Eternal Destinations

 When we leave this world for what lies ahead, each of us will take our memories and our senses.

In the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Jesus tells us of the consequences of not believing God (the first man's destination) and of believing God (the second man's destination).
Verse 23: The unbeliever knew pain. He had sight and could recognize other people.
Verse 24: The unbeliever could speak. He knew thirst but he was still selfish.
Verse 25: The unbeliever could hear.
Verse 26: The unbeliever had the memories of his family. And the unbeliever knew he didn't want any of his family in the horrible place he was in. But his desires were limited to those of his own family. He couldn't cross from hell into Paradise after he was dead.

Back up to Verse 23, the unbelieving soul saw the beggar he had despised near Abraham, (whom he recognized though Abraham had died long before either man was born) in Paradise. The believer knew rest, peace, comfort. And while he had all his faculties, the unbelieving soul's wants were not directed at him, though some were about him.

Paradise is where the righteous went before Christ Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. But we know that now, when we die, we will see Jesus immediately. Acts 7:55-56. We will have all of our faculties intact. And we will see Jesus. That's the believer's destination.

BEST OF ROBIN MARK COMPILATION (listened to this while I studied)

The Death of The Saints

    

    King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, "To everything there is a season....a time to be born, a time to die...". We celebrate the births and mourn the deaths. Yet when a saint dies, we should celebrate that death, for they have been called home. Coming home after a long journey is always cause for happy times.

~It is a time of rest; of laying aside the cares of our days.

~It is a time of peace, never to know pain, sorrow, anxiety again.

~It is a time of joy; of being received into the everlasting arms of Jesus and God.

~The death of the saints is a time of temporary sorrow, grief and mourning on our part (though it may feel as if it will last forever), for we will miss them during our lifetime here, but it is with great joy that we know that we will see them again in heaven.

~Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints."

    The births that get celebrated in the kingdom of God are the new births in Christ: the adoptee into God's family through the blood of His only begotten Son, Who died on the cross to pay for our sins. For it is only through the blood that the adoption process can begin.

1. We need to believe that Jesus Christ died for us. That He conquered/overcame, death, hell and the grave when He walked out of the tomb in which He was buried.

2. We need to acknowledge our sins to God, repenting of them (turn away from them and never do them again). It's not enough to have a changed life, we need a changed heart, as well.

3. We need to ask for God's Holy Spirit to come into our lives, to make us the holy people God commands us to be. For we cannot be made holy by doing anything mere man tells us to do: it's all God.

4. We need to be baptized publicly: making a bold statement to the world that we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and now He is Lord of the one who has been baptized.

5. We need to follow the lead of The Holy Spirit of God: not just reading our Bibles every day, but studying The Word, as well. Knowing that when we understand what we have been studying, we can then apply it to our lives. Without The Holy Spirit it is impossible to live a God-filled life, a changed life. A life that is lived for Jesus must have Jesus in it.

    This is how we come into God's family. This is our adoption process. We are the lineage of Abraham: children of righteousness, people of faith and trust in God. Not only are we grafted into The Vine, but we are now in God's family tree. We are the planting of The Lord, trees of righteousness.

Believe it. Receive it. Live it.

I WILL RAISE IN LIFE TRIUMPHANT

by Mary Barker Spencer

1. The tree of life’s still standing and all who will may eat.

Come and dine is still the call. The place is Jesus' feet.

The crimson cleansing fountain yet is flowing from His side.

His holiness still beckons us to heed His humble cry.

-chorus-

I will raise in life triumphant!

I will let hosannas roll!

I will drink that Living Water that shall ever flood my soul!

I will worship crying, "Holy"!

For worthy is The Lamb

Slain from the foundation of the world

Just so I can. 2. Oh grave, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting?

For the God of all creation has swallowed you to bring

My life to me immortal back with Him from Calvary.

In the valley of the shadow there’s a brilliant light for me!

-chorus-

I will raise in life triumphant!

I will let hosannas roll!

I will drink that Living Water that shall ever flood my soul!

I will worship crying, "Holy"!

For worthy is The Lamb

Slain from the foundation of the world

Just so I can.

The CupBearer & The Cups

 

The CupBearer is God. In His hands are two cups. One cup contains His wrath and one cup contains His blessing. Which cup do you want Him to pour out on you? 

THE CUP OF WRATH

    In the cup of wrath is the wine of God's fury (Revelation 14:10). As told against the nations in Jeremiah's time (Jeremiah 25:15-38), this cup is dreadful and has horrific consequences for those destined to drink it. 

    This cup is the sword of The Lord (Jeremiah 25:16); it brings destruction and madness to the people whom it touches. This sword is blood-bathed in heaven (Isaiah 34:5,6) and brings death with it. It is a devouring sword, this cup of wrath (Deuteronomy 32:42), on God's enemies. 

    Who will drink this cup? The wicked (Job 21:20; Psalm 75:8;) will drink of the cup of wrath. Babylon (Revelation 16:19) and all who participated in Babylon's wickedness (Revelation 18:3). Those who burn incense to idols (Jeremiah 44:8). They who are called by The LORD but refuse to answer Him (Isaiah 65:11,12).

    What is the awful wine they will drink? Destruction, sulfur, fire; drunkenness and vomiting; death. Yet it will taste sweet on the tongue (Psalm 75:8), for it is a fermented intoxicating beverage mixed with spices. But its result is far worse than a hangover and no bloody Mary or hair of the dog will take away the pain of having drunk from this cup. 

    Do you really want to be one of those people who will have to drink from that cup because you rejected The Word of God and refused to believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God? 

THE CUP OF BLESSING

    In the cup of blessing is Life Eternal. In 1 Corinthians 10:16 Paul tells us, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?". This is the cup from which we should want to drink. 

    In this cup is fellowship with Christ, a commitment to follow Him all the way (Matthew 26:26,27). Jesus has said that all who follow Him must take up their cross. (Don't worry about what your cross is: it will be revealed to you when you really need to know.) We will have many burdens to bear in this life, but we must lay them all down at the feet of Jesus, and let Him take care of them. Let us drink together  this cup of blessing and sacrificial love which The LORD God has prepared for them that love Him and obey His commandments, which are not burdensome (1 John 5:3,4). 

    The psalmist had a few words to speak regarding The LORD's cup. Psalm 16:5 "The LORD is My Chosen Portion and My Cup; You have made my lot secure." and again in 

Psalm 23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." And here in 

Psalm 104:15 "Wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil that makes his face to shine, and bread that sustains his heart." 

    Wine that makes the heart happy. Oil that causes our faces to shine. Bread which sustains us. The wine of God's love, His grace and lovingkindness expressed through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, is what makes the heart happy. 

    The wine is the sacrifice we make when we choose to leave everything we have loved and follow Jesus Christ wherever He leads us. It is bittersweet and costly. Yet it is a greater loss to not drink this wine. John wrote, "He must increase, but I must decrease." It's not about me and what I want: it's about Him and what God wants. 

    The anointing of His Holy Spirit shines the reflection of God's love from within the born again believer that the whole world cannot help but notice, there's something different about that person. And we know that the difference noted is the indwelling of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the power of The Holy Spirit. That's what you see when you see a real Christian. 

    Bread to sustain, strengthen, the heart. Not just any bread, but the Bread of Heaven, taken in daily when we read and study and pray over it, asking The Holy Spirit to apply it to our hearts and help us to live it the way God wants us to live it. 

    That's what's in the cup of blessing. I'm drinking from that cup. And I'm holding on to it with all my strength, no matter how much I struggle daily, because that's my blessing. And I'm not letting go. 

WHICH CUP WILL YOU CHOOSE?

    We can't drink from both cups, we have to choose one or the other. 

Paul writes in the letter to the church in Corinth:

    1 Corinthians 10:21 "You cannot drink of the cup of The Lord, and the cup of demons: you cannot be partakers of The Lord's table, and of the table of demons."

    And Joshua told the people they had to choose which god to serve and which God he chose to serve:

    Joshua told the people in his time (Joshua 24:15), "If it seems evil to you to serve The LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve The LORD." 

    Paul reminds the church in Corinth (and us) in his second letter to them that unequal partnerships will fail and cannot intermingle. Where light is darkness cannot remain. 

  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 reminds us to be equal partners in righteousness and communion. That we are the temple of God: He lives in us, walks in us: The LORD is our God and we are His people. 

THE CUPBEARER & THE CUP

Behold The Lamb - Stuart Townend

My Portion - Isla Vista Worship

Fill My Cup - Andrew Ripp

Drinking From My Saucer - Michael Combs

Fill My Cup, Lord - (Hymns of Faith)

Where You Go, I Go - Jesus Culture

Lay It All Down - Will Reagan, United Pursuit

Just As I Am - (Hymns of Faith)

A Crucified Life - - Is A Partner In Grace

 

    2 Corinthians 7:3

I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.

    Philippians 1:7

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

    *Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4880

Die Together: die with 

From the Greek word 'sunapothnéskó' (pronounced soon-ap-oth-nace'-ko).

    It is the same meaning as given in 2 Timothy 2:11 "This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him." (meeting death as Christ did for the sake of God). And what happened when Christ met death? He overcame it! Therefore, we who believe on the Name of Jesus Christ for our salvation shall also overcome death! 

    We are partners in grace with Christ and with each other. For we are one in Christ Who is One in God, as He prayed in John 17:20-23. This whole prayer in John 17 is just beautiful.

    As believers, we are united with each other via the Holy Spirit of God. We live in harmony with one another. 

-Romans 12:16

-Romans 15:5

    We work together in the kingdom of God. Ephesians 4:4-14

   We grow together in love. Ephesians 4:15,16

  We pray together in faith. James 5:16

 We pray together in the Spirit. Jude 1:20

    We are the body of Christ. Where His body went when He had a physical body is where His body will go in the power of the Holy Spirit. As He lived and died, so, too, will the body of Christ live and die. And live again. 

PARTNERS IN GRACE 

Jesus Paid It All - Kim Walker-Smith

Overcomer - Eddie James

We Will Stand - Russ Taff

By Our Love - 4 King & Country

Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave

If We Are The Body - Casting Crowns

Love Each Other - Graham Kendrick

Love Your Enemies - Kyle Sigmon

Nothing Without You - United Pursuit

Where You Go I Go - Jesus Culture

    

A Crucified Life -- - This Body of Death

 

2 Corinthians 5:4

So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 916

Burdens: weighed down, load, oppressed

From the Greek word 'bareó' (pronounced bar-eh'-o).

INWARDLY GROANING

    We all carry burdens. That's a different burden than what is meant here. Here the burden we carry as believers is the fact that we long to be with them on the other side of eternity, for this side is cumbersome. 

Here we are weighed down by this wretched (Romans 7:24) body of flesh. But O, how we yearn for the eternal presence of God, to see Him face to face and live!

    The groans I emit from my body are the result of the life I have lived and now live. But the groans my spirit emits? Romans 8:23 "Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."

    Yes, our souls have been redeemed. But our bodies have not. We have yet to receive our glorified bodies and for that we earnestly groan (sigh inwardly). At death the body is immediately separated from the soul, a fact we should not ignore as this is the way we have been designed. Yet it is Who we lived for here that determines our destination after death. 

    But here it is the believer who longs to be set free from this body of death and forever be present with the Lord. But until that occurs we are to be ever vigilant in doing the work which God has prepared for each believer to do. Namely, spread the gospel wherever we are and wherever we are sent. Hebrews 4:10-14 reminds us that we have a Sabbath rest coming, a permanent rest in God, after the work is finished.  

BODY OF DEATH

    When a message is preached, it is given first to the one who will preach it. So, if any stones are cast or fingers are pointed, they are cast and pointed at me. But then Mercy and Grace came to my rescue.

    This body of death is mine until death separates me, my soul, from it. Therefore it is mine to take care of  that it may continue to be useful in God's kingdom. I may say, I am just a field-hand, just a worker in God's fields, but even a field-hand needs to be able to do the work. 

    While exercise profits the body little (1 Timothy 4:8), still there is some profit to be had. I've been doing those Sit n Be Fit exercises to keep my body from becoming just an immovable lump of clay. And my body has made the decision for me on what I can and cannot eat. 

    In 1 Timothy 4:8 Paul is also reminding Timothy that the more important factor is to concentrate on living a godly life, for the godliness we have here we will also have after this life is finished. So, even when our bodies fail us, even when we reach a point in our lives when we are no longer able to do anything in our bodies, we will still have this godly factor drawing us to God.

GOD DEMANDS GODLY PEOPLE

    Even now, these wretched bodies of death pursue a holy and living God. A God who forgives sins when we repent, turning away from the ungodly lifestyles we were living and begin to live the life God has prepared for us.

    We turn to a God who heals all our diseases by the stripes on His Son's back (Isaiah 53:5).  We turn to a God who can relate to things that we go through because  in the Person of His Son He went through them, too. Because Christ Jesus is The Word of God who came in the flesh (John 1:14), this makes Him the Living Word of God in whom we, the born again believer, now live and have Him living in us, in our spiritual hearts. 

    For our physical hearts are in our physical bodies, bodies of death wherein nothing holy can exist, because godliness and ungodliness cannot exist on the same plane. In this cause we groan inwardly. 2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

ON THE CROSS

    On the cross hung the Living Word of God. Though hate nailed Him to the cross, Love kept Him from leaving the cross. Hate kills; Love heals. Read Isaiah 53 to get a glimpse of our Savior. 

    On the cross the Son of Man was displayed to all who saw Him. But God saw His Son and the fulfillment of His plan of salvation for all of us. Though God could not look upon His Son after the sins of the whole world (past, present, future) were placed on His Son's shoulders and Christ became sin for us, God left Him. For God is holy and sin cannot stand in God's holy presence. 

    On the cross the Son of God took on all of our sins, our sorrows, our pains. That we who believe would forever be with Him in glory. That our souls would be saved from eternal condemnation. (John 3:16-18). 

    On the cross my Savior saved me. Though I have been delivered from an eternal death, the weight of this body of death prevents me from being where I want to be: at my Savior's feet, listening to Him, singing to Him, worshiping Him, gazing lovingly at Him. God made a Way for us to live with Him forever and that Way is through Jesus Christ and Him only (John 14:6). Today is your day to walk, to live, in The Way. 

ON THE CROSS

Mercy Came Running - Phillips Craig and Dean

At The Cross - Chris Tomlin

Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave

Belong To You - Here Be Lions

In Christ Alone - Adrienne Liesching, Geoff Moore & The Distance

How Deep The Father's Love For Us - Selah

All I Once Held Dear - Robin Mark

Man of Sorrows - Hillsong

Thank You, Jesus, For The Blood - Charity Gayle

    

Thanks Be To God - - For The Resurrection

 

JESUS. Though He suffered and died, He still has the victory. He has the victory over death and the grave. 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

 He did that for us, ALL OF US. Not just for Israel's descendants, but for ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE: CHRIST died and CHRIST Lives! He walked out of the grave. Such a resurrection! He was given the keys to hell and death (Revelation 1:18). 

At the instance of His death, saints who had been long dead came out of their graves and were seen by the yet living (Matthew 27:50-53). 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 386

Resurrection: stand up again, a raising up, rising

From the Greek word 'anastasis' (pronounced an-as'-tas-is). referring to the physical resurrection of the body. 

DEATH & THE GRAVE END

David in his day had faith to know that God would not leave his soul in the grave.

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

Hosea, chapter 13, speaks of the coming judgment on a rebellious people, but God promises a ransom that will be paid and a redemption that will cause those whom He has redeemed to belong to Himself. Hosea 13:14

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

Isaiah 25:8 speaks millenia ahead of what is promised in Revelation 21:3,4.

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Revelation 21:3,4

3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

4. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

CHRIST IS CHANGED

Without the cross there'd be no resurrection. Christ had to suffer: Someone had to atone for sin and God chose Him. 

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 

Jesus was just as unrecognizable after death as He was in death. But in a different way. At His mock trial He was given the death penalty; He was beaten, His beard was plucked out of His face, a thorny crown was forcefully put on His head, He was whipped across His back in public humiliation, and even with such loss of blood He was expected to carry the heavy cross beam across His shoulders. (Isaiah 50 & 53; Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22 & 23; John 19).

But AFTER the Resurrection He was given a glorified body. 

John 20:10-18, specifically verses 14 and 17.

14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

17. “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ 

1 Corinthians 15:19-22

19. If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

22.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Acts 2:24

But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

WE WILL BE CHANGED

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

51. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

52. in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

What preparations must be undertaken before we even reach that stage?

I.

In Matthew 4:17  Jesus called people to repentance. That hasn't changed. 

Romans 1:16,17

16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

II.

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.

III.

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

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

Romans 5:8

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

Romans 10:13

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

Romans 8:1

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

Dear God, My Heavenly Father,

I recognize that I have sinned against You, against Your Word. As I repent, as I turn from my wicked ways which grieve You, forgive me of all my unrighteous actions and the hurtful words I may have spoken without thinking. 

Take not Your Holy Spirit from me, but pour even more so into me that I may walk this path which You have laid out before me with dignity and integrity. May Your Light and Your Love shine through me, drawing people to You. Whether or not I see the results in my lifetime, I lift up those You have placed in my life to be strengthened in You and filled with Your Holy Spirit, that they, too, would walk in Your power to reach the goals You have set before them. 

Whatever it takes, Lord, save and fill our loved ones. Save and fill the unlovable. I was unlovable once and You loved me out of the darkness of this world into Your glorious Light. You call us to change, Lord, not just after death but here and now. 

Change me, O Lord, mold me and transform me in every way which glorifies Your name: make me holy, that I may be in Your presence forevermore. For You are a Holy God and Your Very Presence and Your Name demands a holy people. Make us Your holy people, Lord.

As we submit to Your will, O Lord, help us to stand against the enemy of our souls; help us to humble ourselves to be Your people; help us to preach/share/proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to whomever You lead us to.

In Jesus' Lovely Name, I pray,

Amen

Thanks Be To God -- Tell of All His Wonders

 

1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks to the LORD: call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3034

Thanks: to throw, to cast;   

In this verse, the word thanks is rendered from the Hebrew word 'yadah', which is pronounced yaw-daw' and means to confess, to glorify, to give praise while throwing one's hands or arms up. 

This word yadah is used 114 times in the Old Testament. 

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart by Don Moen

Psalm 105:1

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Psalm 136:1

O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.

Gratitude by Brandon Lake 

CALL UPON HIS NAME

I Speak Jesus by Charity Gayle

Call Upon His Name by Darlene Zschech

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.

Acts 2:21

'And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

He Is by Eric Ludy

MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLE 

Isaiah 12:4

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.

Psalm 89:1

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 96:3

Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.

Mark 16:15

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

Romans 10:15

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Psalm 145

I will exalt You, my God and King;

I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You,

and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation will commend Your works to the next,

and will proclaim Your mighty acts—

the glorious splendor of Your majesty.

And I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

They will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds,

and I will declare Your greatness.

They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness

and sing joyfully of Your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

The LORD is good to all;

His compassion rests on all He has made.

All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD,

and Your saints will bless You.

They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom

and speak of Your might,

to make known to men Your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and Your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is faithful in all His words

and kind in all His actions.

The LORD upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to You,

and You give them their food in season.

You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

and kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call on Him,

to all who call out to Him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD preserves all who love Him,

but all the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth will declare the praise of the LORD;

let every creature bless His holy name

forever and ever.

ETERNITY IS FOREVER REGARDLESS OF DESTINATION

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

John 3:18

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.

Revelation 20:11-15

(11) Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

(12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.

(13) The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.

(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.

To preach the gospel is to preach the whole gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Not just the good stuff, but the consequences of not receiving and believing the good stuff. 

Today's Word -- What The Law Reveals

 

The Law Cannot Give Life (eternal)

Galatians 3:20, 21

Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 

1 Timothy 2:5, 6

For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—The Testimony that was given at just the right time. 

 

MEDIATOR: intervenes to restore peace between two parties, especially as it fulfills a compact or ratifies a covenant.  

Hebrews 8:6

Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. 

Law Cannot Make Perfect 

Hebrews 7:19

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 

Law Does Not Justify

Acts 13:39

And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Law Cannot Give Life

1 Corinthians 15:56

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Romans 3:20

Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Law Reveals Sin And Sin Brings Death

Romans 7:9-11

Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.  So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. 

Law Reveals The Need For A Savior

Galatians 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

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. 

Romans 5:18

So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 

Isaiah 53:3-8

He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Do you see your need for a Savior? for this Savior which God has given us? Do you see your need for a Mediator between you and God? I do. I need Jesus to intercede on my behalf to God. Every day. 

If You Leave This World

IF YOU LEAVE THIS WORLD

If you leave this world before I do,

Don't leave me things I cannot use.

Leave me memories of loving you.

Leave me hope we'll meet again

Leave me peace that comes from heav'n

Don't leave me things I cannot use,

Leave me memories of loving you.

Leave me dreams, pure and sweet,

Of your mansion in glory

Where you sit at Jesus' feet.

Don't leave me things I cannot use,

Leave me memories of loving you.

Leave me behind ere you go

'Til we meet again at heav'n's door;

Don't look back but onward go

Into Jesus' arms in heav'n's glow.

If you leave this world before I do,

Don't leave me things I cannot use.

Leave me memories of loving you.

When I See Jesus Face To Face

 If I die before Jesus returns, I want this sung at my funeral. Preferably with joy. Don't wear black. Wear happy colors. Release a multitude of balloons, whether the sun shines or the skies pour. When I see Jesus face to face, 'twill be a joyous celebration. Don't waste your money on flowers, either. Give that amount you wanted to spend on flora and fauna to your local homeless shelter. Feed the poor, clothe the naked, shelter the refugee.


When I see Jesus face to face, my style of burial won't matter. Don't waste your money putting me into the ground. Plain and simple or cremation is good enough. Fellowship and remember me, but grieve not for my going. Grief is what happens to us, when someone we love deeply dies. Even knowing death is coming for that person does not lessen the grieving. It is still a traumatic shock to the body and mind of the one left behind.



Mourning endures for quite awhile. We never get over the grieving and yearning, we simply get through it. Some through the bottle, some through drugs, some both; neither good ways. Some get through it in anger, some in deep depression. But some folks grieve with the help of a loving, living God. He is our mainstay through it all.



Through the sudden impact of never seeing their face again. Never hearing their laughter, nor their voice. A memory, a photo can only do so much but eventually it is enough. For awhile there may be no memories, because the grief is strong and seemingly overwhelming. But when we cry out to Jesus for help, He is right there to help us. Jesus holds our hands through every waking and sleeping moment. The Holy Spirit comforts us and guides us to stable ground, where we again can stand, and not drown in our sorrows.



When I see Jesus face to face,

my face will be all smiles.

For I am finally in this place

at the end of all my miles.



I have endured the race,

 set before me,

walking, running too

just so I could see my Friend

on the other side of the blue.



When I see Jesus face to face,

I'll know that I am home,

my tears are gone, my sorrows done

Thank God, I'm home at last.

Horn of Salvation

(this teeshirt is available for purchase at Vineyard Athens.

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2

(this devotion is part of the JESUS IS series)

According to Strong's, the horn described here is long and straight, about 18"; bright and clear sounding; pure white; a corner of the altar; ray of light.

When we cling or grab hold to Jesus, we are holding on to His mercy, His deliverance, His strength. We claim that whatever trial/situation/circumstance we are currently in is for His glory, that God would be revealed in the endurance and outcome of hardships and storms.

David wrote this Psalm after God had delivered him from the hand of his enemies, from the hand of Saul, who sought David's life and wanted to end it. There are moments in our lives that seem to go on forever. These moments may only last minutes. But many times our circumstances/trials/situations last longer.

Tragedy and loss in life has a traumatic impact on the human body. The mind has suffered a grievous shock and shuts down to recuperate. The heart breaks and shatters beyond human repair. The spirit shakes and retreats to a place of safety and shelter. But the soul is secure in it's knowledge that Jesus is near. He's just a whisper away. My Comforter is here and my Deliverer is near.

Friends. Lovers. Divorce. Death. Loss. Tragedy. Grief. Sorrow. Pain. Growth. Life. Love. Hope.

As a wise man once said, "We are not starting over, we are turning pages to the next chapter."