A Crucified Life - - Answers The Calls of God

     

Isaiah 34:1

Come near, O nations, to listen; pay attention, O peoples. Let the earth hear, and all that fills it, the world and all that springs forth from it.

    Being Born Again means answering the calls of God on your life. The first call is to draw near, or come close to, God. Remember back in Genesis when Adam walked with God? He had to be near Him to do so. God would call and Adam would answer. At least, Adam answered until that time he sinned against God by disobeying His command, His Word. 

    And now, through Adam and Eve's disobedience, we were all inherently sinful by nature. We needed a Savior, Someone who could redeem us from sin back into God's grace. So God sent Spirit-filled leaders to His people to lead them back to Him. 

    He sent Noah, who preached for 120 years until the rains and the floods came. But the people wouldn't listen. So only Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives were saved. Everyone else died.

    He sent Moses, who led God's people out of slavery in Egypt nearly into the Promised land. But the stubborn, set in their ways older generations wouldn't listen. And Moses disobeyed God. So, neither Moses nor the elders of Israel entered the land which God had chosen for them. Moses, however, got to at least see it, though from a distance. Only the young generation believed God and even then, only some of them followed God faithfully. 

    He called Joshua to overthrow the giant people living in the Promised land. God called him to be strong and courageous, to overcome his doubts and his fears by being obedient to God's Word. To strengthen himself daily by meditating on God's Word. God reminded Joshua that his prosperity depended on His obedience. 

    God sent judges to deliver and lead His people between the time of Joshua's death and the beginning of the kings who would rule His people.  As usual, some were corrupt and some did well. But they could not atone for the sins of God's people.

    He sent Gideon (during the time of the judges), "you mighty man of valor", the youngest in his clan, which was the weakest tribe of Israel. He called Gideon to be obedient and do all that The Lord commanded him to do. And he did. He tore down idols and idolatrous altars. Gideon had an army of nearly 12,000 men following him into battle but God decreed there were too many. Through testing, God whittled Gideon's army down to 300. These men overthrew Israel's enemies. Little is much when God is in it. 

    God sent priests (ex. Eli, Samuel) and kings (ex. Saul, David) to direct and lead His people. Some priests and kings were disobedient and sinned against God. Then God called prophets to warn the God's people of the dangers of disobedience to God's Word. But God's prophets were ignored and killed. 

    Then God sent His Son, His only begotten Son. God filled His Son with Himself, His Word became flesh (mortal) and lived among God's people. His Authority was recognized upon His baptism when the Spirit of God settled on Him like a dove and God's voice spoke from the heavens, "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased." 

    But God's Son was not received either. Even at birth He was hated and people sought to kill Him. The devil tried to trick Him out of His birthright.. Jesus began to teach repentance and faithfulness to God: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." and "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." The time came soon that God's Son would be killed. It would be Satan's undoing. 

    God sent His Son, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world, that sinners like me would receive God's grace when I believed such an outlandish story; when I believed such a wondrous gift!. 

    We are all sinners. There are two types of sinners. There are the sinners who are saved by grace and there are the sinners who have refused to be saved by grace. What do I mean when I say, "I am saved by grace."?

    When I say, "I am saved by grace", I am saying that I believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son. I am saying that I believe He took my punishment and bore my shame on the cross. I am saying I believe He did that for me, that I might be brought near to God through His sacrifice. 

    It is as if I had done the worst crimes, was ready to be executed for my wrongdoings and then, behold! my brother steps up and says, "I'll take her place. Beat me. Torture me. Kill me. But leave her alone." That's love. That's what Jesus did for me. I am a sinner. But I am a sinner saved by grace. 

    And when I die, this sinner saved by grace, will enter the kingdom of heaven. While many will go with me and untold numbers await my arrival on the shores of the crystal sea, too many more will go to hell. Hell is the destination of the sinner who refused the gift of God's grace. It is neither lovely nor does it smell good. The unrepentant sinner has chosen to make hell his or her destination. 

    While God's heaven is eternal, the hell God created for Satan and his angels is not. Even hell will have an end and it will be worse than hell. If you are one of these sinners, we who have answered God's call to come near to Him beg you with open arms and tear-stained prayers to "Repent, and follow Christ." before it's too late. 

    Now is your day of salvation. Now is your opportunity to choose to be a sinner saved by grace and not a sinner unsaved by grace. Hear Jesus knocking at the door of your heart? Just say Yes to Jesus, Yes to Grace, Yes, Lord, yes To Your Will (repent and believe) and to Your Way (follow and obey). 

Called To Come Near  

Speak, O Lord - Keith & Kristyn Getty

Word of God Speak - MercyMe

Ancient Words - Michael W. Smith

God Has Spoken By His Prophets 

Love Is Kind - John Lucas

Song of Solomon - Martin Smith 

Sinner Saved By Grace - Gaither Vocal Band

 

A Crucified Life - - Dying Daily

 

2 Corinthians 4:10

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3500

Dying: a putting to death, a state of death

From the Greek word 'nekrósis' (pronounced nek'-ro-sis): dead or lifeless condition.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Luke 9:23

Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

    We who choose Christ as our Savior are baptized into His death, which includes His sufferings, His humiliations, His (at times) silence. In this born again life we now live, having chosen to follow Christ faithfully, we, too, will suffer, for so He has called us to do. Those who pick up their cross (make a decision to follow Him even after considering the consequences) will also know the same sufferings. 

    Our families will be divided. Mine were against me being a woman preacher. Since I wouldn't change my mine some in my family refused to speak to me, while a handful supported my decision. But I did not back down and remained faithful in my calling. This faithfulness has caused some who turned against me to turn to Christ. 

    Our friends will forsake us, seeing us changed after receiving Christ as our Lord and Savior, and not wanting that change as yet for themselves, they will leave us. But that's alright. While we remain adamant in our decision, we do so with the Love of God living in us. 

    The decisions we made when we lived a life without Christ are not the same decisions we make in Christ. No more mind-altering drugs, no more uninhibited drinking, no more nightclubs and parties as such. No more listening to and believing liars, who twist the Word to their own convenience. Even my favorite genres of music and books has changed. No longer do I walk in darkness, for I have found the Light, and I'm following Him now.

    I have picked up my cross and I am following Jesus. Though my body, mind and spirit know the pain of walking this journey with Christ, I also know the joy of walking WITH CHRIST: the born again Christians are never really alone, for He helps us carry our cross through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

THIS CROSS I CARRY

    It is no light thing to 'take up' our cross. That cross Christ carried across His shoulders was heavy, so heavy that His bruised and bloody body could not even bear the weight of it as He slowly made His way up the hillside path. He needed help. 

    We, too, would not be able to make it through to the end if we did not have each other to help us carry our crosses. And we carry them on a daily basis, not just once and we're done. For while we are making our way through this world, wherever Christ leads us, we are doing so one day at a time. 

    This cross I carry, I carry without complaint, for so my Savior did also. Though groans may have escaped His lips, whining and complaining did not. Though tears may have flowed down His cheeks, He did not retaliate against those who were mocking Him. In His humiliation He neither threatened anyone, nor attacked His accusers in any form. He forgave.     

    And while He was dying, after having been nailed to the cross, at least one more believed and was admitted into Paradise with Jesus. Immediately after His last breath, the centurion who stood near said, "Truly this was the Son of God." (Mark 15:39). He would be the first of many to believe that  Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God.  

DYING DAILY TO REVEAL LIFE IN CHRIST

    To die daily is to put bring my body and my mind into submission to the Word of God. It is to put God first in my life every day. When I awaken, I greet Him. "Good Morning, Lord" and "Welcome, Holy Spirit." I make myself clean and presentable on the outside while He makes me clean and acceptable on the inside. 

    The Word tells us to pray without ceasing, so I do. I am in constant communication with my Lord. Kneeling is not always necessary, which is good because I am not yet physically back to the point where I can do so without pain and requiring assistance to get back up again. The Lord is with me and that's enough. 

    To die daily is to surrender what I want to do with my day and receive what He wants to do in me in the day. The night is for sleep and for rest; the day is for work. And the days are short and getting shorter. 

    Time is running out, the sand in the hourglass moves faster than it used to. Not only is this a proven scientific fact now, the Word has revealed it to us. Mark 13:20 tells us that God will shorten the days of tribulation for the sake of His people.

     And while that Day is not yet arrived, no one knows the hour of their death or the manner thereof; therefore, we must always be ready. And we can't be ready if we're not saved by the water and the blood which flowed from Jesus' side. We can't be ready if the Spirit of God is not in us, transforming our old self into our new self. We must get ready and live as if Jesus were returning today.

    Dear God,

    Be my God. Be my Savior. Forgive me of all my sins and my trespasses. For I have been a wicked sinner and I have trespassed against You. Forgive me of unclean thoughts and fill my mind with Your Word. Forgive me of unloving words which I have spoken and fill my heart with Your Word. Forgive me for the wrong I have done to others in my ignorance of what is right and fill me with Your Word, that Your Love would guide my actions. 

    O Lord, I am a sinner and desire to be saved by Your grace, for only You can save a wretch like me! Only You can fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Only You can quench this thirst and sustain this hunger that I have to know You better. Only You can show me mercy and, Lord, only You can forgive me. 

    Bring me into Yourself and be welcomed in me. You knocked on the door of my heart and I am letting You in. Stay with me as long You like. Remain in me and I will remain in You. 

    In Jesus' Name, we pray, Amen

DRAW ME NEARER - Hymn

AT THE CROSS - Chris Tomlin

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER - Robin Mark

OCEANS - Hillsong United

BREATHE - Michael W. Smith

I SURRENDER - Hillsong

I OFFER MY LIFE - Don Moen

     

    

Heart & Soul - - God Makes His Light Shine

 

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light to shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1391

Glory: the unspoken manifestation of God; renown, honor; divine quality, splendor

From the Greek word 'doxa' (pronounced dox'-ah): God's infinite, intrinsic worth (substance, essence).

LIGHT SHINES OUT OF DARKNESS

    Genesis 1:3, 4 

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 

    Now this was only the first day of creation that God made light. On the fourth day of creation (Genesis 1:14-19) God created reference points of light: sun, moon and stars. 

    Our hearts are dark with sin, for we are born with a sinful nature. Blame it on Adam and Eve. Being the first people from whom all peoples are descended, the consequences of the sins they committed (doubting God's Word and then disobeying it) is passed on to each and every one of us. 

    When we are young, one of the first words we learn is "No." And when we are told not to do something, our first instinct is to go and do that which we are not supposed to do. We also do not do that which we are told to do. "Go clean your room." Who did that right away? We learned obedience because disobedience has consequences. We needed a Savior so God sent One.

    Acts 26:17, 18

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

LIGHT REVEALS DARKNESS

    John 1:5

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

    How can so many people who live in the darkness not see the darkness for what it is? Because they have not seen the Light, for then the Light would reveal the darkness. In the darkest of nights it is impossible to see anything, even your hand in front of your face. We need some kind of light to show us where to walk that we would not stumble and fall. As it is in life, so is it in the spirit and the spirit realm: the unseen invisible place in our bodies. 

    But what if you've seen the Light and then turned your back on it, turned a blind eye to the Light? They've seen the Light and decided not to have anything to do with it, with Christ. 

    John 3:18-20

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

    Jesus told His disciples that even though He Himself is the Light (John 1:4; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46) of the world, soon He would be leaving the world (John 12:35) and they would be the light that shines (Matthew 6:14-16; John 12:36). 

    We who shine as lights in the world are able to do so because we have seen a great Light shining in the darkness (Isaiah 9:2). And this Light is the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 4:2). We believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God and grab hold of the salvation He provides to they who see by faith and believe that He is Savior. 

    This Light is the gospel of God, the gospel of salvation through repentance and forgiveness (Luke 24:47). We are to repent and be baptized into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38).

LIGHT SHINE BRIGHT

    It is heartbreaking to see people who have seen the Light walk away from the Light. Though we may wonder if they have truly seen the Light for Who He is, we cannot leave them in the darkness of their unbelief. We must intercede on their behalves, praying and praying for they who live in the darkness to see the glory of the Light of Salvation in Jesus' face. Chains need to be broken, bonds (cords, ropes) need to fall off.  

    We who have the Light of the gospel are compelled to share this gospel. We want they who have not seen the Light to see Jesus, to believe in Jesus. We have a strong desire to see souls saved: to rejoice in their salvation through repentance (turning away from sin to obedience). We delight in their baptisms, both water and spirit. We encourage these new believers and each other in the Word, speaking it, praying it, living it: answering Jesus' call to "Follow Me." (Matthew 4:19, 20).   

    Even now, while we are in the world, we remind you who hear us that we are not of this world (John 18:36). Because our life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) we cannot see our permanent dwelling yet, but Jesus is preparing one for us where He is, for He has said, "I go to prepare a place for you that where I am you may be also. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2, 3).

    I'm letting my light shine when I speak Jesus to you who hear what I say. I needed a Savior. I turned my face to the Light and the glory of God filled my heart. He is the Light that shines in the darkness of my heart. Jesus is the Light which grows and glows within me, shining out of me into the darkness around me. I speak Jesus. I speak with words of Love, having the Love of God living me in His Son Jesus Christ.

     For it is truly Love to obey the commands of God to "go into all the world and preach the gospel." I don't have to travel far for the darkness of this world is right here in my own backyard. I speak Jesus into my family, into my neighborhood, into my community, into my town, into my church. I speak repentance, forgiveness, and being baptized into His Name. I speak refreshing and rejoicing

    Revelation 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And the one hearing, let him say, "Come!" And the one thirsting let him come; the one desiring, let him take freely the water of life.

LIGHT SHINES IN THE HEART

Dear God,

    Please forgive me of all my sins. Come into my heart and let me live in Yours. Wash me clean of all unrighteousness. Make me pure and holy that I might live in Your presence all the days of my life. For I have been an unwilling partner of sin and desire only the goodness of God in You. Shine Your Light in me and remove the darkness from my heart.

    Give me Your peace, Your strength, to walk in this new life You have given me. In You I place my hope. Lead me in Your Word, guiding my steps and guarding my life. Help me to guard my heart and my tongue, that I may not cause another to slip and fall. 

    Thank You for saving me, for taking my sins upon Yourself and dying in my place that I might live forever in You. Thank You Lord Jesus. I praise You and adore You.

    Amen.

LIGHT SHINES

    

    

    

    

    

Thanks Be To God -- Through Jesus Christ

 

Romans 7:18 & 25

(18) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

(25) Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

As born again believers our souls are subject to the Law of God, but this flesh which clothes us is subject to the law of sin. 

THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

Romans 8:1-3

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

(2) For in Christ Jesus the Law of the Spirit of Life set you free from the law of sin and death.

(3) For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, (4) so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5349

Corruptible: perishable, what easily perishes disintegrates (corrupts) – like the break-down of the physical body during our natural lifetime.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 622

Perish:  fully destroy, cutting off entirely;  ("violently/completely perish") implies permanent (absolute) destruction;  cause to be lost (utterly perish) by experiencing a miserable end

1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever. 

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50

Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

It is impossible for these bodies we are born into to enter the kingdom of God and live, for these bodies, this flesh we wear, is corrupt and must perish, must die, because it is subject to, lives under the law of, sin. Sin has its own reward and that reward is death. 

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Proverbs 11:19

Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.

WE BELIEVE GOD

Being born again means we believe God, we believe The Word of God is True and Faithful. We believe that God sent His only begotten Son to this perishing world that the world through Him might be saved and not lost.

John 3:14-18

(14) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, (15) that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

(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.

(17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

(18) The one believing in Him is not judged, but the one not believing already has been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

We who believe urge you who have not heard to hear and believe. We beg you who have heard this gospel to surrender your hearts and your lives to Jesus Christ while there's still time. 

We fervently, urgently pray for you to choose life and not death. What is done in this life, in this body, this flesh, will be judged by God and what remains after the judgment depends entirely on who we choose to follow now. 

Hebrews 9:27, 28

(27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment, (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Dear Lord, 

I recognize that I am a sinner, that I have sinned against You and against Your Word. Forgive me of the sins I have committed against You and come live in my heart. Make me to know You and Your Word that I might gain Your presence as my home for all eternity. 

I believe that You sent Your only begotten Son to this world to take the punishment for my sins on the cross, that my sins were laid on Him. I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and I want Him to be the Lord of my life. 

I ask also that You give me Your Holy Spirit to empower me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Help me lead a disciplined lifestyle that will make me holy so I can live forever in Your presence, for Your Word tells us to be holy that we may see God and live. 

Thank You, Lord, for saving me, for forgiving me and for being my God. Help me to be Your child, Your servant. Be glorified O God, in me.

In Jesus' Name, I pray,

Amen

Learning To Be Loved By You by Melissa Helser

All My Hope by Crowder

In Christ Alone by Kristian Stanfill

Intelligent Worship -- Praise God -- Part 7

 There are 12 parts to this series. Praising God is Part 7.

PRAISE GOD

(NLT) Psalm 68:8

Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the LORD, the source of Israel’s life. 

PRAISE: The word 'praise' in this verse is from the Hebrew word 'barak' (pronounced baw-rak'), meaning to kneel down or lie prostrate before, whether one is on bended knee or laying flat in honor to the LORD God. Also, means 'bless'. 

The words 'praise, praising, praised' are used 303 times in the Scriptures. There are seven basic words of praise to know.

1. Barak: to kneel or bow down, to lie prostrate on the ground
2. Halal: to shine clearly, radiate
3. TeHillah: song of praise, a hymn
4. Shabach: to shout triumphantly
5. Towdah: choir of worshipers, sacrifice of praise
6. Yadah: hold out or lift up hands
7. Zamar: to make music, either by hand or musical instrument

I'll give you seven basic Scriptures, each one referencing one of these praise words.

1. Barak: Judges 5:2 "Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves."
2. Halal: Psalm 63:5 "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips."
3. TeHillah: Jeremiah 17:14 "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise."
4. Shabach: Psalm 63:3 "Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee."
5. Towdah: Jeremiah 33:11 "The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise (yadah) the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD."
6. Yadah: Genesis 29:35 "And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing."
7. Zamar: Psalm 21:13 "Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power." 

Psalm 150 is one of the smaller psalms but worth remembering. The word 'praise' is used three times in the first verse and twice in each of the next five verses. This word 'praise' is the word 'halal', which means to shine. When we enter the presence of the LORD with our praise and worship, we shine because we are so filled with JOY for our GOD that we cannot help but shine! We love to be in His presence! 

Psalm 145:1 "David's Psalm of praise. I will extol Thee, my God, O King; and I will bless Thy Name for ever and ever." 

Extol: exalt, lift up

Bless: Barak: kneel or bow down

These are words that are easily committed to memory, especially if you've studied the Word time and again like I have. I'm one of those people that has to know what a word means in order to use it properly. Not only is my concordance close by, but my dictionary is a fingertip away. And the Holy Spirit of God is always with me, leading me and guiding me into the deeper truths of God's Word, revealing a little bit more each day. 

Do you love to be in God's presence? If not, what are you going to do to change that attitude? Now is the time to repent of our sins to God, to ask His forgiveness, to allow the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts and bring us into God's saving grace through God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ. 

Yes, this message has been preached by many for a couple thousand years. But our timetable is not God's timetable. When He's ready to bring His church, His people, up from the earth, I hope whoever is reading this is included. 

A. Acknowledge that we are sinners

B. Believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, that He died on the cross for our sins, and that He rose from the dead and walked out of the grave

C. Confess out loud that Jesus Christ is Lord

Heavenly Father,

I confess my sins to You. I acknowledge that my way of living has violated Your Word and I ask that You forgive me. I believe that Your Son Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, that He rose from the dead and walked out of the grave. I recognize my need for salvation through the blood of Jesus and that I need Your Holy Spirit to empower me to become the me You see and not the me I am. 

Thank You, Father, for saving me, for forgiving my wicked ways and for giving me Your Holy Spirit. Lead me and guide me in Your Word as I read it daily. Give me understanding as You fill me with Your wisdom. 

In Jesus' Precious and Holy Name, Amen.

Know Your Priorities-Most Important Relationship

 

Foundational Living

Psalm 118:22

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

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.

Acts 4:10-12

"...then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

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

Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Ephesians 2:19-21

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Matthew 4:19

And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.”

1 Corinthians 14:1

Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy.

     Without this Foundation, this relationship which is made possible by believing that Jesus is the Christ, Who is our only means of salvation, a person is doomed to fail in this life. Success is not measured by how much we own, nor is it measured by our level of happiness.

     What we own in this life (material possessions, wealth or lack thereof) is not what we take with us when we die. When our bodies cease to have life, there is an immediate separation. The body remains earthbound while the spirit/soul travels to its destination, which has been determined by that soul while it lived on this earth. 

     Each and every one of us will give an account for our actions, our thoughts and our words. We are responsible in our lifetimes for making wise choices/decisions. Particularly the decision to believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. That must be done on an individual basis by each person who ever lived. 

Acknowledge our sins and repent of them

Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Confess that He Is Lord

Determine to follow Him

     This can be accomplished through simple prayers. God wants to hear us speak what is in our own hearts. We can recite a prayer, but unless we really mean it, that prayer is just words and has no power to change our lives. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I admit I have sinned against You and against Your Word. Forgive me of my sins and make me new in You. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my guiltiness and rose from the dead walking out of the grave. 

I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Please be Lord of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may be able to live a life that pleases You. 

In Jesus' Precious Name,

Amen

Blessed Instruction_Psalms

The King James Version reads the word instruct as chastisement, which by implication means severe criticism, harsh rebuke, as well as corporal punishment. This is not how the Word is to be applied. For the Word of God is Jesus Christ, and He is to be applied willingly to the heart, not forcefully. God's Love is Mercy and Grace; Patience and Strength. We are not to wield such Love as if it were a paddle board, nor should we be meanly spoken with it or by it.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love studying with my KJV Bible and I love reading it because I know that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me what I need to know when I need to know it. But I love studying with the Interlinear Bible, too. It tells me the Hebraic word and pronunciation, as well as the Strong's reference, and specific meaning for a word in any verse, not just a general definition or description. 

Knowing also that "blessed" when referring to man means "happy" and "to be envied", we read with a better understanding the verses in which we are to be blessed. 

Psalm 94:12 Happy and to be envied is the man whom You instruct, LORD, and out of Your law teach. 

And don't be getting all feminist on me, either. When God's Word speaks of 'man' in general, He is not excluding women: it is mankind, or man-kind (Genesis 1:27): male and female. But the Word must be applied individually. While all blessings from God to us are for each of us and all of us, we must first believe not only that God is, but that His Word is Faithful and True. Only then can we seek, search out and find how God wants to bless us. 

Once we are living the blessing life, those around us will see the difference in us. Our blessings will indeed be enviable to those folks who are in our daily lives; they're going to wonder why we are like we are and what brought about this change in us. A few may even decide they want these blessings, too. That's when we tell them about our Jesus, the Savior of all mankind, who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. Who even now is interceding on our behalf to His Father. 

Do you know what the Holy Spirit tells me, when I begin to judge the surface of a person? "I love them, too." Only God knows the heart of an individual, only God knows whether or not a person is truly saved when that person dies. It's not my place to know and I should be content with that knowledge. And, yet, occasionally I still hear the Spirit say, "I love that person, too". Contrition and humility are the catch words of the moment. I repent, am forgiven and move on. 

The second part of this verse "out of Your law to teach" means more than expounding the verse, whether personal study or teaching another. It is accusative. The Law of God reveals sin and shows us in it that it is impossible to obey said laws without the strength of God aiding us. We are taught by God that we need Him to help us obey Him. And we do. For our God is a holy God and demands us to be holy, too (Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:16).

Jesus did not abolish the law of God, He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17). In Romans 3:31 Paul writes to the church at Rome the question of faith vs law and reminds them, and us, that our faith in Christ establishes, fulfills, upholds the law of God. Through our faith in Christ we recognize that the law of God reveals our sin and that without Him we are lost and undone. I would be lost, undone, alone and miserable if I did not know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. 

If you are lost, undone, alone and miserable I know Who can save you, keep you, befriend you and love you. His name is Jesus Christ. He died for you, fought death, hell and the grave for you, rose from the dead for you. And is seated at the right hand of the Father waiting to intercede for you. "I love the person reading this, too". 

Dear Jesus, 
I recognize that I am lost without You. Please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and be Lord of my life. Guide me through Your Word as I read and study it. Holy Spirit fill me with Yourself and help me be who God wants me to be. 
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.