Little Is Much When God Is In It

 

Excerpt from Hy Pickering's 1,000 Acts and Facts as quoted in Treasury of Gospel Gems Volume IV by Theodore W. Engstrom, Zondervan Publishing House ca. 1946:

GIVE OF YOUR BEST

William Colgate, a name now world famous in connection with soap, left home because the family was so poor. He started for New York City and on the tow path an old canal boat captain asked him where he was going, and had a word of prayer with him. When they arose from their knees, the old captain said, "William, what can you do?" "Make tallow candles and soft soap," he replied. "Well," said the captain, "give your heart to God and ten cents out of every dollar you earn, and maybe God will make you a great soap maker some day." Young Colgate did this, and then increased to fifteen cents on a dollar and then to twenty-five and on up until he was giving half his income to God's work. Before he died, it is said, he gave his entire income to carry on God's work in the world. 'Give, and it shall be given unto you.' Luke 6:38

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    And again, in Matthew 25:29 we read this: 'For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.' Young Mr. Colgate took what he had been given and used it for God's glory. The more he earned the more he gave away. This is God's math. Our Wednesday night Bible Study touched on this subject.

     2 Corinthians 9:7 says we are to be happy about giving to God's work: 'Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.' What appears to be foolishness and nonsense to the people around us is merely logical, reasonable and common sense in God's kingdom. 

     Luke 16:10 'Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.' Everything we have comes from God. Are we being faithful with the little we have been given?  Are we using our 'very little' to grow God's kingdom? 

     Just remember: we cannot out-give God. Whatever He gives us, He expects us to use for His glory and His honor. When we do that, use our talents and gifts for Him, then He promises to bless us mightily. And we can start today. 

      

Cornerstone

 

1 Corinthians 3:11

 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 28:15-17

For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”  So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place. Your covenant with death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled by it.

2 Corinthians 11:4

For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.

Psalm 118:22

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:19-20

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 

1 Peter 2:4-8

As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed. 

As stated yesterday, regarding 1 Corinthians 3:10, there is only one foundation on which the gospel is founded and that Foundation is Jesus Christ. Christ is not only our Foundation, but the Chief Cornerstone on which we, God's house, God's dwellingplace, God's temple, are built. 
     Being born again is more than believing it's knowing. Faith in God through salvation in Jesus Christ is stronger than mere faith in God. Mere faith in God believes God is real but refuses to live according to His Word.  Faith in God through salvation in Jesus Christ compels a born-again believer to live according to the Word. We are not forced into doing so, we do so because we love Him who first loved us and proved it by dying on the cross in our place. 

     The Lord Jesus Christ is my Foundation, my Rock, the Cornerstone of my faith, of what I believe. Can you say this? And if you can't, wouldn't you like to? All you have to do is believe that Jesus Christ is LORD. And live that belief according to how God's Word says to live in Christ and Christ live in you. Simple faith.

The Power of The Cross

Craftsmanship

 

1 Corinthians 3:10

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

Romans 12:3

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

Even though it is Paul speaking here these verses still apply  to the born-again believer who shares the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

But when we build (preach, teach, encourage), we must build on that foundation properly: with the Word and nothing else. Whatever books we read or teach from must align properly with the Word of God or not be used at all. No false teachings which do not align with the Word of God. The Spirit makes this known to the faithful believer. 

Our building, our house, must be built on The Rock and not on sand. Our work has to make it through the storms of life. 

Matthew 7:24-27

“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great and complete was its fall.” 

Proverbs 10:8

A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

Proverbs 12:7

The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the house of the righteous will stand.

We should want to be the house of the righteous. Are we? Are you? Am I building (preaching, teaching, encouraging) according to and in the Word of God? Yes, yes I am. 

Am I receiving the faithful True Word of God from others whose preaching I listen to? Yes. Am I hearing the Truth of God's Word from teachers I listen to? Yes, yes I am. Am I being encouraged by the faithful and encouraging others through and by the Word of God? Yes, I am. 

Be the wise heart. Be the house of the righteous. Build in righteousness. Build in Truth. Build with Wisdom, with Love, with Truth. Be built up according to the Truth of the whole Word of God and you will stand when the storms hit you head on.

Weaponized

 

2 Corinthians 10:4

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Jeremiah 23:29

"Is not MY WORD like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that smashes a rock?"

Ephesians 6:10-18

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 

Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].

So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH (personal integrity, moral courage) AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart),

and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].

Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD.

With all PRAYER AND PETITION PRAY [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] IN THE SPIRIT, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.

Our weapon is the WORD OF GOD, not our opinion. We think THE WORD when we contemplate It, when we study It, when we meditate on It. We breathe THE WORD when we speak it aloud, not just in our hearing, but in the presence of others. 

We live THE WORD when we believe THE WORD. Our actions and our speech define who we are and where we stand. 

THE WORD OF GOD is JESUS CHRIST. John 1:1-4. 14 He is not only our Savior, Friend and Teacher, He is our Example. He is the FirstFruits: 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.

 THE WORD OF GOD is powerful: Hebrews 4:12 'For THE WORD OF GOD is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.'

Only with THE WORD OF GOD thriving within us will be able to be the people of God we are called to be: Christians, Christ-followers, Word-speakers, Spirit-filled servants of the Most High God. Without Christ we are nothing. But with Christ we are everything because He is our Everything.  

 

 

A Consecrated Life

 

2 Corinthians 7:1

  Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God. 

Having been saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, we still have an obligation to work with God's Holy Spirit to become a holy people, as God commands us to, for holiness or the lack thereof is not an option. 

1 Peter 1:15, 16 is quoting Leviticus 11:44 when he says, But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” While becoming holy is not something we can do on our own, we still have daily decisions to make concerning becoming holy. Give in to temptation or Just Say No. Every time we say no, and rebuke the devil for trying to lure us away from our goal of becoming holy, we are that much nearer to accomplishing a set apart lifestyle. 

Proverbs 20:9 asks us, 'Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?' The answer? No one. Jesus makes our heart clean. The Holy Spirit makes us pure. Leviticus 20:7 'Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.' We choose to be set apart, sanctified for God's purpose in our lives. 

Psalm 51:10 'Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.' A prayer each of us should be making every day of our lives. A request to be made clean and a request to be made right. 

Isaiah 55:7 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.' This is revival. A revitalization of the soul, turning one's back on sin and turning one's face to the LORD. And God will have mercy on the one who does this. 

Proverbs 8:13 'The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward (twisting words, perverse, fraudulent) mouth, do I hate.' Isaiah 35:8 'And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it--only those who walk in the Way--and fools will not stray onto it.' This highway is designated to be built when King Jesus sets up His millennial reign, but the shadow of this Highway is the Way (John 14:6) in which the Christian to walk every day until we are called home or Christ returns to get His Bride, the Church who has faithfully followed The Word. 

Some folks have grown up singing an easy to remember song in Sunday School, O Be Careful Little Eyes, which was an action song by The Cedarmont Kids in 1995 that helped us to remember it, especially when we were the teachers.  Oh the trouble we could have saved ourselves if we had only remembered it before we chose to sin against God! 

O BE CAREFUL LITTLE EYES 

O be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little eyes what you see

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little ears what you hear

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little tongue what you say

O be careful little tongue what you say

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little tongue what you say

O be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little hands what you do

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little feet where you go

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little heart whom you trust

O be careful little heart whom you trust

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little heart whom you trust

O be careful little mind what you think

O be careful little mind what you think

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So, be careful little mind what you think

So, be careful little mind what you think

While you may think this is 'only a children's song', you are wrong. Once we give our hearts to God and begin to follow Christ, we are responsible every single day, all throughout our day, to make wise choices and be obedient to God's Word. Yes, we will fail and stumble, but we must repent of our wrong decision and seek to do what is right in God's eyes, not our own. 

At The Cross

 

We all come to the cross eventually. And to the Man Who hung there. But what do we do when we get there? 

Pilate labeled Him. Matthew 27:Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Some who came to the cross merely read the label Pilate gave Him and immediately rejected it: John 19:20 Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 

Two thieves, one on each side, saw Him hanging there, but only one acknowledged Him as Lord: Luke 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 

Some who passed by spoke evil words against Him, not fearing God, slandering Jesus, giving profane voice to the evil of their hearts: Matthew 27:39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads. 

Some spoke sarcastically to Him: Matthew 27:40 And they said [tauntingly], “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself [from death]! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

The chief priests, the scribes and elders came to the cross, looked up at Jesus and spoke mockingly (ridiculed, contemptuously, derisively) to Him: Matthew 27:41-43 In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Some who came to the cross heard His voice but lacked the interpretation: Matthew 27:46-47 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.”

Some who were at the cross were given new family members: John 19:25-27 Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home. 

The soldier standing at the cross saw Jesus for Who He Is: Luke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

When I came to the cross, I saw Jesus for Who He Is. I recognized my need for a Savior. I repented of my sins, received His forgiveness and began to live a new life in Him. Not a perfect life just yet, but newness of life given through the power of God's Holy Spirit, bringing me into His family as His daughter. 

When I came to the cross, I fell on my knees and wept before Him. He wiped my tears away, brushing shame from my face. When I came to the cross, I stepped into the blood which had pooled there and let it wash over me as I walked through it and stepped beyond the cross into a resurrected life. Death has no power over me now; it is but a door, a single breath. And then, like the thief who admitted his wrongdoings and saw Jesus as Lord, I, too, will be with my God and my Christ for ever and ever.

And you? What did you do when you came to the cross? Have you come to the cross even yet? 

AT THE CROSS 

--Isaac Watts 1707--

1 Alas! and did my Savior bleed,

and did my Sovereign die!

Would he devote that sacred head

for sinners such as I?

2 Was it for crimes that I have done,

he groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity! Grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,

and shut its glories in,

when God, the mighty maker, died

for his own creature's sin.

4 Thus might I hide my blushing face

while his dear cross appears;

dissolve my heart in thankfulness,

and melt mine eyes to tears.

5 But drops of tears can ne'er repay

the debt of love I owe.

Here, Lord, I give myself away;

'tis all that I can do.

Separated

 

2 CORINTHIANS 6:17

"Therefore come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. "Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

Separate: to set boundaries, to set or place apart

Matthew 25:31-35, 41

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'

Revelation 18:4

"Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues." 

If we don't separate ourselves now, the LORD God will separate folks later. A conscious decision has to be made to commit one's self to a life lived according to God's will and God's purpose for us. 

It is not that we 'cannot' do what we used to do before we got saved, it's that we choose not to do what used to do. Nor do we want to do or be what we got saved from. We want to live a separated life unto God.

 Sin separates a person from God. Sin is unholiness. Sin is unrighteousness. Sin is disobedience to God's Word. To die in sin is to be forever, eternally, separated from God. There is no changing one's mind after death. And a person cannot be prayed into heaven by another after death. The decision to follow Christ must be made this side of heaven, this side of eternity, this side of breath.

Today is your day of salvation. Today is the day you give your heart to God. Today is the day you surrender your bodies as living sacrifices to God. Today is your day to believe that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. Today is your day to be filled with God's Holy Spirit and begin to live a life changed because today is the day you get saved. 

God Dwells Within The Believer By Faith

 

2 CORINTHIANS 6:16

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them, and will walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people."

Dwell: inhabit one's personal dwelling/residence, indwelling, dwell within, settled in

Exodus 25:8 "And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them."

Leviticus 26:12: "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people."

Jeremiah 31:1 ""At that time," declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people."

Ezekiel 37:27 "My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people."

John 14:23 "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

Romans 6:16 "Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?" 

Romans 8:9 "You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." 

God lives in us through our faith in Him by the power of His Holy Spirit. It happens when we believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. We cannot clean out our hearts by ourselves and make ourselves presentable to God, nor can we expect to remain in His presence for all eternity if sin is present in us. For God is holy and His holiness demands a holy people, a holy sanctuary, a holy temple, a holy dwellingplace.

So, when we believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord, God moves in, Christ moves in, the Holy Spirit moves in. This is God's promise to us. In John 17:20, 21 Jesus prayed for us: "I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

That the world may believe that God has sent His Christ (Anointed One, Messiah), JESUS, "Yahweh Saves" "Yahweh Is Salvation" to be the Savior of all mankind. Me. You. That guy that just pulled out in front of you. The cashier who's having a bad day and takes it out on you. Your grouchy next door neighbors. Your parents, siblings, children, cousins, etc. All mankind is predestined (Ephesians 1:4-6 "For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.") for salvation through Jesus Christ, but not all will be saved. Why? Because it has to be our choice. We have to make a decision now whether or not we will believe God's plan of salvation or dismiss it as folly. This decision has to be made while we have breath in our bodies and the ability to make a conscious decision to believe. After death it is too late. 

When we believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord, God enters our heart through the power of His Holy Spirit. This is a beautiful even that is only possible by faith. When we believe, God places a measure of faith within us, which allows Him to enter the door of our heart (Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone should hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.") and begin to clean up the sins that have taken root in our hearts. 

God is a gentle God: He waits to be asked by us before moving in and before moving on our behalf. Yes, His holiness demands a holy people, therefore He makes us holy when He makes sin leave: He washes us in the blood of His Lamb Jesus Christ (Revelation 5:9 "And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.") 

Do you believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord? To day is the day to make that decision. 

The Readiers - Now Is The Time

 Luke 1:17 "And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 

Background on John the Baptist is found in Luke 1:1-16, but every time a mature Holy Spirit-filled Christian shares/preaches/teaches the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ that person becomes a Readier, too. We, the believers, are the Readiers preparing people for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Mark 16:15 "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." 

It takes power to share Jesus with anyone and that power comes from God who gives us His precious Holy Spirit who empowers us with Himself to speak the Truth of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Acts 1:4-5 "And being assembled together, He instructed them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father: "That which you heard of Me; For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

And wait they did, men and women both (Acts 1:14), for the Promise of God to be fulfilled: the outpouring of His Gift, His Holy Spirit. 

Acts 2:1-4 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately]."

Acts 4:31 "After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

Peter was one of those who received the Holy Spirit and He began to proclaim the gospel immediately to those who were gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. But he also shared the gospel with Gentiles (non-Jews), where the message of repentance, forgiveness and salvation was well received. And these, too, were baptized in the Holy Spirit upon their belief:

Acts 10:34-48 

"Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.

Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days."

We have nothing to fear when we believe the Truth of God's Holy Word and are filled with His Holy Spirit in these last days, last hours, before the Church is taken out of this world and this world is judged. Now is the time to believe and receive. 

Now is the time to kneel before God and repent of our wicked ways, to turn away from a sinful lifestyle and live a life of grace and mercy, a life that mirrors Christ to others. Now is the hour to receive the Holy Spirit into our hearts and lives, that He may empower us to live a godly life and share the gospel to everyone around us, just like I'm doing right now. 

For now is time to rise up in worship, praise and thanksgiving to God for who He is and for what He's done for us. Now is the time to speak the name of Jesus with joy and in His love. Now is the time to bow not only our heads and our knees, but our hearts, to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Now is the time to offer Him all that we have to give: ourselves: our bodies to His service, to do whatever He calls us to do in His kingdom. 

Later will be too late. Tomorrow is not promised. There is only To day. There is only Now. 

CityAlight-Praise And Worship

Uncommon Belief

 

2 CORINTHIANS 6:15

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

Belial is the name of a demon and another name for Satan. An unbeliever is one who has heard the gospel and refuses to believe it, who is unpersuaded after hearing it, who rejects God's inbirthings of faith. 

A believer is one has become convinced that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the Author of salvation. Galatians 3:9 "So then, those of faith are blessed along with the believing Abraham." 

A believer works faithfully alongside Christ in the field of service to which that believer has been called to serve. 3 John 1:5 "Beloved, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, and especially since they are strangers to you." Romans 12:13 "Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality." Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith." 

A believer does not compromise their faith to 'keep the peace'. We are not called to ride the fence, but to choose a side: we choose to believe that Jesus is God's Christ and that we are to share this good news with everyone we meet or interact with on some level. Not everyone is called to serve in a foreign field as a missionary, but we are called to serve where God sends us: our homes, our workplaces, our cities/towns/villages, our governments, our schools. 

A believer seeks God's face: Psalm 27:8 "You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”"

A believer seeks God's kingdom: Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." 

A believer lives a life of faith, trusting in God for every need: 2 Corinthians 5:7 " For we walk by faith, not by sight." Proverbs 3:5, 6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

These are but a few of the things a believer does. Many more are written in the Holy Bible for you to read and see for yourself. If you don't have a Bible, I pray you receive one. If you are not yet a believer, I pray you see the Truth of God's Word and receive the faith He is ready to place within your hearts. 

Judgment Begins Here

 1 Peter 4:17 "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?" 

 Luke 12:47 "That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows." 

James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." 

Stop gossiping about sin being judged in other churches and start praying about it,  about your own church, your own self. Seek forgiveness for our own sins against God. The time is coming and even now is here when we must prepare for the coming storm of fire and judgment against those who have heard the Word and done nothing with it: not believed it, not accepted Christ as Lord, not acted upon the hearing of the Word. Even in our churches. 

We, the believers, are responsible for what we believe. We are responsible for first living the gospel, then sharing the gospel with everyone we are led to. We are responsible for being faithful witnesses, ambassadors for Christ. 

We, the believers, are accountable for the words we speak. These words must be spoken in the love of Jesus Christ, with the power of the Holy Spirit leading us, guiding us. These words must be used to encourage and lift up those around us, even in rebuke, love must be present. Even in discipline, words of love must accompany the actions taken. 

We are accountable for the words we don't speak. There are times we must remain silent, even as our Lord and Savior remained silent before Pilate. He didn't bite his tongue, nor did He fight any urges to speak in His defense: He merely remained silent before him who was judging Him. 

We, the believers, will be judged by God for our lack and our sloth. Our lack of compassion for they who are lost in sin and dying without Christ when we could have spoken up but chose not to. Our sloth, our unwillingness to serve in the fields to which we have been sent to work, will be judged by God. 

We who believe had better fall to our knees and repent now before we are called to judgment and held accountable for our actions/inactions and words/silence. Even me.