Faithfulness of God - 2 Timothy 2:13

 

2 TIMOTHY 2:13

If we are faithless, He remains Faithful, for he is not able to deny Himself. 

    To be faithless is to not believe God, to deny God as God. But God cannot deny Himself, for God is not a man that He should lie about Himself (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Titus 1:2). 

    God keeps His promises. All other gods are made up from the imaginations of evil men but God is GOD: always has been, is even now and always will be. God is not a fickle God, changing His mind on a whim just to make things unpleasant for people. 

    His laws and precepts within His Word are unchanging, remaining the same. As His Word was in the beginning, so, too, it will be in the end. For His Word is The Beginning and The End. (Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 41:4) 

    The promises of God are Faithful and True, Yes and Amen. (Revelation 19:11; 2 Corinthians 1:20). The promises of God to His people come by their faith in God, to trust God at all times in all circumstances: we are the people of faith in God; we are the seed of Abraham. Hebrews 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (Romans 9:8). 

    The promises of God are many. According to BibleInfo.com there are over 3500 promises given by God in The Scriptures. And all these promises of God are TRUE and FAITHFUL promises. While many are still ongoing, all are fulfilled in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:19, 20 "For The Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but has proved to be “Yes” in Him [True and Faithful, the divine “Yes” affirming God’s promises]. For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God." 

    What God promises to one He promises to all. In The Book of Deuteronomy in The Old Testament (Deuteronomy 28) God outlines who receives His blessings and who receives His cursings. That has not changed. While some of God's blessings are for all, such as rain, only those who remain faithful to God will receive all of His blessings. And they who remain in denial of God, who refuse to believe that GOD IS, will most definitely receive all of His curses. 

    As people of faith, it is our obligation therefore to reach as many people as we can and tell them by our words and our actions of the change which God has wrought in us through the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We are duty-bound, for we have died with Him and are resurrected with Him: we are a new creation in Christ. That old sinful, sinfilled life we used to live we live no longer. Now we live in Christ and Christ lives in us. 

    We're reaching into the fire (Jude 1:23), we're shining the light of Christ in us into the darkness of this world (Matthew 5:16), that men and women, boys and girls, everywhere may know the LOVE of GOD is in The Promises of God, the Faithfulness of God. 

FAITHFULNESS - Maverick City Music

HEART OF MY HEART - Charlie Daniels

      

Bless The Lord - Psalm 103

 

PSALM 103:2
Bless The LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

What are the benefits with which God blesses us, as listed here in Psalm 103 by David?

GOD FORGIVES US
v3 He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,
v4 Who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with lovingkindess and compassion,
v5 Who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
v6 The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
v7 He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.
v8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.
v 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

v 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.

v11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

v 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

v 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so The LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

GOD REMINDS US OF OUR FRAGILITY

v 14 For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.

v15, 16 As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.

GOD SHOWS US MERCY IN HIS KINGDOM

v 17, 18 But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of The LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—o those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

v19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

SO WE BLESS THE LORD GOD

His Angels Bless Him

v20 Bless The LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.

His Mighty Armies Bless Him

v21 Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will.

His Creation Blesses Him

v22 Bless The LORD, all His works in all places of His dominion. Bless The LORD, O my soul!

BLESS THE LORD - Matt Redman

GOODNESS OF GOD - Bethel Music

The Faithfulness of God

 

 

    While there are only a few verses describing the faithfulness of God, there are many instances in The Bible telling us of God's faithfulness. But, first, what does the word 'faithfulness' really mean? 

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #530 (faithful, faithfully, faithfulness, responsibility truth): firmness, steadfastness, fidelity

Dictionary: 

• Firmness: the quality of having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure
• Steadfastness:  the quality of being resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering:
• Fidelity: faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support 

    So we can see that the faithfulness of God is unyielding, unwavering and true. While our faithfulness on the other hand is sadly lacking at times. We try but fail Him so many times. Yet, in His grace and mercy, God still loves us and only wants us to keep drawing near to Him, where we find forgiveness and restoration. 

HEART OF MY HEART - Charlie Daniels 

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS - Austin Stone

    Of the more than one-hundred verses using the words 'faithful and faithfulness', thirty-five refer to God's faithfulness to us. The words 'faith and faithfully' are in reference to us and how we behave to God. 

    The first verse in The Bible that tells us of God's faithfulness is in Psalm 36:5

 

and the last verse referring to the faithfulness of God is in Revelation 22:6.

    But what about all those other verses referring to God's faithfulness? Today is just the foundation; the next few days are about the layers. 

Statements of Faith - 1 Peter 2:9

 

1 PETER 2:9

I am a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that I should show forth the praises of Him Who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous Light. 

CHOSEN GENERATION

    How are we chosen? By believing on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation. By repenting of my sins, iniquities and transgressions against The Word of God. By believing that God's Word is True and Faithful, that He fulfills His promises in His time. 

    We are chosen because we choose to follow Christ Jesus wherever He leads us; whether He leads us in the valleys of our lives or upon the mountains' heights. When He calls us to follow Him, we joyfully answer His call, running to meet Him, where He picks us up and holds us close to His heart. We are His sheep, His little lambs and we stay near our Shepherd. 

    Once we lived in the darkness of this world, too. Once we lived in rebellion, choosing to do things our way: selfishly and with only our interests at heart. But now, now we belong to God, choosing to live a life of honor and sanctification that we might be made pure and perfect in Christ. 1 Peter 2:10 "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

    He has promised that they who serve Him on this side of life will not only be blessed immensely now, but also be rewarded on the other side of life. 

Revelation 1:6 "And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.Exodus 19:6 "And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites." 

HOLY NATION

    Deuteronomy 7:6

For you are a people holy to The LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

     2 Thessalonians 2:13

But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by The Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of The Spirit and by faith in the truth.

   We are saved by faith in The Truth of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ and through the sanctification of The Holy Spirit. Though the thief on the hill with Christ came to the realization that Jesus was indeed The Christ, he had just enough time left in his life to do so. By his declaration "Lord, remember me", he acknowledged Jesus to be LORD and asked that his name not be blotted out. And Jesus brought thief to paradise with him. 

    A holy nation also honors its God by not only hearing what He has to say, but by obeying what The Word He speaks. 

PECULIAR PEOPLE

    Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine.

    Titus 2:14

He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

    We are God's people, His church, His possession, His congregation. We are set apart from all nations by choosing to be obedient to His Word and choosing His Love and Righteousness for us above all other loves and unrighteous thinking and actions. 

    When someone tells us, "You're weird, strange, crazy", it's because they have noticed your differentness, your born again-ness. As we should be: different, not like everybody else. Remember the teaching song, "One of these things is not like the other"? We are not like the other. We shine bright because our souls have been saved and The Light of Christ now lives in us. 

    The salvation of Christ upon us and the purification process of sanctification through The Holy Spirit cause us to continually praise our God for this wonderful thing He has done for us and in us. 

    Three hundred and three times the word 'praise' occurs in The Old Testament, alone. And in those three hundred and three times the word 'praise', at varying times, indicates different ways to praise. 

    Yadah: to extend our arms out in front of us or lift our hands up to our Lord 

    Halal: to boast in The Lord

    Shabach: to shout praise to The Lord 

    Tehillah: combination of all other words of praise to God 

    Towdah: sacrifice of praise - praising God in adversity

    Barouch: to kneel or prostrate one's self, to bow before The Lord

    Zamar: to play a musical instrument for God

7 WAYS TO PRAISE - Carman

NO LONGER SLAVES - Zach Williams
CHANGED - Jordan Feliz

HAPPY DANCE - MercyMe 

JESUS CAN - Austin French

LIVE LIKE YOU'RE LOVED - Hawk Nelson

    

    

Statements of Faith - Not Ashamed

 

ROMANS 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

    Romans 1:17

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Exodus 18:9).

    SENT TO THE JEWS (ISRAEL) FIRST

Acts 3:26

"When God raised up His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

    THE POWER OF THE CROSS

1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-24

(18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

(22) For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 

(23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 

(24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

    Without the mark of the cross (the atoning blood of Christ)  and the resurrection (born into a new life in Christ) upon the church (the born again believers who live a Christ-filled life) as a whole, nor without the baptism of The Holy Spirit dwelling within her (Comforter and Guide) and upon her (the power of God), there can be no unity in God's church, Christ's bride. 

Hebrews 9:22

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 

Luke 24:49

And behold, I am sending The Promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

True repentance is an acknowledgement and confession of our sins to God that we may receive His forgiveness. Without repentance (acknowledge sin in my life, confess my sins to God and stop doing those sins) there can be no forgiveness. 

Luke 24:47-48

(47) And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 

(48) and in His Name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 

Romans 4:25

He was delivered over to death (torture and the cross and the grave) for our trespasses (rebellions against God) and was raised to life for our justification (righteousness).

    

    CALLED TO SALVATION THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Acts 4:11-12

(11) This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

(12) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

Romans 5:6

(6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Acts 10:43

"All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name."

Romans 10:8-10

(8) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

(9) that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(10) For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

    I am not ashamed of being a Christian, a Christ-filled Christ follower. I am not ashamed of His gospel of salvation for it is the power of God saving me, changing me into His reflection, His image. For in the beginning when God created Adam, He created him in His image. And because He created Eve from Adam's rib, she became created in His image, too. 

    But sin entered in Eve's heart and she doubted the Truth of God's Word, causing her to eat the forbidden fruit, which she then handed off to Adam who also ate of it. Since then sin has reigned upon this earth and each person born has been born with the nature of sin within it. One of the first words we learn is "No", closely followed by a rebellious nature: doing what we want to do instead of doing what is best for us. 

    But God in His infinite mercy, which He extends to a thousand generations, made a Way for us to be forgiven and saved: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" 

I am a whosoever. 

WINDS OF WORSHIP 10 - New England Worship Songs - Vineyard Music

NO WAY, WE ARE NOT ASHAMED - Carman 

THE JOY - The Belonging Co

 

The Son of The Highest

 

HUIOS HUPSISTOS

(hwee'-os hoop'-sis-tos)

THE SON OF THE HIGHEST

LUKE 1:32

He shall be great, and shall be called The Son of The Highest: and The Lord God shall give to Him the throne of his father David. 

THE SON

Isaiah 9:6, 7

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of The LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Matthew 1:23 (referencing Isaiah 7:14)

“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

Luke 1:31

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His Name JESUS.

John 1:14

And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The only begotten of The Father,) full of grace and truth.

THE MOST HIGH/HIGHEST

Psalm 87:5

 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and The Highest Himself shall establish her.

Daniel 7:21, 22

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, Until The Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of The Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 

Psalm 47:2

For The LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. 

Psalm 78:35

And they remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. 

HE IS CALLED JESUS - Todd Agnew

Speak The Father's Word

     Want to hear something amazing?

John 8:28, 29

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up The Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what The Father has taught Me. He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”  

    Jesus could only speak what His Father spoke to Him BECAUSE HE IS THE WORD OF GOD. In the general population, most of us cannot speak what another is thinking. (On a side note, my husband and I have been finishing each other's sentences since we were dating.) But Jesus being GOD'S WORD can only speak GOD'S WORD! How awesome is that to read and understand! 

    John 1:14 tells us this and we know it to be TRUE: "And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The only begotten of The Father,) full of grace and truth." 

    And here in Luke chapter one we see that God placed His Word inside Mary's womb. She would be the only ever to carry The Word in her womb; the rest of us carry Him in our hearts and minds! 

    Luke 1:31-35 

(31) And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you shall call His Name JESUS. 

(32) He shall be great, and shall be called The Son of The Highest: and The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:

(33) And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

(34) Then said Mary to the angel, "How shall this be, since I know no man?"

(35) And the angel said to her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of The Highest shall overshadow you: therefore, also, that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called The Son of God." 

    And being God's Word He was indeed never alone! How could The Word go anywhere without God? For God's Word is God! Amazing. Grace. 

    We who believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for our saving grace are living in Christ Who lives in God Who lives in His Word which lives in us! I'm so excited! Such love is mine! Such grace is mine! Such joy and wonder is mine! 

SO IN LOVE - Isla Vista Worship

ANOTHER IN THE FIRE - Hillsong United

JESUS MESSIAH - Chris Tomlin 

Statements of Faith - I Am A Fruitful Branch

 

JOHN 15:4

Abide in Me, and I in you. 

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

 unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,

 unless you abide in Me. 

    Abide: remain, stay, wait (I wait for, I stay in, I remain with)

    How are we fruitful branches in Christ? 

• Matthew 4:19 When we follow Christ, He teaches us how to become 'fishers of men', how to draw people to The Light and Love of God's gospel of salvation.
• Proverbs 11:30 & James 5:20 Be a soul winner in His kingdom. Tell your testimony: what Christ Jesus has done for you, how He saved you and continues to walk your life's journey with you. 
• 1 John 3:24 Keeping His commandments causes us to be fruitful branches, for by doing so, we remain in Him and He in us. 
• 1 John 4:15 & Romans 10:9 Speaking out loud that Jesus is The Son of God shows they that hear us speak such Truth that God is in us and we are in Him. 

    What is a Christian's fruit?

• Our disposition, our character, our attitude - We are to have, cultivate and exhibit the fruit of The Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23.
• Our life and conversation - Live a life of love - Ephesians 5:2
• Our intentions, motives - Live a life of faith in God - 1 Timothy 1:4
• Honor God, do good - Live a life that is worthy of God's call - 2 Thessalonians 1:11 and Ephesians 4:1
• Be an example of what we say we are - Live a life that is worthy of The Lord - Colossians 1:10

    And now we must consider: are we, indeed, fruitful branches in The Vine which is Christ? If we are, we must endeavor to continue to do so. And if you are not, what are you waiting for? You have received a personal invitation to be seated in Christ and He in you which requires a personal response from you. Come, come to Jesus Christ and be grafted into The Vine. Today is your day of salvation. 

PROOF OF YOUR LOVE - For King & Country 

BUILD MY LIFE - Pat Barrett and Cory Asbury 

LIVE FOR JESUS - Evie Tornquist

Statements of Faith - Worth Dying For

 

JOHN 3:16

For God so loved the world (you and I) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Romans 5:8

But God commends (establishes) His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

    God thinks you and I are worth dying for. All He asks in return is that we live for Him.

    1 Peter 1:18-20

Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest (revealed) in these last times for you. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.

    Romans 12:1

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

    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 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved. 

    1 Corinthians 6:20, 21

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

    Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. 

    Philippians 1:20

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

     

    I, too, eagerly and with great expectations, hope that I will in no way be ashamed when I stand before God and He judges me for the life I have lived. Every day I pray that God will use me for His glory, to advance His kingdom in whatsoever way He chooses to do so. 

BUILD MY LIFE - Pat Barrett

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE - Phil Wickham

SPIRIT LEAD ME 

    

Statements of Faith - I Delight Myself In The Lord

 

PSALM 37:4

Delight yourself in The LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

SPEND TIME WITH HIM IN PRAYER

Matthew 7:7, 8

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Matthew 6:9-13 is an example of prayer that Jesus gives His disciples. 

(9) Acknowledge Who God Is and that He is holy, recognize that we are not, then 

(10) Receive His kingdom [Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38], Surrender and submit to His will [Romans 12:1-3; Psalm 63]

(11) Ask for and receive that which God desires us to have daily

(12) Ask for forgiveness every day for the sins we have committed and receive it, because we are forgiving those who have sinned against us (don't retain bitterness, don't hold grudges against anyone), knowing that God will forgive us as much as we have forgiven others [Matthew 6:14; Mark 11:25]

(13) Pray for strength to withstand temptations and be separated from such [Luke 22:40; John 17:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3)

MEDITATE IN THE LORD (ponder, think about)

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 104:34

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

STUDY HIS WORD

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word of Truth.

Ephesians 1:13

And in Him, having heard and believed The Word of Truth--the gospel of your salvation--you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 

Ezra 7:10

For Ezra had set his heart to study The Law of The LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER Casting Crowns

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD 

ANCIENT WORDS  Robin Mark

GIVE ME WORDS TO SPEAK Aaron Shust

Names of Christ - Skandalon Petra

 

SKANDALON PETRA

(skan'-dal-on pet'-ra)

    ROCK OF OFFENSE

As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumbling Stone and Rock of Offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Isaiah 28:16

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."

Romans 10:11, 13

It is just as the Scripture says: "Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame." ..... For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved.

GIVE ME JESUS - Fernando Ortega

MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS - A Hymn 

    Putting all my hope in a rock may seem strange to you, but this Rock is God's Rock. The Living Chief Cornerstone upon which all other living stones are built. This edifice cannot be toppled, nor can it be torn down. We have built our hope of eternity and salvation upon God's Rock. Though the storms of life may whip against this Rock and Chief Cornerstone with their angry, divisive winds, they will not prevail. 

    We live because Christ Jesus lives. We stand because Christ stands. We are steadfast and immovable because our Savior Jesus Christ is steadfast and immovable. 

    The One Who created all things is The One Who died for us. A sinless Lamb He took our place on the cross, bearing all of our sins upon Himself. A conquering Lamb He rose from the land of the dead, becoming our Victor over sin, death, hell and the grave. He walked out of the tomb and into our hearts. Because He is The Foundation of our faith from time immemorial. 

    In what or whom have you placed your trust, your faith? If it is anything less than the blood of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then you have erred and need to take a closer look at what God says and what you believe to be true. There is only one Truth and that Truth is JESUS CHRIST. 

ALL MY HOPE IS IN JESUS Crowder

    

Statements of Faith - I Am The Light of The World

 

 

MATTHEW 5:14

You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden.

    A Christian's life is more visible in the darkness of this world than any other. When we declare our differentness, we open ourselves up to be more carefully observed to see if we truly are living a different life than everyone else around us. 

    Are we living John 8:12 by faithfully following Jesus? In John 9:5 and John 12:36 Jesus told those who followed Him that He is the Light of the world BUT only while He was in the world. Before leaving He designated to His followers that if they really were following Him, they (the born again (John 3:3, 6) would become sons of light. We are filled with His Light because we have our Christ living in us! Wherever Jesus is, His Light is! 

    If we have Christ living in us and The Holy Spirit of God guiding us, then it will be impossible not to live a changed life, for our hearts have been changed and our mindset is being transformed day by day. When we remain in Him, breathing in and taking in His Word when we read it, change is inevitable. And change for the better, at that. 

    They who still live in darkness are changing, too. Except by refusing to see the Light of Christ, they sink ever deeper into the darkness of their comfort zones. It's scary becoming a Christian. Suddenly everyone you ever knew looks at you different. They know how you used to be, how you used to behave, how you used to dress, how you used to talk. The places you used to hang out you don't go to any more. You have a new hang out: the congregation of the saints. Wherever God's people are, you, the new Christian, are going to be found. 

    Your light is impacting their darkness. Some will be drawn to the light, like butterflies to nectar. Others will withdraw from the light that is in you, like shadows seeking the dark alleyways. Your light and The Holy Spirit within you reveals sin to them and convicts their sinful ways. All of a sudden, you are "persona non grata": unwanted and not welcome. 

    With such a Light burning in you and I it is impossible to not shine. A lighthouse on a clifftop is there to warn ships trying to sail into safe harbor that dangers lurks just ahead: hidden shoals, bulky rocks jutting out of the water or hidden just beneath it; reefs and cliffsides. In the thickness of fog or the darkness of night the lighthouse sends its brilliant beams of light constantly to prevent ships from crashing. So, too, does the faithful Christian. 

    We are the lighthouses of this world. Our Light is Christ Jesus. As long as we stand on The Word, our Lights will continue to shine. Even when we falter, and our light gets wobbly, we get back up again and raise our Light even higher that it may shine farther and wider. Our Lights travel all over this globe. And we will continue to shine until God either calls us home via death or raises us in the air via being caught up with Christ. 

NO OTHER NAME Planetshakers

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD Christ For The Nations

FIRE Eddie James 

FIRST THINGS FIRST  Consumed By Fire

 DRAW ME CLOSE TO YOU Michael W. Smith

GOD FOLLOWER  Steven Curtis Chapman

Statements of Faith - I Am Salt

 

Matthew 5:13

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

    Salty foods make a person thirsty. In order for the child of God to be considered salt, our witness and our testimony must be evident every single day of our lives for the rest of our lives. If nobody can see the changes God is wreaking in our lives; if our words do not match our actions, then our salt has lost its savor: it is useless. We must be on the alert at all times to remain in Christ as He remains in us. God's Word is alive in us and we are in a constant state of motion on The Potter's wheel. 

    Salt preserves. It prevents rot and disease. When we are filled with The Word of God, we are filled with the salt of it. We don't want to go to heaven alone. We urge and plead with you who are even yet unknowing of the wonderful grace which God has prepared for you when you enter into a committed relationship with His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming back soon for His church, His bride, to bring her to the heavenly home He has prepared for her (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Mark 13:32, 33; John 14:2).

    After Jesus had witnessed to the woman at the well, and His disciples returned with lunch, He was not hungry. When they questioned Him, His response was "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me and to finish His work." Being obedient to God's will is satisfying. And how did He finish the work which God had prepared for Him to do? John 19:30 "When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit." "It is finished" were the last words He spoke before He died on the cross. His work was done.     

    Our work, however, is not; for we are still here. We still preach the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to all nations. We preach this gospel in our homes with the love of God being manifested in us and through us. We speak love into the hearts of ur spouses and our children and our grandchildren. We speak Jesus into tired bodies, lonely hearts, distressed and despairing lives and broken minds. We speak the love of God into our neighborhoods and our communities and our cities. 

    We preach Christ crucified and resurrected, the first of God's children to do so. A great number which cannot be calculated have followed that first resurrection (Hebrews 12:1) and many more will follow. Our work for God is done in the love of God (1 Corinthians 13). Anything done in The Name of The Lord but not the grace and love of God is just empty words and wasted actions. 

    Our walk in Christ must align with Christ's steps. When you see Jesus in me, hear His loving words fall from my lips and see the grace which is upon me, then you will know that God has and still is changing me. And, hopefully, you will want this love and grace in your life, too. 

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

SUFFICIENT FOR TODAY - TRIBL 

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

LORD I NEED YOU 

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART LORD 

 

Statements of Faith - Purchased

 

 

ACTS 20:28

Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

    This is a gentle reminder to the church leaders not only to the church in Ephesus, but to church leaders everywhere even in this present time. For The Word of God is alive and ever flowing, like streams of living water flowing into His trees of righteousness, strengthening us and causing us to grow: in Him and in each other. 

    Jeremiah 3:15 tells us what the shepherds of God's people will be like: "Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."

    John 21:15-19 shows us how Jesus reinstated Peter into the twelve after Peter's denial and Jesus' resurrection. Through Christ's neverending love and mercy, He was able to reveal to Peter not only what his life was to be about, but also his death. 

    God wants His shepherds, His church leaders, to have hearts like His heart: to seek and to save the lost; to have and to show the love of God by our words and our actions; to have knowledge and understanding of God's Holy Word that we might be able to share It with His wisdom, His Holy Spirit, active in us. 

    Every born again believer has been purchased by God with the blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We are not our own: we have been bought from sin and its punishment at great cost: the blood of Jesus Christ. 

    Hebrews 9:14

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

    Matthew 26:28

For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

    This blood of my Jesus covers me. Now when I face God on my day of judgment, God will not see this fleshly body in which I currently dwell: He will see His Son and I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever. 

    What will God see when He looks at you on your day of judgment? 

Romans 10:8-10, 13

(8) But what does it say? “The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, The Word of Faith we are proclaiming: 

(9) that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(10) For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. 

(13) For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved.

    I am a whosoever. Are you?

    

SINCE YOUR LOVE - United Pursuit 

I AM NOT MY OWN - Keith & Krystin Getty

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD - Jars of Clay

COVERED - Planetshakers

Statements of Faith - I Am Redeemed & Forgiven

 

 

EPHESIANS 1:7

In Whom we have redemption through His blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of His grace. 

GRACE THAT IS GREATER - Don Moen 

    

    Psalm 130:7

O Israel, put your hope in The LORD, for with The LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance. 

    Acts 2:38

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of The Holy Spirit."

    Acts 20:28

Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which The Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. 

    Romans 3:21-25

(21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.

(22)And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 

(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(24) and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

(25) God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

    Acts 17:30

Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

REDEEMED - Big Daddy Weave

    Why do I talk about Jesus so much? Why would I ever stop? It's because of His grace that I am who I am today. Jesus redeemed us with His blood and forgave us with His grace. His redeeming power and transformative forgiveness set me on the path of righteousness and holiness, which I continue to walk in today. 

    It is an old path and a narrow one. Not everyone will choose to walk with Jesus; a mind-boggling thought and a sad one. But the constraints of holiness give freedom in the liberty of The Holy Spirit. Freedom from dark thoughts, freedom from every form of addiction, freedom from the chains of sin. Freedom  in Christ Who died for us. 

    God's people love to talk about their God and how He redeemed us with the blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We love to testify, tell about how He changed us from the sinful person we once were into the person He is transforming us into. 

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY   - Katherine Hankey

Verse 1

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;

It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

Chorus

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,

To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Verse 2

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems

Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.

I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;

And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

Verse 3

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat

What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

Verse 4

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.

And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,

’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.