The Lords Church Christian Topics

2009-11-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

2009-11-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:34-40

What does Jesus mean when He says we are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind? Our heart is our affection for another. Our soul is our conscience; - it's what makes us human. Our mind is our brain, the part that thinks things through. All three; our heart, soul, and mind must be devoted to God. It is not enough for our hearts to love God emotionally, nor can our soul believe in God but our minds have doubts. So you ask, what am I to do about this commandment from God….?

First, let us look further at what is in our hearts for God। Can you honestly say that you love God with all your heart? Most of us would like to think so, but if we are honest with ourselves, we can see where our heart are in our everyday lives. If your heart feels guilty when you do something wrong, you my most likely be on good terms with your spiritual walk with the Holy Spirit and well on your way to the kind of love for God that he calls us to. You live acknowledging the Holy Spirits’ work in your life and continue to grow in your spiritual walk. If you don’t think about God when you sin and are not conscience to the fact that you have sinned against God or may not even know when you have sinned against the Lord, you may have a problem. At this point you may want to check your spiritual walk with the Lord. Loving the Lord should be a first priority in a Christian’s life. God is the food we hunger for, the life sustaining air we breathe. When you have given yourself to the Lord and are filled with the Holy Spirit, loving the Lord becomes more than just an emotion. It becomes a necessity for you. You come to rely on Him for everything. You completely put you trust in Him in all areas of your life. Praying to Him for all things, giving Him thanks, praise, asking from Him with all supplication, earnestly and humbly. He gives to those whom trust in Him so many blessings out of a love that we can’t even begin to understand.

How about loving the Lord God with all our soul। Our soul is our very essence, our moral and spiritual nature. It makes us human, created in the image of God. Being that said, we are to love the Lord God to the very essence of our self. From the deepest part of our spirit. This is the inner part of you that connects you to God. Made in His image, the non flesh part of you that cannot be destroyed but lives forever after you flesh has died. The soul either lives on with the Lord to those whom surrender their sins and seek forgiveness through the work done by Jesus on the cross and His redemptive blood. Without Jesus there can be no heaven for your soul. Only an eternity apart from God in a place called Hell. For those who haven’t yet come to that place our receiving Jesus please take this time to PRAY the prayer of forgiveness and ask the Lord to cleanse you of your unrighteousness and forgive you forever.

Finaly we have the mind. The mind is the place that makes us aware of our place in time and space. Our mind is a storage house for our memories, and a computer to function both simple and complex tasks to live and survive by. Even more than that it is the place God puts your free will. It’s the place where you can decide to love God or not. To do Gods will in your life or ignore Him and do whatever pleases you. This is where your heart and soul come in to play. Do you have what it takes to do Gods will for you, or have you become hard of heart, and refuse to accept what God wills for you in this life and the next? I know what I did but what will, if anything, will you do. Only you can make up your own mind about this most personal issue between you and the Lord. I tell you it’s a great cross road we all come to. Only a few will make the right choice. I pray! Let you be one of the few. Let us pray.

Guide me by Your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving You in the way You will and not as I choose. Let me die to myself so that I may serve You; let me live to you who are life itself. Lift me Lord that I may love you as you wish me to, with all my heart, soul, and mind. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

A Husbands Crown!

2008-05-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

A Christian man can gain many blessings in his life if he trusts in the LORD. The one most esteemed earthly treasure a man can obtain is a good wife. (Proverbs 12:4) "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones." Think about all the things we strive to obtain in our lives, but a good woman is our crowning reward from the LORD. All other things are just material things of this world, not one of which can ever gain you a crown in Heaven or even on earth.

A good wife is a blessing beyond all value, a gift from God. (Proverbs 31:10-11) "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain."

Does this sound like your wife? . Unfortunately, most husbands today would say their wife does not measure up to this verse.

There are many reasons why you are not being blessed in your marriage with your wife. First, and most important of all; Are you a good spiritual leader in your home? Do you put the LORD above all other things in your life. A you being a godly example in your own walk with the LORD?

Priorities, priorities men!

Keep the LORD first, obey His word, and guess what, your wife will follow your lead. How can we expect our wives to be our crowning jewel and not just another thorn in our sides if we are not leading them properly? We must have our priorities in order and do what the LORD commands. (Ephesians 5:25-27) "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." Are you being a good spiritual leader to your wife and washing her in the Word daily as our Lord calls us to do? It’s a great place to start, not only will this prepare you both to walk with the LORD during the day, it will also help you guard your hearts against the wiles of the devil. Second of all you must pray with your wife. (Matthew 18:20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." This will strengthen your relationship not only with the LORD but also with each other. Finally you must pray for your wife continually throughout the day. Woman struggle with the flesh just as much as men. It might not be the same types of struggles but they have struggles none the less. Our continual prayer protects and empowers them with the Holy Spirit.

As you begin to apply these commands to your marriage you will see your marriage spiritually revived, setting up future blessings in life. A good and strong marriage is the key to your happiness and favor with the Lord. (Proverbs 18:22) He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD. Make her your crown and not just a crown of thorns on your head. Treat your wife as the most important person, and she will be your CROWN!!!! Start now and treat her with love as Christ loves you, be the leader that makes her a blessing and not rotten to your bones.

The Gift of Giving For Christians

2008-03-31T16:31:00.000-07:00

By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God"
(2 Corinthians 9:10,11)

What is Paul telling us in this verse? Paul is simply stating that if we give, God is able to give more so we can perform other good works for His glory. In other words, God the seer of all things sees you giving and thus sees to it that your generosity will not cause you to suffer, but to prosper.

Paul offered to the Corinthians a wonderful summery of why and how Christians are to give and share in the blessings the Lord has given to us. Let’s look further at 2 Corinthians for more insight. First we ask, which Christians are supposed to be generous? Should it be only, the rich Christians, who have more than they could ever use? Or should we give only once in a while if you have a little to spare? Or should it be the poorest Christians who share when they see someone is in need? We all are called to contribute to the Lords cause. Whether we feed the hungry, clothe the poor, or help serve in a local church to keep things going. To give; is a fruit of the spirit, a part of being His lights here on earth.

Look at the church in Macedonia, as an example, of how even poor Christians wanted to take part in this gift from the very beginning of the church. They were notoriously poor, yet they asked for the privilege of being allowed to give (2 Cor 8:4) out of their severe poverty (2 Cor 8:2).

In what spirit does Paul tell us we are to give. He writes we are to give willingly (2 Cor 8:12; 9:2) and cheerfully. We should not give out of necessity and be grudgingly about it (2 Cor 9:7). When we give, we should feel it is a privilege to share what God has blessed us with, and be happy to take part in His good work. "More than that, we should feel that it is a most appropriate response to God’s "indescribable gift", His own Son" (2 Cor 9:15).

Giving comes from the heart. Our Lord judges the hearts. To a Christian, the gift of giving, is one of our most important fruits of the Spirit. Not only does it test our sincerity towards the Lord and others (2 Cor 8:7,8), but it is considered to be a gauge of our spiritual health.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

As Christian givers, we can trust in, some sure fire results from the Lord. Look at 1 Cor 9:12-15 and see how God is glorified by us when we give in His name. "For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Giving is a ministry and a gift unto the Lord. Paul makes it clear that giving will lead to abundance. A cheerful giver will experience the Lords love in a special way (2 Cor 9:7)."Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)

Let us as Christians enjoy the spiritual blessing of participating in a rich harvest of righteousness for the Lord (2 Cor 9:10). Let us pray for a giving heart:

Bless be all who worship You mighty Lord, the most gracious giver of all. Of your goodness, give us a heart to give as Your Spirit would move us; with Your love, inspire us to give creatively; by Your Spirit, guide us to those in need; by Your power, to give and glorify You with our kindness, as You are so kind to us. Protect us that we may make the right choices when we give; in your mercy, receive our prayers now and always. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.

Christians Battle Unseen Forces

2008-03-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Demons are a true reality for Christians whom do battle with demons daily. Unlike the non-believers in Christ Jesus, Christians have the Lord to draw on to do battle for us. Demons are not a devil for there is only one devil, that is satan. Demons in the New Testament Scriptures bear abundant testimony. Their origin is not clearly revealed, but should not be confused with the angels mentioned in (2 Peter 2:4): For God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment, and (Jude 6): And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. These two groups of angels are separate from the demons we do battle with.
Let us see what the Scriptures say about demons:

A demon is a spirit, (Matthew 12:43,45): “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to the house from which I came.’ And when he comes , he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of the man is worse than the first.”

Demons are satan’s emissaries, (Matthew 12:26-27): “ If satan casts out satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.”

Demons are so numerous as to make satan’s practically ubiquitous, (Mark 5:9): “What is your name?” And he answered, saying “My name is Legion; for we are many.”

Demons are capable of entering and controlling both men and animals, (Mark 5:2-5,11-13): “And when He had come out of the boat , immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” “Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand) and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.”

Demons seek to embody unsaved people to obtain power to commit evil through a person. (Matthew 12:43-44): “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to the house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. (Mark 5:10-12): “Also he begged Him (Jesus) earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”

Demon influence and possession are reference in the following verses (Matthew 4:24; 8:16, 28, 33; 9:32; 12:22; Mark 1:32; 5:15-16, 18: Luke 8:36; Acts 8:7; 16:16.) “Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.” (Matthew 4:24), “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,” (Matthew 8:16), “When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.” (Matthew 8:28).

How is it us Christians can stand against such a powerful and evil force that works its darkness in this world each day. Jesus Christ the Lord fights for us, look here. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saint” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

God’s brings us victory because it is far more than a protective covering. It is the very life of Jesus Christ Himself. “Put on the Armor of Light,” wrote Paul in his letter to the Romans, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:12-14) When you do, He becomes your hiding place, and shelter in the storm just as He was for David. Hidden in Him you can count on His victory, for He not only covers you as a shield, He also fills you with His life. “I am the vine; you are the branches,” said Jesus. “ If a man abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Living with one in the Lord means we share both in His struggles and His peace. God promises us victory in the midst of trials, not immunity from pain. So “do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ.” (1 Peter 4:12-13) Heroes of our faith have been tortured for their faith and endured unthinkable pain. They affirm with Paul “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39) This beautiful truth is a reality to us who put our trust in the Lord Jesus. When we put on His armor, His life surrounds us, keeps us safe from the evil invisible war that continues around us every day. Learn more about each piece of armor and what it does for you in sermon #6. Let us now pray to the Lord.

Prayer: Leave A Prayer.org

Give to us, O God, the girdle, the helmet, the breastplate, the shield, the sandals, the sword—and above all things, prayer. Grant to us the power and opportunity of well-doing, that before the day of our departure comes, our efforts may have produced good fruit for You Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Sermon Message: The Lords Church.org

Fight the Flesh!

2008-01-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5

In the everyday battle with our flesh or sinful nature, a person has a choice: to follow the dictates of the flesh, full of pride (pride which leads to all sins) or follow the desires of their regenerated spirit as led by the Holy Spirit. Though the sinful desires of the flesh cannot be completely eradicated from us, its' power to operate in the life of a Christian has been neutralized by our being united with Christ through His death and resurrection and the blessed gift of the Holy Spirit that now is in us. Praise God!

Fighting our flesh in our lives is an everyday battle. It should be basic to a Christian the principles of this battle that wages on our flesh and how we are to combat it through our Lord. Our flesh loves the sin of this world, is prideful wanting more of this world thus pulling us away from God. Lucky for us the Holy Spirit is with us convicting us of our wrongful desires and calling us to repentance. Let us look at this passage from James as he give instruction on this matter. (James 4:1-11)

"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,

"God opposes the proud but favors the humble." "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor."

See it’s the hardness in our hearts that allows our flesh to beat us in our daily battles with it. When our hearts harden pride insures and puts us in sin autopilot. We forget God or we begin thinking we don’t need God and stop our prayers of needfulness and thanks to Him. Pray now if you feel your heart hardened and prideful. The Lord hears your prayers, cry out to him that you need His mighty strength and mercy to beat back your flesh and once again be humbled to trust in Him for all things and not yourselves. " For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. "( Romans 6:6-7 ) So let us do as Jesus commanded His disiples at Gethsemane in ( Mark 14:38 ) "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

What is waring on your flesh brothers and sisters? We are all aware of our sin because we have the blessed Holy Spirit within us to put us back on the proper path. Weather you chose to move with your flesh which is in essence pride or do as Jesus do and be watchful and pray. Prayer my friends is the beginning and the ending of the flesh battles we fight. We can either trust in the Lord thy God to deliver us from our bondage or we can loose the battles by trying to fight them without the Lord. I tell you this no medications, therapy, or any other thing you may put your trust in will deliver, but the Lord never fails. He is the Truth and the Light in all Christians. Trust in Him for everything and "Never stop praying" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ) as we should. So let us pray now for deliverance from the bondage of our fleshful sins: For this reason I kneel before the Father, I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, Ephesians 3:14,16

Pray!

Precious Lord God, the fight in our flesh is a continual struggle Lord, one we face everyday. Thank You Lord for promising that as we wage war against sin, we are not ever under its power. Your blessed grace frees us from our enemy so we yield ourselves to Your will Lord. Hold us firm and empower us to do Your will lord God. This battle can only be won in Your precious name. Amen

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.( Romans 6:13-14 )

The Lords Church Christian Topics: Heavens Gates Awaits!

2007-04-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

The Lords Church Christian Topics: Heavens Gates Awaits!

Where is your treasure?

2007-04-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).” What is your treasure? Is it money, family, stuff, or earthly material things? Jesus spoke; “Do not store up yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 7:19-20). Our Lord wants us to love one another, not to covet the things of this world. He sends us here naked, without earthly materials, and likewise naked we shall return. There are treasures in our lives that we can bring with us into heaven. These treasures are in your heart. The love we have for our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love we have for one another.

In (Mark 7:20-23) Jesus spoke to us when He said: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s heart, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.” We all struggle with one or more of these issues Jesus spoke of. In our hearts is where these sins begin, and it is where they need to be beaten.

A good beginning to this battle is through the fear of God. When we fear God, we fear the eternal death of our soul. Will your soul be with God in heaven or will you let Satan win with his lies and deceit, and be cast out like he was. I will not minimize the ramifications of not having this fear, because of the eternal consciences you will face. Fear Gods judgment for He knows your heart and your secrets and will pass righteous judgment on you. I pray that you can turn from any evil and repent, cleansing your soul from all unrighteousness. This is a gift given by God to all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. God gave His only begotten son on the cross, so we may have redemption and be accepted into Heaven in His Holy presence. It is through this fear and a renewed trust in the Lord that we are able to triumph over the sins of the heart.

Think about all the good in your life, past and present. None of this came to you from doing, being, or thinking evil. If you are feeling miserable, and your heart feels empty and dark, you have no one to blame but yourself. Our Lord certainly wants you to have peace, to trust in Him, and be full of His love and grace. To trust in God, you gain peace in your life, knowing that He gave us Jesus whom left with us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit fills our hearts, comforts, and strengthen us against the evil of this world. Why don’t you start now first by loving God for this precious gift, and then loving yourself. Then you can follow two of Gods greatest commandments. (Mark 12:29-31) “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear now O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Follow these commandments, and you will see how wonderfully fulfilling the treasures in your heart can be. Seek God now and start trusting Him for everything. God will deliver, will you? Pray now and seek peace through our Lord.

The LORD God Gives You Forgiveness!

2007-03-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness from God is not automatic. Through the blood of Jesus, every person alive has the opportunity to receive forgiveness, but it does not happen involuntarily. The Bible makes it clear that there are some conditions we must meet to obtain God's forgiveness. Let's look at the following verses to find out what we must do to obtain forgiveness.

(1 John 1:9) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

(Hosea 14:2-3) "Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: 'Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips...We will never again say 'our gods' to what our own hands have made'".

From the above verses, the first thing we see is that we must confess our sins. We must recognize where we have erred, and hurt God by our actions. When confessing your sins to God, be as specific as you can. General confessions do very little to convict of sin, or to convince God of your seriousness, or to bring healing in those areas.

(Isaiah 55:7) "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

(Ezekiel 18:21) "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all mystatutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die."

Our next step in receiving forgiveness, is to turn from our wicked ways and change them. We maystruggle with a certain sin, but if our intent is truly to change our ways and overcome that sin, God will give us the grace to do it. Many want to receive forgiveness from God without changing their ways. God knows the difference between those who are sincere and those who are using Him to temporarily ease their conscience. He is not mocked or deceived. If one comes to him in sorrow, humility and sincerity, His grace is abundant. However, He has little patience for those who would abuse His mercy. Search your heart and ask God to give you the grace for true repentance, and the power of the Holy Spirit to make the changes you need to do. His greatest joy is to help those who repent in sincerity.

This should include asking forgiveness of those you have wronged and making restitution to them. True repentance will always be accompanied by corresponding actions.Along these lines, the Bible also makes it clear that we are to "make right" any situations where we have failed to meet in our responsibilities to others.

(Matthew 5:23-25) Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you; Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on your way with him; lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

(Romans 13:7) "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor".

If we are sincere in our repentance we must be willing to pay the penalty for our crimes against others. This could include restoration of any goods, monies, or services that were taken wrongfully, (or never given at all, if we owed them). The Lord says to "agree with our adversary." If we are in dispute with someone, that means we must admit to what we have done and quit trying to defend ourselves. If we are in the wrong (even partially) it is better to take responsibility for it, than to argue for our rights.

Many of us have failed to give honor and respect to those who are due it. That includes elders of any kind. They may be our parents, those in ministry, government leaders, our employers, those who are merely older than us in general, etc. Even if we don't agree with all their decisions, we are to honor and respect them for the office and position they hold. We are to refer to them with respect, both to their face and behind their back. Furthermore, God also commands us to treat everyone with common courtesy and respect regardless of who they are, because they are created in His image. Again, we do not have to concur with everything they do, but we owe them basic respect, out of respect for God. In fact, how much we really respect God will be evident in how we treat others.

If you have failed to show proper respect and/or honor for someone, it is your responsibility to apologize (if applicable), and to change your ways. No one can do this for you. If you do not change your ways, you will face the inevitable slide into prideful self-deception and self-righteousness, both of which are an abomination to God.

(Matthew 6:14-15) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

(Mark 11:25-26) "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop--leave it, let it go--in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your (own) failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."

These verses are perhaps some of the least applied Scriptures in the Kingdom of God. Somehow, many of us are deceived into thinking that we do not have to take them literally. However, Jesus emphasized this principal over and over again in His parables and teachings. If we receive God's forgiveness, it is our duty to forgive those who have wronged us. The two are inseparable. Jesus said plainly that God will not forgive us, if we do not forgive others. Many Christians are full of condemnation and guilt because they still feel the weight of their sins, even though they've asked God to forgive them. Could it be that they have not been able to receive God's forgiveness because they still have bitterness in their own hearts toward others? Sometimes, we may carry bitterness and hurt so long, that we no longer even recognize it as a problem. It becomes a part of our very nature. We may not scheme for revenge, but our souls are clouded with a quiet, persistent bitterness.

Some of us have been betrayed in devastating ways, and have suffered profoundly at the hand of abusive people. Others have been horribly mistreated by those of other races, nations, and religions. If you are suffering with deep unhealed wounds, know the Lord has also been hurt with your pain. He loves you and wants to heal you. It is because of His great love for you that He is calling you to forgive. It is your only release from the emotional prison that you are now in.

You do not have to live in a continual state of submission to evil emotions. You can be free of them,through the power of the cross. "Behold, I make all things new" says the Lord. You can be made new on the inside, and no longer staggering under a load of bitterness, hatred, pain, and depression. God wants to set you free right now! Let us pray on this now:

Father LORD, I praise Your righteousness, oh how gracious You are to those whom trust in You. Grant me on this day forgiveness of my sins as I take Your beloved Son Jesus as my LORD and saviour. I know that He dead on the cross and rose up to wash all my sins through His holy blood. Except me as one of Yours and wash me clean as snow and fill me now with Your Holy Spirit LORD. I am now Yours LORD, may you build me now so I can glorify You with my precious life, and have everlasting life in Your holy presence. I pray this in the name of my LORD Jesus Christ. Amen

Draw on Gods strength and not your own!

2007-03-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to "stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:13

Have you noticed the passive approach to the Christian walk that many Christians adopt without realizing it. When I say “passive” I mean the lack of engaging the scriptural truths that God has provided in His Word and working them out in everyday experiences.

I am guilty of this myself and became aware that Christians are satisfied to fill up on knowledge and do very little with it. Many seem to believe that acquiring the knowledge is sufficient concerning their obedience to God. But in reality, it is only the beginning of the process that God has called us to partake in. We are told to read and study the word (2 Tim. 2:15 )- “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”),Meditate on the truth (Psalm 119:97 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”). Work the Word daily in our lives. (Phil. 2:12-13 “… work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for his good purpose.”)

There used to be a saying, “let go and let God.” My, how that expression his been misused. It became a spiritual excuse to not be actively engaged in the Christian struggle; just wait on the Lord to intervene. If He does not, it must be His will. Christian passiveness is extremely detrimental to personal accountability in our living for God. So many Christians today lack personal commitment and a submissive attitude. It is quite apparent on the local church level.

I have noticed how many Christians migrate to a host of bible studies and conferences. Many seem to be searching for a formula for the truth that will turn their lives around to victory. Yet, after many such meetings, they are just as empty as before. They have acquired information, but there is little apparent change in their lives. Many have become bewildered and confused as to why this is happening to them. Are Christians waiting for God to do something for them? Maybe they are not taking responsibility and applying His truths to their lives, or yielding to the Holy Spirit, or trusting Him to help them work out their salvation daily, or depend on the cooperative relationship God desires us to have. I think fewer Christians are taking the time to study their Bible daily. Then spend time meditating on what the have read. If this is not done, it is like gulping food down without chewing it. This does not help the digestion process.

It is not enough to do your duty and read a bit of scripture each day. Have you noticed how little of it you retain? God wants us to desire His Word like food, and chew on it and digest it with the enlightenment that the Holy Spirit provides. When we hunger and thirst for the riches of the Word, it will be opened up to us. A superficial reading of the Word will not cut it , as far as spiritual growth is concerned. It is also very disrespectful of the wonderful revelation that God has provided us.

There are other reasons why passivity has crept into the lives of Christians. One has to do with "wrong priorities.” We live in a fast paced society where there are many demands upon =ourselves and our family members. There will be little time for our spiritual lives unless they are given a place high on the list of our priorities. If we just hope to find time after we have taken care of other responsibilities, we will never have a consistent time with God, His Word, His people or for His service. Trying to squeeze everything in to a given day does not work either. We have to take inventory of our lives and start pruning away the non-essentials. God has to be first, the marriage second, the family third, work and then other things. Setting right priorities is often painful at first, but in the end it is liberating. The enemy will provide you with many reasons why you should continue to hang on to some things in your life.

Do you have a garage or basement full of junk? I do, I have a tendency to hold on to every little thing that has any value. I hate to throw anything away. Needless to say, I have shelves and rafters in my garage that are completely full. I have not used nor do I intend to use these things, but I still hold on to them. It is almost impossible to find anything when I decide I want it. In reality, I have wasted valuable space with things I may never use. That is what we are doing with our daily lives; letting a lot of insignificant things clutter our day and rob us of the benefit of the more important things. Jesus pointed out this problem in his interpretation of his Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:14 (“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”)

Another symptom of passivity is evident when it comes to the biblical teaching of spiritual warfare. The apostle Paul is very clear in Ephesians 6 that Christians are in a struggle with spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. There are many Christians who choose to let God fight the battle rather than get involved. It is clear that they feel ill equipped to deal with such a battle and they are not eager to find out. But all through scripture we are commanded to resist our enemy. James 4:7 (“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from

you.”) and in 1st Peter 5:8-9 (“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”)

Throughout the body of Christ there is a fear of aggressively resisting the enemy who seeks to rob us and hinder us from attaining what God has called us to be. Part of fulfilling the Great Commission is setting the captives free. In order to do that, we must often confront the enemy in the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Warfare is about having a biblical world view which includes the reality of an ongoing battle with the forces of evil for the souls of mankind. To join this battle we must have faith in the sovereign power of our God, assurance of our identity in Christ and faith in the promises of God. God uses the struggle to strengthen His people in their faith and teaches them to not depend on their own strength or understanding. We learn to be led by the Holy Spirit who indwells us.

Passivity can be all encompassing. It affects people mentally, emotionally and their wills. Mentally, we do not challenge the thoughts that come to us that are inconsistent to the Word of God. Many of our thoughts have their source in the enemy. We are told to 2 Cor.10:5 (“take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” ) Emotionally, we let our feelings have undue influence in our lives, even at times having more weight than the Word of God. The enemy is very effective in stirring up our emotions with his intimidating suggestions. The will is powerless to take any action or stand firm against what is being experienced. The enemy likes to suggest the hopelessness of our situation and that God will not be there when we need Him. As a result, people get into a fatalistic acceptance of the inevitable. These are some of the dangerous outcomes when passivity is allowed to become a way of life for the Christian. God has called each of His children to an active relationship with Himself and with others. The enemy wants to isolate us into passivity, but we must resist this. Our faith is about an intimate relationship with our Savior and a daily resisting of the temptations of the world and our enemy.

Passivity in and of itself can provide an opportunity for the enemy. First, we are living in disobedience and lacking in faith. Second, we are not prepared to stand against temptations and persevere during trials. We are not trusting in the omnipotent power of God to enable us and to protect us. We have allowed the enemy to become as big as God in our lives by blaming everything that happens in our lives on demonic activity. That is exactly what Satan wants you to believe. We allow ourselves to become easy prey to fear and stop trusting in the promises of God, the victorious finished work of our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross and His triumphant victory over the enemy through the resurrection.2 Corinthians 13:5 ("Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you - unless, indeed, you fail the test!").

I hope none of you have been trying to live your lives on the basis of an emotional religious experience you once had, but have never really experienced the fruits of inner transformation by the Spirit of God in your lives. Head knowledge of religious truth is never an adequate substitute for heart knowledge that brings about inner joy and faith in God despite the circumstances you experience. Such an experience brings freedom from fear and the desire to glorify God through your lives.

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Convicted By The Spirit

2007-03-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Conviction can be a powerful thing in the life of a Christian. As followers of Jesus we are indwelt by the living God who is holy and righteous. The Lord himself purchased us with His blood (Acts 20:28) “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood”, and we are no longer our own. We belong to the Holy One of Israel. Since we are no longer our own and since we belong to God, He has taken up residence in us. As Jesus said in (John 14:23) "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him." God lives in us.

Sometimes in our Christian lives we sin. Such acts of rebellion against God brings us to the place of conviction in our hearts were the Holy Spirit sometimes gently, sometimes with strength, prods our hearts, pricks at our innermost being, nudges at our soul, and brings us to the place of confession and repentance. This persistent and sometimes gnawing conviction of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing, no matter how unpleasant it is at the time. But that is the nature of many good things; they sometimes are best gained through discomfort. God loves us enough not to leave us alone. He has our best interest at heart. He does not want to us to participate in that which grieves Him and harms us. This is why Jesus said that He would not leave us alone but that He would send the Comforter who would help us and guide us (John 14:26; Acts 9:31) “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord”. This Comforter is the one who grants us the assurance of our salvation so that we might know we possess eternal life (1 John 5:13) "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life". He also anoints us and teaches us (1 John 2:19) “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” And, He also consistently and lovingly convicts us of our sins. Why does he do this? Out of His love for us.

How are you with God? Do your sins result in conviction in your soul? Is your relationship with the Lord such that even your minor sins brings an uncomfortable awareness of conviction? If you do not experience this, then you are either not saved, hardened of heart, or are in need of repentance. If you do not experience a conviction that is due, which I know you must as a true Christian, perhaps you are so sanctified in your walk with the Lord that you rarely sin. Perhaps, it is possible. But in my life, I have yet to arrive at such a place. In my life the Holy Spirit is active in a wide variety of ways. Conviction is simply one of them by which He ministers holiness to me, and I'm thankful. Are you thankful? Does your conviction bring you to repentance and confession? Let us pray for that now brothers and sisters:

Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins. Thank you my Lord for continuing to work in my heart to make me more like You. Please convict me of my sins so that I might know from what I need to turn from so that I might not grieve You, and so that I might bring glory to Your name. Do with me as You wish Lord, I am Yours forever. Amen

Armor of God (Trust in the LORD!)

2007-03-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

What is the Armor of God?

God's armor brings victory because it is far more than a protective covering. It is the very life of Jesus Christ Himself. "Put on the armor of light," wrote Paul in his letter to the Romans, "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 13:12-14) When you do, He becomes your hiding place, and shelter in the storm just as He was to David. Hidden in Him, you can count on His victory, for He not only covers you as a shield, He also fills you with His life."I am the vine; you are the branches," said Jesus. "If a man abides in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Since living in the safety of the armor means oneness with Jesus, we can expect to share His struggles as well as His peace. Remember, God has promised us victory in the midst of trials, not immunity from pain. So "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ." (1 Peter 4:12-13) Christian heroes who have been tortured for their faith continue to testify to the supernatural strength, even joy, that enables them to endure unthinkable pain.

They affirm with Paul -"that in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39) This wonderful truth has become reality to all who believe and follow Jesus. When you put on His armor, His life surrounds you, keeping you safe, close to Him, free to be His precious friend and trusted companion. So "put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27) He is your victory!

How do I "put on" the Armor?

This life in Christ begins with learning, affirming, and trusting in each part of the armor. The first part is truth, God's revelation of all that He is to us, all that He has done for us, and all that He promises to do for us in the days ahead. This enduring truth is written in the Bible, revealed by the Holy Spirit, and realized through Jesus Christ. It cuts through all the world's distortions, deceptions, and compromises. When you study, memorize, live, and follow truth, it enables you to see the world from God's high vantage point. Putting on the first piece of the armor means feeding on truth through daily Bible reading and making it part of your inner self. (Hebrews 8:10) I will put My laws in their minds and write them in their hearts.

To put on the "full armor" and enjoy a daily and eternal love-relationship with Jesus Christ, thank Him for what He has shown you in His Word. Know the Scriptures behind your prayer so that your words and faith are grounded in the authority of the Bible. You can use the following prayer as an outline:

• The belt of truth: Thank You, my Lord, for showing me the truth about Yourself. Thank You for reminding me that You are the only God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of the universe, my Father who loves me, and my Shepherd who leads me. You are my wisdom, my counselor, my hope, and my strength. You are everything I need each day. Amen

• The breastplate of righteousness: Thank You Jesus, for showing me the truth about myself that on my own I could never be good enough to live in Your presence. Thank You for taking my sins to the cross and offering me a righteous life. Lord, show me any sin that I need to confess right now, so that nothing will hinder me from being filled to overflowing with your Spirit. Thank You for forgiving me and for filling me with You and gaining me a righteous life. Amen

• The sandals of peace: Thank you Lord, for the peace You give me when I trust and follow You. Show me how to help others find that peace. Amen

• The shield of faith: Thank you my God, for helping me have faith in You. I choose to count on everything You have shown me about Yourself and everything You have promised me in Your Word. Amen

• The helmet of salvation: Thank you Holy Father, for promising me salvation both for today's battles and for all eternity. Amen

• The sword of the spirit, the Word of God: Thank You Holy Spirit, for the scriptures You have given me to memorize. Please show me which ones You want me to use to cut through deceptions and gain victory in any battle I may face today. Amen

Love (Gods Greatest Commandment)

2007-03-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Where does Love come from? What does it mean to us? Some would say that love is just another emotion in a long list of emotions we feel from minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day. Should love be included with other emotions like; anger, sadness, happiness, fear? Do we hold the same value of love as we do other emotions? No one longs to be in fear of something. We do not look forward to having sadness or hatred fill our hearts. People long to love and be loved. Why? Because we have been created with the same nature as God. God created us in His image, and God is love.

The Lord spoke in (1st John 4:7-8) saying, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” It is one of the most precious gifts that God has given us. Let me share with you a wonderful quote, from Nancy Reagan, about what love is.

Love means giving one's self to another person fully, not just physically. When two people really love each other, this helps them to stay alive and grow. One must really be loved to grow. Love's such a precious and fragile thing that when it comes we have to hold on tightly. And when it comes we're very lucky because for some it never comes at all. If you have love, you're wealthy in a way that can never be measured. Cherish it.

We all long to experience love, and we all desire to have a relationship that is unconditional, unselfish, full of joy, never ending; this desire and example of love comes only from God.

(Corinthians 13:4-7) “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

It is sad to say, but until now in my own marriage, I have only seen this type of love, on a few occasions. I am a people watcher, I enjoy studying how couples interact with one another and the ones that truly love each other, as God intended,stand out like a sore thumb. They are impossible to miss, because they have a joy about them that is so rare, others can not help but to notice. Their relationship is the example of 1 Corinthians 13 in action.

Love manifests itself in many different ways. Love is; tenderness, devotion, self-sacrifice, acts of service to God, affection, desire, kindness. The foundation of this type of love is God. Through God’s example the emotion of love is being radiated on all people. God wants each and every one of us to experience this type of love, here on earth, because of His love for us.

Our goal during our Christian journey should be to manifest these fruits of the Spirit, in our daily lives, to everyone around us. Whether it is our spouse, children,family, friends, strangers or even our enemies. We should be sharing the love of Christ with everyone by our example.

The Lord said in (Matthew 5:46) “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” He is telling us that He gives His love to all and expects us to do likewise. We are able to share our love through service, kindness, and tenderness of heart to our family, friends, strangers, and yes even our enemies. (Romans 12:20) “Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; That is love! Love has no boundaries; it is priceless but yet it is free to give without expecting anything in return.

What do you think the Bible means by the verse (Matthew 6:19-20) “Do not layup for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” This verse is about giving, not receiving. We are to give of ourselves sacrificially, loving others, even though they do to deserve our kindness. We have very limited time here on earth, to earn the crowns, that we will be throwing at Jesus’ feet. Once we are called home, and leave this earth, there will be no other opportunities for us to help the needy, to love the unlovable, to show non-believers the love of Christ. Our work will be finished. What we do here and now, on earth, will be our reward for all eternity. We need to spread Gods love out wherever we go, leaving a piece of it with each and every person we come in contact with. It could be as easy as, holding the door for another person, giving money to the needy, or simply saying God bless you to a stranger.

God’s plan is for us to love one another as Christ loves you, unconditionally.(Matthew 5:43-45) “you have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”That’s pretty clear, that God loves us all both the good and bad, but here is the difference, God’s chosen ones, must share this love to show those who do not know Jesus what love is. We must let Gods love flow out of us,and as we do, His loving kindness and tender mercies will call others to repentance.

Heavens Gates Awaits!

2007-03-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

The Narrow and Wide Gates

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matt.7:13-14,Sermon of the Mount)

"On that day many will say to me: Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name... (Matt.7:21-23)

"Many are invited, but few are chosen" (Matt.22:14)

"Someone asked him: Lord, will only a few be saved?. He said to them: Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many will try to enter and will not be able... (Lk.13:23-29)

How many will go to Hell? How many will not enter through the narrow gate but will seek a broad gate to enter through?

I each passage I mentioned Jesus talks about how many will go to "Hell", the word "many" is used... not just once but 4 times!

How many will go to Heaven?:

Here is used the word "few", as we just mentioned, "For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matt.7:13-14)...

... But those few are "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages", says Rev.7:9.

How do you become part of the “Chosen Few” and not of the “Many” that are doomed to Hell forever apart from God. Simply by choosing Jesus Christ and placing your sincere trust in Him. Believing in Him and the sacrifice He made on the cross, being a finished work to cleanse you from all your sins. This is His promise to you…. “eternal life” (1 John 2:25) Only through His work on the cross is this possible. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). Believing anything else will buy you a one way nonstop ticket to eternal life apart from God and His Son. A complete and just reward for choosing to believe satans’ lie that you don’t need to be saved from your sins. Jesus is the narrow gate that you need to pass through. He will lead you to the eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus being the narrow gate, the only door, and rejection of the Son is rejection of the Father. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”(John 6:47)

So, I pray that you are not one of those "many" who go to Hell, but one of those "few", one of that "great multitudes" who go to Heaven, praise the Lord! Start now with a heartfelt prayer to the Lord:

Lord God, salvation cannot be earned; grace cannot be demanded as payment for our services. No matter how I strive to live a good and right life, I will always fall short. You know this Lord; otherwise You would not have sent Your Son for the salvation of all who claim His holy name. Renew me today knowing I put my faith and belief in the saving grace of Your Son Jesus my Lord. Cleanse me of my sins and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I need You and desire to be with You forever in Your Kingdom. I pray this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen

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