The Night The Rocks Cried Out

Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;and the earth did quake and the rocks rent;

The night they crucified the Lord was one of the most herrific events in human history.The God we claimed to love so much hung on an old rugged cross by the very people he came to save.What a display of love,for even as he was dying a death of such agony,His love for us was so deep He said "forgive them Father for they know not what they do".And then the rocks cried out.

Jesus said the rocks would cry out for us if we held our peace.Here is the Saviour of the world,the Son of God Himself, and yet we refused to acknowledge His person.And while we mocked and ridaculed Him, the rocks cried outbecause of Him.The temple veil was rent and the earth did quake. Shaking with such force the dead was awakenand their graves were opened.The rocks were rent,like the tearing of the hard hearts of those who would not profess Him causing the centurian to confess "surley this was the Son of God."

As the resurrection Sunday approaches let us remember all that Jesus went through on that night.The suffering,the rejection,the denial,the mocking ,and the beating.He endured it all just for you and I. He stood in and accepted for us,our judgment and punishment, so that we could have a right to the tree of life. Let us now shout out to a dying world that Jesus is The Christ the Son of the living God,that all can hear and be saved.Don't let the rocks cry out for you..

Betrayed;Soldout and Abandoned

Luke 22:21" But,behold, the hand of Him that betrayeth me is with me on the table."

Have you betrayed the Lord? Have you sold Him out and abandoned Him at a time when truly a witness was needed? We all like to think we have never and will never do what Judas,Peter and the other disciples did on the night the Saviour died.But if we look closely at our lives we will find that we have been guilty of one if not all these acts at one time or another.

How many time have we chosen financial gain over bearing witness to the power of God.How many times have we had the chance to tell someone about the good news but chose to be quit instead?How many time have we been with the crowd and did what they did instead of standing for what we know to be right or godly? See Jesus said "if you deny me before man I will deny you before the Father" How many times have we denied the Lord in our daily life and conversation.Jesus knew these things would happen,that is the reason He came and died,but we must be honest with ourselves so we can change that which is unpleasing to Him.

Jesus said the hand of him that betray(eth) me,meaning continues to betray Him.We all are guilty of this let us be mindful of who we are and whose we are, that those who are following us won't be tripped up and fall along the way.Let us worry less about hurting feeling and fitting in and be more concerned about winning souls.Jesus died to save souls,tell the good news.

Thank God For Jesus

Psalm 107:1 "Oh give thanks unto the Lord,for he is good:for His mercy endureth forever"

God is good,there are truly no words that can express just how good God is.He is so good that while we were yet sinner he commendeth His love toward us and He sent Christ to die for us.Jesus the died for the ungodly, Christ died to save sinners.

We must thank God for Jesus.Now I am not talking about lip service,but thank God for Jesus by living a life before men that will lead a lost soul to the salvation of the Lord.By living a life worthy of the name which we bear.Say thank you by being obedient to His word.Say thank you by having love for one another.Say thank you by esteeming others higher than yourself, by being a living sacrifice,by laying down your life that a lost soul might live.Thank Him for His mercy,for we deserved Hell,but His mercy offers us a chance to live in paradise.His mercy forgives us our sin,looks beyond our faults and shortcomings and provides our every need.

Man was destined for death, destruction and Hell when God took the best of Him and wrapped it in the worst of man, and sent Jesus His only begotten Son to suffer bleed and died that we might have a right to the tree of life.Jesus God's mercy which endureth forever, offered to lost man that we might become the sons of God.Let us thank God for Jesus. 

A New Attitude

Colossians 3:10 "And have put on the new man,which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:"

Jesus said you must be born again if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven.Many have professed this new birth but yet still carry the traits and charactistics of the old man.When a man is born again he is different from the first,yes there will be times when the old man and his ways might show up, but it should be the exception and not the rule.
In our story today Paul reminds us that we are dead to the old man, we have put off lying,anger,wrath and the deeds of our old self.We have put on the new man who is in the image of our saviour,and we are to put on as the elect of God,mercy,kindness,humility,patience,meekness,and above all things love.How can we profess to be Christ like,and born of His spirit ,yet have no resembalance of His person or character.If you being born of your natural father, have some of his characteristics should we also, being born of the spirit of our heavenly Father, also have and show His characteristics?

If you are going to profess to be a child of God, let us make sure we are showing this dying world the characteristics of God.Let us share the love of God and walk in the ways of God, that all who see might come to know that Jesus is the Christ the son of the true and living God,and believe in Him lies the salvation for all who believes.Let us truly live the life we profess.Let us have a new attitude,one of our heavenly Father.

Check Yourself

Galatians 2:14 "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel,I said to Peter before them all,If thou being a Jew,livest after the manner of the Gentiles,and not as do the Jews,why compellest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews."

The life we have been called into is not an easy life.It is a life which requires a lot of sacrifice,long suffering, self denial,humility,giving and forgiving just to name a few.But it is a life that must be lived in truth.It is a life we can't just talk, but the world must also see this life in our walk.It is easy to say you are a Christian, to say you are Christ like, but what does the life you are living before man say.It is one thing for people to see you dressed on Sunday's and say that there is a Christian,but if they see you dressed up on Friday or saturday night will they say the same thing?

See here Paul called Peter to the carpet. Peter was trying to tell the gentiles they had to live and walk a certain way.Yet that which he was telling them they had to do, He himself wasn't doing.We who are believers, sometimes are quick to point fingers at the way the non-believers are living and the things they do which goes against the word of God, but what about that which we do that goes against God's word.How can we who are saved expect the lost to live in accordance to God's word if we are not.Let us first make sure we are walking in the right direction before we begin pointing fingers at those who we believe are going wrong.Paul told Peter if you being saved is living the life of the unsaved,how can you expect the unsaved to live right.

We know or at least we profess to know that Jesus rose with all power in heaven and earth in His hands, let us then live as though we believe this truth.Let us spend more time in the mirror and less time looking out the window,and then maybe we can win more souls to Christ.

Standing on The Truth

Acts.18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,be not afraid,but speak,and hold not thy peace:

It is only with the truth that man can be saved.We have been chosen by God to go out into a dying world and bear fruit, and fruit that will last.But many have fallen down on the job because they are afraid to tell the truth.It seems the world has us so concerned about not judging each other, that we have even stopped letting people knowwhen they are doing wrong.There is a difference in me telling you that you are going the wrong direction and condeming you to Hell.

We have been instructed by Christ to tell a dying world the good news of salvation,and there are some things in this good news that people are not going to want to hear.After all nobody likes to be told they are wrong even if they know they are wrong.The wages of sin is still death,and it needs to be told.The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God and it needs to be told.No we are not called to say who is or is not righteous,we are just to proclaim the word of God and let the Holy spirit convict the hearts and minds of the guilty and lead them to the gift of repentence.How can we truly profess to love Christ and let one He died for go astray without letting them know they are going the wrong direction.Let us in love and humility share the truths of the gospel and become more interested in winning souls than making friends.

In our story today Paul was going about teaching the word of God,and Jesus told Him not to fear, that He would be with him and He wouldn't allow any to hurt Him.We to have this same promise,go share the truth of Gods word without fear.Jesus is with us and no weapon form against us shall prosper.And if God leads us to the work He will equip us with all we need to complete the task at hand.Just stand on the truth..

Sold Out!

John 13:18 "I speak not of you all:I know whom I have chosen:but that the scripture may be fulfilled,he that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me."

Here we have a picture of betrayal and apostasy,of a man who turns away from Christ to the world,and this should be a strong warning to every man who professes to follow Christ.When any man betrays the Lord, the Lord's heart is cut to the cord because a soul is being lost.Jesus desire is that none be lost and it truly hurts when one turns from Him to this world.When He is betrayed by those He loves.

Now understand, Christ did not choose Judas,but Christ did draw Judas; he did move upon Judas' heart to quicken his mind.He did stir Judas to understand that Jesus was the Messiah,the son of the living God. But Judas rebelled against the drawing power of Christ and rejected the quickening power of Christ. When a person betrays Christ and begins to live in sin,he shows that he did not truly respond to the movement of God's spirit within his heart.He exposes his true unregenerated nature.The betrayer eats with Christ,yet his heel is against him.Judas ate with Christ,he was a friend of Christ, he didn't hate Him;he cared for Christ.He on many occasions walked into the house of God with Jesus and had close fellowship with Jesus.Judas was His follower, a choice disciple, yet Judas lifted up his heel against Jesus.Judas true nature exposed itself, one of disloyalty;as he forsook Jesus;of contempt, as he rejected Jesus,and one of betrayal as he turned his back on Jesus.When a witness was needed,he sold Jesus out, choosing the things of the world(money,recognition and power),over the salvation of the Lord.

Have you betrayed the Lord? Have you walked with Him, supped with him,went into the house of God to fellowship with him, only to sell him out for the things of this world.Have you discounted his word in search of power, prestige or a position in the church.Have you replaced soul saving with money making as the purpose for your walk with him.Have you raised your heels against the Savior of the world for personal gain?

Life In Christ

1John 5:11" And this is the record,that God hath given to us eternal life,and this life is in his Son."

John declared that our faith in Christ is the victory that overcomes the sinful influences of the world.And then,as if to test his readers' comprehension of that statement, he asked, Who overcomes the world?John immediately answered his own question:only the one who believes that Jesus is God's Son.

No other agent or formula defeats the sinful influences we face. Only Jesus faced them all and overcame them all.It is only when we acknowledge our own helplessness and place our confidence in the sufficiency of Christ's victory that we have victory over sin.We may try other means,such as will power,accountability, support groups, human thought, or philosophy, rituals,or routines, disgust for the sin, or shame and guilt. We may even find that some of those things offer limited success in helping us curb certain behaviors or keep them in check temporarily.But it is only through faith in Christ, and a total surrender to Him, that we can be tuned in to his will,our mind can comprehend His thoughts, and our actions become joyful acts of worship.

 

If we are believing in and relying on anything but Christ's victory to overcome sin ,our efforts are doomed.It is good for us to examine ourselves periodically to be sure that our faith is not misplaced. What a relief it is to know that the hard part of overcomming sinful influences has been done for us by Jesus' life, death ,and resurrection.To remain in His victory,we need only to hold confidently to God's provisions for us in Christ.Faith in Christ includes an understanding of who he is and a complete reliance upon him for salvation and an overcoming lifestyle.Through this kind of faith believers experience victory over the sinful influences of this world, and thus walk worthy of the name by which we are called;Christians, or to be Christ like............

He Died For Me

2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us,who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him".

Jesus Christ death;the message is unbelievable,a message of redemption,that is a substitution for sin. This is one of the great verses proclaiming the unbelievable love of God.It is impossible for man to grasp the fact that God made Christ to be sin for us,yet that is exactly what the scripture says.He who knew no sin made to be sin,for the sole that sinneth shall surley die,so for man to live He had to die.

Did He die in vain?Why was this act necessary? Because man needs more than just righteousness to stand perfect before God.To stand righteous before God is not enough,for man has already sinned.Man already stands guilty of breaking God's law, and the judgement and condemnation of death has already taken effect upon man. So the condemnation and judgement of sin had to be taken care of. God did this by laying all the sins of man upon Christ,all the guilt and condemnation of sin,God placed it all on Christ and let Him bear it all Himself.God's purpose for this was that we through Christ death, might be made righteousness of God in Christ.When a person really believes in Jesus Christ,God takes that man's faith and He counts it as righteousness.The man is not righteous,but God considers the man's faith in Christ as righteousness.God does this because he loves man so much,that he sent His only Son to die that we might have a right to life.Jesus secured righteousness for man. He came into the world to die for man.He came and arose from death and thus conquered death for man,thus His resurrected life could stand for the resurrected life of the believer.But did Christ die in vain in your life?Have you accepted this truth?

The truth is this God loves His Son Jesus Christ so much, that He honors any man who honors His son by believing in Him and believing Him.When we sincerly trust Christ,God takes that faith and counts it as righteousness,thus He judges us , and treats us,as though we are innocent.We are not innocent,us and God both knows this,but God counts us as innocent because of our faith in Jesus Christ.To God we have died with Christ and rose a new creation.So did Christ die in vain for you?.

Changed To Be Christ Like

Philippians 3:21"Who shall change our vile body,that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,according to the workings whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself ".

We use the word changed or converted quite alot in religious circles,but what does it truly mean to be changed.Is going to church,singing in the choir, or preaching in the pulpit evidence of change. And if we are in fact converted or changed what is it we are changed from, or more important what are we change into.The scriptue says Jesus will change our vile body, that it might  be fashioned like his glorious body. Well biblical change is represented as a miraculous life transforming process,a process that is impossible without the direct,active intervention and participation of God. In fact he must initiate the conversion process. No man can come to Jesus unless the spirit of God draws them.

He first opens the mind of those he is calling, or inviting to change so they can begin to understand the scriptures with a clarity and depth they could never attain on their own.This wonderful miracle of transformation usually begins when those God is calling hear the truth of God 's word accuratelly from one of his true servants( faith come by hearing, but how can they hear without a preacher,and how can he preach unless he be sent). Our creator begins to open their minds at that time to comprehend the true gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God to salvation.God's words now begin to make sense,just as a picture emerges when a puzzle is put together.Now the once lost soul begins to grasp the holy scriptures and thus be part of the miracle of God's calling.

What follows depends on the choices they make when they hear or read God's truth. They can respond to God and ask for His help to implement what they learn,or they can turn their back on the understanding of the truth they have received.Even though God encourages us to choose life, He will not force this choice on any of us. But as we will soon see, the consequences of our choices are enormous.The process begins with God's calling,followed by the key steps of repentance,baptism,and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, finally climaxing with the return of Jesus Christ when those that are his will be resurrected to immortality and given eternal life.That is the ultimate transformation being change from this vile mortal body, and fashioned into a glorious immortal being! 

We Shall Overcome

1John 5:4 " For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world;and this is the victory that overcometh the world,even our faith".

What is meant by this world?The power of sin all around us:the influence which operates towards evil,and makes the commandments and purposes of God grievious to society.The prince of this world has much to do with this evil power.The world and all it represents is our foe and we must fight it and with it.We must fight it's tempations,and it's pull on the souls which our Savior died for.We must contend until we overcome the world ,or it will overcome us.We must break loose from the customs of the world,maintaining our freedom to obey a higher Master in all things.We are not to be enslaved with the dread of poverty,greed of riches,personal ambitions,love of honor,fear of shame or the force of numbers.We are raised above all circumstances, and find happiness in invisible things; thus by faith we overcome the world.

The world is like a False Prophet,it promises what it cannot fulfil.It presents false hopes, a false sence of security and empty promises.These empty treasures offered by the world trap many and led them into everlasting damnation.We are above the world's authority,it's ancient customs are for it's children,we do not own it as a parent ,ruler or judge.We are above it's example, influence, and spirit, for we are of the heavenly.It is by faith in God word, we can over come the deceptions of this world and the gods of this world.We are crucified to the world and the world to us thru faith in Jesus Christ.We are above it's religion,we gather our religion from a relationship with the true and living God and His word.We have been born again,born of God,born of a new nature, and this nature alone will defeat the challenges of this world.This nature is born to conquer all opposition, for that which is born of God is royal and ruling. He who created can't be overcome,neither can those born of Him. Jesus was never defeated,neither will those conformed to him fail of ultimate triumph.

The weapon we will use to overcome,our faith in God's word.The unseen rewards which lie in his promises.The promises he gave us in Jesus,God's word made flesh.God and the cloud of witnesses hold us in full view.The powerful union with Christ which grace has given to all who believe,resting in Jesus,we overcome the worldThis is the victory that overcomes the world,our faith in Jesus Christ.We must believe,greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.We believers must never forget ,we are soilders of the overcomer for Jesus said,"Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world".Got Jesus? 

Soul Food

John21:15"So when they had dined,Jesus saith to Simon Peter,Simon,son of Jonas,Lovest thou me more than these?He saith unto him,yea Lord;thou knowest that I love thee,He saith unto him,Feed my lambs".

Feed my lambs! these are the instructions given to us by our Savior.Those of us who have been blessed to have received the bread of heaven,are now instructed by the Savior to feed his lambs.Jesus has revealed himself to us, that he is the Christ,the son of the living God, and we are now to feed this truth to a lost and dying world.This is the design of his precious Gospel, it wasn't written for a pastime,nor was it published for a profit, but it was written and published so that man could be brought to Christ.Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim this gospel message, that all might enjoy the salvation of the Lord.We don't need to dress it up or add anything to it ,the gospel will do what it was designed to do. It was not designed to feed the flesh of man, but to feed the spirit of man.

Jesus ask Peter if he loved him more than he loved these, and he is asking us the same question?Do you love me more than you love these things,and these people who occupy your life.Do you love me more than your friends, family, and even yourself.Jesus wanted to know the extent of Peters love for him,he wants to know the extent of our love for him.He already knows but he wants to know if we know, are we willing to lose our life to save it.So he says "If you love me feed my lambs."If we truly love God we should be willing to lay aside our will and petty differences and feed those he died for.Someone shared the good news to us, and we should be willing to share it with someone else.The same gospel which lead us to Christ, will lead someone else to Christ.It is the duty of all who are called of Christ to feed his sheep, to feed them with knowledge,and the truth of the gospel.Feed the with the word of God that they might be wise unto salvation.Feed them, don't just put something before them and hope they eat,but feed them,those who are to hateful and stubborn to eat on their own. Feed those who are too weak or cannot feed themselves.Don't feed them the cake and candy messages of today,which will only make them fat and useless,but feed them the meat of the word that they may be thourghly furnished unto every good work.

We might not be able to feed everyone we want, but let each of us just feed everyone we can,and together we will feed the whole world, one lamb at a time.So if you love the Lord,feed his lambs real soul food.

A Solid Foundation

Colossians1:4 "Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,and of the love which ye have to all saints"
(read 1:3-8)

This is a powerful scripture that covers the great pillars of the christian life,the pillars of faith and love. And these pillars are the foundation by which the believers are held up.For God is love and without faith it is impossible to please God.We should be thankful to God for faith and love.

The great pillar of faith. Faith is one person,the person of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.Jesus brings us in touch  with God and makes it possible for God to adopt us as sons and daughters of His. Jesus Christ is able to bring any person who is spiritually fatherless to His Father.Jesus Christ has the right to ask His Father to adopt the fatherless person.Jesus makes the Father-son relationship possible between God and the believer.The believer then lives by faith in Christ.He believes in Christ;therefore he lives by his belief.He governs his life by Christ.He does nothing that his faith in Christ forbids.He lives, moves, and has his being in Christ.His faith in Christ becomes one of the great pillars of his life. He walks by his faith in Christ, and not by the things he sees in the world.

Then there is the great pillar of love.Now we are not talking about the natural love we are to have for all mankind.This pillar of love, is love believers have one for another.This love is based on  the love of Jesus Christ,and His love is the summit of Love.He proved it in His sacrificial death for men.He laid down his life before God to bear the sins of man.So when we give our life to follow Christ we are giving ourselves to love as he loved,we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for others as Christ did for us."Presenting our bodies a living sacrifice".This love is stirred by the Holy spirit;That is the believers love is a supernatural love.The Holy spirit which lives in the heart of the believer,stirs up the love of God in the heart of the believer,and we are led to love others by the spirit of God.Believers possess a great love for all men,I mean the very love of Christ.But we have a special love for fellow believers.Because we have committed ourselves to follow the Lord,we are led by the same spirit and hold to the same hope.We all live and move in our faith and love for Christ, the pillars of our Christian life.

Denied Before Man

John 18:17 "Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter,art not thou also one of this man's disciples?He saith, I am not.

Here we have the denial of  Jesus by both the world and Peter.Both were guilty of denying association with Christ.Peter was innocently questioned by the door keeper.Peter denied Jesus, while the world was preparing to put Him to death as they refused to believe Him to be the Son of God. Peter made an attempt to be known as one of the crowd.He joined the crowd,standing around with the many, joining in their activites and conversation,ashamed to be associated with the Saviour of the world.

Thier are many today also ashamed of Christ,many denying being associated with Christ.People see us in church or associating with other believers,and when we are asked,we deny any association to Christ. We deny him in the way we live our lives. We deny Him in our love for one another, in our ability and willingness to forgive one another,and in our giving to one another.He is denied on our jobs,at school and in social functions.At the time when a witness is needed many deny Christ in an effort to fit in or be accepted by the crowd.We deny Him by not learning His doctrine,and not proclaiming His teachings. We may not verbally deny Him as Peter did,but we deny Him in our actions.The religions of this world  allows man to be as he is, do what he wishes and still feel acceptable to God. Just think for a moment! How few religions,how few churches,how few preachers and teachers proclaim the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.So few are willing to sacrifice their lives for the world and all they are and have in order to reach the lost soul He died to save.

 

When we deny Christ we deny the lost the chance afforded us, to know Christ and have a chance at salvation.How can we truly say we love one another yet deny each other Christ.How can we say that we love the Lord with all our heart ,soul and life,and yet let His blood be trampled under foot,for when a witness is needed,when we need to stand up and speak for Christ,we hide in the crowd and deny Him in our lives. 

Is The Light Seen In Your Life?

2 Corinthians 4:4"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,who is the image of God should shine unto them".

At one time we all were none believers, trapped in darkness blinded by the gods of this world.The bible represents Satan as the master manipulator of human nature.Our weakness combined with the devil's influence has led the whole world into sin.Because of Satan's deceptions and the sinful ways and tendencies of  human nature,"we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". We must understand, however, that the devil cannot force us to sin,he simply influences us through fleshly weaknesses. But we must remember Jesus has power over all flesh.

Our selfish, and fleshly desires often get us into trouble.The lust of the flesh,the desires of the flesh will call and lead us out side the will of God.Our natural deviousness, including self- deception, is a major weakness of the fleshly or carnal mind.We naturally look for ways to  justify our lust,sinful desires,and the behaviors that arise from them.We deceive ourselves into believing that, since our desires are natural,they are not so bad after all.But God's word reminds us that"there is a way that seems right to a man,but its end is the way of death".We have a natural tendency to resent having our fleshly desires limited by rules, even God's rules.Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit,set their minds on the things of the spirit.

 

The mind that is set on the desires of the flesh is hostile to God.It is blinded to the light of Gods truth, and love, by the deceptions of the gods of this world.One locked in darkness find it hard to see.Those that are in the flesh cannot please God.These and other fleshly weaknesses are what we call human nature.Satan takes advantage of our weak and greedy nature by persuading us to rely even more on our emotions,needs and wants than we normally would.But we play our part.Without the positive influence of God's Spirit, we are simply not naturally inclined to live according to God's instructions.If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.Can the light of the Lord, which is Jesus Christ be seen in your life?

Jesus! All I Need

Judges 9:9 "But the olive tree said unto them,Should I leave my fatness,wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?"

This story teaches us that temptations will come to us all,however sweet, or useful, or fruitful,even as they came to the fig,the olive, and the vine.These temptations may take the shape of friendly honors; if not a crown,yet some form of preferment or power may be the bribe.The trees were under God's government and wanted no king;but in this story they "went forth",and so quitted their true place.Then they sought to be like men,forgetting that God had not made them to be conformed to a fallen race.Revolting themselves, they strove to win over those better trees which had remained faithful.No wonder they chose the olive,so rich and honored; for it would give their kingdom respectability to have such a king;but the olive wisely declined,and gave its reason.

The question to be asked,"should I",many to obtain a higher wage have left holy companionships,and sacred opportunities for hearing the word and growing in grace.Many have lost their sabbaths, quitted a soul-feeding ministry,and fallen among worldlings,to their own sorrowful loss.Such persons are foolish as the poor Indians who gave up gold for beads.To gain riches at the cost of your soul is always a curse. To increase your business so that you cannot attend week night services,is to become really poorer;to give up heavenly pleasure,and receive earthly cares in exchange is a sorry trade.Don't get so caught up that you think the calling and vocation to which God has called you to is a small insignificant calling, God's will is the best calling you can have,to be faith to it is better than any treasure the wold could offer. God often places great blessing in little things,after all it just take th efaith the size of a mustard seed to open all th eriches of heaven.

In our story a set of trees wanted a king and they went to the olive tree seeking a king,but the olive tree was content with the position which God have given it,to be honored and serve both God and man so the olive tree turned down the request and instead chose to be content with God.We too are in a position to serve both God and man ,let us be content with God and wait on him to give the increase.

Jesus Jesus Jesus

Isaiah 45:22"Look unto me,and be ye saved,all the ends of the earth:for I am God,and there is none other"

In this day of I, me,and myisms,the concept of God has taken on many different forms,shapes,and meanings.In a era of religious rights and freedom, you can talk about and worship openly any god, but the true and living God.In our christian nation we live in,Christ is not welcome in our schools, courts, government funded programs, and on any given sunday he might not be welcome in his own church house.In a country which has laws protecting gay rights, civil rights,womens rights, animal rights, gun rights, and criminal rights, it still is not politically rights to profess Christ openly in public.

God is real and it is time for the redeemed to say so.We sometimes try so hard to please the world, that we get caught up in its confusion, adopting it's ways, and we begin serving and worshiping it's gods. This brings about a suffering due to sin. But the good news is with all we've done,even though we sometimes turn from the real God to worship idols,God comforts us through his word,as he lets us know he hasn't forgotten us.He let us know that he is still good ,still God and still saves as he still sits upon the throne.Look to Him when you are feeling down and left out.Seek Him if you are lost in a world of darkness.Hold to His hand if you feel yourself falling into the grips of sin.He is God and there is no other.

God has always had a plan of salvation, a way to deliever us from the bondage of our captivity. A way to repair the broken relationship between the creator and his creation. God says assemble yourselves and draw near, and return to me.We must turn from our ways to draw near to God. God is both a just God and a perfect savior, for all who comes to him. God wants us to come to him, for there is none other like him,look to him in faith, look away from all the pretenders in our lives and fix our eyes,and the desires our heart on the true God.Seek him out, look to him and be saved. Look to the great "I AM" 

Happiness Is!

Proverbs 3:13"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,and the man that getteth understanding"

Wealth in wisdom:If we pursue wisdom with the same fervor that we pursue wealth,promotion and reputation,then the fear of the Lord would keep us from sin.Sadly though, our confidence is often in our education,experiences, and resources,all of which are limited and fleeting.But know that the fear of the Lord,is wisdom;and to depart from evil is understanding.

Human knowledge sometimes wears the mask of truth.Searching for information or gaining an advanced degree does not produce a godly life.World views which dishonor or reject God are all around us.They sometimes quietly call us to accept and follow them,pulling us away from God.God is the source of all true wisdom.The path to godliness is narrow and strenuous,but spiritual growth will result from the quest, of seeking God. God rewards a secure and persistent search for real wisdom.We know God's wisdom is practical.The phrase"common sense" refers to the type of knowledge that works in life's difficult situations.Many people with advanced college degrees,though intelligent, have no real sense of right and wrong,and sometimes cannot control their tempers, and fall to pieces in a family crisis.God's wisdom gives us power that works in daily life.

Finally, gaining God's wisdom involes submission.The author of proverbs tells his son to lean on God, not to rely on his own opinion.The word lean, means to place your weight on God,to rest and trust in him.Submitting begins with prayer for the Holy Spirit's guidance,then we search his word for the insights that we need.Seek the advice of godly counselors, but let the Bible be the standard by which all choices are measured.Wisdom is God's gift to his children.Aware of our inadequacy, we can turn to our heavenly Father. We place our lives in his hands, search his word for answers,then confidently rest in His wisdom,and real happiness is in the man who finds God..........

God's Word!My Sword In Battle

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart:"

   The word of God is a name for Christ. It is the essential word that in the beginning was with God and was God.But it is also the scriptures, the written word of God, but the Lord Jesus is never separated from them.He indeed is the substance of the written word. Scripture is what it is because Jesus himself embodies himself in them.(He comes in the vol. of the book).So we have the word of God,which is the power of God and the sword of God.It is the sword of peace and rest, and also a sword of salvation and judgment. It is the instrumnet by which we are set free from the bondage of sin and death, but by this same instrument the world will be judged and condemed.  It is the truth which makes us free,yet because of unbelief all are not free, many wonder aimlessly in a vast wilderness, a prisoner of our own doubt not trusting or believing God's word.Many right now are wondering, lost in the wilderness of worry,because of unbelief,some are lost in a wilderness of dispear and depression, trapped by the cares of this world all because of unbelief.(Jesus said he overcame the world).

 See, the enemy takes our doubt, adds in deception,and with a little lie holds us captive in his kingdom of unbelief. But the word of God , which is our power, will not only cut down satans kingdom, but will set up the kingdom of Christ on the ruins of it.We have Gods word to fight the battle of truth, to destroy sin by piercing the heart and conscience of sinful man, destroying unbelief, as it arouses and awakens the conscience, convicts the heart and converts the soul. His word judges our thoughts,works,actions and everything about us,that we might experience his peace and enter his everlasting rest and salvation.The help we have from the Lord is his word, our sword,and power, but we must first reverence the word truly as spoken by God. Then his word is quick,and quicking it is life and it creates life wherever it comes. It is a living and incorruptable seed which can never be destroyed. It is powerful;it powerfully convicts,converts,comforts and  It pulls down strong holds.It has the power to raise us to great heights of holiness and happiness. His word is sharpe, it cuts all over, it cuts and wounds all who touch it; it kills self righteousness,sin and unbelief cutting going out and comming in.It cuts deep removing sinful habits away from the soul, that have become the nature of sinful man.It cuts ignorance from understanding,rebillion from the will, and hostility from the mind.It's piercing, forcing its way into the heart of man thru the smallest of opening even the dividing soul and spirit. Precision cuts, dividing the joints and marrow without damaging the bone. This word will cut the lust from the flesh, and like a lazor will remove the lust from the eye.

 This word is revealing, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, revealing even the most secret thoughts and design. This word will turn a sinner inside out, and let him see all that is in his heart, turning a sinner into a saint. The word of God,our power,our sword. Jesus Christ,the power of God unto salvation

Behold The Man

John 19:5 "Then came Jesus forth,wearing the crown of thorns,and the purple robe.And Pilate saith unto them,Behold the man!"

  "I am the door, by me if any man enters in he shall be saved..Here we have the greatest event ever recorded in history. A night when the world witnessed the evil in man , and beheld the love of God. A night when the sin of mankind came face to face with the salvation of the world, when all was revealed as they beheld the man. It was the night they crucified my savior.

  This precious lamb of God shedding his blood for the remission of sin, so man could be reconciled back to God.Jesus perfecting his glorious body, preparing a people for his prepared place. Jesus the love of God ,giving us the word of God that we might be led by the spirit of God.A perfect sacrifice for an imperfect people, a lamb without spot and or blemish, taking on the sins of the world; Jesus making himself a curse that we might be free from the curse. "Behold the man " whipped for our transgressions, and bruised for our inquities. "Behold the man" being led from judgment hall to judgment hall, as they search in him for sins that lied within me."Behold the  man" marched up Golgatha's hill, bering the sins of the world world on his shoulders, he who knew no sin , made to bear our sin that we might have eternal life. Oh Saints behold the man."Behold the man", hung high between heaven and earth, like he is unworthy or either, but the creator of both. "Behold the man" in the mist of two thieves, separating the old man from the new."Behold the man", God stretch out like a bridge over troubled water, bridging the gap reuniting fallen back to his righteous Father."Behold the man", Gods , Gods word made flesh, mans healing, mans deliverence, mans salvation.

  The work now complete, and Jesus cries with a loud voice, that all the world should hear,a loud voice that his death should be proclaimed out loud to all the world, a loud voice that we may know that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the Ghost. And the veil was ripped, Jesus died and behold heavens doors were opened.Jesus gave up the Ghost and the veil was torn, the veil of sin, the flesh which separated man from God now destroyed.Behold the man Jesus, the answered prayers of a dying world; Behold the man, Jesus manna from heaven,bread in a starving land; Behold the man Jesus,Gods mercy on fallen man, Behold the Man, Jesus the way past the flaming cherubin, giving man access to the tree of life. Beold the man, Jesus the Christ, Gods perfect plan of salvation.....

Let Your Light So Shine

2Timothy 1:6-7 "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,which is in thee by the putting on of my hands, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;but of power,and of love,and of a sound mind".

Saints we must be mindful not to quench the spirit, instead we must learn to stir it up, it is in us.Gods spirit is like a coal in a dying fire, we must stir that coal and fan that flame that we become truly on fire for God.Too many have neglected the gift and caused the gift of God's spirit to grow cold. This can cause one to wonder away from the will of God. How can we maintain the courage, strength and the love God gives us through his spirit, how do we stir up God's spirit with in us?

Paul tells us to "Take up the whole armor of God, that you be able to stand in that evil day".See saints satan will do all in his power to discourage us, to induce us to become disillusioned and afraid, and to abandon our confidence in God.We must Stand fast in the truth we have learned,(that is why Bible study is so important), concentrating on living righteously regardless of circumstances.Saints we should not let our circumstances determine if we are Christ like or not, you've either been born again or you haven't.We also must be active in doing our part in furthering the spread of the true gospel, never losing sight of eternal life as our goal and using God's Word as the sword that cuts through all deception.We were given a duty, to proclaim through word and deed the good news of the gospel, and no matter what the situation is we should use it as a opportunity to  proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.(no matter what they did to Paul, he used it as a chance to preach the Gospel).

But equally important is that we pray in the spirit on all occasions.With this in mind, we must be alert and always pray for the saints. Our ability to stir up God's spirit within us  and remain spiritually strong and active depends on how much we truly rely on God. One of the main keys to keeping the working of God's spirit  active and stirred up in our lives, is keeping our minds on the big picture of what God is doing.If we make it about us,dwelling on ourselves and our own problems we become far more vulnerable to Satan's negitive influences.We must see ourselves as part of a great work that God is doing, and remember it is not about us,but about our Savior and his ability to save the lost. It is important that we keep our confidence in God alive and active, so Jesus said "a man ought to always pray", it is through prayer that we are able to draw near to God, and thus keep his spirit stirred up within us.

The Power Of Love

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."

   Love ; the most powerful of all emotions, it has been the focal point and topic of a many movies, books, songs, plays,and poems over the years.Love is the one thing you can't live without. It is also the one thing to where there is no defense, you can't stop love ,there is no end to love, and there is no containing love.You can't kill,destroy or hurt love. True love is not just a word it is in fact THE WORD.

God so loved, He didn't just love He so loved.He so love that His love was a giving love, as He gave His only begotten Son. He so loved that His love was merciful as it forgives all who accepts His love.His love has power,when man's hatred hung Jesus on the cross,it was God's love that kept Him there . His love is alive, and it gives life. The very nature of  His love shows action. God's love does things, it tears down walls of division, because it's destructive,and it rebuilds lives because it's also constructive.It  makes things happen, it goes places and takes you places. God so loved that His love changes things, changing a sinner into a saint.His love is caring, and it providing.It helps you, it serves you and suffers for you.God so loved that His love is a sacrificial love. God so loved and His love is present in every good deed, and is the very power behind the forgiveness of every bad deed. His love is permanent, everything else comes and goes, but God's love is everlasting. It believes well of others, and when it can't believe well of others, it begins to hope for the best in everything, and will continue to hope as long as there is hope.

How wonderful this world would be if those who confessed Christ would display this devine love and obey the commandment given us by our savior;"To love one another as I have loved you". It is in love and with love that we will be able to come together as one unified body of Christ, and with one loud voice proclaim Gods love to a Dying world, Jesus the Christ, God's so love to a dying world, the power of God unto salvation!

A Compassionate Saviour

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.

Show your Love

John 14:15 " If  you love me, keep my commandments".

"Yes Jesus loves me cause the bible tells me so". Yes we all know that God loves us, "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". But I ask the question do you truly love Him?With our lips we do honor Him ,but it seems that our hearts sometimes are far from Him.We tend to live our lives based on His love for us, more than our love for Him.

If we love Jesus ,we will keep His commandments. Obedience is not optional for believers.Jesus stated a simple fact that must be clearly understood."If  you love me you will keep my commandments. Jesus is not giving an optional commandment,"If you love me then (optional)keep my commandments. He is saying that the man who truly loves Him will keep His commandments.So for the born again believer there is no option.He loves Jesus ;therefore,he keeps His commandments.In this we the true believer is not claiming perfection,but we are claiming to love Jesus and to believe with all our heart that Jesus is the Son of God.Therefore we must diligently seek Jesus,and seek to please Him in all that we do.To Love Jesus is not an emotional thing.It involves emotions but it is not based on emotions.It doesn't change according to the situation.It is not a rational or mental commitment.It involves the mind but it is more than deciding and following some rules.To love Jesus is a matter of the heart and the spirit.It is a heart thing, from the intermost being of man.

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(devotion)upon God by giving and receiving the love of God. That we give all we have and are to Jesus Christ for him to do as he will.We deny ourself, 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.So I ask you again "Do you truly love Him". 

Wake Up Church!

Matthew 26:40 " And he cometh unto the disciples,and findeth them asleep,and said unto Peter,What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

We have been called to go out into a dying world and proclaim the good news of salvation. In fact Jesus instructed us to"To go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."It is by the truth of our testimony,and our witness of God's revelation to mankind, that a dying world will know there is a Saviour,who is Jesus the Christ, but church we've got to wake up.

In our text Jesus asked  His inner circle to watch and pray while He went to the Father in prayer.Church He is asking us, His inner circle to watch and pray while He is away with the Father,preparing a place for us.We are to watch over and pray for the lost souls which He died.And church let us not be sleep when He returns.Let us wake up to the needs of this dying world.Wake up to the truth of God's word. wake up to the fact that it is not about us,or where we worship, the denomination to which we belong, the pastor or bishop we sit up under or even if we are saved or not.We need to wake up to the fact that it is about Jesus Christ and Him crucified,and the need for a lost world to hear this good news.

Jesus came back to find them sleep.Will He find you sleep when He returns, or will He find you watching and praying.Church there is a dying world counting on us to share with them that which God so gracefully shared with us.Let us wake up and do our part that none be lost.Let us tell all that we see that Jesus Christ is the way..

Belief! It's An Action Word

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 the Lord 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.