is a Savior. We need to take Jesus outside the church,and make him part of every aspect of our life.He needs to be in our whole life. Include Him in your marriage and see How blessed it will be. Invite Him in your homes,and give Him rule,take Him on your job and let Him shine,don't leave Him at the church.Jesus needs to be seen in every aspect of our being,after all we profess to be born of Him. Jesus needs to be just as much a part of our life outside the church, as he is inside the church.

When his parents realized he wasn't with them, they began to seek him.They looked everywhere, even among their kinfolks, and when they did't find him,they turned around and went back to where they last seen him.When we realize we are no longer walking with Jesus, we to must turn from our wicked ways and seek him,and seek him diligently.We should look for him among our family members and if he is not with them, bring them along that they to may know Jesus;A relationship with Christ is a personal thing, and we must know him for ourselves,and should share Him with all we see.It's a great thing to have Jesus at church, but just think of the great work that could be done if we brought Jesus out of the Church.What if we actually lived the life Monday through Saturday that we talk about on Sundays.

A Life Of Sacrifice

Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son,but delievered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things".

Members of the early Church often referred to themselves as those who followed "the way".Paul refers to their way of life as "the way of the Lord" and "The way of God".In other words,the early Christians, directly taught by Christ apostles,were recongnized by their deeds and action.The way they lived, separated them from those of the world around them.It was called the way because they lived the way Christ lived.They followed his example,they obeyed His instructions.The way was then,and still is, a way of living and thinking that is different from that followed by those of this world.

When Christ came to earth He explained that this different way of thinking would through the power of the Holy Spirit, produce the fruit of righteous actions and deeds.He taught that God's way is the way of giving rather than the normal selfish human way of alway getting.The key to living a way of life different from the way of the world is to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us so we think like Jesus Christ. Through His spirit,God not only leads us in a different way of thinking,He helps us change the motivations that govern our actions.This focus on unselfishness rather than the self-serving approach produced by our natural way of thinking brings,in turn a dramatic change in the way we live and everything we do.God ask that we reorder our priorities,allowing his spirit to change our thinking, serving God by doing his will and seeking his kingdom.When we put God first ,he promises to provide ways for us to meet our needs.He will with hold no good thing from us.

Living a godly life is much more than merely calling on God's name as though that alone will excuse us for doing whatever we please.Living a godly life is doing what pleases God.It is practicing what he commands us, and living a way of life defined by his word.Jesus taught a way of life based on observing God's commandments from a heart of love that willingly makes personal sacrifices for the sake of others, focusing on giving rather than receiving.A true Christian cannot base his way of life, his new way of living on his own ideas about right and wrong.God's law and Christ example of perfect obedience to those laws, set the standards for the genuine Christian way of Life.Our new life is based on giving,a free gift given by God to all who will receive it."For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son",Giving is the way of God and the foundation of His love to mankind.Let us use this same foundation as we give to a lost world that which God gave to us..Share Jesus with a friend and change a life.