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John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (KJV)
The two births are a result of two different seeds, one is of the flesh and one is of the Spirit. As one grows and matures in the Lord they wean themselves from the things of this world and become more dependent on the things of the Lord. As children in the flesh, our desires were things that appealed to the flesh without any thought of its consequences. Whatever looked good, sounded good, and appealed to the outward is what we pursued after. You have a spiritual seed within you that was brought to life and resurrected by your hearing the word of God, the living waters that are able to nourish a spiritual seed. It is vital now that you learn how to nurture that seed within and to be able to discern what it takes to bring it to maturity. The effort and diligence you put in the past to feed the flesh and its desires will now have to be redirected to the inward seed if you wish to see this seed grow to maturity. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (KJV) Jesus of Nazareth was a man born of the flesh after the seed of David and the first to be reborn in the Spirit to manifest God’s plan of salvation to all mankind. This is a great mystery and continues to be to this day because so many are looking to the outward for some great savior, when in fact this Savior will only become a reality to those in the Spirit. Of these two, God is able to make one new man so making peace; bringing the plan of reconciliation to a fallen world. Romans 8:15-17 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (KJV) It takes one to know one. In other words, are you allowing the Spirit to bear witness with your spirit, to give an eyewitness account to the things of God, to give life and nourishment to the inner man so that you can receive the reward of adoption? Do you take the time on a daily basis in the word of God so that you too can be justified in the Spirit, despite what you may suffer from those that seek their justification from man? You are now a joint heir with Christ, the first born of all creation, so that you too can be glorified with Him and receive your eternal inheritance. Romans 1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; (4) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (KJV) One is born of flesh, Jesus of Nazareth; the other seed is the Son of God (Christ) which is where our power source comes from. If any man has not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His and is unable to walk in the newness of life given them. Just as we have parents in the flesh to nurture their newborn child, we have a Father in heaven that is ready, willing and able to nurture and feed His newborn offspring as well. As we require daily nourishment for the outward man, it is vital to feed the inward man also if one is to grow strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Adam was put in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. You have a spiritual garden as well that takes a constant maintenance plan so that you don’t end up on the outside looking in. Do you know the difference between the flesh and the Spirit? Do you seek the things that will feed your spirit man or are you still chasing cheap, short lived, emotional fixes that only appease the flesh and not the Spirit? You wouldn’t abandon your own offspring and leave it for dead; so why do many abandon God’s offspring and leave it for dead? A parent in the flesh can be tried and convicted for child abandonment, and someday you will have to give an account of what you have done with the seed of God that was reborn in you; and hopefully when the going got tough you didn’t bail out on the Son either. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (KJV) In December each year when so many talk of the birth of the Savior, we see much of the attention focused on the physical seed and not the spiritual. A child that was born in this realm was Jesus of Nazareth and the Son given to us is Christ which is in you and is our only hope of glory. So, where is your focus today and what realm are you looking into in order to nourish the new birth within you? Are you blindly following the traditions and doctrines of man which claim some days are more special than others, or are you walking in the peace of God that is available to any and at any time for those that seek to worship Him in Spirit and in truth? God is not a god of the dead and their dead end doctrines, but a God of the living, those that live in the Spirit and seek their justification by faith. John 8:31-37 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (33) They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (35) And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. (36) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (37) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (KJV) Many still claim they are of God according to their physical birthright and end up neglecting their spiritual one. It doesn’t matter to God what your family name is in the flesh, its only those that are joint heirs with Christ and follow His example that are born free and continue in the freedom of knowing the truth set forth in the word of God. Once you have been set free it is up to you to continue walking in the liberty in Christ and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. (KJV)
You know that thing about reaping what you sow, with what measure you are willing to hear, is what is measured back at you, it’s true. If you don’t like our Lord’s message of salvation, and turn away and do your own thing, then the Lord doesn’t want to hear your excuses for allowing sin in your life. God has done all that is needed to bring you His plan of salvation and how to maintain a walk in the Spirit on a daily basis. And until you are willing and obedient to His plan, He will not listen to those that choose another path. However, if one is a doer of His word as well as a hearer, the line of communication is wide open to those that worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 11:41-44 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (42) And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (KJV) How would you like to have this confidence and boldness to know that God does always hear your prayer, and then be able to expect His results as well? The words that we speak should always be life, and bring new life to those around us as well; resurrecting those areas in our walk that have bound us up and left us for dead also. The word of God is living and powerful and able to remove the stony heart from the dead, and give them a new life with a heart that is able to receive the things of God. Sometimes however the heart becomes hardened again and calloused to the voice of God, and we end up dead in our sins and trespasses because we don’t always like and agree with what God is asking of us. 2 Peter 3:3-6 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: (6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (KJV) When you are willingly ignorant and choose to ignore God, did you realize that He does the same in return? God warned the people back in the time of Noah, and was longsuffering enough to give them one hundred and twenty years time before he brought the flood upon them. Today we have many scoffers who stand in the pulpits and claim to be of God, who tickle the ears and preach doctrines based on blessings without any concern for consequences or personal responsibility of the believer. As long as people attend certain organizations and follow guidelines and standards which are beneficial only to the leaders and not the congregation, they will find that these self-serving doctrines of man which look good and sound good to the outward man, are nothing more than an abomination to God, and they will be ignored by Him until they choose to follow His path. Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. (KJV) Have things seemed stale in your life at times? Does it seem like you are in a holding pattern, ready to move forward but stuck in the mud? Are you like Lazarus, all bound up and things that were once alive in your walk now seem dead? Basically your life stinks. Do you have confidence in your prayers, knowing and not just hoping or guessing the Lord hears you? Some think that God is holding back on them, or that He plays favorites, when the reality is that He is ready, willing, and more than able to respond to those that are willing to respond to Him; doing the walk as well as the talk. Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (KJV) Think of it this way, as long as you cover your ears and are not willing to listen, neither will God listen to you. God has a path of life for you to walk on, which He ordained for you before the foundation of the world, and will only fellowship with those that are willing to walk with Him on this path. He will not alter and change His plan for anyone; especially the creation that thinks it knows better than the Creator. Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (KJV) What if you were out at sea in a boat and fell overboard, and someone threw you a life preserver, but you chose to ignore it because it wasn’t a color you liked. People get that way with God; the way of escape is always available, the opportunity for salvation is always there, but they don’t like the answer they received, or are not willing to do what is necessary to keep them from drowning in destruction and perdition. If you don’t like God’s plan of salvation, I can assure you there is not another ship coming along to bring you anything better. The fact is that most of the ships that set sail these days in the name of the Lord, have large gaping holes in their doctrines, and are headed for shipwreck. Isaiah 1:15-16 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (16) Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; (KJV) Have you ever seen a child that doesn’t want to hear a parent’s instructions? They plug their ears, close their eyes, or make noises to drown out the voice of the parent. From the parent’s point of view, how do you handle the situation when the child demands something from you, having been just ignored? Be not deceived, God is not mocked, what you sow is what you reap, and you will not get a response from Father until you are willing to respond to Him, only this time try it with some humility. 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (KJV) Wouldn’t you rather know that He hears your prayer, and not just guess or hope maybe you caught the Lord in a good mood this time? God is not moody like man, nor does He play favorites with anyone, but is longsuffering toward all of us, not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance so that He can work effectively in each and every one of us. So remember Church, if you turn a deaf ear to Him, don’t expect to be treated any differently in return. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (45) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (KJV)
What would you do if you won the lottery? You would double, triple, quadruple check your winning numbers over and over, again and again, making sure it was real. You would then imagine the new life you could be living, a life of freedom to do what you want when you want however you want with no concern about the cost. You might hire a lawyer, seek financial counsel, basically you would do all you could to collect on the winnings, and protect your investment. Spiritually you have a winning ticket, Jesus Christ is the first born of many brethren, which gives you access to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge from above, an eternal life of joy, peace and freedom, your debt completely paid in full. How much do you treasure this gift, and what are you willing to do to maintain your winning ticket? Are you willing to sell out and let go of anything and anyone that would stand in your way and hinder you from collecting your winnings? Which do you hold in higher esteem, the short term self interest rewards of this earth, or the eternal things of the spiritual realm? Where your treasure is there will your heart be. Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (KJV) Could you imagine if you were poor and struggling trying to raise a family, knowing you had a winning lottery ticket that would take care of all your financial need, only to find out you misplaced it or lost it by neglect, and could not collect on the reward? Now think of the spiritual realm which is much greater than this physical one, to have access to an eternal inheritance, only to find out that you let it slip through your hands, and be blown away with winds of doctrines? You too would be put to an open shame, knowing what you had access to, what was rightfully yours, knowing it was your choice to fall away and not follow through with the terms and conditions set forth to receive your reward of inheritance. Salvation is there for the taking, this day, right now. Have you done all to stand this day and follow through with what He requires so you won’t fall away? Just like with a lottery ticket, no one is going to print you up a new one; the same holds true with salvation, the Lord is not going to rewrite His plan, or bend and change so you can fit in. God is not going to send another Saviour. If you don’t accept His plan, you don’t get His reward. Luke 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (KJV) If you wish, you may go back and read the whole account of the unjust steward, it basically refers to a person who had control of a rich man’s finances, and how he was wasting it. So when the time came to give account of it, he had to correct it by being diligent with what he was in charge of. I use verse 8, because of the second part of it, comparing the children of the world to the children of light. We as Christians are the children of light; what a statement to make to the Church; yet it is due to our own lack of diligence at times for the gift of life we have been given. Let me share this example… Luke 16:8 [Children of light] Those who have been enlightened from above-- who are Christians. This may be considered as the application of the parable. It does not mean that it is more wise to be a worldly man than to be a child of light, but that those who "are" worldly show much prudence in providing for themselves; seize occasions for making good bargains; are active and industrious; try to turn everything to the best account, and thus exert themselves to the utmost to advance their interests; while Christians often suffer opportunities of doing good to pass unimproved; are less steady, firm, and anxious about eternal things, and thus show less wisdom. Alas! this is too true; and we cannot but reflect here how different the world would be if all Christians were as anxious, and diligent, and prudent in religious matters as others are in worldly things. (from Barnes' Notes) Have you ever seen the casinos in Las Vegas, how well protected they are. They have to upgrade their security on a daily basis to keep up with the con men and thieves of this world. How diligent they are to protect their riches, and how quick they are to confront and remove those that would try to steal from them. And yet for the gift we have been given, are we as a Church anywhere near as diligent, to protect ourselves with the armor of God, and quick to confront and cast out anything that would try to come into the Lord’s temple and steal our treasure? How about a bank, with all the security and bank vaults, how well protected they keep their banks to insure themselves from being robbed. Unless one stays alert and upgrades their spiritual protection on a daily basis, they will end up being robbed and pilfered of all the treasures the Lord gave His life for to provide for His children. So what is it you truly treasure this day, and what are doing with your winning ticket to heaven? Luke 16:9-11 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. (10) He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (11) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (KJV) If you are still hanging on to the things of this life, you will not be able to inherit those of the next one. Do you choose personal wealth over the wealth of others? If you had a choice of a multimillion dollar lottery ticket or a ticket to heaven, which one would you really choose? Which would you consider of more value? Are you willing to let go of the old so that you can partake of the new? Many fail because they choose the things of this life over those of the next one; loving money and falling into covetousness which the Bible says is idolatry. What would the Church be like if we were as diligent to protect our spiritual assets, as the world is to protect its financial ones? Which prize are you truly pressing toward, and are you willing to do all that is required to receive it? It’s your pick. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
The wages for a life of sin is death, separation from our Father for eternity. It’s literally a hell of a reward for all those that serve the devil and spend their lives to satisfy their own desires of the flesh and neglecting the will of our Father. Salvation is actually a gift given to all mankind, sent forth from our Father and manifested to us by His Son, to deliver us from all our destructions. Now the question each and every one of us needs to answer is this; have we received this gift or have we neglected it and are looking elsewhere for our answer? John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (KJV) What would it be like for you parents, to be able to have everything a child would need to grow up healthy and mature, only to watch them neglect your gift of love, and end up malnourished and sick? For those that live in cold climates, to have coats and all the winter clothing that is needed for the child, just to watch them walk out the door and not be dressed for the weather. And yet with all that our Father has done for his people, for their benefit, only to see how few receive the gift and walk in the spiritual provisions He has provided for His children; how it must hurt Him as well to see His people walk out into a cold dark world not properly dressed and fed either. The plan is established, the gift given, His spirit poured out on all mankind, now a matter of who is willing to receive it and walk in the blessings afforded through this gift. Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV) There is a perfect plan of salvation made just for you; a path of good works which were drawn up like a blueprint for you to follow after; a free gift for any and all that would receive it this day. We are His workmanship; and what a piece of work we all are, and can continue to be, if we allow Him to have His way with us. Some claim that salvation is not something we can earn and therefore it is something we cannot lose. However, like with any gift, some have taken their gift and exchanged it for something else more appealing to the lower nature, and not to the new nature we received in Christ. Romans 1:22-25 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (KJV) The word ‘changed’ actually means to exchange. So instead of being content with what the Lord has provided, they look elsewhere for their answer, and just like clockwork the enemy is ready and waiting to give them a cheap imitation of what the real gift can provide. So instead of letting the truth set them free, they are overcome again with the subtle doctrines of man and end up worshipping and serving their own lusts and desires, rather than seeking the things of God and what He desires for them. It’s not that the devil has the power to pull anyone out of the kingdom, but rather uses slick underhanded methods to try and talk you out of it, and get you to settle for a far less inferior plan, which in many cases gives the glory to man and not to God. Don’t be taken in by these larger than life ministers who claim they are God’s gift to mankind. In many cases what appears to be too good to be true usually is. 1 Timothy 4:14-16 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (15) Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (KJV) How would you like it if you gave a gift to someone close to you, something that was of great value, only to show up one day at their house and find it discarded and thrown in the garbage? If you really knew the true value of what you have been given and what you have access to, and the sacrifice it took to get you this gift, you would give yourself wholly to it as well, not holding back, but receiving all that is yours as well as sharing it with all you come in contact with. 1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (KJV) As with any gift it comes with an instruction manual so that you can keep it operational and not void the warranty. This is a free gift given to you so that you can partake of our Lord’s divine nature and continue to minister words of life to those that are willing to let Him speak through you. So what have you done with this gift? Is it alive and real today, or is it a discarded memory of something many talk of, but not walk in? Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (KJV) You have been given the same measure of faith that Jesus Christ was given when He walked this planet. He considers His church the pearl of great price and was willing to die on our behalf. So today, are you holding fast to what is rightfully yours, or have you neglected it? Some day we will have to give an account of what we have done with this gift, and I pray that you will be able to measure up and not be discarded as well. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (KJV)
GPS navigation systems are installed in vehicles to help the people navigate to their destination. The coordinates are predetermined and set to give instructions from an above satellite so that one could get from a starting point to their destination. God’s personal salvation will do the same thing; seek spiritual instructions from above so that you too can walk a path of life predetermined for you before the foundation of the world. So now the question is, are you dialed into the right frequency to receive your instructions, and are you following through on your commitment to make it to your destination? If you make a wrong turn or end up on a dead end, you can quickly tap into your source from above, and get back on the road you need to take. However, just like with a satellite communications, which works for anyone who knows how to access the information and follow the instructions, if one doesn’t make it to their destination it is not the fault of the communication system, but rather the person that didn’t follow the predetermined correct path. Some try to take short cuts; others get sidetracked with what they think is an easier road to follow; while some just give up and quit moving forward, or settle for the path of least resistance following the crowd on a dead end trail. Ephesians 1:5-6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (KJV) You have a spiritual navigation system in heaven, ready to be tapped into with the coordinates to show you the way to the kingdom. You have access to this by the name of Jesus Christ, so that you too can follow the same path that He walked to an eternal inheritance. Are you taking the time on a daily basis to hear the instructions and then follow this path that leads to life, or are you waiting for someone else to show you the way? Will you step out in faith, letting the Lord confirm His word with the right road signs assuring you that you are still on the correct path? So, just like a navigational satellite system with the coordinates predetermined and locked in, this will work for whosoever is willing to call upon the name of the Lord and follow the instructions set forth in the Bible. Galatians 3:3-4 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (4) Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. (KJV) Many start out on the right path with good intentions, only to end up way off course and shipwrecked. Is your system still operational, or have you shut it off and are now on what you consider auto pilot, letting your own desires and lusts take over? They that are in the flesh cannot please God, and will most certainly not inherit His kingdom. Even though it is our Father’s will that none would perish, it’s not His fault if we don’t follow His spiritual course set out for us before the foundation of the world for any and all that are willing. Ephesians 1:11-12 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (KJV) Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. He has been there, done it, having wrote the book on how to follow His Father’s instructions, being led by the Spirit and not the flesh. He is the firstborn, the first one to enter God’s kingdom to ransom us back to an inheritance so that we too can be adopted into the family of God, following the example of His Son. Are you tuned in this moment, not taking thought for tomorrow, and yesterday is now behind us, but looking forward and taking your next step of faith leading you to your heavenly destination. Ephesians 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (KJV) Your calling is a divine invitation; you as well as all mankind have been invited into the kingdom of God to partake of His spiritual inheritance, and find the joy and peace for all of His children. Are you learning to walk by faith; not by what your outward vision would dictate, but rather by what the inward eyes of your understanding are now showing you, and the direction the Lord is pointing you in? Or are you still holding fast to what the old man feels comfortable in, not willing to leave your comfort zone? Do you know if the directions you are following this day are coming from above, and not some stranger’s voice that would try to lead you astray, or what you perceive as being the right way? 2 Peter 1:10-11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (KJV) The kingdom of God is up and operational; the line of communication is wide open to any that would call upon His name. Are you tapped into His navigation system, letting His spirit lead and guide you, allowing the peace of God to rule in all your decisions this day? If you make sure of this, you need not fall short of the glory of God or His reward. 1 Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (KJV) In my many years of truck driving I had faced all kinds of weather and road conditions which could change quickly. I would have to navigate through these in order to make it to my destination, sometimes in conditions that were blinding. Like with truck driving, unless the load made it to its destination, there would be no reward of a paycheck. Though at times the storms in life may make it seem hard to see the victory, or the purpose of the Lord in those particular situations, you need to grab the steering wheel with both hands and don’t let go until you reach your goal as well. At the end of our spiritual path on this earth is the salvation of our soul, an eternal destination, a reward promised to all that would follow His course set in motion before the founding of this world, and ready to be revealed to all that would call upon His name. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (KJV)
A heavenly calling has gone forth to all mankind, and the question is, who will answer. The Lord’s plan of salvation was drawn up before the foundation of the world, knowing that mankind would fall, and what it would take to bring about the restoration. Did you ever realize that this peace you now experience in your life, is a result of you answering the call of God, and now walking in His plan of salvation, a personal blueprint that was drawn up for you before the this world began? It brings a whole new meaning to trusting in the Lord with all our heart and not leaning to our own understanding. You begin to realize that nothing in your walk happens because of luck or chance, or some strange coincidence, but it is actually a divine plan of salvation for you to walk in. So are you answering the call this day, or are you putting the Lord on hold? Romans 8:28-31 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (KJV) Did you know that God was for you, making a plan of salvation before the foundation of the world? And not only for you (the fact that He is no respecter of people and doesn’t play favorites), but a Saviour was sent for the whole world. Some think that predestination means that God chose only certain people, whether they wanted to follow Him or not, they have no choice, God decided they were going to inherit His kingdom. The truth be known Church, salvation is like a telephone call to give directions; one has to take the time to receive the message and then follow the instructions. Even though at times we may get blown off course by winds of doctrine, by redialing our heavenly Father, reestablishing an open line of communication, it can get us right back on course. So the more you keep the line of communication open, the more familiar you will become with the voice giving the directions, the clearer the path of escape will become. The more you choose to follow the Lord, the more He will reveal Himself to you. Mark 4:24-25 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. (25) For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. (KJV) God made the call, now who is answering, who will make the Lord a priority; His message being the determining factor in all our decisions, which simply put is either life or death. Your choice this day, right now, is the determining factor of which way you are going. Are you growing closer to the Lord and able to hear His voice clearer, or are you wandering off on your own and not following a predetermined path of life which leads to our heavenly Father? God would that none should perish but that all would come to repentance, and follow a path of life chosen just for them; the same spiritual path Jesus Christ walked to lead us home to victory. So before you go blame God, or claim He only picks and chooses certain individuals, remember that you have the opportunity to answer the call just like anyone else written in the Bible; and the reason people are used of the Lord is because they respond to His calling. Romans 10:11-13 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (KJV) The Lord made a calling to all mankind, sending the Son to heal us and deliver us from all our destructions. Now He is waiting with open loving arms to see who will answer the call and return His message of love. Don’t be taken in by those that claim only certain special people or denominations are chosen of God, or even those that specify a certain number of individuals that God chooses as well. The simple fact is that I consider myself a ‘whosoever’, so that gives me a right to respond to the message delivered by Christ, and to walk in the plan He designed for me before the foundation of the world; no ifs ands or butthead doctrines of man are going to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (KJV) Please stop for a moment and take the time to see these verses in a different light. When you see a word like ‘we’ start seeing your own name there, and look at the word of God as more of a personal letter of love from the Father to you. Realize that if you were the only one on planet earth, and had fallen from grace, God would have still sent the Son on your behalf so that you would have access to His plan of reconciliation. 1 John 2:1-3 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (KJV) Christ died to the sins of the whole world, not just for a certain few that think they have certain rights and privileges with God based on their own man made doctrines and interpretations that fit their lifestyle and not a spiritual one. So are you taking the message to heart; personally sent from God through Jesus Christ this day so you too can partake of the heavenly calling, and give the answer of salvation to any that would ask? Remember, the call is free. The charges against us have been dropped, so there is no excuse for not dialing a toll free direct line to the Father through Jesus Christ. Your outcome is based on how well you listen to the message of truth and allow it to set you free from doubt and confusion. The simple truth is this; God is calling all that would like to partake of His free gift of salvation which has been sent to all the world. Will you answer His call? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (KJV)
There is a security to those that are in Christ, the peace of God assures our heart that we are on the path of life, and continuing in His plan. But it is up to you; who and what you choose to listen to is what will allow you to continue forward and not see death, which is separation from God. Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (2) For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; (3) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (KJV) Again Church, look at who this is written to. If you neglect your salvation, which means to make light of or give no regard to, then you will reap that which you sowed; and you too may just find yourself slipping away into the darkness as well, letting the river of living waters flow right on by you, and not partaking of it. Hebrews 10:26-29 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (KJV) Once you willfully disregard the truth, there is no more that can be done on your behalf. You made the choice to enter the Kingdom, and you can make the choice to exit as well. God is not going to send another saviour, though many claim they are; He has done all that is necessary to make the way of escape for His people. So if you disregard His name and message sent to the world, you definitely run the risk of being disregarded as well come the judgment day, no matter how well you may have started the race. 2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (21) For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (KJV) You wouldn’t let a dirty pig into your house, what makes you think God is going to allow it into His? Once you have accepted salvation, it’s up to you to continue in the faith, and not be overcome again with the pollutions of the world, so that the Lord will let you have access to His eternal home. And if a dog is puking, I sure don’t want him on my lap either. Romans 8:13-14 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (KJV) You still have a choice, this day, right now. Even though you may have accepted God’s plan of salvation, and begun in the Spirit, you need to fight the good fight of faith, keeping your body in subjection to the Spirit so that you don’t end up looking to old things to try and fulfill the new within you. You still have a fallen sin nature, the old man that wants to take back control of the body and do what pleases the flesh. Like with many fad diets, some see results and rejoice for a season, only to end up six months to a year later gaining back the weight with interest as well. Unless you make salvation a lifestyle, being renewed in the spirit of your mind on a continual basis, you will find yourself desiring the things of this realm and not the things of God; and find that you are packing a lot of spiritual weight back on that you once let go of. So what is the leading, driving force in your life? Are you able to see the path clearer and clearer, or are you falling short of the goal being overburdened with the cares of this life? John 12:24-26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (25) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (26) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (KJV) Are you dying to finish this race? Will you do whatever it takes to make it to the end? Run this race with patience so that you will receive the reward of inheritance in which God is waiting to crown those that are willing and obedient. Romans 10:9-11 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (KJV) The Bible says that by our words we shall be justified or condemned. Please take note of verse 10, which states confession ‘is’ a continual process, not ‘was’ made unto salvation. So what you allow into the heart is what is going to come out of the mouth; which is either words of life or death. Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (KJV) Remember Church, this Word is a written reminder of what is available to God’s people. Now, it is a matter of whether or not you will continue to the end, which if one looks around it is not that far off. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (2) And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. (KJV)
When one thinks of salvation, an eternity with God, no more pain, sorrow, or tears, it is comforting to know that someday when we leave this realm there is a much better life waiting for us in the next one. Some think that salvation is a one and done process, all one needs to do is walk up to some alter, recite some prayer, and then they are saved, set for this eternal place in heaven that so many speak of. There are those that would even go so far as to say ‘once saved always saved’, eternal securities is another term used as well. Before you jump on that ear tickling feel good bandwagon, it would do you well to look at what the word of God says, and what the conditions of this salvation truly are if you plan on being an inheritor of the kingdom of God. A simple word like ‘if’ which means on the condition of, can add a whole new eternal meaning to the true plan of salvation. So if you read Deuteronomy 28, the first 14 verses sound great, describing all the blessings that will come upon not only the hearers, but the doers as well. But it doesn’t end there. Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: (KJV) Remember Church, God’s people, this Bible is written to us, the blessings are real and available, as well as the curses. If you read the rest of Deuteronomy 28, you see that life from this point on is rather unpleasant and is a death sentence to those that continue on this path, no matter who they are, or even the fact that at some time in their life they made a commitment to God. You are a child of God, adopted into the family of Christ; salvation is not a ticket to sin, or a free pass to live like the devil. As sure as there are blessings, be aware the curses are still in play and no one is immune to them; just a matter of which path you choose to walk. John 15:6-7 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (KJV) Call this an endurance race; once you have entered you need to follow the instructor and His instructions if you wish to inherit eternal life. You need to observe all the terms and conditions of Father’s last will and testament given in His word, the fine print if you would, so that you realize that having made this commitment now it’s time to follow through. Looking at verse 6, the branch is withering, drying out. At some point it was actually a part of the vine, but was cut off from the source of life. Note to Church, if you are not sure what is cast into the fire, Revelation 20:15 explains it. Think of a job, if you went to the interview, and you like the job and the benefits, and was hired and told to start on Monday, and you didn’t show up till Friday, what makes you think you’re going to get a paycheck? So why would people think we can do that to God? Simply put, if you don’t make salvation a way of life, a total commitment to the things of God, expect to reap what you sow; and don’t think that you are above the law of faith, God does not play favorites no matter who you are or who you think you are. Romans 11:21-23 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. (22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (KJV) It would be my pleasure to just write of the blessings and joy of the Lord, but I would not be able to speak on behalf of our Lord if I did not remind the Church of the flip side as well; so give heed to the voice of the Lord, so that you don’t fall from grace. Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (KJV) Jesus Christ was sent by God to bring His message of salvation, the plan of reconciliation, not only what allows you access into this plan, but how to maintain this relationship as well. So will you continue in this plan so that you can remain blameless without fault in His sight, and receive the reward of inheritance? John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (KJV) By staying in the word continually, you will be a follower indeed, doing the will of our Father. It is knowing the truth that will continually set one free from the bondage of the flesh and allow the Spirit to take over in an area that has hindered our walk in the past. Hebrews 3:14-15 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (KJV) What are you holding true to; will you let God be true and mans’ doctrines be the lie, or are you following a crowded slippery slope leading to destruction? You may have started this race with good intentions, but will you finish strong or drop off? Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (KJV) It may not be a popular path, but it is the only one that leads to our eternal home. Are you in it for the long haul? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (KJV)
Have you ever been in prayer over a certain situation, and it seems like nothing is happening? Or maybe your life seems like it is same O, same O, like walking a treadmill, you exhort the effort but you are not moving forward. The Word says that all things have become new to those in Christ, yet it seems “I am still stuck in the old”. So then we plead with God, “if you would only let go and let me have this request, I could move forward in my walk and I would be home free”. But is it so much that we are waiting for God to let loose, or could it be He is just waiting on us to let go? Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (KJV) Maybe it’s time to rethink our request. Maybe the snag in our walk is not on God’s end, but rather on ours; and our Father’s response is a reflection of our own stubbornness of hanging on to unhealthy things He has asked us to let go of. Your walk, your life is a mirror reflection of the spiritual, so if you don’t like what has manifested on the outward, take a look inward to find the solution. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (KJV) When there is an outbreak of an unhealthy, possibly fatal disease, the person infected is put into quarantine. They are isolated and set apart so not to infect others. When you associate with those people or groups that are unhealthy spiritually, you also become quarantined from the Father. So it is not until you are ready to take Father’s dose of what is needed that you will be let out of the quarantine of the flesh you put yourself into, and continue on the path of life and receive the answer to your prayers. You need to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only to be justified in His sight. Psalms 62:7-8 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (8) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. (KJV) I have found for my own self, that if I come clean before God, pouring my heart out to Him, which by the way He already sees the thoughts and intents of the heart, that God opens up to me as well, and the relationship is strengthened. Rather than try to hide things from Him, and pretend they don’t exist, which is an area the devil would like to keep us in, I ask for help to overcome these issues in my walk that can hinder my relationship with God. Psalms 32:3-5 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. (4) For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. (5) I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (KJV) Ever wonder what that roaring is inside you? The Bible says the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking those he can devour. That roaring sound is the voice of the enemy, telling you that there is nothing wrong on your end, but rather someone else’s fault, and the more you try to justify yourself, the louder that roar gets and tries to drown out the voice of truth that will restore peace and shut the lions mouth. John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (KJV) The Lord Himself makes an interesting statement concerning His own relationship with the Father, one we too can pattern our life after. How well known I am to the Father is based on how well known I make myself to Him as well. Do I take the time each and every day in prayer and in His word, making my walk in the Spirit a priority, or am I just doing lip service? Am I truly being honest with the Father, coming clean and admitting when I fall short so that He can show me how to make the correction to keep us close? What kind of marriage would one have if they never communicated with each other, or when they did, they would hold back and not be honest? All one needs to do is look around to see that answer, which eventually is divorce. And for those of us that have experienced the D word, it is not pleasant. Psalms 84:11-12 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (12) O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. (KJV) Have you ever had someone you could tell anything to? Someone you could tell your deepest secrets to, things you would never tell anyone else? Would not that person be someone you trusted, someone you established a tight bond with? What about our Father, did you know His ear is never too heavy to hear, in fact He is available 24-7, 365 days a year? Do you trust Him enough to open up too as well? If you do He will open up to you in return. If you sense your life is being put on hold, and you’re waiting for something to happen, being open and honest with God is what will set you free and get you off the bench and back on His field. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Psalms 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; (5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (KJV)
With all of the busyness of this life have you continued to keep the Lord in the forefront of your life (body, soul, and spirit); blessing God in all manner of your life for His loving kindness toward you? Ephesians 2:1-7 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (KJV) You have a choice each day whom you will serve; God or man. I pray that you will choose each day to renew your mind in the Word of God and be an example of His loving kindness in all that you do and say. Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (KJV) You have been given a new life in Christ; you have been forgiven, you have been healed, you have been delivered from destruction and lastly you have been raised up and made to sit together in heavenly places in Him where He will satisfy your hunger and thirst, renewing your strength so that you can overcome and remain steadfast in this new life He has given you. Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (KJV) Dearly loved, God’s Word is pleasant. Bless the Lord with your life and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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