So Loved

John 3:16 "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".

When the world said we were not fit to live, God felt we were to precious to die, and he gave His only begotten Son. He didn't do it because we loved Him , but because He loved us . Let us now take this love we have been blessed to experience and share it with another, that all may come to know the goodness of the Lord. Let us love in spite of, and share with a lost world the a love given to all who will receive it.

God so loved the world, He loved the whole world. The ideal that God loves the world is a new idea. The Jews believed God loved the religious and hated the nonreligious. These same thoughts are held by many in every generation, especially by the religious community. The Fact that God so loves is shocking. He loves the saint and the sinner. God loves every man, not just those who love Him but also those who reject Him. He loves the unlovable, unloving, the unbelieving, the obstinate, the selfish, the greedy, the spiteful, and the vengeful. The basic of God Love is his nature, for God is love. He didn't just love, He so loved. He loved so much that he gave his only begotten Son. He gave not only all he had but the best that he had, like Abel offering the best of his fruits, like the woman with the two mites, giving all that she had. He gave His only Son to suffer judgment for my sins and yours. He gave His only son to be punished for our sins. God showed His love toward us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. He gave His only son to die for sinners. He did this so that we who rebelled against Him, we who cried with one voice "crucify Him and give us Barabbas,  so that we the sinner might have eternal life with Him in heaven. He gave so that we might have, His Son died so that we might live.

He gave His all that we might have His all. God loves us , let us receive His love that we might fulfill His will and none shall perish..

The Lord Is My Strength

Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble".
God commands that all repent and be baptized, but the choice is up to each person.We are accountable for the choices we make. But how we are saved is not up to us. There is only one way to be save, and we have no say so it that matter. It is never wise to dispute with God, especially upon the matter of salvation. No sinner seeking pardon should be foolish as to dispute how it is to be done with our Savior.

What is salvation? It is the testimony that Jesus the word of God made flesh is the promised Savior. The word which promises forgiveness to all who exhibit repentance of sin, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In a word, it is the proclamation of perfect salvation, through the risen Savior. It is a word, as being spoken by God, and as being his present utterance even at this moment. It is a word which reveals "the word". Jesus the living word of God. It is the word of salvation; for it declares, describes, presents and presses home salvation. It is a word sent, for the Gospel dispensation is a mission of mercy from God. The gospel message, Jesus the Messiah, and the Holy Ghost himself is sent to work salvation among men. It is not about coming to or joining a church congregation, no it is about coming to Jesus and surrendering your whole self over to Him.

Salvation is a big deal and describes the whole life of the true believer. They feel the need of being saved from self, sin, Satan and the world. They trust in God for preservation, and the end there of is eternal rest and peace in the bosom of the Father. The prosperous sinner is on another track, and comes to another conclusion: he disowns all need of salvation, and considers his success to be of his own winning. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the end of the wicked shall be cut off. God is not with the unrighteous; they have neither safety, nor strength, nor salvation in their time of trouble.

How Will You Appear

1 Peter 4:18 "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear"?

"Scarcely saved" points out the difficulty of salvation. Some think it easy to believe, but the prophets cries, " who hath believed"? and Jesus asks, "when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth"? Some may also think it easy to persevere to the end, but the godly are hard put to it to keep their faces toward Zion. It is no light thing to be saved; omnipotent grace is needed. It is no trifling thing to be lost, but it can be done by neglect.

The fact is the righteous scarcely are saved. The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. It can be hard to lay hold to and hold on Christ simply as sinners. There is a challenge to give up and overcome the desires and lust of the flesh day after day, and moment by moment. To resist the world with its blandishments, threats, and customs. To vanquish Satan, his horrible temptations, and all the false hoods he promises.  It will not be easy to perform duties in a humble and holy spirit, to forsake the earthly in search of the heavenly, and continue in them. When the apostle uses the phrase if the righteous scarcely be saved, he does not doubt salvation, he is speaking of the difficulty of making it through the fire and the water, coming through many trials and tribulations, and staying faithful to the call. It wasn't easy to get Lott out of Sodom, and Israel out of Egypt, and it is no easy matter to get man out of his state of corruption.

Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? IF the saints scarcely reach heaven, what of the ungodly? What can they do who have no God? what can they do who have no savior? What can one do who are without the spirit of God? What without prayer, the word, the promise of God etc. What without truth? If the saints be sorely chastened, what will the justice be to the openly defiant sinner? Surrender unto Christ rest in the peace of the savior of the world. Jesus never fails....

Lean On Me

Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble".

Salvation is a big deal and describes the whole life of the true believer. They feel the need of being saved from self, sin, Satan and the world. They trust in God for preservation, and the end there of is eternal rest and peace in the bosom of the Father. The prosperous sinner is on another track, and comes to another conclusion: He disowns all need of salvation, and considers his success to be of his own winning. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the end of the wicked shall be cut off. God is not with the unrighteous; they have neither safety, nor strength, nor salvation in their time of trouble.

The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, he is in the planning of it; the providing of it; the beginning of it; the carrying on of it, and the completion of it. The believer realizes that it is not about anything he has done, but purely out of the love of God. The inward conflicts of the believer makes him know that God alone must work salvation, for we are not able to save ourselves. The outward temptations drive us to the fact that only God can keep us. The world's hate teaches us that greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world. Our daily trials would crush and destroy us if it wasn't for the strength of the Lord, made perfect in our weakness. This truth that unto the Lord belongs the salvation of His saints, leads us to trust in him; excites us into believing prayer to him, and a total dependency upon Him.

All eyes turn on Jesus with looks of love; gratitude glows in every bosom, and swells in every song; now with golden harps they sound his praise; and now descending from their thrones to do him homage, they cast their crowns in one glittering heap at the feet which were nailed on Calvary. Here we learn in whose name to seek salvation, and through whose merits to hope for it; for salvation of the righteous belongs to the Lord Jesus, to him be the glory.

Straight Line To Jesus

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

Many teach all you need to do is believe in Jesus and you go to heaven, there is no need for change just  believe. We must be careful not to be decieved that it is acceptable to to worship God the way we want,refashioning Him in our own image,shaping his word to fit our life style, and thinking this is a 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. So is simply believing enough? The bible say the devil believes and trembles, so our believing should bring about an action also. 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 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 highway to heaven, and if you are walking the straight line to Jesus.

Then Came Jesus

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 like:mother of 5 killed in gang crossfire;mom charged after baby found neglected in basement;peace talks in middle east break down. All this bad news make it difficult at times to have hope, to hold on,to believe things will ever get better, but there is good news.What we see in our world, does not reflect the ultimate plan God has for it.Our God is a God of peace, love,and joy.God created this world to be a wonderful garden full of people who love him.We are part of God's pleasure.

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.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" So just when you thought there was no hope then came Jesus, our everpresent help.

The Choosen Few

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

Are you traveling on life's highway, or are you on the downward road to destruction? We must be careful not to be deceived. Simply believing on Jesus as Lord and savior is not enough to enter eternal life if you haven't accepted this belief as your way of life.

Many believe but some have yet to accept this truth as a way of living. Many of us know and believe eating unhealthy without exercise can be harmful to the body, yet still do it. Jesus said not all who cry Lord, Lord will enter into the kingdom of Heaven. So is simply believing enough? The bible say the devil believes and trembles,so our believing should bring about an action also. What does it mean to believe? 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 a faith that will keep us when the cares of this world try to lead us down the broad road.

Come Back To God

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless  I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love

As the world turns it seems so does the people of God. We have allowed our selves to become so entangled with the things and the ways of this world it is really hard to tell the difference between a child of God and a man of the world. God called us from among them, to be separated, to be in this world but not of this world, but somewhere along this journey we the people of God have lost focus to the things of heaven and have begun to settle and chase after the things of this world.

The word of God tells us that to be friends with this world is to be an enemy to God, but we seem to strive to fit into or conform to the things and ways of this world. We have adopted the worlds social structure, what I mean is the Christian way is the head takes care of the feet, but we have some feet which is taking care of the head. In the book of Hosea Ephraim was condemned for mingling with heathen nations, learning their works, and serving their idols. Ephraim was half baked and good for nothing He had lost his strength and didn't realize it for he was no longer connected to his power source. We must be careful not to get so mingled up with the things and ways of this world that we loose focus to the one that is our savior and our keeper. We cannot come unplugged from our power source.

We the people of God must be careful not to come unplugged from our power source. We must not seek the things which are earthy and began to seek those things which are heavenly and trust God to supply us with our earthly needs. Jesus said to seek ye first the kingdom of God, and the earthly things shall be added to us. Let us not be one thing with our mouth on Sunday mornings, and something totally different in our hearts the rest of the week

Who's On The Lords Side

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 Israelite's 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 the challenge  Joshua's offered."This day", right now is the time to choose to follow Him. Today is the day of salvation. See this is a serious lifetime decision, one that involves putting Jesus 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 commitment 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.

Hold ON

 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have Fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith".

We must keep moving forward, trials will come and sacrifices will be required, but we must stay the course. These test help us to build godly character. James wrote count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. It is the going through trials which helps in the perfecting us for this long journey home.

Jesus cautions us to count the cost of traveling this road, just as we would with any major endeavor. No man putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for God's kingdom. Jesus expects us to finish what we start. Just as a small child learns to walk, we may be wobbly at first, stumbling in this new way of life. The temptations and trials we face will sometimes cause us to stagger and fall. But remember that God the Father and Jesus Christ are there to comfort and help us each step of the way. Our job is to keep striving with God's help and to become mature Christians. Living God's way must always remain our priority. We must continually seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. There are some things that can help us stay the course through the many challenges we will encounter along the way. We must stay in prayer and continue in the study of God's word. Also fellow shipping with other true believers can be a tremendous encouragement in living our new lives dedicated to God. Jesus said not everybody who says Lord Lord will enter into His Kingdom, only those who do the will of the Father.

We are given a choice as to what we will do, but Jesus clearly expects that we do our part in remaining faithful to Him. We must produce fruit in our lives that is pleasing to God. Stay the course, we come to far to turn back now.

Love Is An Action

John 14:15 " If  you love me, keep my commandments".
We must love as God loves us. God showed kindness and love to all humanity regardless of how they treated him.  He gave his only begotten son that we might have everlasting life. When we love others the way Jesus instructed us to, we show the world we are his and we show the love of God to a lost soul that they might receive everlasting life.

The heart is the seat of man's affections, and devotion. The heart attaches and focuses our  affection, will, and devotion to an object or person. The heart causes a man to will, or to give himself either to good or bad. To love Jesus means that a man focuses his heart, affections, and will, upon God by giving and receiving the love of God. We must give all we have and all we are to Jesus Christ for him to do as he will. We must deny our self daily, not deny our self of things, but deny self, we die to self and our will that we might live in Him for His will. This should be the action of our love for God.

Let us be careful not to give God simple lip service while our hearts lay with the enemy. Let us surrender our whole hearts and live a life of pure love unto the Lord, a life that He might be pleased with our testimony and we have everlasting life.

New Creation

Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,to the which also ye are called in one body;and be ye thankful".(read 15-17)

When a new life enters the world,a new heart enters the world.There is no life apart from a heart,a new life necessitates a new heart.When we become a new,born another, along with that new birth come a new heart.See the new man, must have a new heart ruled by the peace of God.He is to let Christ,the peace of God rule in all things and differences.The word "peace", means to be bound,joined,and weaved together.It means to be assured,confident and secure in th elove and care of God.It is to know that God will take care of us no matter what the problem or circumstance,to know that God will not allow anything to swamp or defeat us.But we must realize this peace lies in Christ and Christ alone,and we cannot know this peace unless and until we know and accept Christ in our new heart.It says "let the peace of God rule",this is a command and we must be obedient to experience this peace.

The believer heart must also be rich with the word of Christ,he is to let the word of Christ dwell in his heart.The choice is up to the believer,the word of Christ does not naturally dwell in our hearts.Here the word  "dwell", means to make a home,to abide or live within.We must make room within our heart for the word of Christ.We must let the word enter our hearts and be at home and make a home there.His word must dwell and abide in our heart.We must clean out all the old furnishings of our heart and let the word of Christ settle down as a permanent resident within the heart.The word must abide richly in our hearts,we cannot be satisfied with a quick visit of the word, but it must richly dwell in our hearts. Christ word must furnish our hearts with all the wealth of its commandments, and promises, instructions and warnings.

This will give us a heart of service unto the Lord.As the new man is a servant,he now will have the heart of a servant, he will become a cheerful giver,a willing worker,and a faithful servant unto the Lord.All that is done is done for the glory of the Lord,the spreading of the gospel and the building of His kingdom.Jesus said you don't put new wine in old skins,so we can't put this new spirit into the old heart.This is the new heart,filled with a new spirit, that goes with our new life in Christ..

United

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother,and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh".

The life of a truly born again Christian is one of separation and submission.We must totally separate from all the things of the old man.We must mortify all of our members,putting to death the old man and his ways,that our members can now be use unto the righteousness of God.Then we must be in total submission to the new life in the new man in Christ.Choosing Christ and the will of God over the empty pleasures of this world.

In our text we see God establishes marriage.How the two are to become one.The man leaving his mother and father to cleave to his wife.The life of what God intended for marriage to be, is a metaphor of what a life of a Christian should be.We are to separate and submit. We are to leave the ways of the old man,and cleave to the life of the new man, and the two shall be one.Jesus said in the gospel of John the we should become one with Him as He and the Father are one.So just as a man leaves his father and mother and joins his wife, we who profess Christ are to leave the carnal and cleave to the spiritual and become one with Christ Jesus. We are to take on the ways of our new life.Our joy is to be in the new life with Christ.Let us Now separate ourselves from this world and the things of this world and become one with our new life in Christ.

Must like marriage we have the choice of choosing whom we will serve,but we don't have the choice of how we will serve them.Just as you must love honor and obey in marriage,(if you plan on staying married)there is a way you must be in service with the Lord,for they that worship the Lord MUST worship Him in spirit and truth.Let us separate form the old and submit to this new life in Christ to form a more perfect union, as we two can become one.

Empty Worship

Matthew 15:8 "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me".

We Live in a very self-absorbed society we have to work to stay away from the self centeredness which surrounds us. We adapt through worship to Jesus. The word worship these days seems to have been limited to the couple of hours we spend in the church house on Sunday mornings. True worship  is done in spirit and in truth. That is in the spirit of God and the truth of how we live our lives daily. It is not a lip service it is a surrender of the heart. Does your worship end when you leave the church house or do you worship Him with your life?


 The word of God tells us to present your body a living sacrifice unto the Lord. We worship God with our life and praise Him with our living. In our text today Jesus says we draw near to him with our mouth and honor him with our lips, we talk a good game, but most times our life tells a different story. Have you ever wondered why you haven't drawn those in your house to the Lord ? Could it be because they see you outside the church house when you have taken off the church clothes. Many today talk about a relationship with Christ, we speak about how good he is, we quote all the biblical saying with our mouth, yet with our life we deny his person, his power, and his presence. With all that Christ has done for us, should He be happy with the few hours a week we spend in ritualistic exercise that we call worship.

Remember Mary worshipped the Lord, by covering him with expensive oil. Now it wasn't the fact that the oil was expensive that mattered. It was the fact that she worshipped him with all she had, she didn't hold anything back, she felt there was nothing to good for the Lord. Are you giving the Lord all and the best that you have, or are you keeping something for yourself? Are you worshipping Him with all your life or is it just Sunday morning lip service.