WWJND

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But the foundation that God has laid is solid. On it is written, "The Lord knows who his people are. So everyone who worships the Lord must turn away from evil."  In a large house some dishes are made of gold or silver, while others are made of wood or clay. Some of these are special, and others are not.  That's also how it is with people. The ones who stop doing evil and make themselves pure will become special. Their lives will be holy and pleasing to their Master, and they will be able to do all kinds of good deeds.

2 Timothy 2: 19 - 21

When you decide to "stop doing evil" you become very special to the Lord.  Perhaps you have heard of the WWJD bracelets that remind the wearer to ask themselves the question: "WHAT WOULD JESUS DO" in every situation.

There is a "part two" to that question that should not be ignored.  It would be WWJND, or "WHAT WOULD JESUS NOT DO!"

Every day we must ask ourselves both questions.  What would Jesus do is certainly an important thing to ask when seeking direction for your day.  But asking "what would Jesus not do" is a critical question to ask, especially if you have time to rest and relax or even be involved in what is called "recreational" activities.

I believe the way to evaluate any activity is by considering whether what you are doing is something Jesus would have been comfortable doing.  Remember, the Holy Spirit is living in you, if you are a follower of Jesus.  Is the Holy Spirit comfortable doing the thing that you are doing right now?  If the answer is "NO," then just stop doing it so that your life can be "holy and pleasing" to God!

"Lord Jesus, help me today to not only do the things that You would do, but help me to say no to the things that You would not to.  And may Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."  

We Will Soar With Jesus!

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Here is the great mystery of our religion: Christ came as a human. The Spirit proved that he pleased God, and he was seen by angels. Christ was preached to the nations. People in this world put their faith in him, and he was taken up to glory.

1 Timothy 3: 16

The humanity of Jesus Christ is indeed a great mystery!  How could the Son of Almighty God be born as a baby and live on this earth as a human being for thirty three years?  

When a missionary goes to a foreign land he may live like the people, but it is beyond his ability to become one of the people to whom he is preaching.  Jesus was a human baby and experienced everything every other baby experiences!  Jesus was a small child and then became a young man in his teen years.  Jesus was an adult and was tempted like we are even today, and yet He was without sin!

Jesus didn't simply come to deliver a message.  Jesus was the message.  Jesus didn't come to tell us about a solution to our problem of sin, Jesus was the solution to the problem of sin!  Jesus didn't simply open the door to Heaven, He is the door to God!  

Jesus didn't come so He could see the plight of our condition here on earth!  Jesus could see that from Heaven.  The Lord Jesus Christ came and put on the robe of our human nature so that we could put on the robe of His righteousness and live with Him forever!  

Jesus came as we are so that we can go and live with Him as He is!  Like a lowly worm becoming a butterfly carried by the wind we will soar throughout eternity with Jesus!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for taking on our humanity so that we can become like You.  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen."

Believing the Impossible Promise!

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Abraham was certain that God could do what he had promised.  So God accepted him,  just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words were not written only for Abraham.  They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life.  God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.

Romans 4: 21 - 25

If you were to make a list of all the wonderful things that Abraham did, it would be very short.  At least in the Bible we don't find many "wonderful deeds" of father Abraham.  Abraham was known for and was acceptable to God for his faith.

Abraham believed that God could do the impossible, and it was "impossible" for Abraham and Sarah to have a child!  And I am sure it seemed impossible for Abraham's descendants to be more numerous than the sand on the shore, but that is what God promised and that is what Abraham chose to believe!

The "impossible promise" that God made to Abraham became a reality and Abraham is now known as the "father of the faithful."  

The "impossible promise" that God made to you and me is this:  We are made acceptable to God, not because of anything we do or even can do.  We are made acceptable to God because of our faith in Him and because Jesus died for our sins and was then raised to life!

Remember your faith is like the faith of Abraham when you believe the IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE!  That means that you believe that God will do something that cannot be done!

"Lord Jesus, give me the faith today to believe that You have done and will do those things that are impossible.  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen."  

Jesus Will Do Whatever You Ask!

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11. Have faith in me when I say that the Father is one with me and that I am one with the Father. Or else have faith in me simply because of the things I do.

12. I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father.

13. Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father.

14. I will do whatever you ask me to do.

15. Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command.

John 14: 11 - 15

At some point in your Christian life you will discover verses 13 and 14 in this chapter from the Book of John.  

Again those verses say, “Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father. I will do whatever you ask me to do.”

I remember being seriously amazed that Jesus actually said such a thing.  He promised to do whatever we ask Him to do!  How could that be? 

In verse 12 Jesus said that we would do the same things He did.  What Jesus did was whatever the Father asked Him to do!  And He follows the statement that He will do whatever we ask by reminding us that if we love Him we will do whatever He commands us to do!

So if you want Jesus to do what you ask of Him, then all you must do is to do everything He asks of you!  If you seek to do His will in everything, and every day of your life, you will not be amazed to find that He does whatever you ask Him to do!  And if you seek His will every day, then what you ask of Him will be according to His will and of course He will do it!

It is a wonderful, love relationship with your Creator and Savior!

“Lord Jesus, may I do everything today that You want me to do!  And may Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen.”

Superman with God's Power!

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I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you.  If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.  Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't go with me now, but later on you will."  Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I go with you now? I would die for you!"  "Would you really die for me?" Jesus asked. "I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't even know me."

John 13: 34 - 38

When Peter declared that he was willing to die for Jesus, he did not realize how great was  his own weakness!  Peter thought he was strong but he was not.  Within a few hours Peter would deny three times that he even knew Jesus!  It was the darkest hour of Peter’s life.

But a few weeks after the Rooster Crowed, the Holy Spirit came upon Peter and the rest of the disciples and Peter stood before the crowd and for the first time proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

You see, it didn’t matter how weak Peter had been, when he was filled with the Holy Spirit he had the strength of God flowing through his veins!  And Peter was able to forget his fear and stand before an enormous crowd and call them to repentance and to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives.

When God calls you to become a disciple of Jesus, it does not matter how weak you are or how sinful your life was before you repented.  Jesus will send His Holy Spirit and you will be able to do anything God asks you to do.  Your power will come from God not from your own strength!  

Something like the fictional character Superman, you will look like an ordinary human being, but you will be able to do things that no “ordinary” human could do.  

Don’t forget the super human power that you will have is only for doing the things that God’s Spirit asks you to do.  And only God must get the Glory for the great things that are done!

“Lord Jesus, thank You that You give me the strength and power to do anything You ask of me, even if the thing You ask seems impossible. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen.”

When You Come Back to God

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Israel, you have rejected me, but my anger is gone; I will heal you and love you without limit.   I will be like the dew-- then you will blossom like lilies and have roots like a tree.  Your branches will spread with the beauty of an olive tree and with the aroma of Lebanon Forest.  You will rest in my shade, and your grain will grow. You will blossom like a vineyard and be famous as the wine from Lebanon.  Israel, give up your idols! I will answer your prayers and take care of you. I am that glorious tree, the source of your fruit.

Hosea 14: 4 - 8

When you come back to God, He will heal you and love you without limit!  Your life will blossom and you will grow deep roots like a tree!  When you come back to God, your branches will spread like a olive tree and the aroma of the Cedars of Lebanon will grace your presence.

When you come back to God, you will rest in the shade of God and watch the grain you planted grow and become ready for harvest!

When you come back to God, the fruit of your vine will produce wine that everyone will desire!  When you come back to God and give up your idols, Jesus will answer your prayers and always take care of you!  Then the fruit of your life will come from God Himself!

When you come back to God, praise His Holy Name now and forever.  Amen.

God is not Deceived!

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My people are determined to reject me for a god they think is stronger, but he can't help.  Israel, I can't let you go. I can't give you up. How could I possibly destroy you as I did the towns of Admah and Zeboiim? I just can't do it. My feelings for you are much too strong.  Israel, I won't lose my temper and destroy you again. I am the Holy God-- not merely some human, and I won't stay angry.  I, the LORD, will roar like a lion, and my children will return, trembling from the west.  They will come back, fluttering like birds from Egypt or like doves from Assyria. Then I will bring them back to their homes. I, the LORD, have spoken!  Israel is deceitful to me, their loyal and holy God; they surround me with lies, and Judah worships other gods.

Hosea 11: 7 - 12

When men lie to each other the results are confusion, distrust and turmoil.  But when men lie to God there is much more at stake!

It is certainly possible to deceive a man and cause him to believe that the lie you tell him is indeed the truth!  But no such thing is possible with God. When you lie to God, He is not deceived.  He knows that there is no truth in every deceitful word you speak or promise you make.

When a small child has cookie crumbs all over his shirt and then tells his mother that he was not the one who got in the cookies, the lie can be humorous.  But when a man or woman lies to Almighty God, there is nothing to laugh at. 

Adam and Eve began humanity's fruitless journey of trying to lie to God and every man and woman continues on that path today!  When you attempt to tell God something that is not true it is always because you want to conceal an idol of some kind!  Something in your life is more important than being honest with God! When you are tempted to lie to God about anything, stop and look for the idol in your life that is more important than God Himself.  And when you find it, get rid of it!

"Lord Jesus, help me today to be completely honest with You about everything in my life.  I want to only tell you the truth about everything!  May Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."   

Don't Play With Fire

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But the Scriptures say that sin controls everyone, so that God's promises will be for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ.  The Law controlled us and kept us under its power until the time came when we would have faith.  In fact, the Law was our teacher. It was supposed to teach us until we had faith and were acceptable to God.  But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher.  All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.  And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes.  Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman.  So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham's family, and you will be given what God has promised.

Galatians 3: 22 - 29

When my six children were small there were many rules in our house.  Almost all of the regulations related to keeping them safe from harm.  It is very easy for children to hurt themselves, even badly by disobeying rules like: "Don't touch the stove," "Don't play with fire," or "Don't hit, your brother or sister, especially in the head!"  Of course, there were as many rules as seemed necessary to keep them safe and teach them how responsible adults would act.

But now, even the youngest of my precious children is more than thirty years old and all the rules no longer apply.  

Before Jesus died on the Cross and His followers were given the Holy Spirit, the Law of Moses gave those who were God's people many "rules and regulations."  But after the Crucifixion, like children who become adults, the rules no longer apply.  Faith in Jesus Christ is now the essence of life as a Christian and we put away the old robe of obeying the Law and put on the New Robe of Jesus!

When you are clothed with Jesus Christ and by Faith walk as you are filled with His Holy Spirit, everything is new and your life is what God wants it to be!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for the Cross and for making it possible for us to live without the rules and regulations of the Law! May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."

Instruction Manual from God!

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When God is angry, money won't help you. Obeying God is the only way to be saved from death.  If you are truly good, you will do right; if you are wicked, you will be destroyed by your own sin.  Honesty can keep you safe, but if you can't be trusted, you trap yourself.  When the wicked die, their hopes die with them.  Trouble goes right past the LORD's people and strikes the wicked.  Dishonest people use gossip to destroy their neighbors; good people are protected by their own good sense.  When honest people prosper and the wicked disappear, the whole city celebrates.  When God blesses his people, their city prospers, but deceitful liars can destroy a city.  It's stupid to say bad things about your neighbors. If you are sensible, you will keep quiet.  A gossip tells everything, but a true friend will keep a secret.  A city without wise leaders will end up in ruin; a city with many wise leaders will be kept safe.

Proverbs 11: 4 - 14

If you read and put in your heart the Book of Proverbs you will have at your command many very practical ways of making good choices in this life!  Verse 14 of Proverbs 11 says that not having wise leaders is a big problem for a city, or I suppose a country as well.

If you live in a country that allows you to be part of selecting your leaders then consider this: The number one thing to consider in selecting a new leader is whether or not that person has wisdom.  With "many wise leaders" you will be kept safe and without them you will end up in ruin.

Too often people choose their leaders by how much "free stuff" they promise, or by how many problems they guarantee they can solve.  Then after they assume the power of being a leader all they do is point at others who are "not letting them keep their promises!"  And of course all the "free stuff" comes with unbearable obligations and limits on personal freedoms.

Here is the reason I bring all this up.  Don't just go to the Bible for "spiritual advice" and the way to Heaven.  The Word of God is also filled with wisdom that will not fail you as you live here on earth!  Where do you think many countries got the idea that it should not be legal for a man to have more than one wife, or a woman to have more than one husband?  The Creator gave men an instruction manual telling us how to live this life as well as how to get to Heaven when we leave this world! 

"Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us everything we need to live here on earth and to live with You forever in Heaven.  May Your Name be praised now and always.  Amen."

At Peace in the Valley!

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God has turned my life sour.  He made me eat gravel and rubbed me in the dirt.  I cannot find peace or remember happiness.  I tell myself, "I am finished! I can't count on the LORD to do anything for me."  Just thinking of my troubles and my lonely wandering makes me miserable.  That's all I ever think about, and I am depressed.

Then I remember something that fills me with hope.  The LORD's kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed.  The LORD can always be trusted to show mercy each morning.  Deep in my heart I say, "The LORD is all I need; I can depend on him!"  The LORD is kind to everyone who trusts and obeys him.

Lamentations 3: 15 - 25

Why is life so hard?  We seem to spend so much time in the valleys of despair and only brief moments on the mountain tops of ecstasy.  The climb up to those heights is often slow and painful, but the descent into despair is quick and dangerous! 

As human beings our peace only comes from the circumstances of our lives.  When "things" are good and there seems to be no threat to our lives then we can be calm and quiet and at rest!  But when circumstances threaten we find ourselves back in a life of turmoil and distress!

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I can, as did the author of Lamentations "remember something that fills me with hope!"  It comes to my mind that "the Lord's kindness never fails, He shows His mercy every morning, the Lord is all I need and I can depend on Him!"

My circumstances may or may not change, but my peace returns and joy fills my heart even during the trials and troubles of this life!

"Lord Jesus, You are all I need, in this life and forever in the life to come.  May Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."

Don't Support the World!

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Dear friend, you have always been faithful in helping other followers of the Lord, even the ones you didn't know before.  They have told the church about your love. They say you were good enough to welcome them and to send them on their mission in a way that God's servants deserve.   When they left to tell others about the Lord, they decided not to accept help from anyone who wasn't a follower.  We must support people like them, so that we can take part in what they are doing to spread the truth.

3 John 1: 5 - 8

It is a good thing to help people who are spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world!  These verses clearly say that when we do that we become part of what they are doing.  That means we should be very careful about who we support and how.  

I suppose the question to ask yourself when you hear the report of a missionary is this: "Would I want to be partly responsible for what he or she is doing?"  If the answer is "yes," then I should help them without reservation.

But if the answer to that question is "no," then I should support them in prayer by asking God to guide them to find His Will!

A very sobering application of this truth relates to whether or not I support the world and it's rebellion against God and His Will!  A Christian boycott of the world is not to change the world, only the Holy Spirit can do that!  But to refrain from supporting the world around is so that you don't "take part in what they are doing!"  

So I must ask myself:  Am I part of what God is doing in the world, or am I part of Satan's rebellion against God and His Son, Jesus Christ?
Determine this day to do nothing that will further the kingdom of the Devil!

"Lord Jesus, I want to be part of what you are doing today, and not part of what Satan is doing!  Give me the wisdom to know the difference and the will to do it!  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen."   

  

Nothing is Too Small For God?

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Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes.  God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.

1 Peter 5: 6 - 7

I have a friend who used to say that some things are too small for God to care about.  He would sometimes make fun of a follower of Jesus who prayed about needing a parking place close to the store.   From a human standpoint, I suppose it made some sense, that Almighty God would not concern Himself with my need for a convenient place to park my car.  But the "Almighty" adjective before the Name of God means that He has the ability to concern Himself with even tiny aspects of our lives.

If God knows the number of the hairs on my head, and He does, then how foolish it would be to assume that He doesn't know or care about the small details of my day!

Truthfully, I spend very little time "worrying" about the major issues of life, but I let "little" aggravations occupy much of my attention during the day.  And I have many opportunities to show the Grace of God to others in "small" ways, but very few times I can extend His love to others about the big things in my life.

Never assume that something is too small to concern the Creator of everything there is! Praying without ceasing means that you will ask God about everything in your day!

"Lord Jesus, help me to recognize my need for Your wisdom in every situation I encounter today. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen."

Words of the Thunder!

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I saw another powerful angel come down from heaven. This one was covered with a cloud, and a rainbow was over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like columns of fire, and with his hand he held a little scroll that had been unrolled. He stood there with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.  Then he shouted with a voice that sounded like a growling lion. Thunder roared seven times.  After the thunder stopped, I was about to write what it had said. But a voice from heaven shouted, "Keep it secret! Don't write these things."

Revelation 10: 1 - 4

While John was on the Isle of Patmos, Jesus revealed to him the amazing scenes of the Book of Revelation.  He was to write it all down for us to read with the exception of what the thunder said!  The thunder roared seven times and quite obviously John understood the message of the thunder, but he was instructed by the Lord not to share it with anyone else.  

Maybe when we meet John in Heaven he will be free to tell us what the thunder said.  But it may indeed be that the "Words of the Thunder" were for John's ears only and always will be!

When two people are casual friends, what they say to each other can be shared with others as well.  But when your friendship is deep and meaningful and significant, there are things that you say to each other that are not appropriate to share with others.  

Are you are a casual friend or even simply an acquaintance of Jesus Christ, or is He your most intimate friend?  If Jesus is your best friend then He will says things to you that are for your ears only and you will do the same.

Don't assume that everything you hear from Jesus is to be broadcast to those around you.  If you do that, then you don't know Jesus very well.  He will tell you things in Prayer and in His Word that are for your ears only!

When you hear and understand the "Thunder" in your life ask Jesus first before you share it with everyone else!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for telling us things that are for our ears only!  May Your Holy Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."

Useful and Meaningful

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God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.  Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love.  If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.

2 Peter 1: 4 - 8

Wanting your life to be useful and meaningful is a natural human desire.  Everyone desires that their life count for something in this world.  That is why you will see so many buildings at universities  named after a man or woman.  

The best way though to make your life "useful and meaningful" is to know Jesus Christ!  Knowing Jesus and knowing about Jesus may indeed be two separate things, but when you know Jesus Christ, then what you know about Him becomes very special and important in your life.

You can know everything there is to know about Jesus without really knowing Him, but you cannot have a relationship with Jesus without seeking to know more about Him every day.

There is a song we used to sing in church that I still remember, even though I haven't heard it sung in years.  The words are: "More about Jesus would I know.  More of His grace to other show.  More of His saving fullness see.  More of His love who died for me."

If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then knowing more about Him will make your life useful and meaningful every day!  

"Lord, show me something more about You today, so that my life may be useful and meaning to You.  Praise Your holy Name now and forever.  Amen."



  

Imaginary Hurdles

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Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope.

1 Peter 3: 15

When was the last time someone asked you about your hope?  Is there something about your life that is noticeably different from those who live around you and do not know Jesus Christ?  If what they see is someone who thinks they are "better" than everyone else, they will not be interested in knowing why you act that way.

But if they see someone who is able to navigate the storms of life with peace in their heart and overflowing with hope for the future, they will want to know how you do it!  Your testimony is not so much what you say happened to you in the past, but what other people see of your life today!

What if there were a track and field event where the "hurdles" were imaginary.  According to wikipedia "Hurdling is the act of running and jumping over an obstacle at speed."  The winner is not only the one who can finish the race with the fastest time, but the one who knocks over the fewest hurdles.  But if those obstacles were not real, who would be interested in the outcome of the race? The obstacles in your life give testimony to the fact that you are empowered by more than your own human strength!  

Remember, no one is impressed when you jump over a "pretend" hurdle!  It is the real problems in your daily walk that reveal the real Power of God in your life!  That is a testimony that cannot be ignored and those in the world around you will ask you about your hope!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me the Power to overcome the difficulties in my life, so that others may know that my Hope comes from You!  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen."  

Believe that God is Real!

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Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.  It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.  Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God's command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.  Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.  Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. That's why his body was never found.  But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.

Hebrews 11: 1 - 6

The life of faith is really quite simple.  A man of faith believes that God is real and that He rewards everyone who searches for Him!  Once you have those two things firmly in your heart and head, you will find the rest actually quite easy to comprehend.  If you do not believe that God is real, nothing else makes sense.  Without a firm assurance in your heart that God actually exists what difference does the rest make?

And if you do believe that God is really there, the only other step of faith is to accept the fact that He will reward you for searching for Him!  And of course every search for God finds itself squarely focusing on Jesus Christ!

Even believing in Jesus makes no sense if you don't first believe in God!  Jesus, without the Father would be just another charismatic leader trying to make a name for himself.  But, as the Son of God, our Lord Jesus is the Christ and the only way to the Father! 

If you don't believe in God a good place to start is to stand outside and look up at the stars on a cloudless night!  As the Scripture says "the Heavens declare the Glory of God!"

"Oh Lord, nothing on this earth makes any sense without believing that You exist.  And when I believe in You, everything makes perfect sense.  Thank You Lord!  May Your Name be praised now and forever.  Amen."

Waiting or Wondering!

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Christ did not have to offer himself many times. He wasn't like a high priest who goes into the most holy place each year to offer the blood of an animal.  If he had offered himself every year, he would have suffered many times since the creation of the world. But instead, near the end of time he offered himself once and for all, so that he could be a sacrifice that does away with sin.  We die only once, and then we are judged.  So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when he comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him.

Hebrews 9: 25 - 28

Are you waiting for the return of Jesus Christ or are you wondering what will happen when He does come back to earth?  If there are two men and one is waiting for the return of Jesus and the other one is wondering about what will happen when He does, their lives will be very different!

The man who is waiting for Jesus will be at peace with God and able to ride out the storms of life with grace and patience.  The man who is wondering what will happen when Jesus comes will be looking continually for the peace that he does not experience.  The wondering man may try hard to do the right thing every day and please the Lord, but believes that his forgiveness is based on whether or not he remembered to ask for that forgiveness.  If he did not then he thinks he will stand condemned at the Day of Judgment.

The man who is waiting for Jesus knows that his salvation is based on the Blood of Jesus and not on how accurately he can remember his sins!

Are you waiting for the return of Jesus or are you wondering what will happen when He does?  If you believe the Words of Jesus you will be waiting and not wondering.  Read John 3:16 and then ask yourself whether you should be "Waiting or Wondering!"

"Lord Jesus, speak to my heart today so that I may be waiting for You when You return and not wondering what will happen when You do!  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen."

Seeing Jesus!

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The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain that these men had been with Jesus.  But they could not deny what had happened. The man who had been healed was standing there with the apostles.  The officials commanded them to leave the council room. Then the officials said to each other,  "What can we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn't happen.  But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus."  So they called the two apostles back in and told them that they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.  Peter and John answered, "Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him?  We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard."

Acts 4: 13 - 20

Peter and John were able to stand up against the leaders who wanted them to be silent and teach no more about Jesus.  Their strength came from the fact that God had told them to tell about Jesus and  they had seen Jesus and heard His Words themselves!  

It is enough to obey the Lord because of the Word that has been written in the Scriptures.  But when you see Jesus and hear His Voice, then you can stand against every threat with even greater boldness! So the question is: Can we see and hear Jesus today?  The answer to that question is definitely yes!  The Bible says that the Holy Spirit is like the wind.  You cannot see the wind, but you see the trees fall down as it passes and you see the aftermath of the storm!  You cannot see the physical Body of Jesus today, but you can see the results of His passing by!  

When Jesus is near, you see the hearts of men melt as they are touched by the Love of God through His many blessings!  When Jesus passes by, you see men and women who were lost and desperate come to their senses and find New Life in Him!  You see Jesus in the life of a child who has not yet sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God!  

And when the Holy Spirit speaks Words of encouragement and direction to your life, you hear the voice of Jesus.  And then you too, like Peter and John will not be able to keep quiet about what you have seen and heard!

"Lord Jesus, help me to be obedient to Your every Word and give me eyes to see You around me every day and ears to hear Your voice!  Praise Your Holy Name now and forever.  Amen."

Power From the Holy Spirit!

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While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?"  Jesus said to them, "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls.  But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world."  After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them.  They said, "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go."

Acts 1: 6 - 11

The apostles were to take the Gospel to the entire world, but not until they had received power from Heaven!  That power was not mysterious.  The power that the apostles received was from the Holy Spirit.  When the Power of God was distributed by the Holy Spirit to those who had walked with Jesus for three years, then they were able to tell people about Jesus, everywhere in the world!  

Was the “Power” that the Holy Spirit gave the very thing that "enabled" the apostles to spread the Gospel to the whole world, or was the “Power” and the display of it in the lives of followers of Jesus a magnetic pull on the lives of those whose hearts were open to God?

I think both are true.  I believe that most, if not all of the technological advances in the world today are in some way tied to those who have faith in Jesus!  Certainly, the great universities were mostly started as “Christian” schools!  God has given his followers the power to spread the Gospel to the entire world.  But it is also the Power of God displayed in the lives of followers of Jesus that draws men to Him!  When lost men see followers of Jesus quite obviously empowered by super natural strength to walk through this world they are enticed to discover the Source of the Power!  They are drawn to Jesus!

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, then let the Power of God be seen in you today, and take every opportunity to spread the message of Jesus to the entire world!

“Lord Jesus, thank You for not leaving us powerless.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit and the Power that He gives to take the Gospel to the whole world!  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen.”

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God!

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I saw a vision of the LORD standing by the temple altar, and he said, "Shake the columns until the tops fall loose, and the doorposts crumble. Then make the pieces fall on the people below. I will take a sword and kill anyone who escapes.  "If they dig deep into the earth or climb to the sky, I'll reach out and get them.  If they escape to the peaks of Mount Carmel, I'll search and find them. And if they hide from me at the bottom of the ocean, I'll command a sea monster to bite them.  I'll send a sword to kill them, wherever their enemies drag them off as captives. I'm determined to hurt them, not to help them."

Amos 9: 1 - 4

On July 8, 1741 Jonathan Edwards used verses 2 and 3 from Amos chapter 9 as the scriptural basis of his sermon called “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”  

It was delivered at the time of the “Great Awakening” and made “remarkable impressions on many of the hearers.” That is according to the cover of the 1741 printed edition.

We are suffering today under a misunderstanding about God.  We think that God will not send us to the Eternal Fires of Hell forever because He loves us!  That my friend is not true.  God will not send us to the Eternal Fires of Hell because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, not simply because He loves us!  

A man covered in gasoline cannot step into the flames and expect to survive.  A man covered in sin cannot stand in the Fire of God’s Righteousness and not be consumed.  

The fact that God loves you does not make you fit to stand in His presence.  The Blood of Jesus does change you into a man or woman who, covered by the Righteousness of our Lord and Savior can stand in the presence of God!

If you are not covered by the Blood of Jesus, run to Him today, while there is still time!

“Lord Jesus, thank You Lord for providing the Way for me to escape the Eternal Fires of Hell.  Praise Your Holy and Righteous Name, now and forever.  Amen.”

Satan's Worst Nightmare!

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When the dragon realized that it had been thrown down to the earth, it tried to make trouble for the woman who had given birth to a son.  But the woman was given two wings like those of a huge eagle, so that she could fly into the desert. There she would escape from the snake and be taken care of for a time, two times, and half a time.  The snake then spewed out water like a river to sweep the woman away.  But the earth helped her and swallowed the water that had come from the dragon's mouth.  This made the dragon terribly angry with the woman. So it started a war against the rest of her children. They are the people who obey God and are faithful to what Jesus did and taught.

Revelation 12: 13 - 17

I remember a time when enlisting in the armed forces in the United States gave you no threat of being in combat.  There were no U.S. troops in a shooting war anywhere in the world.  But that all changed and it change dramatically.  Now everyone who becomes part of the U.S. military may indeed be deployed to a combat zone!

Did you know that if you are a follower of Jesus, Satan himself has declared war on you!  When you decided to give your heart to the Lord and by His mercy and grace became His dear child, you put yourself in the bullseye of the Devil’s target.  You may say:  “All I wanted was to do the right thing and go to Heaven when I die. I didn’t know that I was joining the Army of the Lord and signing up for battle!”  

Satan is trying to destroy you and at least make you completely in-effective as a soldier of Christ.  If you were to sit in the middle of a football field during the game and pretend that you are lying on a peaceful beach, you would not avoid the conflict!  

Pretending that there is no spiritual war going on around you every day does not protect you from the arrows of Satan.  The only protection that works is the armor that God provides!

So, open your eyes today and recognize what is happening all around you.  There is a great battle going on and Satan is trying to win the hearts and minds of men and women all around the world!  But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit and armed with the Word of God which is His Sword you are Satan’s worst nightmare!  

“Lord Jesus give me the courage to run toward the fight today and never run away from it.  Thank You Jesus for the most powerful weapon in all the world, Your Word!  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen.”

GOOD OR EVIL!

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Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.  Don't turn away God's Spirit or ignore prophecies.  Put everything to the test. Accept what is good and don't have anything to do with evil.

1 Thessalonians 5: 18 - 22

How do you know the difference between Good and Evil?  What is the test that will let you know if something is one or the other?

Most people believe that the way to determine Good from Evil is to ask whether or not something is “Legal.”  If it is not against the law, then it must be good.  And if it is contrary to the laws of your land, then it must be bad.  But those are not the tests that will tell you the difference between right and wrong.

The fact that “everybody is doing it” is not important when you want to test an action and see if it is something you should do.

If everyone on earth approves of something, but God does not then you know that it is wrong and you should certainly avoid doing it!  

But when God reveals in His Word that something is the right thing to do, then you should ignore the opinions of those around you and do it!  And that, of course is the way to judge everything in your life.  “What does God say about it” must be the first question you ask when you learn of some “new thing” that others are encouraging you to do!

The answer to that question is the answer to whether or not you should adopt that thing into your life!  In the United States many people have decided that it is perfectly fine for a couple to live together without being married.  That is a change that we made without considering what God thinks about it.  

Test everything, and then decide whether or not something is “Good or Evil!”

“Lord Jesus, help me not to change with the world around me and embrace things that You hate.  May Your Name be Praised now and forever.  Amen.”