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

    

I Am Christian's Memory

 

JOHN 14:26

But The Helper, The Holy Spirit, Whom The Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

    Memories are funny things. Even in our memories we are all different. I may remember my name and forget yours. As our physical bodies age or succumb to various diseases, our memories are affected, too. 

    Faces, names, connections like family and friendships may eventually fade from our memories in this life. But The Word which is planted within us will never fade. We will never forget that we belong to Christ. We have The Helper, The Holy Spirit, reminding us who we are in Christ and Who Christ is in us. I am Christian's memory and The Word will never leave me.

    Even the gospel songs we love to sing may still linger on our lips. Psalm 77:6 "I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search." I am Christian's memory and songs that glorify God and praise His Holy Name will always flow from within me. For The Holy Spirit is my Helper. He draws this flowing river of melodies and lyrics from the hidden places in my heart. 

    I am Christian's memory. I remember that God loves me so much He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for me. I remember that Jesus not only died to take my sins away forever, but that He defeated death, hell and the grave. 

    As He died on the cross, the sins of the whole world from the beginning of people until the last person gets saved were laid across His shoulders and He became sin. The weight of it crushed Him. But He stayed on the cross for us, for me. When He took our sins upon Himself, God could not be in His presence, for sin is unholiness and God's holiness had to separate itself from His Only Begotten Son. 

    After He died, His body was laid in the grave, the tomb. But only His body was there. His spirit and soul were in hell. Hell, where He overcame Satan in a battle we know little about. What we do know is that Satan, the devil, can be overcome by The Word and The Spirit, for that is how we overthrow him in this life we're living now. We know He holds the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:18). 

    We know He overcame the grave because He walked out of it in His new body, His resurrected body was changed from what He looked like before He died. We know this because when Mary Magdalene encountered Him in the garden (John 20:14-16), she thought He was the gardener. [which, if you think about it, He is: He is the Master Gardener]. 

    I am Christian's memory. Because I live in Christ and He lives in me, I, too, will be changed when my body leaves the grave. But know this: my soul will not remain with my body. When I die here, I will take His hand there. As I breathe my last here, I will inhale the perfume of heaven and my soul will be at peace in the eternal presence of my Lord and Savior. I am Christian's memory and I will go with Christian when Christian dies. 

    All the bad memories, all the hard times, will pass from my memory permanently. For God has promised to wipe away all tears. For instance:

    Some time after my son Nick died, I had a dream. In this dream, as his car hit the pickup truck, Nick took hold of Jesus' hand which was extended to him and walked out of this life into his life eternal. He was not alone when he died; he was not afraid. The military chaplain who spoke at his funeral said that Nick was the "most Holy Spirit-filled young man he had ever met". What a testimony. This was the last time I cried. God put all my tears in one of His bottles (Psalm 56:8). 

    I am Christian's memory and I am filled with examples of the love of God, the merciful compassion of Christ, the guarded strength of The Holy Spirit. I may forget your name, your face, your connection to me. But I will never forget my God and my Savior. 

HOPE HAS A NAME - River Valley Worship

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Hope In The Lord

 

    Psalm 37:8,9

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Fret not yourself: it only leads to evil. For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who Hope in the LORD will inherit the land. 

    Hope. Some do not have any kind of hope. They struggle and fail, believing the lies of the devil, and remain in the darkness of their thoughts and hearts. Their eyes are blinded to the Light of Hope that is found in believing in the Name of Jesus Christ for their salvation. 

    Hope is for everyone, especially the Hope of Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. God loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. John 3:16-18. Jesus died for you and for me. We could not pay for our sins in a once and for all manner. But Jesus could and did. Hebrews 2:9-14. 

    Hope in the Lord. There is no hope outside of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our Hope. Hope in the Lord is ours by faith in the Name. How do I know this? 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.” Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

    Hope in the Lord. That which we hope for is not yet seen by the physical eye: it is only seen by the eyes of faith. We Hope and we wait with great expectation to be united face to face with our Savior and King. Romans 8:23-25. 

    So we walk out this Hope that is birthed within us when we believe in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. We walk it in Faith. And we wait. 

    1 John 3:2,3

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this HOPE in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

    Jeremiah declares that God is the Hope of Israel and that all who deny God will be ashamed and remembered no more (dust). 

     Jeremiah 17:13

O LORD, The Hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away will be written in the dust, for they have abandoned the LORD, The Fountain of Living Water.

   David writes in Psalm 71 that only The Lord GOD is his Hope, his confidence/trust. 

     Psalm 71:5

For You are my Hope, O Lord GOD, my Confidence from my youth.

    We, too, can have this same Hope in The Lord that the ancients of Scripture have. All we have to do is repent of our sins and believe on the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. The command is also to be baptized into Christ's Name. We pray The Lord lead you to the waters and the people to whom this command has also been issued and entrusted to follow. 

    Being briefly immersed fully in water is our public confession of faith. 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."

CALLED TO HOPE

All My Hope Is In Jesus - Crowder

Glorious Day - Casting Crowns

Jireh - Elevation Worship & Maverick City

How He Loves Us - David Crowder Band

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less 

Living Hope - Phil Wickham

Greater Is The Blood - Mark & Sarah Tillman

    

    

A Crucified Life - - Speaks For Itself

 

2 Corinthians 6:8

By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.

Evil Report: defamation, reproach, ill-repute

From the Greek word 'dusphemia' (pronounced doos-fay-mee'-ah).

Good Report: commendation, praise

From the Greek word 'euphémia' (pronounced yoo-fay-mee'-ah).

    Slandered. Spoken ill of for speaking the Truth. To share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ is to expect people to come against you. As they came against Christ who not only speaks Truth but is Himself Truth, how can we expect any less to happen to us as His faithful followers? 

Jesus Himself warned His disciples that as many came against Him for the Truth of the Word which He spake, people would also come against them, against us. 

>John 16:1-3

>John 15:18-20

>Proverbs 29:27

>Matthew 10:22

>Matthew 24:9

    Knowing that even the very mention of the Name of Christ could get a person killed, how does the kingdom of God keep growing? Grace.Joy. Peace. Rest. Forgiveness. Wisdom. Love. Hope. Mercy. Of God. In Christ. Through the Holy Spirit of God. 

>GRACE: Ephesians 2:8

>JOY: John 15:11

>PEACE: John 16:33

>REST: Matthew 11:28

>FORGIVENESS: Ephesians 1:7

>WISDOM: Proverbs 11:30

>LOVE: 1 John 4:16

>HOPE: Psalm 39:7

>MERCY: Titus 3:5

    All of these things Christ is to us who believe. All of these are in us and need to be displayed to everyone else by our words and our actions. The name is the reputation. Whose name are you defined by? The faithful follower of Christ is defined by Christ's Name and carries His reputation with them wherever they go. 

    Philippians 2:7, 8

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

     As such He did, so, too, do we, His followers. We make ourselves of no reputation, and yet, we are known by many for who we are. As Christ is known, both loved and hated, we who love Him and follow in His steps, are both loved  and hated. Though we desire no reputation of our own, we are given two. We are only slightly known to this world. But in God's kingdom we are fully known.

REPUTATION

Clean Hands - Lauren Alexandria

Better Than Life - Phil Wickham

Here's My Heart - I Am They

No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus - Steffany Gretzinger

Nothing Without You - United Pursuit

I Belong To Jesus - Paul, Hannah McClure

Give Us Clean Hands - Caedmon's Call

I Speak Jesus - Here Be Lions

Hands and Feet - Audio Adrenaline

Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective

Known - Tauren Wells

    

Guard Your Heart - - Fruitful Faith

 

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Faith: belief, trust, confidence, fidelity, faithfulness

From the Greek word 'pistis' (pronounced pis'-tis) and is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In Scripture, faith is God's warranty, certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass. Faith is Divine Persuasion. 

Romans 8:24

For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

    We are always confident, not in and of ourselves, but in God and His promises to us. God keeps all His promises and there are thousands of promises in The Scriptures. His promises hold true whether you believe them or not. And if a person chooses to not believe God and not walk in His ways, there are promises regarding disobedience, as well. 

    As for this faith which God has given each person who believes on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation and life eternal, He places a 'measure of faith' (Romans 12:3) within each of us. It's up to us to exercise that measure, that portion,  and watch it grow, bud, bloom and be fruitful faith. 

    Who plants a fruit tree and expects fruit within that same year? No farmer who knows what he's doing, that's for sure. I love cherries. One year I planted three cherry trees along the length of the drive on a farm I lived on. Though I moved before seeing them bloom and then have fruit, I knew that someday they would. That's how faith works. 

    Fertile ground receives viable seed but only after the ground is dug up and prepared to receive the seed. Had I set the trees up on top of the ground, instead of digging holes wide enough for the trees to take root, the trees would have died. 

    So it is with our hearts. We need to be in a place where we are ready to receive The Word, that God may distribute the portion of faith which He has set aside for each of us into us. How do we get this faith? Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Faith comes to us from hearing The Word of God, whether that Word is spoken directly to us, or spoken by a preacher from the pulpit, or in a God-given dream or vision.     

    It's why we need to be in a God-centered, Full Gospel preaching, Holy Spirit-filled church. That we may hear what God wants to say to us and be able and ready to receive The Word of Faith into our hearts. Go to church expecting to receive this Word of Faith: pray for clarity in seeing God move, understanding what is being said, and wisdom to apply what you have heard.

    Go to the altar, the place of prayer and worship. Go obediently. "When the Spirit of The Lord moves in my heart, I will dance like David danced," is a song I learned about 25 years ago. But it talks about being obedient to the moving of The Holy Spirit. That's faith. 

    We can't see what is going to happen before it happens. But having lived without God for so long before we first came to Him there is no way I, nor many others, want to do anything we do apart from Him. So, by faith one night, I made my way down to the altar during a revival when I was seven years old. And I received Christ into my heart. But I received Him without discipleship, so I wandered away and for many years after that I did my own thing, 

    But God had placed a measure of faith within me. He was just waiting for it to grow. By faith, many years after that, I found myself making my way down to another altar. God found me in a very dark place and He made Himself known to me, lifting me up out of there and bringing me to a place of His choosing. And I declared my love for Him and wanting to live a righteous life. And just like that, I found myself divorced. With kids.

    But God. He led me to a sweet little church where I began to grow. Every tree requires both sun and water to grow efficiently. When the rain began to fall during a revival being held there, I found myself at the altar again; there He filled me with His Holy Spirit; there the Rain fell in my soul and the fertile ground where the Seed of Faith had fallen received it gladly. And my faith grew.

    The closer we are to God the greater our faith will grow. We are trees of righteousness, the planting of The Lord (Isaiah 61:3); it is He who causes us to grow in Him, in His Word, as The Word of Faith (Romans 10:8) grows in us.  We believe that this is true because "the Bible tells me so". 

     We know in our hearts the veracity of God's Word. We live in our lives the blessings of God's Word. We share with all the knowledge of God's Word. We pray God's Word when we pray. I like to pray Ephesians 3 over my children and the people they interact with. 

    Where we read John 3:16 and God so loved the 'world', I learned to insert my name there. God loves you and I so much that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus the Christ to this earth to minister to the people, die on the cross and rise from the dead that He might become Friend, Savior, The Resurrection & The Life for us! 

    I believe this and it is counted unto me for righteousness. I have a measure of faith that is greater than when I first received Christ into my heart. For with this hope of salvation rising up within me and filling me with Joy, I can pray in faith knowing that my faith in God's promises will be the faith of all who receive Christ. For my prayers will be answered. 

    Proverbs 15:29 "The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous."

    Proverbs 15:8 "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is His delight."

    Proverbs 10:24 "What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted."

    Fruitful trees get pruned. Dead branches are removed to make room for more fruitful branches. Does this cause pain to the tree? Yes. But it's not only necessary, it's brief. The area cut heals and the tree keeps growing. So it is in our Christian walk with Christ. As we grow in Him, The Spirit removes what is not necessary for growth from our hearts and our lives that our tree may become increase with sweet fruit. 

    You better get ready for rain, 'cause I'm praying for you. 

 

HOLY SPIRIT RAIN DOWN   by Alvin Slaughter

LET THE WEIGHT OF YOUR GLORY FALL by Paul Wilbur

WHAT FAITH CAN DO by Kutless

INCREASE MY FAITH by Brian Courtney Wilson

CHANGING ME by Anna Golden

BROKEN THINGS  by Matthew West

EVEN WHEN IT HURTS by Hillsong United

BELIEVE YOU WILL by Jeremy Rosado

I know this is quite a list of songs today, but I was led to each one and couldn't stop until I reached the last one. 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Sobriety, Faith, Love, Hope

 

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Believers Belong To The Day

1 Thessalonians 5:5

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

The Day of The LORD

Prophetic Verses 

Zechariah 1:7-18

Malachi 4:1-6 (refers to both Christ's first coming and His second)

2 Peter 3:8-13

Be Sober

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3525

free from illusion, i.e. from the intoxicating influences of sin (like the impact of selfish passion, greed, etc.)

refers to having presence of mind (clear judgment), enabling someone to be temperate (self-controlled); means to have "one's wits (faculties) about them," which is the opposite of being irrational.

To watch, To be alert, To be vigilant in all things and at all times.

2 Timothy 4:5

1 Peter 1:13

1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 5:8

The Breastplate of Faith & Love

Being a spiritual covering, we learn that it covers our spiritual heart, protecting us from the temptations of the enemy of our souls. 

This Breastplate consists of Living by Faith, Walking by Faith; Having the Love of God in us through Christ, Speaking words of Love with Love. 

FAITH

Hebrews 11:1  

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

The Just Live By Faith

Romans 1:17

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

Galatians 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The Just Walk By Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7, 8

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

LOVE

1 John 4:7-10

Living In Love

1 John 4:11-21

John 13:34

1 Peter 1:22

Romans 12:10

SALVATION

Our helmet, which is fixed securely to our spiritual heads, gives us defence against the tactics of our the enemy of our souls. Having the Word of God firmly planted in our thoughts prevents the wiliness of the his strategies from reaching us. When we know the Word of God, we also know and become aware of how the devil works against us. Knowing our enemy from this advantage point helps us in our times of temptations and troubles to turn to God and His Word to keep us from being prey, but instead makes us the victor in every encounter. And there are many encounters throughout our lives; day in and day out.

HOPE of SALVATION

Romans 8:19, 24

 For the earnest expectation of the creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

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.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. 

2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5-7

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

John 3:16, 17

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. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

 

Today's Word -- Hope

Romans 8:24

For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

Romans 12:12

..constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], .. 

HOPE: an expectation of what is sure

I Know My Redeemer Lives  

Romans 5:3-6

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 

Isaiah 33:2

O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm of Your servants every morning [that is, their strength and their defense], Our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Here in Isaiah 33:2 Hope is expressed by 'waited expectantly', meaning to also gather together and look eagerly for.  Here this two-word phrase also means 'to bind together' (twist).  

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (this, too, is hope). 

It is impossible to see through a dark glass. But we press in anyway, knowing that we will eventually see what He wants us to see: The Lord Himself face to face. That's Hope. 

Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 

Here in Jeremiah 17:7 Hope means confidence, security, secure, and trust.

But in Lamentations 3:24 Hope again means 'to wait expectantly': “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”

My Hope Is In You, Lord and My Life Is In You, Lord are two wonderful songs that go beautifully with this study. 

Even Now

1. ain't no baby in the manger                                3.it is Joy that filled the manger
ain't no Jesus on the cross                                        it is Love that drenched the cross
ain't no body in the graveyard                                   it is Hope that lies in the graveyard
even now, He isn't there!                                          it is Faith that carries me on
                                                                                                         to only Jesus!
2.there's only Joy Grace and Mercy                                                
there's only Faith Hope and Love                             4. even now, there's only Jesus
there's only Jesus in this song now                                 even now, there's only Jesus
even now, there's only Jesus                                          there's only Jesus in this song now
even now, there's only Jesus                                          there's only Jesus in this place
even now, even now                                                      there's only Jesus in my heart now
there's only Jesus....                                                        in my thoughts, in my life
only Jesus.......only Jesus                                                 even now
even now.                                                                        there's only Jesus
                                                                                        even now
                                                                                        there's only Jesus
                                                                                         even now
                                                                                         there's only Jesus
                                                                                                       

                                                                                        5. only Jesus, only Jesus
                                                                                          even now, there's only Jesus
                                                                                          Jesus. Jesus.   even now.....

God's Promises Never Change

GOD'S PROMISES NEVER CHANGE

• GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FAIL YOU ~Hebrews 13:5
• IF YOU USE WISELY WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU WILL BE GIVEN MORE~Matthew 25:29
• YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS WITH GOD'S HELP~Psalm 60:12
• GOD IS OUR REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE~Psalm 9:9, Isaiah 43:2
• GOD DOES NOT IGNORE US WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE~Psalm 9:12
• GOD OFFERS REST FROM OUR BURDENS~Matthew 11:28
• GOD GIVES GOOD ADVICE~Psalm 32:8
• GOD IS SLOW TO GET ANGRY WITH US~Psalm 103:8

• BLESSINGS WILL COME TO US THROUGH APPLYING GOD'S WORD~Luke 11:28
• BLESSINGS WILL COME TO FROM OBEYING GOD~Psalm 1:1
• GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO DO WHAT IS RIGHT~Psalm 84:11
• GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO HELP THE POOR~Proverbs 19:17
• GOD TAKES CARE OF US~Psalm 23, Isaiah 46:4
• GOD IS CLOSE TO ALL WHO CALL UPON HIM~Psalm 145:18
• GOD BRINGS GOOD OUT OF BAD CIRCUMSTANCES~Romans 8:28, Genesis 45:7, 8
• WHEN YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE A NEW PERSON~2 Corinthians 5:17

• GOD COMFORTS THE BROKEN-HEARTED~Psalm 34:18, 147:3
• GOD COMFORTS THOSE WHO SUFFER~2 Corinthians 1:5
• THOSE COMMITTED TO GOD FIND NEW RENEWED STRENGTH~Isaiah 40:31
• THOSE COMMITTED TO GOD WILL SHARE IN ALL HIS RICHES~Hebrews 3:14
• GOD IS IN CHARGE OVER THE WORLD~John 16:33
• GOD SATISFIES THE SOUL~Psalm 107:9
• GOD GIVES COURAGE WHEN YOU ARE AFRAID~Psalm 56:3
• KNOWING GOD IS WITH US GIVES US COURAGE~Joshua 1:6,7, 9, 18

• DEATH IS NOT THE END BUT THE BEGINNING OF ETERNAL LIFE~Psalm 49:15, John 11:25
• GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU~Joshua 23:10, 2 Chronicles 20:22
• GOD WILL GUARD YOU FROM THE EVIL ONE~2 Thessalonians 3:3
• ALL WHO BELIEVE WILL ONE DAY PRAISE GOD IN HEAVEN~2 Thessalonians 1:10
• GOD IS FAITHFUL TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM~Deuteronomy 7:9
• WHEREVER WE GO, GOD IS THERE~Genesis 28:15
• GOD HAS WONDERFUL PLANS FOR OUR LIVES~Jeremiah 29:11
• GOD WILL LIVE AMONG US FOREVER~Revelation 21:3

• GOD FORGIVES OUR SINS~Daniel 9:9, Ephesians 4:32
• GOD IS PREPARING A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR US IN HEAVEN~John 14:2,             1 Corinthians 2:9
• IF YOU SEEK GOD, YOU WILL FIND HIM~1 Chronicles 28:9, Matthew 7:7
• JESUS IS COMING BACK!~Matthew 26:64, Acts 1:11, Matthew 24:30,                              1 Thessalonians 4:16
• THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH~Nehemiah 8:10
• WHOEVER BELIEVES IN GOD'S SON WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE~John 3:16, Romans 10:13
• THE WORD OF FAITH IS NECESSARY~Romans 10:8-10
• WHEN WE CONFESS OUR SINS, GOD FORGIVES US~1 John 1:9

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."

Decision Determines Destiny

Decision Determines Destiny

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto 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.

Colossians 3: 1, 2

If ye then be risen with Christ, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE,

where Christ sits on the right hand of God.

SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE,

not on things on the earth.

As we read our Bibles, we need to remember that every word of God applies to all of us, not just some of us. So, when we read the Word of God, read it as applicable to yourself. For example, the first verse given is plain and simple: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We choose not to serve the gods of our ancestors, nor the gods of this land where we live. My household chooses to serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We choose to live under God's authority and God's mercy. My house chooses to serve in God's house.

The second verse, Colossians 3:1, 2 reads to me: I am risen with Christ, and my affection, my love is on the things of God which God desires for me. The things of this world will pass away and god of this world will cease to exist.

By choosing to place my hope in Christ and my faith in God, my decision has determined my destiny.

What is your decision?