The Desires of The Heart - Death vs Life

 

Romans 13:14

But put on The Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

The desires of the flesh lead to death. The desire of The Lord leads to Life Eternal.

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 26:12 My feet stand on level ground; in the congregations I will bless The LORD.

Level ground is a place of divine righteousness which only God can lead us to and help us to walk on and stand in. It is a unique quality which God's leaders have which enables them to lead God's people righteously. But it must be maintained on a daily basis, moment by moment. We must be 'teachable' by God. If we are not ready to hear what God has to say, then we are not teachable. We must place ourselves in a teachable manner: we must submit to His authority and surrender our will for His will. God is, after all, our Creator; the created who submits to what The Creator wants, will be blessed in doing so. Listen to the voice of The Spirit of God. It is very distinct. And He speaks with the tongue of Love. He guides. He leads. He teaches. He reveals. He discerns. He convicts. He applies The Word of God to the teachable heart.

    When The Word of God is written on our hearts at the moment of belief, we begin to be teachable, for now Christ Jesus has taken up residence within us and begun to clean house in us. Too many people use the thief on the cross as an excuse not to allow The Holy Spirit to change them. They're wrong.

    But he was dying and he knew, as he watched this Man of God die on the cross beside him, that this Man was indeed The Son of God. He knew that he himself was a sinner who needed a Savior, and before Jesus stopped breathing, the thief recognized Him as Lord (Teacher, Master, Savior), asking only that Jesus remember him when He comes into His kingdom. Not as simple a request as it sounds though.

    "Remember me." David wrote in Psalm 25:7 "Remember me according to Your mercy, because of Your goodness, O Lord." God spoke to Israel in Isaiah 43:25, "I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more." David again writes, in Psalm 106:4-5, "Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation, that I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, and rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, and give glory with Your inheritance."

   "Remember me," says the dying thief. Don't forget me when You come into Your own kingdom, Lord. Don't remember my sins. Cover me with Your salvation. May my soul prosper in Your kingdom. With one word, "LORD", the thief knew himself as sinner and Jesus as Savior. He knew He needed forgiveness (because he knew that he deserved this death he was suffering in {Luke 23:41}) and Jesus gave it to him [Luke 23:43]. It is enough, Lord, that You remember me.

    "When You come into Your kingdom." Can Jesus' kingdom be limited to a 'where', or a 'what'? No, for Christ's kingdom is where He reigns. The dying thief spoke in his new faith in Christ, for his Lord to remember him when He came into His kingdom. When The Spirit applies The Word of God to the teachable heart, King Jesus not only takes up residence there, He sits on the throne of our hearts. When we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, we call for the abdication of Satan from the throne of our hearts.

    When Jesus spoke in John 14:1-3, He spoke of preparing a place for those who follow Him. The place which Christ is preparing for us is both literal and spiritual. He literally prepares our hearts to receive Him and He is preparing a spiritual destination for our souls. It takes more than a dustrag or a mop and bucket to clean our hearts.

    With His gospel message of repentance and salvation, He prepared The Way of Holiness in which the believer begins his or her walk of faith. With His blood on the cross, He made it possible for the believer to gain access into The Holy of Holies, the eternal presence of God; which until then could only be accessed once a year by the high priest. Now Christ is our High Priest, and it is only through Him that we can see God and live.

    With His ascendancy into heaven, Jesus intercedes for His people on their behalf with His Father. We pray, we talk to Jesus, and Jesus talks to His heavenly Father. [Hebrews 7]. Romans 8:34 " Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us." He is in His kingdom.

    And in His kingdom, all nations, all powers, all principalities must acknowledge Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords; whether they want to or not. [Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9-11]. He is at the right hand of God. [Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3; Acts 2:33]. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. [Daniel 7:27; Psalm 145:13].

    As Joshua informed the people of Israel, and as the thieves on the cross spoke their final words, the decision must be made by each of us in our lifetimes, "Choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve The Lord." Though the dying thief could only speak for himself, the decision was made and his desire granted. "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."

    

It Is Written - Speak The Word

 

It Is Written

    Words that force The Word of God to remind the enemy of God that GOD IS and THERE IS NONE OTHER. That His Word is powerful. And strong enough to repel every attack which is come upon His people. 

It Is Written - House of Prayer

    Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

    A reminder to God's people that we are His houses of prayer.

~MESSIANIC PROPHECY~

It Is Written - Numbered With The Transgressors

    Luke 22:37 "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, 'And He was reckoned among the transgressors': for the things concerning Me have an end."

    Many prophecies concerning the coming Messiah which had been written by the prophets were being fulfilled in Jesus' time because He Is The Messiah. Events which foreshadowed His life and His mission are written in The Old Testament. For example, when Adam and Eve sinned the first sin, blood had to cover their sin. So, the first physical death was an animal of God's choosing. I think it may have been a young lamb; simply because an unblemished, perfect lamb had to be sacrificed at the temple to cover the sins of the people every year. And we know that Jesus is God's perfect Lamb (John 1:29). 

~CHRIST'S TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS~

It Is Written - Man Lives By Every Word of God

    Matthew 4:3. 4 The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are The Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

It Is Written - Do Not Tempt God

    Matthew 4:5-7 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt The LORD your God.’ ”

It Is Written - Worship God 

    Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ”

    When Satan, the devil, tempts God's people, we can rebuke Him with The Word that is within us, for Christ Jesus lives in us by faith in His Name. We cannot let hunger of any kind, or hopelessness in any situation, or fame, greed get inside our hearts, for we would lose the righteousness of God. We must stand firm in our faith in The Word of God, filling our hearts and our minds with every Word of God which He speaks to us. 

~FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD~

It Is Written - God Frustrates The Intelligent

    1 Corinthians 1:19, 20 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. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

It Is Written - The Righteous Live By Faith

    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.”

It Is Written - Christ Came to Be The Ultimate Sacrifice For Sin

    Hebrews 10:7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ”

It Is Written - All Will Be Taught By God

    John 6:46 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

    Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

    Proverbs 2:6 For The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 

    John 8:47a Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. 

    Do you hear the words of God? 

    

Prayer Cards - Persistence

 

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

persistent in prayer.

    Persistence in prayer is not an uncommon happening in Scripture. Throughout the New Testament, we are encouraged to approach God faithfully, believing that He not only will answer our prayers, but that He already has. 

    According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, persistence means:

• to be earnest towards
• to persevere, be constantly diligent (to a thing)
• to attend assiduously all the exercises (in a place)
• to adhere closely to [as a servitor] (to a person)

    Earnest: resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction; serious-minded

    Persevere: persist, continue, carry on; continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success

    Diligent: steady, earnest and energetic effort; painstakingly

    Assiduously: with great care and attention to detail

    Adhere: stick fast to; believe in and follow the practices of; represent truthfully and in detail; cling to; hold fast; bond with, to

 

    Persistent prayer is when we are more than thankful for our many blessings. It is praying to God even in the face of danger (Daniel). It is more than an obligation, it is a loving  communication between God and us. God loves to be asked: He will not barge in where He is not wanted. 

    Revelation 3:20 God knocks on the door of our hearts and waits to be let in

    Acts 1:14 pray in one accord [with one mind, united in thought]

    Acts 6:4 give ourselves continually to prayer

   1 Corinthians 15:58 be steadfast and immovable

    Colossians 4:2 continue [earnestly] in prayer, being watchful and thankful

  Let us join together in the unity of The Spirit and pray, that God's perfect will be accomplished in each of us and in His church. 

The God of Our Salvation, My Salvation

 EL YESHUATENU   

(pronounced  ale yeh-shoo-ah teh-noo)

The GOD Of OUR Salvation

EL YESHUATI

(pronounced ale yeh-shoo-ah tee)

The GOD of MY Salvation

God desires to save everyone. 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be The Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our Salvation! Selah. 

But He also desires to have an ongoing daily personal relationship with each one of us, individually. God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, both collectively (all of us) and individually (each one of us, the whosoevers wherever we are). 

Isaiah 12:2

Surely God is My Salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For The LORD GOD is My Strength and My Song, and He also has become My Salvation. 

Romans 10:11

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 

Romans 10:13

For, “Everyone who calls on The Name of The Lord will be saved.”

1 Peter 2:6

Therefore it is also contained in The Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 

Though He calls nations to repent and turn to Him, God also calls each person within that nation to turn away from living a sinful life and live a holy life in Him and His Word. But He's not asking us to do this alone: He gives us His Holy Spirit to lead us through a deeper walk, a deeper understanding of Who God Is and what He wants from us. 

We just need to talk to God and ask The Holy Spirit to lead us. 

TALKING TO JESUS

SPIRIT LEAD ME 

Statements of Faith - I'm A Whosoever

 

JOHN 3:16

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

ROMANS 10:13

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

WHO ARE THE "WHOSOEVERS/WHOEVERS"?

Revelation 22:14 and 17 tell us they are the people who have washed their robes; who have had their sins washed away by the blood of God's Lamb Jesus Christ. 

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. 

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

1 John 5:11, 12

And this is that Testimony: God has given us Eternal Life, and this Life is in His Son.  Whoever has The Son has life; whoever does not have The Son of God does not have life. 

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.

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by The Holy Spirit. This is The Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 

John 6:40

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees The Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 5:24

Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

Romans 10:13

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

1 Timothy 1:16

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. 

    I'm a whosoever. (Romans 10:13). I am a sinner saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Back in my youth I lived for the pleasures of sin: I overdosed and died at least once, but God brought me back: it wasn't my time yet. I am a delivered blackout alcoholic. I say delivered because when God filled me with His Holy Spirit, I no longer desired the taste of alcohol, and the smell of any of it was nauseating. So I knew that God had delivered me out of it. 

    Before receiving this Spirit of Discernment, I was gullible: I believed lies told to me and acted upon them. But God. But God filled me with His Love and His Wisdom and I began to realize I am not a stupid woman. I am intelligent. I can do the things I was told I could not do. I am not who I was, nor am I yet who I will be. I am a 'work in progress' because God is still working on me. I am a whosoever.

    Wouldn't you like to be a "whosoever", too? This is only an example of how to pray. Be honest and truthful and sincere when you talk to The Almighty God of heaven and earth. He already knows your hearts: He just waits for us to open the doors of our hearts and invite Him in. (Revelation 3:20)

Dear Lord, 

I admit I am a sinner. I am sorry for the sins I have done against Your Word. Forgive me and wash me clean. Fill me with Your precious Holy Spirit and lead me in Your Ways, that I might glorify You with my thoughts, my words, my behavior and my actions. 

Thank You, Father God, for coming to rescue me from that which would have destroyed me. Thank You, thank You, thank You. 

I praise You and worship You, Lord God. May my every breath be a testimony of Your saving grace. 

In Jesus' Name,

Amen. 

LIVING HOPE  - Abigail Ginsterblum 

THERE IS A PLACE - Nathaniel Bassey

SINNER SAVED BY GRACE - Gaither Vocal Band 

The Fruitbearer

 

JOHN 15:5

“I am The Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." 

    What is a fruitbearer? A person who testifies about God's redeeming grace through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. If only one person receives Christ into their hearts through my actions, then I am a fruitbearer. It might not look like my little branches are heavy with fruit, but if that one person shares Jesus with another person, then that new person is added to my fruitfulness. And I want to be fruitful. Which means I'm not going to stop sharing the love of God in Christ with everyone. 

    Proverbs 11:31 tells us, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." I want to be a soulwinner for Jesus. I want to tell you that once I lived a selfish, self-centered life; living only for the moment and the thrill. Once I thought I was living the good life, but it was only a shadow life. For the good life is only available through Jesus reckoning on the cross, through the blood He shed for us: He atoned for our sins, that we who believe would be forgiven when we repented. And repentance is an absolute must. 

    When Jesus began to preach the gospel, His first words were, "Repent, and be baptized." (Matthew 4:17) That same message came to and through each of His disciples. For example Peter states in 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." 

    What is this gospel message which we are compelled to share with everyone we interact with? Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, given to the world to save each person in it, if they would believe that He is Lord and follow in His ways. (John 3:16-18). Repentance is to make a conscious decision to deliberately stop living a sinful life and learn to live a holy life according to God's Word. 

    To be baptized in water is to make a public confession of the faith we are now professing; speaking aloud the Word of faith which is in us. (Romans 10:8-11). To be baptized in The Holy Spirit is to understand that without The Spirit living in us as well, it is impossible for us to live a righteous and holy life that we must endeavor to live after receiving Christ into our hearts.  We need both baptisms. 

    Even now, I urge you, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, please come to Jesus today. Your soul is in immortal danger, for the soul exists forever: some will exist in hell and after hell is destroyed the lost souls will exist in an eternal lake of fire from which there is no escape. Some souls will exist in heaven, in the eternal presence of God forever and ever, praising God and singing with the angels. But the decision must be made this side of eternity. There are no do-overs after we die. 

    COME TO THE ALTAR

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART

    GIVE ME JESUS

WELCOME HOLY SPIRIT 

Pardoned & Sanctified

 

Psalm 32:1

A psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Maschil: an instructive, didactic poem (didactic: intended to teach moral instruction)

Transgression: breach of trust, rebellion

Forgiven: to lift, carry, take away

Sin: *from the ATS Bible Dictionary* Any thought, word, desire, action, or omission of action, contrary to the law of God, or defective when compared with it.  Contrary to the nature, worship, love, and service to God. Ungodliness, iniquity/unrighteousness. In Genesis it is referred to as "the flesh". 

Covered: to cover over as to not be seen again, to clothe

    When we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, our sins are forgiven, for the blood of God's perfect Lamb, which was shed on the cross, covers our sinful nature--through the power of God's Holy Spirit--and clothes our souls with the righteous nature of Christ Jesus. 

    Romans 13:14 But put on The Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. 

    Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 

    Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of The Father, we, too, may walk in newness of life. 

    Which brings us to being sanctified. In his letter to the believers' church in Rome, Paul was giving his references, his qualifications, for being the one who would bring the gospel message to the Gentiles--the non-Jews--ethnicities unrelated to the Hebrew culture.

Romans 15:16 ..to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by The Holy Spirit. 

Sanctified: made holy, consecrated, set apart, dedicated, hallowed, to separate

    It is the work of The Holy Spirit in us to make us holy. It is our job to listen to Him and obey The Voice of God when He speaks to us. And God does speak to us. In His written Word and in the nudgings of His Spirit within us. In prophetic tongues through His people God reveals Himself. The Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us in God's Word on a daily basis, when we read what the prophets and the apostles have written thousands of years past. We just need to believe that God's Word is True and Faithful. 

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS - Alan Jackson 

WORD OF GOD SPEAK - MercyMe

    

  

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 - The Seed of Abraham

 

ROMANS 9:6-8 

It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” (Genesis 21:12). 

So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, 

but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. 

    Like Abraham, I have not seen Jesus, The Promise, face to face. But also like Abraham, I believe God and that God's Word is Faithful and True. (Revelation 21:5).

 I believe that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, that He is God's only begotten Son (John 3:16) Who died on the cross for me and rose from the dead ahead of me. (1 Corinthians 15:20). I have called upon The Name of The LORD for my salvation. I acknowledged my sins and my iniquities and my transgressions to God and God forgives me and calls me His own. (Romans 10:9-13; John 1:12). 

    By grace am I saved through faith in The Name of The LORD. (Ephesians 2:4-10). 

Acts 15:11

 "On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of The LORD Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be The God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

    There is no better time than now to give your heart and surrender your life to God through Christ Jesus than now, today. So, we say, Come. Come to the altar upon which the sacrifice of God was laid and see Jesus on the cross dying for you and I. Come to the garden and see the empty tomb where He had lain, for He is not there: He is Risen!

    Come and be baptized into His Name and be filled with His Holy Spirit that you, too, may walk in the strength of The LORD forever. Come, let us go and see Jesus. 

I FEEL JESUS - Carman

COVERED - Planetshakers

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD  

I Am Christian's Closet

 

ROMANS 13:14

But put on The Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

    I am Christian's closet and I am empty. For everything Christian needs to clothe himself or herself is already on the body. It is a conscious decision to choose to clothe one's self in Christ. 

    It is a daily commitment to be arrayed in the salvation of Jesus Christ as outlined in Ephesians 6:10-20. For every piece of armor and equipment is on the body and in the hand. 

    My head covering is a helmet of salvation and I am wearing multiple crowns; not golden crowns, for one gold crown is heavy enough in itself. Christian wears the crowns of victory which are light and fragrant. These crowns do not sit in Christian's closet but on Christian's head:

One crown is imperishable (1 Corinthians 9:25).

One crown is eternal life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).

One crown is God's Lovingkindness (Psalm 103:4)

One crown is the anointing oil reserved for the high priest who could enter the holy of holies (Leviticus 21:12).

One crown is God-given glory and honor (Psalm 8:4,5).

One crown is  knowledge given to the wise/prudent (Proverbs 14:18).

One crown is righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).

One crown is souls won for Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:1; Proverbs 11:30, Jude 3, Ephesians 6:12).

One crown is beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3). 

    I am Christian and my garments are many. 

    The garment which covers my skin is the righteousness of Christ Jesus. This goes on before any other pieces of clothing. Without the blood of The Lamb of God covering Christian's nakedness all other attempts to clothe one's self are vain and destructive. 

Therefore, as Paul writes in his letter to the church in Rome, "Put on The Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the lusts/desires of the flesh." In other words deliberately and with careful thought pursue a life of holiness, following The Spirit where He leads us as we keep near to our Lord and Savior. 

    Atop this garment of righteousness Christian places his vestment of love and righteousness. It is akin to a thick leather tunic,  which protects Christian both on the front and the back. A belt of Truth holds the tunic in place and keeps Christian on balance, unwavering. 

    Knowing that The Word of God is The LORD Jesus Christ we see that Christian has both Sword and Shield, two items one might not ordinarily deem articles of clothing. But since we know that Christian is dressed in Christ, then we now know that Christian's hands are the hands of Christ, as well. When Christian raises his hands, he raises Christ up and God is glorified. When Christian pushes his hands out in front of him, it is Christ defending Christian, it is as if the blood of Christ were pushing back against whatever and whoever is coming against Christian. 

    I am Christian and I wear a garment of praise. I have traded it for the garment of despair I used to wear before the moniker Christian was given to me (Isaiah 61:3). This garment is like a cloak, covering all of me from the neck to the ankle. It is protection in and of itself to me, for in this garment of praise is my GOD. This I know because The Word tells me that GOD inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). There are hundreds of verses throughout the Holy Bible and Scriptures which remind us that we are to Praise The Lord God not just every day but throughout our day and even our nights. 

    

    In Christian's closet is an empty shoebox. For on Christian's feet are the only shoes he will ever need to wear: the preparation of the gospel of peace. These shoes strap on to the foot first, then over the ankle and up the calf. To hold the straps in place is a leather greeve which will protect the shin and calf. Now Christian is fully dressed and ready to greet the day. 

    Wherever Christian steps he steps on the lies of Satan. Though the sting of death came through Satan's actions, the victory over death comes only by the death and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ. Christian has this victory. Christian will only taste death for death will have no power over him. And so the folly of Christian's antagonist(s) becomes their undoing. For the power of The Living Word of God, which is strapped to Christian's feet and legs has overcome and  destroyed that which has tried to destroy him. 

 

    I am Christian and my closet is empty because I am fully clothed in the garments which my Lord God has given me.  

JESUS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS - John Mark Pantana

COVERED - Planetshakers

OIL OF YOUR SPIRIT - Lindell Cooley

GARMENTS OF PRAISE - Robin Mark

UNDER MY FEET - Zach Williams

YOUR LOVE DEFENDS ME - Matt Maher

I Am Christian's Heart

ROMANS 10:10

For it is by believing, in your heart. that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

I am Christian's heart: in me lives The Word of God. 

1 John 4:15

All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.

    I am Christian's heart and The Word declares that I am wise: Ecclesiastes 7:4 "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure." A wise heart tells people about Jesus and His gospel of saving grace. 

Proverbs 11:30 "

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." 

1 Corinthians 9:19 "Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."

    I am Christian's heart and The Word tells me that I am broken: Psalm 34:18 "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit (repentant heart)." 

Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." 

    I am Christian's heart and I have hidden His Word in me: Psalm 119:10-11 "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You." I am hid in God's heart, too. John 17:20-21 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You have sent Me." 

    I am Christian's heart. In me and through me the love of God moves. I am able to love like God because The Love of God lives in me: It thrives because I feed It with adoration and worship. I can love people because I love God and He loves me. He chose me to live in. 1 John 4:7-11

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; an devery one that loves is born of God, and knows God.

He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 

In this was manifested (revealed) The Love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him (John 3:16-17).

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

    I am Christian's heart. Jesus Christ called me to open my door and let Him enter into me. Just like He's calling you to open the door of your hearts and let Him live in you, too: Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come in to them, and will sup with them, and they with me."

MARANATHA WORSHIP 70's & 80's 

THE GOSPEL - Ryan Stevenson

ABIDE IN ME - Andrew Marcus

SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL - Rivers & Robots 

MY PORTION - Isla Vista 

I Am Christian's Mouth

 

PSALM 34:8

O taste and see that The Lord is Good! Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

    I am Christian's mouth. With my tongue I taste The Word of God, discovering both Its sweetness and bitterness. It is with my mouth, speaking what I believe in my heart, that I am no longer a sinner lost in sin but a saint saved by grace: Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Hebrews 6:4 tells me my tongue has tasted of the heavenly Gift (John 4:10) while Ephesians 2:8 tells me that this heavenly Gift is Salvation through Jesus Christ. This is what Grace tastes like!

    My lips are clean now. Before I came to Christ I was a wretched sinner and my lips were very unclean. I recognized my need for spiritual cleanliness and The Lord touched my lips with His fire, burning away the filth that covered them, as He did for Isaiah -- Isaiah 6:5. Therefore, because my lips are now clean I am able to speak clearly The cleansing Word of God. 

    I am Christian's lips. My lips -- Proverbs 20:15 -- have knowledge. But not just any knowledge: the knowledge of The Word of God. Proverbs 3:13-35 describe both the blessings of Wisdom and the ruination of those who choose to be unwise. There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. In Him is wisdom and through Him is understanding. 

    My lips praise God -- Psalm 35:28. Psalm 71:23 confirms to me that my lips SHOUT for JOY! and the next verse brings me back to my tongue: "My tongue will indeed proclaim Your Righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded." Psalm 35:28 

    With my lips I kiss The Son -- Psalm 2:12. This means that I worship Him with everything that is within me. A kiss is more than two lips meeting, it is the signing of a contract between two people, as on the day they are wed. Though a kiss can also signal betrayal, as Judas did when Christ was arrested. But when I kiss The Son I am signaling my arrival in His presence. I am so filled with Joy to be near my Savior that I cannot contain myself and am compelled to sing His praise, declare my adoration for Him and throw myself at His feet in utter worship.

    I am Christian's mouth. And I am glorifying God with it. I sing His praises.

Psalm 109:30  give great thanks to The Lord

Psalm 89:1  make known His faithfulness

Psalm 66:17  His praise is on my tongue

Psalm 59:16 sing of His strength

Psalm 71:8 filled with His praise all day long

    Plus so many, many more waiting for you to search out in His Word for yourself, as I have and still do. I am Christian's mouth and I'm hungering and thirsting after The Lord to be filled with His goodness. 

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE - Phil Wickham 

TASTE & SEE - John Mark Pantana 

     

The Lord Is Mine

 

THE LORD IS MINE 

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved.

I am a whosoever. 

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want (lack). 

Isaiah 40:11  He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

John 10:11  “I am The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."

I am His sheep because I am a whosoever. The Lord is Mine. Is He your Lord? Are you a whosoever? Do you want to be a whosoever? 

It's really very simple. 

A=Acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, that He was buried and then rose on the third day. 

B=Believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Read The Word every day and study it for yourself. Never take it for granted that what someone is telling you is in the Bible is really in the Bible: people lie to benefit themselves and to keep others from knowing the valuable Truth that is found in God's Word. 

C=Confess our sins to God and ask His help to stop doing those things He says not to do and to do the things He wants us to do. This is called repentance. Continuing to trust God every day and being faithful in our daily walk is a process called The Holiness Way. For us to grow in Christ everyday we need God's Holy Spirit. We need to ask Him for guidance on how to live a righteous life now while we have breath that we may see God and live when we die. 

This is the basic alphabet of salvation in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 "Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 

These are the verses we read and understand to know that we are sinners who need saving. Make no bones about it: we are ALL sinners. If someone says they have never sinned, they are a LIAR, for God's Word is Faithful and True and He tells us that we are ALL sinners, we ALL need Jesus to save us. Would you rather be a fool or a saint?

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:6 But God commendeth His love His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 That if you confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ~ For whosoever shall call upon The Name of The Lord shall be saved. 

Isn't it time for you to be a whosoever? 

NO OTHER NAME 

BELONG TO YOU 

The Name of The Lord

     SALVATION IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

    Joel 2:32

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on The Name of The LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as The LORD has said, and in the remnant whom The LORD shall call.

    Romans 10:13

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

    Acts 2:21

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on The Name of The Lord shall be saved.

    THE NAME OF THE LORD IS 

SAVIOR

     Isaiah 45:17

But Israel will be saved by The LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will not be put to shame or humiliated, to ages everlasting.

    

DELIVERER

    Romans 11:26

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

     

REDEEMER

    Isaiah 59:20

"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the LORD.

    Titus 2:14

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

NO OTHER NAME

    Acts 4:11-12

This Jesus is ‘The Stone you builders rejected, which has become The Chief Cornerstone.’ Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

IN THENAME OF THE LORD IS 

FORGIVENESS

    Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in The Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of The Holy Ghost.

WHOLENESS

    Acts 3:6-7

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

UNITY

    1 Corinthians 1:10

 Now I plead with you, brethren, by The Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

STRUCTURE

    Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in The Name of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

POWER

    John 20:31

But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is The Christ, The Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His Name.

    Acts 10:43

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

JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL (IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU) - Stuart Townsend

AT THE CROSS (LOVE RAN RED) - Chris Tomlin

YOU ARE HOLY - Andrew Hopkins

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU - Lenny LeBlanc

    Why does anyone ever run from the only Name that can save us? For we do, indeed, need saving. Our souls are in grave danger on a daily basis. It is the soul - how we think, how we emote, how we act- that is eternal. Whether that eternity is death eternal or life eternal, the soul will live beyond this life. 

    We are only fooling ourselves when we turn our backs on God. God sees us. God knows us. He waits for us to turn to Him; He is not forceful yet, nor is He pushy. God is gentle and patient (longsuffering) and merciful. He waits for you to come home. The welcome mat is always out...for now. There will come a time, a day, when it will be too late to make a commitment to trust in God, to believe in God, to follow Jesus Christ. Don't let your souls see that day come to you. 

    My Mother prayed for you as she lay dying. She prayed for the salvation of her family: her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren; her sister and brother and their children and grandchildren; her husband's siblings and their families throughout their generations. Salvation is the only thing she prayed for. We prayed together. It is the first and the last time my Mother and I ever prayed together. We prayed for you. 

    Now, it's up to you to make a decision. Do you choose Christ Jesus, The Only Begotten Son of God, The Lamb of God? The only God Who died for you and rose from the dead? or do you choose to follow dead gods who died and never came back from the grave?  

    In The Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST is LOVE. He is The LOVE OF GOD personified. He is The Glory of God personified. He is The POWER OF GOD personified. IN THE NAME OF THE LORD IS THE NAME OF THE LORD. 

ROOFTOPS - Jesus Culture