Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Angelic Announcement

 Luke 2:13, 14
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Angel: messenger, delegate

From the Greek word 'aggelos' (pronounced ang'-el-os). Spiritual beings created by God to serve His plan, convey His messages to people. They are servants and attendants of the Most High God. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 134 and 136

Praise: praise, laudatory discourse

From the Greek word 'ainos' (pronounced ah'-ee-nos).

To laud is to:

1. To praise, honor, or exalt in words or song.

2. To praise in words alone, or with words and singing; to celebrate; to extol.

3. Laud is from the Hebrew word 'shabach', which means 'shout'. 

Romans 15:11

And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 

Psalm 98:4

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Such a wondrous birth needed a wondrous choral announcement. "The Lord is Here! Shout praise! Sing of the glories of God! that such an unusual event is taking place! Come and See! Come and Worship! Your King is born!"

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST

AWESOME GOD by Carman

Glory, Honor, Renown, The Unspoken Manifestation of God, Splendor, His Infinite, Intrinsic Worth (Substance, Essence)

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

AND ON EARTH PEACE

WONDERFUL PEACE by Don Moen

God's Gift of Wholeness, One, Quietness, Rest, When All Essential Parts Are Joined Together

John 16:33

Psalm 85:8-11

8. I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.

9. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.

10. Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

11. Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN

In Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2107, the two-word phrase "good will" reads as "God's good pleasure requires something is done through His work of inbirthing faith. Good or beneficial to men (meaning all of mankind, including women; for the Word is not just for some but for All). 

Kindly intent, Delight. 

Ephesians 1:9, 10

9. And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ

10. as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

PROCLAMATIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

Psalm 111:1

Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

Psalm 118:26

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Luke 

Luke 19:38

"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Luke 10:36

He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

John 12:13

They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

HOSANNA medley 

Have you heard the good news? A Savior has been born! He saves us from our sins, from all our unrighteousness. He saves us from death and the grave and hell. For this purpose God sent His Son to this dark earth: to reveal the Light of God's Holy Love to all men everywhere. 

Can you see His Light? Rejoice that Jesus is here! SHOUT to the LORD all you people! Truly we sing, with the heavenly host, and all the people who have gone before us, "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!" 

Our hearts ring out with JOY. The cry of our hearts is, LORD SAVE US! and He does. Have you cried out in the night for God to come near? He's right there. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Sweet, sweet Name of Jesus. Hold me in Your arms that I might not wander from You. 

Let's walk this last little bit of our journey together, hand in hand, side by side. 

 

Intelligent Worship -- Seek God -- Part 2

 Now that we recognize the Authority of the One True God, we earnestly desire to know Him better, so we Seek Him out, craving with all our hearts to hear His voice more clearly, that we may understand His Word more readily.

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 11:9-10

So I tell you: 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. 

In Isaiah 55 it is the Lord God Who is speaking. From verse one all the way through, we read and hear the Lord God speaking to us: from the promise to the warning to the reward. 

The Lord God will not always be found for one day He will not only pull His church from the face of the earth, but His Holy Spirit will leave, too. He will be sought by many who waited to long to surrender their hearts and their decision to believe in Him will be at the cost of their lives. 

Revelation 14:14-20

They who do not take the mark of the beast will be made to suffer and be killed for their decision. Many will refuse to take it and not still not believe the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. But those people who do believe will be added to the growing list of martyrs whose names are written in the Book of Life (Revelation 17:6). 

You know, once you start reading Revelation it's really hard to stop. Seeking the Lord is fulfilling to the heart and the spirit of me, as it surely and hopefully is to you, too. 

David wrote in Psalm 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" To 'taste' here means 'to perceive, to know, to examine by tasting' in small quantities at a time to the goodness of the Lord. 

Synonyms for 'taste': Perceive, Discern, Savor (upon the {spiritual} tongue); Understanding, Desire, Heart; Appreciate, Have Knowledge Of. 

When I seek God, I want to know more than I already know. I started studying deeply before I became a minister of the Word. Just reading my Bible every day wasn't enough: I had to know, I craved the meat of the Word because I was growing up in Him exponentially. I still am. Some days I run, some days I walk, but every day I am in the Word. It is as much a part of me as breathing is. 

Philippians 1:20-21

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. or to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Today's Word -- Strive

 Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

Strive here in Luke 13:24 means "to endeavor with strenuous zeal to obtain something (your goal)".

The root word of "strive" is agon, which means struggle against, contend with; from which we get the word 'agonize'. While one definition of agonize is 'to distress/suffer with extreme pain/anguish'.  another definition is 'to put forth great effort of any kind'. It is this word that defines what Christ was going through when He prayed in the garden before His trial and crucifixion (Luke 22:44). And again in 1 Timothy 6:12 when the believer 'fights the good fight of faith'. 

Are we putting forth great effort to enter the narrow gate? Are we endeavoring, exerting, with strenuous zeal (eagerly desiring, enthusiastic diligence) to obtain that which we desire: entering the strait (narrow passage, isthmus) gate?

We must persevere in our daily walk with Christ to be the kind of Christian, Christ-follower, that God wants us to be. That narrow passage, that strait gate, is only wide enough for one person to enter into at a time. While many walk it, making the decision to follow Christ is done on an individual basis. 

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord? A simple question requires a simple response: YES or NO. If you answer YES, then you are already on the holiness road that leads to the strait gate. If you answered NO, then you are walking the broad way that leads to the wide gate which opens into eternal destruction -- Matthew 7:13.

We must Strive, persevere, be determined to trust in the Word of God and follow where He leads us. We cannot let distractions lead astray. Have you ever read Pilgrim's Progress? Great read. 

Being a Christian isn't easy. It's not supposed to be. But every decision to be Christ-like is worth ​the effort when we choose to believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus 

Today's Word -- Good

 

LUKE 18:19

“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone."

The word 'good' has different descriptive meanings in the Bible. In this verse Jesus questions how the rich young ruler referred to Him. With his question (vs 18), the young man recognized Jesus' authority (by calling Him Good Teacher) but failed to recognize Him as Lord. 

Jesus' response is classic. Since only God is good, how did the rich young man know that Jesus is good? I don't think he consciously knew. The question is asked for all generations to know the answer: Only God is Good. We know that God is our heavenly  Father, God is The Son, and God is The Holy Spirit. Only God is Good. 

This word 'good' used here means inherently, intrinsically good. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, this word 'good' means "describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their/our/my life, through faith. And not just any faith either. Faith that is given by God to the born again believer when they/we believe. Empowered faith originates in God. We know this because: Only God is Good. 

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

******************************************************

    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. 

      

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.

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

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. 

The Blessed Event

      There are no Christian holidays. There are two days we as Christians should celebrate: the day we are born-again into the kingdom of God and the day we die. Both are celebrations of Life Eternal, a truly blessed event. 

     That being said, tradition has ingrained in me the desire to celebrate stolen holidays, like Christmas and Easter, though I no longer call it Easter (to me and many like me Easter is now Resurrection Sunday). And while our children are grown and our nest is empty, Christmas is the one holiday I do really get into. I love finding just the right gift for a person. I love the way faces light up, if I get to see them open their presents. I love the, "Wow! Thanks" I get when an unexpected guest or two show up and are handed a gift. I love giving, for that is how I express my love for my family and my friends at Christmastime.

     Christmas is a shortened word meaning "Christ's Mass" the term a Catholic priest gave it when the church was empty during the winter solstice. (see Britannica: Christmas origins for more).

     I made the mistake with my first born son of leading him to believe Santa was a real person, because that's how I grew up. Big Mistake. Because when he was old enough to go school he was informed Santa was not real. And I had to explain the symbolism behind it. I did not make that mistake with the next two. I raised them on practicality and Jesus' birth. 

     But if you look at the setting of the story of the nativity, the Word was not born in the wintertime. It rains in Israel during the winter months, most of the time. Mary being nine months pregnant would not have ridden any animal on the journey. I imagine Joseph being a carpenter would have handy a small cart of some type and size. There Mary would be able to travel better. 

     On the night of Christ's birth, it wasn't raining. We know this because a star like no other shone in the night sky, big and bright and unusual enough to draw people to the stable, a dark cave-like place where the animals were penned in. 

     Angels suddenly appeared in a clear night sky where shepherds were out in the fields guarding their sheep. In the wintertime these same shepherds would have been closer to home and the sheep would have wintered safely in stables or larger buildings. But on this night they were out in the fields. 

     We don't need to know the date of Christ's birth. It is enough that we know He died on the cross, that His blood washes away our sins when we repent, that God forgives us when we seek His forgiveness, that Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of the grave into eternity. It is enough to know that Jesus Christ stands at the right hand of His Father interceding on our behalf. It is enough that the precious gift of God, the Holy Spirit, fills us with power to preach the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is enough that this same Holy Spirit leads us and guides us through a life lived according to God's Word. 

     That's my Christmas. That's my Jesus. That's what I celebrate. Every day of my life. 

     Do I wish you a Merry Christmas? Do I say Happy Holidays? How am I to greet people now? What should I say? 

Happy Joy of The Lord to you. And what response might expect? The same back to me with joyful exultation. Happy Joy of the Lord to you!!

Luke 15:10

Ecclesiastes 7:1

Luke 2:1-20

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-11

John 3:16-17

Acts 2:1-41

Galatians 5

Being Wise

 

And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

Contemplate this: are we the wise or the shameful? Will we go into everlasting life or everlasting contempt? How can we know now? 

Are we leading people to righteousness, telling people about the saving grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ? That’s being wise. 

Are we saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died on the cross? Who bore our sins upon Himself? That’s being wise. 

What is wisdom? Listening to and Obeying the Word of God with joy and a merry heart. Not with anger, nor accusative words, but with Love, with Patience, with Mercy. We are to treat one another with Grace and with Peace that passes understanding in this world. 

We must ask ourselves, “Am I being wise?”. Am I honoring God with my words and my works? Am I telling people about my Jesus, testifying what He has done for me? Am I a fruitful servant? Am I even saved in this manner, by the blood of Jesus Christ? And if I am not, how can I know that I am?

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.

Some live on the false hope, false belief that sin is not real and salvation is not necessary. This is foolishness and definitely not wisdom. Wisdom comes from God. True morality and knowing right from wrong is having the wisdom of God.

Romans 3:22-23

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.

Romans 3:10, 18

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23

23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

8. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

13. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:1

1. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

And that’s how you can know you are saved, that’s how you can know now whether or not you are being wise or being shameful. So, again, the question is put forth: are we, are you, am I, being wise? Am I leading my family, my friends, my enemies and the strangers I meet daily to righteousness? Am I telling them, you, about my Jesus? Have I told you lately what Jesus Christ has done for me?

He saved me. He filled me with His precious Holy Spirit. He walks with me daily and all throughout my day. He talks with me, tells me things I need to hear and know. He lives in my heart, cleaning it out and making more room for His glory. My Jesus loves me. My Jesus died for me so I wouldn’t be sent into everlasting contempt. My Jesus feeds me with His daily Bread and quenches my thirst with His Living Water. My Jesus both satisfies me and gives me a hunger to know Him more. 

This I want for you. But only you can make that decision. I can pray for you. But only you can make your choice. Do you want to go to heaven? Or do you want to go to hell? Hell is not a pretty place. It is not a land of endless parties, nor is it a nothingness. Hell is hot. Hell is ugly. Hell is a place where you are never happy, never satisfied.   If you are selfish in this life, your selfish attitude goes with you to Hell. You can’t leave Hell after you die, so praying for this to happen after a person dies without Jesus Christ is foolishness.

Luke 16:19-31 is the parable of the rich man and the beggar.  Here we learn what Hell is.

23. It is a place of torment. 

24. It is hot and fiery.

26. It is separated from Paradise by a great chasm which none can cross, nor can anyone leave Hell. 

We have six senses in this life. Some work like they’re supposed to, some don’t. Whether we are in Heaven or Hell, we will have all six and they will all work.

Sight

Hearing

Touch

Smell

Taste

Knowing

How do we know this? Again, read Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:23

Torment is felt (touch)

Luke 16:23

The rich man could see Lazarus in the distance.  

Luke 16:24

Though he had never seen him, the rich man recognized (knowing) Abraham right away (sight) and in his selfishness begged for the poor man to tend his needs. He was hot (touch) and thirsty (taste) and in agony (touch).

The sense of smell is implied because the man was burning and whatever is on fire smells like it is on fire. It’s not a good smell when it’s a person. 

A person can speak and hear in Hell, for the rich man spoke with Abraham and heard (hearing) Abraham’s response. 

As nasty as it is to choose to go to Hell, Hell will not last forever. But this is not good for those who choose to go there either. 

Revelation 20:14-15

14. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

15. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

That’s Hell and Hell’s destination. Why would anyone in their right mind choose to disobey God and go to Hell? We can only have a right mind if Christ is in us and we are in Him. This comes through believing on His name, 

Mark 5:9, 15, 18-20

9. "What is your name?" Jesus asked. "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."

15. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

18. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. 

19. But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” 

20. So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

The man who was put in his right mind went back home and began to tell his family and friends about what his Jesus had done for him. He was being wise and fruitful. 

I am in my right mind. Though the world calls me crazy, God calls me His child. Though people call me odd and radical, Jesus calls me friend. I am being wise. And it is my prayer that I continue to be so. I want you to be so, too. I pray Ephesians 3 over your life. I pray the Romans Road to Salvation into your hearts and minds. I pray the Word of God bless you and make known to you the true Love of God and that you come into the knowledge of saving grace. 

 

The Lord Is -- Month of October

 

ELOHIM AZAR

GOD IS MY HELPER

Psalm 54:4a

Surely God is my Helper...

Psalm 37:24

Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.

Psalm 41:12

In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

JEHOVAH GADOL

THE LORD IS GREAT

Psalm 145:3

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praise; And His greatness is unsearchable.

Romans 11:33

O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!

Psalm 48:1

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

HAGIOS

HOLY IS HIS NAME

Luke 1:49

For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy Is His Name.

Psalm 71:19

Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?

Psalm 111:9

He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.

Leviticus 19:2

"Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy."

1 Samuel 2:2

There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God. 

JEHOVAH ELOHIM SHEMESH MAGEN

THE LORD GOD IS SUN AND SHIELD

Psalm 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

Revelation 21:23

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Isaiah 60:19-20

No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. 

Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.

SHEMESH TSEDAQAH

SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Malachi 4:2

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

Isaiah 30:26

The light of the moon will be as bright as the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter--like the light of seven days--on the day that the LORD binds up the brokenness of His people and heals the wounds He has inflicted.

Isaiah 60:1

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you