Can I change?

Lord, Why Can’t I Change?
By Charles F. Stanley

Have you ever vowed to put an ungodly habit behind you, only to fall again soon after? Feelings of guilt can lead to a renewed commitment to never do something again. But the very next day, the cycle repeats itself as we give in to the same temptations. Our defeat leaves us wondering, What’s wrong with me? Our despair at repeated failure produces a sense of hopeless resignation and confusion. We want to know, Lord, why can’t I change?
All of us have experienced the problem of wanting to honor God and yet reverting back to old, sinful ways almost immediately. Isn’t the Christian life supposed to be more liberating and victorious than this? After all, the Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). Why, then, does habitual sin take hold of us? Wasn’t Christ supposed to change all this? If we are new creations, why do we still act like old ones? We feel as stuck as a ship run aground.
So how do we shake free from our sinful behaviors? First, we need to examine the way change occurs in the Christian life. Salvation is an instantaneous work of God, which happens the moment we receive Jesus as Savior. But from that point on, we enter a continual process of transformation called sanctification. The Lord’s goal is to mold us into the image of Christ, but this process requires our cooperation. That’s what the Bible means when it says, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). If we neglect this responsibility, we’ll find ourselves struggling with the same issues over and over again. But if we submit to the Holy Spirit, He’ll exert His influence in every area of our lives. Old sinful habits will pass away and be replaced with new godly behavior.
The path to transformation

Becoming the people God created us to be is an inside-out process. Because our thoughts govern each area of our lives—emotions, decisions, actions, attitudes, and words—any lasting transformation must begin with the mind. If all we want is to modify our conduct, we’ll never experience long-term success. What we need is a new way of thinking.
This can be accomplished only by what the Bible calls renewing the mind (Rom. 12:2). It’s not a sudden transformation but a lifelong process. At the moment of salvation, the Lord doesn’t erase all our negative and sinful thought patterns any more than He automatically removes our physical imperfections. If you had a scar on your arm before you received Christ, most likely you will still have it afterward.
We are all a reflection of whatever we’ve been thinking throughout the years. From early on, we are taught to respond to situations in a certain way, with a particular response pattern, and this impacts every area of our lives. In some cases, we can see how people’s expressions reveal the way their minds have developed throughout their lifetime—etching continuous worry, pain, and guilt on their faces.
Take a look in the mirror. Do you see the joy of Christ in your eyes? Or are the destructive effects of sin betrayed by your appearance? The good news is that whatever your thoughts have been in the past, God can teach you to think differently. He gives His Spirit to lead you through a process that produces real healing and lasting change.
Where thoughts originate

So, what triggers negative thought patterns? The Lord has given us physical senses so we can interact with each other and our world. The capacity to see, hear, touch, taste, and smell is an amazing gift from God, which affects how our thoughts develop and what we think. However, because we are continually being influenced by the fallen world around us, we don’t always use these abilities in a way that honors Him. We experience a sight, sound, smell, flavor, or touch that gives us momentary pleasure and we begin to think, What would it be like if I…? This begins the downward spiral—our senses trigger thoughts, which elicit destructive patterns of behavior.
James 1:14-15 explains, “Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” That is why we must be discerning about what we listen to and watch. It is also why the apostle Paul tells us to lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted, and instead be renewed in the spirit of our minds—to put on the new self which is created in God’s likeness (Eph. 4:22-24).
A second source of sinful thoughts is from the Enemy of our souls. Have you ever been thinking about some plan or task, only to have a vile, ungodly idea pop into your mind? You may wonder, Where did that come from? These are Satan’s attempts to distract us with his ideas and twist the truth, inciting us to disobey God. His purpose is to destroy our character and lead us astray.
The way we respond determines whether we fall to his enticements or stand strong against him. Will we, as Paul says, dwell on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute” (Phil. 4:8), allowing our minds to be transformed by these things? Or will we take the bait?
No matter how our minds are bombarded by unwanted temptations, we must remember that as believers, we do not have to be enslaved by sin. We are not helpless victims, but sons and daughters of almighty God. We have within us the Holy Spirit—a positive, powerful influence that is mightier than the Enemy can ever hope to be. Because we are indwelled by God’s Spirit, we have the power to extinguish the Enemy’s flaming arrows (Eph. 6:16). We are also able to know the mind of Christ, take our thoughts captive to Him, and have victory over every temptation.
How your mind is renewed

God calls us to be watchful and guard our minds at all times. If we don’t, worldly values and purposes will subtly creep in and influence our lives. Whenever we allow ourselves to be conformed to the world, the Enemy gains a foothold in our thinking. And the more we yield to those thoughts, the stronger his hold becomes.
We must wisely choose which thoughts we will accept and which ones we’ll reject. It’s not enough just to resist the Enemy’s lies; we must also deliberately fill our mind with truth from God’s Word. Jesus used this technique when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11). He countered each challenge with Scripture, saying “It is written . . .” When we are ready with a verse that refutes one of Satan’s falsehoods, we have the most powerful spiritual ammunition possible.
So consider: How diligent have you been about guarding your mind? Have you permitted the world to influence your thoughts? Or are you allowing God’s Word to shape your reasoning and values? You cannot coast through the Christian life. An unengaged mind is an open invitation for sin. If you’re distracted, having trouble praying or reading the Bible, your thoughts are not where they should be.
Perhaps you feel as if you’re the rope in a tug of war between God and sin, constantly being pulled in two opposing directions. Don’t beat yourself up when you fail. Rather, confess and repent as quickly as possible (1 John 1:9). During those times, remember that you are engaged in a long process, and that you cannot renew your own mind. Trying harder and making promises to God will only discourage you, because in your own strength, you will never be able to change. True transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit—and it takes time. Therefore, submit to His leading, heed His warnings, and obey His voice.
Four Requirements for a Renewed Mind

Fill your mind with Scripture—focusing on the Lord’s character, ways, and commands.
Resist temptation and flee from it by understanding the thoughts and feelings that trigger a sinful response in you.
Check the source of your thoughts—are they from God, your flesh, the world, or Satan?
Rely on the Holy Spirit to empower you to resist sin and break free from its bondage.
Begin today

As believers, we can expect this process of transformation to continue until we reach heaven; however, the important issue is that we begin today.
Just as your area of struggle began with one act of yielding to temptation, so your path to victory can begin with one act of submission to God. Through the power of the Spirit, start saying no to thoughts that don’t belong in a believer’s life. At the same time, say yes to appropriate thoughts. When you fill your mind with truth from God’s Word, you’ll gain discernment and be able to more readily identify the thoughts and feelings that cause you to sin.
As you persevere in choosing which thoughts to allow, the bondage of sin will diminish and your mind will be renewed. This transformation, which began internally, will now be worked out externally as behavior changes. When you think right, you’ll act right. Areas of your life that you were powerless to adjust on your own will be refashioned. And Christ’s victorious life will be beautifully demonstrated through you so that others will see and be drawn to Him.
Questions for Further Study

Ephesians 4:22-24 gives three steps for change. What are they? Which words are used to describe the old self? The new self? How does renewing the mind enable us to “put on the new self”? What would happen if you skipped that step?

Read James 4:7-10. As you think about an area in your life that needs to change, what does God command you to do, and what does He promise to do in return?
You don’t have to fight your battles alone. Jesus Christ died on the cross to free you—mind, spirit, and body—from the grip of sin. And through the power of His resurrection, He offers an abundant new life in Him.
No transgression is too great for the Lord to forgive. Scripture tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Invite Jesus into your life, and let the transformation begin. You can use the following prayer or your own words:
Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen.

What God Created for us

God’s Creation what and why.  His purpose for us. 

These are notes I make from my general biblical study that I am going through.  I have added my notes and thoughts from questions that I have seen and read.  I first want to start with a small prayer.

Dear Lord,

I ask that you please open my eyes so I may see Your Word and open my mind so I may absorb and learn Your Word the way you want me to.  Please be with me and fill me with the fire of Your Holy Ghost as I read and learn.  I want more understanding.  I want the right understanding.  You are a great and merciful God.  I love you for it.  I would never be able to live my life without You and I thank you for it.  Thank you for accepting me for what I truly am.  I so understand that I am a sinner and I am not even close to being worthy to sit with the trash outside Your kingdom Gates.  But You sent Your loving Son down to the earth and sacrificed Himself for me I thank You.  Be with me Lord and again thank you.  In Christ’s name I pray.

Amen

I read and reread Genesis Chapter 1 over and over many times for a long time.  I did understand that God was the Creator of this Earth but there is more there and maybe you know this and maybe you don’t but either way I will share this anyways.  Not only did God make things but I finally saw His plan first and formost.  Yea I know everyone says He has a plan but really you need to understand how far back His planning stage happens.  Part of His plan was order.  Things didn’t just happen all at once but it did happen in a certain order.  What I like to say the ‘Order of Life’.  Keep in mind this order happens after our Earth (The ball dark planet) that He so carefully placed in the most perfect place in the galaxy.

God’s Order is as follows:

1.       Light – We need light to see.  Not just us but everything else needed light to see.  I mean really think about this.  All those guys with work benches or sheds or Garages that we all work in or even an office we need what?  We need good lighting so we can do our good works right.  So we first what turn on a light.  Why not God?  So yea His first was light.

2.       The first separation – this was something to be put between the waters.  Now remember that was waters known as the oceans and the waters from above or in some cases the mist from the above.  He called this sky.  So now we have an above and below.  At times I tend to look up and admire the awesome artwork that floats above us in the sky.  Such as the clouds and the colors.  It is really magnificent if you take the time to look.  I mean why not.  He took the time to make it for us.

3.       Second separation – This is where He wanted a smaller separation between the bodies of water on the earth and that is where our Land appears.  It keeps things where they need.  We needed that otherwise we would all be fish.  So there tells you his plan to make different things on this earth.  I personally am glad I am not a fish.  I love my place in His plan.  Not that the fish are on important.

4.       Third and final separation – This is where He adds time in my opinion.  Otherwise how would we really know when one day begins and ends?  I tell you I am grateful for this because there are days that I am glad ended and new begins. 

5.       Creation of Creatures of both Sky and Water – How great is that.  Now we have water and land and things to swim in the water and things to fly in the sky.  Have you actually ever stopped to look at these things?  Taken a trip to the aquarium or a bird sanctuary and seen His creations.  How magnificent and the past part they do not worry about anything.  At least not like we worry.  They survive knowing that they will find what they need.

Now let’s look at what He creates next.  Not just what but how much love was put into the next Creations?

Gen 1:1 – In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

We all know this to be true and fact and without dispute.  Here is the best part and I will start off with –

Gen 1:27 – So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them.

Wow how awesome is that.  To create us in His image is so awe inspiring in itself.  When in doubt of what God looks like well you should look in the mirror.  He is there in you.  He is a part of you.  He made His likeness in His image. 

Ps 51:10 – Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

When I see that I see that before sin He did give us a pure/clean heart but Sin took over and darkened our hearts and that is why we became unclean.  We can choose to ask Him to change us back to a pure heart.  No it is far from easy because we have spent years following our flesh and not our pure hearts.  There are people who say follow your heart.  Well I will risk saying I so disagree with that.  Because I followed my heart for years and look where it got me.  I need to follow a pure heart a heart that can only be cleansed by God.  That makes a very large difference in how we feel and how we treat and look at others.

His love for us is again shown in one of my favorite verses.

Is 41:10 – So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strength you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Please tell me that is not a God or Creator who doesn’t care for us and our well-being.  I say it is and I challenge anyone to say different.  I have first-hand experience that He has given me strength to make it through my trials that are set before me.  He is also there for me when I feel weary.  Why would a God put so much into things for us if there was no love for us?  I tell you that He does love us.

He uses the the word “good” at least 6 times in chapter 1 and one “very good” in vs 31 and He said this after he finished his work.  How amazing is that for God to say something was good that is and awesome complement.  I am glad I was part of this works.  I am glad He saw good not only in the things he created but also the beings He created.  I am so very blessed.

Now why would he do such a thing well Isaiah 43:7 states for His glory.

Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

I don’t know about you but here it tells me that we were pre-ordained to call upon him. We were made to worship him.  Just like a child worships his father.  God is everyone’s father so why not worship Him. 

Is 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Again it is stated that we were made to glorify him.  Now I will tell you the meaning of glorify and see if it is something you do or are willing to do for the one who created you.

Glo·ri·fy – ˈglôrəˌfī/Submit (verb) – 1. Reveal or make clearer the glory of (God) by one's actions.

"God can be glorified through a life of scholarship"

Praise, extol, exalt, worship, revere, reverence, venerate, pay homage to, honor, adore, thank, give thanks to; More

2. Describe or represent as admirable, esp. unjustifiably or undeservedly.

"A football video glorifying violence"

Synonyms:  ennoble, exalt, elevate, dignify, enhance, augment, promote (taken from google search definitions) Honestly I love the first meaning how it talks about my God not the fake god’s or ones who try to claim they are.  I am just blown away by this.

Col 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Do you do this? Is this how you live your life with this purpose in mind?  I do everything within my power to do this but I don’t always succeed that is why I am so grateful for His mercies in me because I do not always succeed at least not without Him.

How do we relate or talk to our Father (God) well Ps 33: 1-9 says what we should do. 

(Psa 33:1)  Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

(Psa 33:2)  Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

(Psa 33:3)  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

(Psa 33:4)  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

(Psa 33:5)  He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

(Psa 33:6)  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

(Psa 33:7)  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

(Psa 33:8)  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

(Psa 33:9)  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

To sum it all up we need to pray, worship, sing, and praise Him.  Again we must Glorify our Creator the one who loves us so much and see and respect what he has made for us.

Is 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? (Wait for it) The Lord is the everlasting God. The creator of the ends of the earth.

His existence is reviled to us by just looking all around.  What do you see?  I know what I see.  I see God in everything.

The Human Willingness In Illumination Principle

The Human Willingness In Illumination Principle    The Principle of Human Willingness in Illumination is that principle by which God's Truth is guaranteed to willing souls. (John 7:17)    The Bible reveals that man's understanding is blinded by sin and that only God can open man's eyes. Only the Holy Spirit can unveil the truth. The Holy Spirit, only, gives the understanding. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." I Corinthians 2:14.     Although Simon Peter was with Jesus Christ 3 years, the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God had to be revealed to him by God. "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven," Matthew 16:16, 17.       Man cannot understand the deep mysteries unless they are revealed by God, for man is blind. "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, save the Son, and he to whosoever the Son will reveal him," Matthew 11:25-27.ISAIAH 29:10-18-A learned man and an unlearned man find the Word sealed to them. Why? Because of sin the Word is sealed to them! There must he an intellectual honesty on the part of man, and he must say, "THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD." You must, yourself, submit to it.     TRUTH IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT! If this statement is not true, then those of you who have been taught Mormonism, Unitarianism, etc., bow to their teachings as being the truth. In the Universities, Modernism is truth, but this is not so. Remember, TRUTH IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT!     CAIN AND ABEL-Most people have been taught, and thus believe, that the reason why God chose one and rejected the other was that Abel was a good man and Cain was a bad man. This is false! Neither was good; they were both bad; they both offered sacrifices for their sin. A fallen man (Adam) cannot beget an unfallen man. God accepted Abel because of his FAITH, FAITH in the right kind of sacrifice, a sacrifice of blood. God rejected Cain because of his UNBELIEF - UNBELIEF in the blood of a lamb. The Bible is the WORD OF TRUTH, and thus, IT must be rightly divided.     Do not ever take any man's word for anything. The teacher can never take the veil off your eyes; only the Holy Spirit can do this.     When one comes to the WORD, he must come as a learner: Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Don't be like Peter when the Lord said, "I must be crucified," Peter said, "No." Jesus answered, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Sir Thomas Blackwood has given this outline: 1. Admit Let the Word of God in. Have an open heart for its truth. Preconceived errors only pave the way to more errors. 2. Submit There must be willingness to obey it. “If any man do his will, he shall know...” (John 7:17). 3. Commit The Word must be memorized. It can then be used as an offensive weapon of the Christian, the Sword of the Spirit. 4. Transmit One cannot afford to hoard it; it must be shared; it must be delivered; it must be preached.

The Seven Dispensations

THE SEVEN DISPENSATIONS

The Scriptures divide time (by which is meant the entire period from the creation of Adam to the "new heaven and a new earth" of Rev. 21:1) into seven unequal periods, usually called dispensations (Eph. 3:2), although these periods are also called ages (Eph. 2:7) and days, as in "day of the Lord."

These periods are marked off in Scripture by some change in God's method of dealing with mankind, or a portion of mankind, in respect of the two questions: of sin, and of man's responsibility. Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment, marking his utter failure in every dispensation. Five of these dispensations, or periods of time, have been fulfilled; we are living in the sixth, probably toward its close, and have before us the seventh, and last: the millennium.

1. Man innocent
This dispensation extends from the creation of Adam in Genesis 2:7 to the expulsion from Eden. Adam, created innocent and ignorant of good and evil, was placed in the garden of Eden with his wife, Eve, and put under responsibility to abstain from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The dispensation of innocence resulted in the first failure of man, and in its far-reaching effects, the most disastrous. It closed in judgment: "So he drove out the man." See Gen. 1:26; Gen. 2:16,17; Gen. 3:6; Gen. 3:22-24.)

2. Man under conscience
By the fall, Adam and Eve acquired and transmitted to the race the knowledge of good and evil. This gave conscience a basis for right moral judgment, and hence the race came under this measure of responsibility-to do good and eschew evil. The result of the dispensation of conscience, from Eden to the flood (while there was no institution of government and of law), was that "all flesh had corrupted his way on the earth," that "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually," and God closed the second testing of the natural man with judgment: the flood. See Gen. 3:7, 22; Gen. 6:5,11-12; Gen. 7:11-12, 23.)

3. Man in authority over the earth
Out of the fearful judgment of the flood God saved eight persons, to whom, after the waters were assuaged, He gave the purified earth with ample power to govern it. This, Noah and his descendants were responsible to do. The dispensation of human government resulted, upon the plain of Shinar, in the impious attempt to become independent of God and closed in judgment: the confusion of tongues. (See Gen. 9: 1, 2; Gen. 11: 1-4; Gen. 11:5-8.)

4. Man under promise
Out of the dispersed descendants of the builders of Babel, God called one man, Abram, with whom He enters into covenant. Some of the promises to Abram and his descendants were purely gracious and unconditional. These either have been or will yet be literally fulfilled. Other promises were conditional upon the faithfulness and obedience of the Israelites. Every one of these conditions was violated, and the dispensation of promise resulted in the failure of Israel and closed in the judgment of bondage in Egypt.
The book of Genesis, which opens with the sublime words, "In the beginning God created," closes with, "In a coffin in Egypt." (See Gen. 12:1-3; Gen. 13:14-17; Gen. 15:5; Gen. 26:3; Gen. 28:12-13; Exod. 1: 13-14.)

5. Man under law
Again the grace of God came to the help of helpless man and redeemed the chosen people out of the hand of the oppressor. In the wilderness of Sinai He proposed to them the covenant of law. Instead of humbly pleading for a continued relation of grace, they presumptuously answered: "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." The history of Israel in the wilderness and in the land is one long record of flagrant, persistent violation of the law, and at last, after multiplied warnings, God closed the testing of man by law in judgment: first Israel, and then Judah, were driven out of the land into a dispersion which still continues. A feeble remnant returned under Ezra and Nehemiah, of which, in due time, Christ came: "Born of a woman-made under the law." Both Jews and Gentiles conspired to crucify Him. (See Exod. 19:1-8; 2 Kings 17:1-18; 2 Kings 25: 1 -11; Acts 2:22-23; Acts 7:51-52; Rom. 3:19-20; Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3: 10.)

6. Man under grace
The sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ introduced the dispensation of pure grace, which means undeserved favor, or God giving righteousness, instead of God requiring righteousness, as under law. Salvation, perfect and eternal, is now freely offered to Jew and Gentile upon the acknowledgment of sin, or repentance, with faith in Christ.

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:29). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24). "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish" (John 10:27-28). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

The predicted result of this testing of man under grace is judgment upon an unbelieving world and an apostate church. (See Luke 17:26-30; Luke 18:8; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 3:15-16.)

The first event in the closing of this dispensation will be the descent of the Lord from heaven, when sleeping saints will be raised and, together with believers then living, caught up "to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Then follows the brief period called "the great tribulation." (See Jer. 30:5-7; Dan. 12:1; Zeph. 1:15-18; Matt. 24:21-22.)

After this the personal return of the Lord to the earth in power and great glory occurs, and the judgments which introduce the seventh, and last dispensation. (See Matt. 25:31-46 and Matt. 24:29- 30.)

7. Man under the personal reign of Christ
After the purifying judgments which attend the personal return of Christ to the earth, He will reign over restored Israel and over the earth for one thousand years. This is the period commonly called the millennium. The seat of His power will be Jerusalem, and the saints, including the saved of the dispensation of grace, namely the church, will be associated with Him in His glory. (See Isa. 2:1-4; Isa. 11; Acts 15:14-17; Rev. 19:11-21; Rev. 20:1-6.

But when Satan is "loosed a little season," he finds the natural heart as prone to evil as ever, and easily gathers the nations to battle against the Lord and His saints, and this last dispensation closes, like all the others, in judgment. The great white throne is set, the wicked dead are raised and finally judged, and then come the "new heaven and a new earth." Eternity is begun. (See Rev. 20:3,7-15; Rev. 21 and 22.)

Where do you walk

Psalm 1:1-3 ()Book One 1:1 Blessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a treeplanted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers. #Bible http://mydailybible.org/dv/esv/2013-12-03.htm

Our Life or God's Life for Us - Part 1

We so need to understand that we did not start our lives.  If you think you are living than you are truly fooling yourself.  It all starts and ends with God.  There really is no other way to explain it.  Some people will most likely disagree with that but it is the truth. 

In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? – Job 12:10 (KJV)

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

God is our creator our Abba Father.  He is the only one who can show us what our purpose on this earth can be.  Others believe we control our own life and what we do and what we have.  I will agree with them with that because our Lord God has given us freewill to our own lives.  But that is where a lot of people make the mistakes by choosing our own things.  We have a bad habit of doing what we think is right and what we want to be happy.  But the only one who can guarantee our happiness and security is God. 

Rom 8:6-9 For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. 7 - Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 - So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 - But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

We need to understand one very important fact and that is WE WERE MADE FOR GOD and not any other way.  If we don’t understand that and go our own ways it tends to lead us down a dark dead end street.  You will also be surprised at how many people know this and choose not to follow it.  I do have good news about this.  It goes the other way too.  Look further into Romans 8:10-12

Rom 8:10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

How great is that?  I know I would rather let God control me than my flesh.  I have been trying to control myself for many years.  What I thought was the best for me.  Who am I to know what I really and truly need and want?  Who am I to know what is best for me?

We need to know and understand God is not the starting point but He is the source of our purpose of life.  We think that accepting Christ is the first and foremost thing and then it is easy peasy from there.  Well I got news for you it is just the beginning.  I have said this before and I will continue to say it.  Accepting Christ is an awesome step.  But there are a lot more steps you need to take.  I pray daily for His wisdom and power to make it through and I thank Him at the end of the day for Him being there for me.  We need to keep this in mind yea you are saved by Christ.  But the devil is still around and still wants you to mess up and keep your eyes off of God.  And he will work harder than he ever worked before to keep you away.  Duh…the daily battle. 

Read Eph 6:10-20 and that will explain the work needed.  But remember there is great rewards after.  For one having the knowledge that you are a Child of God.  Also to know He has a place for you.  But before we go there let’s look at

Eph 1:11 – 12 11- In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [NET Notes, TSK] 12 that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Keep in mind the last part.  V 18 really we must Pray and pray some more.  When we are tired of praying we must get up and pray more.

“O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.” Psalm 107:8

“O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”
Psalm 107:8

If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common mercies—common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed. But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are forever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ—our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs.

Psalm 74:17

“Thou hast made summer and winter.”
Psalm 74:17

My soul begin this wintry month with thy God. The cold snows and the piercing winds all remind thee that he keeps his covenant with day and night, and tend to assure thee that he will also keep that glorious covenant which he has made with thee in the person of Christ Jesus. He who is true to his Word in the revolutions of the seasons of this poor sin-polluted world, will not prove unfaithful in his dealings with his own well-beloved Son.

Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it be upon thee just now it will be very painful to thee: but there is this comfort, namely, that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes over the once verdant meadows of our joy: he casteth forth his ice like morsels freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all, he is the great Winter King, and rules in the realms of frost, and therefore thou canst not murmur. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other ills, are of the Lord’s sending, and come to us with wise design. Frosts kill noxious insects, and put a bound to raging diseases; they break up the clods, and sweeten the soil. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction!

How we prize the fire just now! how pleasant is its cheerful glow! Let us in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let us draw nigh to him, and in him find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of his promises, and go forth to labours which befit the season, for it were ill to be as the sluggard who will not plough by reason of the cold; for he shall beg in summer and have nothing.

The Covenant Priniciple

The Covenant Principle
The Word “covenant” means compact, or fetter; that which binds together. In the Word the written covenants were made between God and man, binding them together.
There are two kinds of covenants: (1) “CONDITIONAL”, its formula being: “If thou will” (Exodus 19:5). It is based upon the faithfulness of man. (2) “UNCONDITIONAL”, its formula being: “I will” (Genesis 9: 11). It is not based upon what man will do, hut rather, upon the faithfulness of God.
Dispensations and Covenants are linked together.
I. EDENIC COVENANT
A. Constitution: Genesis 1:28-30; 2:15-17—Order of life of unfallen man in the Garden.
B. Content:
1. To replenish the earth.
2. To subdue the earth.
3. To have dominion over the animal kingdom (Psalm 8:3- 9). There is no headship in man today. The Lord Jesus exercised it.
4. To restrict themselves to a vegetable diet.
a. Animals will one day eat vegetables.
b. Not wrong for man to eat meat today (Colossians 2:16).
5. To dress the Garden.
6. To keep the Garden (translated “guard”).
C. Condition: A Conditional covenant! Man was to abstain from eating of the tree of good and evil; man was also warned of the enemy to come.
D. Conclusion: Expulsion
.
II.. ADAMIC COVENANT
A. Constitution: Made with Adam, in Eden, before expulsion. An UNCONDITIONAL
covenant. Includes a curse and a promise.
B. Contents: Genesis 3:14-19.
1. Curse on the Serpent. “That old serpent, the devil”. He came as an angel of light. He was seen by unfallen man as he appeared and was seen by our Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness. Verse 14: a record of utter defeat. This account is not a “snake and apple” story, but rather, a true account of a curse being placed upon Satan.
2. Judgment on the woman.
a. Multiplied conception. Many children born at the time. To God’s command to “replenish” the earth, inter-marriage was performed. All people came or descended from Adam. Cain married his niece, or most likely, his sister.
b. Maternal sorrows. Not only pains of childbirth, but of sorrow that some were even born.
c. Wifely Subordination. The headship was given to the man in the family. It belongs to the man (no two-headed institution) Go to China, India, Africa, and to our own North American Indians, or any pagan country, and you will see what is meant. Woman can thank Jesus Christ and His Gospel for making her burden as light as it is now in America.
3. Judgment upon the man. The ground is cursed on account of man’s sake, to make man tired, worn out.
4. Curse on creation
5. The Promise! Genesis 3:15 (greatest verse in the Bible, many think). The coming, suffering, and triumph of the Seed of the Woman.
C. Conclusion: Did not end with the Flood, but continues until the world is destroyed by fire.
III. NOAHIC COVENANT
A. Constitution: Genesis 8:20—9:17. Adam could say, “God can create”. Noah could say, “God can destroy.”
B. Contents:
1. God would not again curse the earth by water.
2. God would not again destroy all living.
3. Natural order of the season to be preserved.
4. Noah and descendants to multiply and replenish the earth; this was the same command that was given to Adam.
5. Dominion over animal kingdom.
6. Diet changed to include flesh (meat).
a. Flesh must be drained of blood.
b. Life in the blood.
7. Law of capital punishment established (Human Government Dispensation). It is binding to the end of time.
8. This covenant includes animal creation.
C. Conclusion: This runs on until earth is destroyed with fire (Genesis 9:12). The SIGN: Rainbow. Every time it rains there is a rainbow, and He sees it. The Rainbow has been described as a joint product of storm and sunlight. God’s sign has been hanging in the skies for 40 centuries (Genesis 9:14). It is blessed to know that every cloud that comes into our lives is brought by God; and remember, every cloud has a rainbow. This is an (UNCONDITIONAL covenant.
A man’s dark cloud is SIN, and the rainbow is Jesus! This is the only cloud that God does not bring.
IV. THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
A. Constitution: Genesis 12:1-3.
1. Great nation.
2. All nations to be blessed through Him.
3. Unconditional covenant—Genesis 13:14, 15; 15:1-16.
a. Called from Ur. (Abraham’s father worshipped idols.)
b. Making of a covenant: Jeremiah 34:18.
B. Contents:
1. “I will make of thee a great nation.” God gave added details: Genesis 13:16; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 17:6. A spiritual blessing, as well as a posterity blessing, is found in Genesis 22:18. Made to a childless man, an old man of 99 years, to become a father of
(1) a great nation;
(2) of many nations;
(3) of kings. At this time his name was changed from Abram to Abraham. To be a father” of nations, not a founder. Abraham’s nation (Israel) was to be the greatest nation in all the world, instead of being the “tail”, as she is today.
“Israel is a standing miracle; no land; no country; no cities; no towns; no buildings; no houses; no ruler; no king; no flag. Though she is scattered to all-- four corners of the globe, she is united as a people (separated from other nations) of 20,000,000 souls, controlling a great deal of the wealth today.” These facts were brought out 29 years ago (this writing in 1964). Now these facts are outdated, bringing only to our hearts the soon appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Israel is 4,000 years old; 3,500 years ago Egypt tried to whip her, and did so in bondage; but, where is the glory of Egypt today? The Medes and Persians, and the Babylonians passed away, but Israel has not passed away, and she will never pass away, for God is with Israel.
A great nation shall arise from Ishmael (Genesis 17:20); that was promised to Ishmael’s father, Abraham. Ishmael, the father, did have a great nation divided into twelve tribes, or smaller nations (Genesis 25:16).
The seed of Isaac was to bring peace. The seed of Ishmael was to be the opposite, a thorn in the side of Israel. Ishmael is indeed a great nation. No nation has ever captured the Arabians (Ishmael’s seed). Mohammed (622 A.D.) rose to greatness and proclaimed his religion to his people, the Arabians (the seed of Ishmael, the children, whose father is Abraham). Their greatest reward is in killing Christians, who are the spiritual seed of Isaac, whose father is Abraham. Therefore, the seed of Ishmael is a thorn in the side of the seed of Isaac. One thousand years changes people. Today Rome is not what she was 1,000 years ago; England is not the same, but for 4,000 years the Arabians have remained the same. The Arabians are living exactly as their father, Ishmael, lived 4,000 years ago. Arabians circumcise their male children at the age of 13 years, the same as under Ishmael, 4,000 years ago.
Abraham had EIGHT sons. The Great Promise came only through Isaac. “Salvation is of the JEW”, for we are saved by the SON of Abraham.
2. “I will bless thee.” He was blessed by God with wealth (Genesis 13, 15, 24, 34, 35). He was blessed, blessed, blessed, and not only with wealth, but with victory over four kings, and he brought back Lot and the people of Sodom who had been captured by these four kings. He was the only one ever called “a friend of God.”
3. “And make thy name great.” Next to Jesus Christ, Abraham’s name is mentioned more in the Bible than any other. It is mentioned 300 times in the Scriptures. Out of the Scriptures he is better known than Jesus Christ. Abraham’s name is mentioned by people who never mention Jesus’ name. He is the best-known person in history. “He wandered around”—worshipped God in simplicity; no tabernacle; no temple. He just “wandered around.”
4. “I will make thee a blessing.” Every nation which has treated the Jew with kindness has been blessed, and those which have not have been cursed (Zechariah 2:8). America’s prosperity is due to her treatment of the Jew. Egypt (Ezekiel 29:15, 16; Joel 3:19) was once a glorious nation, but look at her now. All this because of her treatment of the Jew. Look at the Amalekites (I Chronicles 4:43); the Moabites and the Ammonites (Zephaniah 2:9, 10), who were once nations of repute, but not now, because of their treatment of the Jews. Also, look at the Edomites (Amos 1: 11, 12)...all because of their treatment of the Jews. Glance at modern nations of today. Turkey is called the sick man of Europe—all because of its treatment of the Jews.
5. “I will give to thee and thy seed the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession.” Genesis 13 records the words of Abraham, “Let us not have trouble for we are brethren.” Abraham wasn’t concerned about Lot’s decision, for it was all his. God gave a promise to Abraham, renewed it to Isaac, and confirmed it again to Jacob.
The Jews have six (6) titles to the Land of Canaan:
(1) By Homestead Law (Deuteronomy 23:8);
(2) By Gift;
(3) By Covenant;
(4) By Conquest;
(5)By right of Tenure;
(6) By Purchase.
6. “In thee shall all families of the earth he blessed.” All the monotheism in the world has had contact with the seed of Abraham. America is not Christian, but monotheistic (belief in one God). Those of monotheistic belief are the Jews, Mohammedans, and Christians. The population of the world numbers over 3,300,000,000. The Abrahamic influence numbers over 2,000,000,000, about half of the world’s population.
7. The promise is to the SEED (singular, not plural); not to Seeds, but SEED (the Lord Jesus Christ). “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many: but as of one, And thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). Thus, it was a SPIRITUAL BLESSING, also, which includes the Gentiles.
C. Condition: An Unconditional covenant—standing even today.
D. Conclusion: Abrahamic Covenant to Jews only.
E. Sign: Circumcision.
1. Designation—God’s man.
2. Separation unto Him.
3. Purity unto Him.
4. Possession by Him.
V. THE MOSAIC COVENANT
(Note: this covenant was made only with Israel! It was never made with the Gentiles or the Church).
It was made 430 years after Abraham. Moses was a founder, not a father, of a nation. He was the greatest law-giver in the world; it was God who gave the Law to him.
A. Constitution: Given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus, Deuteronomy 33). The word “Moses” means “drawn out”. He became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, who was a virgin. After he was “drawn out” he became the Saviour; and when Jesus was “drawn out” of the tomb He became the Saviour of the world.
B. Contents:
1. Moral Law (ten commandments)—Exodus 20.
2. Civil Law—Exodus 21-24.
3. Ceremonial Law—Exodus 25-31. Moses broke the tables of the law, signifying that if we break one law, we break them all (James 2:10).
The Institution of the Tabernacle was established so that God could dwell in the midst of His people.
C. Condition: A Conditional Covenant.
1. Responsibility: (Exodus19:5,6; Leviticus 26:3; Deuteronomy 28:1; 29:9.)
2. Blessings for obedience (Exodus 19:5, 6; Leviticus 26:3-18; Deuteronomy 28:1-14).
3. Punishment for disobedience (Exodus 19:5-8; Leviticus 26:14-46; Deuteronomy 11:10-17; 28:15-68). Deuteronomy 28:37—“byword” is the Hebrew “sheniynah”, pronounced “sheneenaw”, from whence we sometimes say, “Sheeny” (I Kings 9:7; II Chronicles 7:20).
Deuteronomy 11:1-17: the branch of Kidron has water for the first time in 1800 years. Joel 2:21-27: the time when God shall restore Palestine for Israel, the time of prosperity. Palestine is growing more productive—just a sign of the times. When Joel says rain he means rain; not the Holy Spirit, but rain. Deuteronomy 28:49, 50: The enemy shall come; the Romans fulfilled this prophecy 1,500 years after it was made.
FOUR REMARKABLE FACTS ABOUT THE JEW:
a. Deuteronomy 28:63: Plucked out of the land. The Romans completely plucked them off. Moses said it 3,500 years ago.
b. Deuteronomy 28:64: Scattered among all nations. What country is there without the Jew?
c. Deuteronomy 28:65: Unrest among the nations; they were persecuted by so-called Christian nations; yea, even by the so-called Church.
d. Leviticus 26:44-46: Would not utterly destroy the Jews. Treatment in Germany: the Jews were charged as being the killers of the Son of God. The Black Death of 1348 was laid to their charge and blame; one-third of the Jewish population was put to death. Who really put Christ to death? THE WHOLE WORLD! During World War II 6,000,000 Jews are reported to have been put to death. Before the war the Jews numbered around 20,000,000, but now about 16,000,000. Treatment in Spain and France: both nations were spillers of Jewish blood, Jew murderers The Jews were driven out of their homes and businesses, stripped of their possessions and wealth, and then allowed to come back again. The Jews were at one time cut down to a mere 1,000,000.
Why destroy the Jew for what he has done, or has not done? Look at what he has given to the world: The SAVIOUR! The Devil hates nothing worse than the Bible, God and His Son. If the Devil could destroy the Jew, he could prove a lying Bible. There is only ONE way to destroy the Jew and that is the Scriptural way: Jeremiah 31:35-37. Thus, it is impossible to destroy the Jew. Jonah (type of Israel): the water could not drown him and the fish couldn’t digest him.
D. Conclusion: Merged with Palestinian Covenant.
E. Sign: The Sabbath. It was never given to the Gentiles (Romans 2:12, 14); Exodus 31:12, 13; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; man should rest on the Sabbath.
THE SABBATH HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED, BUT ABOLISHED! What did Jesus do on the first day of the week?
VI. THE PALESTINIAN COVENANT
A. Constitution: Deuteronomy 30:1-10. The years of wandering (for Israel) are over; ready now to enter into the land.
B. Contents:
1. Return of the Lord if repentance of people (Verse 3).
2. Promise of the re-gathering of the people (Jews) from all lands (Verses 3-5).
3. Promise of the conversion of all of the nation of Israel (Vs. 6)
4. Promise of judgment upon all nations who have persecuted Israel (Verse 7).
5. Promise of great blessings and prosperity to Israel (Vs. 9).
C. A Conditional Covenant (verse 2) based upon repentance of scattered Israel. The only conditional covenant that will be kept.
VII. THE DAVIDIC COVENANT
A. Constitution: 500 years from Moses to David (II Samuel 7:5-19; Psalm 89).
B. Contents: II Samuel 7:10-13.
1. Provided for a Davidic House. The House God is going to build ‘for David is not material or spiritual, but political.
2. Provides for a Davidic Throne (II Samuel 7:13).
3. A Davidic Kingdom, NEVER to be destroyed.
4. These three are unending, established forever.
C. Condition: An UNCONDITIONAL Covenant. II Samuel 7:13-15; verse 14: last part translated, “When iniquity is laid upon, I will chasten him with rods of men.” Parallel with Isaiah 53.
D. Sign: The Son (Isaiah 7:14). Sign finally comes (Luke 1: 30-33; 2:12). The question is, “How can a man live forever?” A throne that is perpetual does not seem odd; but one to rule forever and ever? How can this he? David asked, “What manner of man is this?”
GOD’S REVELATION TO DAVID:
1. Two natures of David’s Son.
a. God.
b. Man.
Complication (II Samuel 7:14). David’s Son and David’s Lord (Psalm 2). It is not incredible 1900 years after the fulfillment, but how incredible it seemed when promised. In Psalm 110 David speaks of this Son as His Lord. Hebrews 1 is written of no angel, but of the Son of David (Matthew 22:43).
2. David’s Son is to have two experiences.
a. Suffering and death (and resurrection).
b. Reign. Psalms 22; 2:1-6; 69:4; these Scriptures speak of His enemies. This is what puzzled John the Baptist. He could not understand the sufferings of the Messiah. God made it plain to David that the Son of God was to die (Psalm 40). Levitical sacrifices were not acceptable unto God.
3. David’s Son to sit upon two thrones.
a. Heavenly throne (Psalm 110; Hebrews 1:13).
b. Earthly throne (Revelation 3:21; Luke 1:32, 33).
4. David’s Son to hold two sways.
a. Kingly
b. Priestly, (Hebrews 7:11-22).
5. David’s Son’s two-fold act:
a. Descent of the King from Heaven.
b. Judgment upon His enemies (Psalm 72; 96:10-13; 97:1-6, 9; 99:1-4).
6. David’s Son’s Kingdom to have two-fold aspect.
a. Jews (national)
b. World (universal).
Only one family has ruled over Judah, whereas there were seven families, with 19 kings, ruling over the 10 upper tribes.
NOTE: DAVID DIDN’T KNOW OF CHRISTIANITY. DAVID DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING OF THE CHURCH.
VIII. THE NEW COVENANT
It is not a renewed covenant, but is new in character and contents.
A. Constitution: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 26:27, 28; Hebrew 8:6-13. Remember, to make a covenant, blood has to be shed. in Hebrews 13:20 the Blood of Jesus Christ is called the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8; 9:11-15; 10:1-12, 26, 27.). The Old Covenant was made at Sinai and the New Covenant at Calvary. The ceremony of the Jewish religion today is only an Aaron’s calf.
The New Covenant offers a better sacrifice, a better hope; the New Covenant is to be fulfilled when Christ comes again. Israel claims by a natural birth; we claim by a spiritual birth.
B. Contents: Three-fold blessing:
1. Sanctification. The New Covenant was not written on hard stones, but upon the fleshly hearts (Hebrews 8:10).
2. Knowledge. Through the Bible we acquire a personal knowledge of Him. The greatest need of any man is God (Hebrews 8:11). Romans 1:22 is the reason for the heathen.
3. Forgiveness. He remembers our sins no more forever (Hebrews 8:12). Sins: Forsaken, forgiven and forgotten.
C. Condition: An UNCONDITIONAL Covenant. The Old Covenant (Law) was a means to an end, the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. (Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews 8).
The law gives place to Grace (John 1:7). We do not earn it; it is a gift!  

Biblical Student

The Bible Student
I. PREPARATION
A. Personal Preparation
1. A personal relation with Christ. A Bible student must be a regenerated person in order to know the Scriptures, (I Corinthians 2:11-14).
2. A positive persuasion concerning inspiration. This BLESSED BOOK must be recognized as such; it must be studied. As Moses came to the burning bush with unshod feet, we should come to the BOOK with heads bowed, looking unto the Heavenly Father for divine guidance.
3. A passionate desire to know the BOOK. A real appetite for the Scriptures is needed.
4. A prayer for discernment. Pray when going to study; ask the Holy Spirit to direct. Martin Luther said, “To have prayed well is to have studied well.”
5. A predisposition to obedience. Keep your heart and mind open to every message; for reproach, if necessary (Timothy, for example). The Great Teacher will not teach them who do not obey Him.” Some parts of the Bible are never studied, or even read, because they hit, or convict, of some personal sin.
6. A persistence of study, unfailing industry, hard work, and keeping at it. Truth is found by study. You can get the truth yourself. Dig out the truth. Verify the teaching by the Word! Study!
B. Practical Preparation
1. A good Bible.
2. A good concordance.
3. Other good books. Right now is the time to start a good library: commentaries, special books on one book of the Bible, sermons, books on types, books on illustrations.
II. PROMOTION GAINED BY STUDYING THE WORD
A. Profound Knowledge
1. Will become a possessor of profound knowledge. Romans l5:4—”For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
2. Wise unto salvation. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:15-17). “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (I Peter 1:23). Other scripture: I Corinthians 15:1-4; Luke 24:25-27; John 1:45; John 5:46.
B. Personal Faith.
Faith based upon His Book (Scriptural Faith) comes only through the study of THE BOOK. By faith, through Jesus Christ, we have eternal life—”Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”.
C. Purification of Life.
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3). “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). “Husbands, Love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:25, 26); thus, a cleansing by the Word. Moody said, “THIS BOOK will keep you from sin, or SIN will keep you from this BOOK.” This is the Living Book.
D. Preparation of Study.
A student is not equipped for service until he knows the Word. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). Use the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). Peter used the Word at Pentecost. The world today needs ministers who know and preach the Word.
E. Power in Ministry.
Put emphasis on the Word of God!
III. PROPOSITION
A. Practice its Truth.
B. Preach its Truth.
The Word must be rightly divided.
BIBLE STUDY
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).
Who is to study? The workman in the ministry. Everyone is to be in the ministry. Study is hard work. These words are addressed to workmen; thus, it is no child’s play, nor is it a hobby.
Study to receive commendation of God, rather than to receive the commendation of man. “Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion” (II Timothy 4:17). DO NOT FEAR MAN! To gain God’s approval we must study His Word.
“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth Life” (II Corinthians 3:6). “It shall greatly help thee to understand Scripture if thou not only knoweth what is spoken, but what is written of whom, and to whom, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstance.” —M. Coverdale

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,” refers to works that are possible. There are many things which our heart findeth to do which we never shall do. It is well it is in our heart; but if we would be eminently useful, we must not be content with forming schemes in our heart, and talking of them; we must practically carry out “whatsoever our hand findeth to do.” One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we “find to do” day by day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present. Then do not wait until your experience has ripened into maturity before you attempt to serve God. Endeavour now to bring forth fruit. Serve God now, but be careful as to the way in which you perform what you find to do—“do it with thy might.” Do it promptly; do not fritter away your life in thinking of what you intend to do to-morrow as if that could recompense for the idleness of today. No man ever served God by doing things to-morrow. If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we do today. Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it. Do not give Christ a little slurred labour, done as a matter of course now and then; but when you do serve him, do it with heart, and soul, and strength.

But where is the might of a Christian? It is not in himself, for he is perfect weakness. His might lieth in the Lord of Hosts. Then let us seek his help; let us proceed with prayer and faith, and when we have done what our “hand findeth to do,” let us wait upon the Lord for his blessing. What we do thus will be well done, and will not fail in its effect.

The God of All Grace Developing Our Lives

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus...perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)

We have been considering God's grace as "much more" (Romans 5:17, 20), as "exceeding" (2 Corinthians 9:14), and as "exceedingly abundant" (1 Timothy 1:14). These terms appropriately lead into our present meditation, which looks at "the God of all grace." The true and living God has all kinds and all measures of grace, and He wants to impart that grace to develop our lives. One purpose of God's grace is to allow us to dwell forever in His glorious abode: "who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus." This is ours through the atoning death of Jesus Christ, our mediator. "He is the Mediator of the new covenant (of grace), by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant (of law), that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15). Meanwhile, until He returns for us, He wants to develop our lives spiritually during our pilgrimage here on earth.
Part of His plan is to perfect our lives. "May the God of all grace...perfect...you." This speaks of God completing what is missing and equipping us for service. "Now may the God of peace...make you complete in every good work to do His will...And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry" (Hebrews 13:20-21 and Ephesians 4:12). Part of His plan is to establish our lives. "May the God of all grace...establish...you." This has to do with the Lord stabilizing our Christian walk, keeping us steadfastly moving in His direction for our lives. This word was used to describe Jesus' unswerving commitment to head for the cross, resurrection, and ascension that awaited Him in Jerusalem. "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). Part of His plan is to strengthen our lives. "May the God of all grace...strengthen...you." Our calling to serve God requires strength that we do not have in and of ourselves. The Lord wants to teach us to draw upon His mighty power: "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16). Part of His plan is to settle our lives. "May the God of all grace...settle...you." This involves being increasingly grounded in God's ways: "that you, being rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17).
Dear God of all grace, I am eager to be with You in glory above. Meanwhile, I humbly beseech You to develop my life spiritually. Please complete what is missing, stabilize my walk, empower me within, and ground me in Your love—all by Your grace, Amen.

Amen

Who else has this power.

Friday poll: how much time do you spend reading the Bible each day?

Friday poll: how much time do you spend reading the Bible each day?

Whos love?

You don't need others approval to know you are loved. God does love you unconditionaly!!

DailyPlan : bcp : 2013-11-24 #Bible http://mydailybible.org/dp/esv/bcp/2013-06-21.htm

I am to far gone.

I'VE GOT THE BLUES: I'M TOO FAR GONE

Are you a Star Wars fan? Remember how Darth Vader fought off all of Luke Skywalker's attempts to bring him back to the good side? Vader thought that he was too far gone. He had resigned himself to service to the evil emperor.

Perhaps you have felt that your sins are too great for God ever to love and accept you. Perhaps your years of guilt and shame keep you from God's house and enjoying the fellowship of God's other children. Perhaps you are so aware of your unworthiness that you just can't bring yourself to pray.

The Bible says in Romans 5:20, "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more." In other words, God's forgiveness is greater than your greatest sin. Christ is greater than Satan. God's mercy is greater than your guilt.

Perhaps you know someone who feels that he or she is too far gone and is resigned to fear and damnation. You can be God's agent of hope. Feel the love. Share the love.

His Love

Assurance of His Love

Today many people are living in the bondage of fear. In a recent study a psychiatrist said that the greatest problem facing his patients was fear. Fear of going insane, committing suicide, being alone, or fear of heart disease, cancer, disaster, or death. We are becoming a nation of fearful people. Down through the centuries in times of trouble, temptation, trial, bereavement, and crisis, God has brought courage to the hearts of those who love Him. The Bible is crowded with assurances of God’s help and comfort in every kind of trouble which might cause fears to arise in the human heart. Today the Christian can come to the Scriptures with full assurance that God is going to deliver the person who puts his trust and confidence in God. Christians can look into the future with promise, hope, and joy, and without fear, discouragement, or despondency.

Daily Prayer

Your assurances of love still the fears of my heart, Lord.

Temptation

Oh Yes You Can!

We all face temptation, it's an unavoidable part of life. The question is not, "Will you be tempted?" The question is, "When you're tempted, will you be ready?"

I really want you to get this: You can beat temptation. Stop saying, 'Joyce, I just don't think I can.' Take 'I can't!' out of your vocabulary.

In your own strength and by your own ability, you're right. You can't. But when you put God's Word in your heart, when you lean on His strength and trust in His promises, there's no temptation you can't overcome.

Over the years, I've noticed five things that make all the difference in overcoming temptation. First, you've got to be wise. Think about the choices you're making and the consequences before you make them. Wisdom looks ahead.

Next, you have to believe that you can resist temptation. Condemnation, guilt and shame work off of momentum, if you stop them early, they lose their power, but once they get rolling, they're hard to stop. Third, think of facing temptation as normal life. If you're expecting a fight, you'll always be ready.

Fourth, avoid areas of weakness. Don't put yourself in situations where you can easily fall. If you struggle with managing your money, don't go to the mall when you can't afford to buy anything!

And finally, don't give yourself too much credit. We don't graduate from being tempted. It's so easy to think you've matured beyond stumbling, and once that happens, you make yourself an easy target.

God wants you to trust Him to bring victory in every area of your life. By His grace, you can!

Prayer Starter: God I realize temptation is a part of life. Help me not to be caught off guard or surprised when it comes. Thank You for the wisdom and grace to overcome any and all temptations and to live in Your victory.

Slack Tide

READ: Mark 6:30-32

He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” —Mark 6:31

I find it fascinating to consider the pull of the moon on our great oceans, which creates high and low tides. At the changing of the tide, there is a brief period of time called “slack tide” when the water is neither high nor low. According to scientists, this is when the water is “unstressed.” It is a quiet pause before the surging of tidal flow begins again.

Sometimes in our busy schedules we may feel pulled in different directions by competing responsibilities. In Jesus’ ministry, we see how He understood the demands made on His followers and the need for rest. Returning from a traveling ministry in teams of two, the Twelve reported the wonderful things that God had done through them (Mark 6:7-13,30). But Jesus responded: “‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves” (vv.31-32).

What responsibilities are pulling on you today? It is certainly acceptable to plan some rest and relaxation time to rejuvenate your body and soul for more fruitful service to others. Jesus advised it, and we all need it. He will meet you there. —Dennis Fisher

My Shepherd is the Lord
Who knows my needs, and I am blest;
By quiet streams, in pastures green,
He leads and makes me rest. —Psalter

Spending quiet time with God can bring quiet rest from God.

Bible in a year: Psalms 97-99; Romans 16

Christ's Mind

The Mind of Christ

Today's scripture overwhelms many people. If these were not the words of the Bible, they wouldn't believe it. As it is, most people shake their heads and ask, "How can this be?"

Paul was not saying we're perfect or that we'll never fail. He was telling us, as believers in Jesus, the Son of God, we are given the mind of Christ. That is, we can think spiritual thoughts because Christ is alive within us. We no longer think the way we once did. We begin to think as He did.

When we have the Holy Spirit living and active within us, the mind of Christ is action. The mind of Christ is given to us to direct us in the right way. If we have His mind, we will think positive thoughts. We will think about how blessed we are--how good God has been to us.

Jesus was positive, in spite of being lied about, lonely, misunderstood, and a multitude of other negative things. He was deserted by His disciples when He needed them most, yet He remained positive--always able to offer an uplifting, encouraging word. Just being in His presence would suggest that all fear, negative thoughts, and discouraging hopelessness would evaporate into thin air.

The mind of Christ in us is positive. So when we fall for the opportunity to be negative about something, we should instantly discern that we are not operating with the mind of Christ. God wants us to be lifted up. It's the enemy of our soul who wants us pressed down--depressed. We have many opportunities to think negative thoughts, but that's not the mind of Christ at work in us. We don't have to accept those thoughts. They are not ours!

Pray: Lord, I truly want to be aware of the mind of Christ in my life, and I want to be aware of it every minute of my waking day. Help me to open myself only to know Your will and to push away the old mindsets, the thinking that will lead me down the wrong path. I ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2005 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Throne or Phone

Go to the Throne Before the Phone!

Don't run around seeking counsel from just anyone. Pray first, asking the Lord whether it is His will that you go to another human being for counsel or whether He desires to counsel you Himself. In my own life I have had many, many problems, yet I never went to anyone else for counsel with the exception of one time. On this occasion I visited a lady in ministry who had been abused herself. I do not mean to discredit her, but she really was not able to help me. It was not her fault; she simply was not anointed by the Lord to do so.

God is not obligated to anoint what He does not initiate. So often people run to others without following the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit, and it never bears good, lasting fruit. When you are in trouble, go to the throne before you go to the phone. I do not mean to suggest that it is wrong to seek counsel. I am just suggesting that you pray and allow the Lord to lead and guide you through the Holy Spirit. Let Him choose the right counselor for you. Just because a person has been through what you are going through, or is a close personal friend, does not mean that individual is the right counselor for you. So I repeat, pray!

From the book New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2007 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Listen and Really Listen

Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!" Mark. 4:23

I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to idols. Isaiah. 42:8

The will of God is so the cause of all things, as to be itself without cause, for nothing can be the cause of that which is the cause of everything: when we ascend to that, we can go no further. Therefore we find every matter resolved ultimately into the mere sovereign pleasure of God, as the spring and occasion of whatever is done in Heaven and earth.

The only reason that can be assigned why the Deity does this or that, is because it is His own free pleasure so to do" (from the pen of the author of "Rock of Ages" and other well-known hymns, in his "Observations on the Divine Attributes": 1750). Such teaching as this, alone preserves the Divine independence and presents the true God in His unrivaled freedom and supremacy, unhampered by anything within or without Himself.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” declares Yahweh. Isaiah. 55:8

Behold, I have told you ahead of time! Matthew. 24:25

God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative. For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves]. And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin], Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it). For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one, And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another--men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution. And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome, Until they were filled (permeated and saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, iniquity, grasping and covetous greed, and malice. [They were] full of envy and jealousy, murder, strife, deceit and treachery, ill will and cruel ways. [They were] secret backbiters and gossipers, Slanderers, hateful to and hating God, full of insolence, arrogance, [and] boasting; inventors of new forms of evil, disobedient and undutiful to parents. [They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless. Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them. Romans. 1:18-32

I tell you, unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke. 13:3


(the true gospel:

The Lord Jesus Christ is truly ALIVE!!

And it is appointed for men to die once, but after that to face judgment, (Hebrews 9:27NKJV)

WHAT MUST I DO!! To be saved?

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30 NKJV).

You must repent. This means a complete change regarding sin. There must be a change of mind. You must admit that you are a sinner, a rebel against a holy and loving God. There must be a change of heart — genuine sorrow and shame at the vileness: and filthiness of your sin. Then you must be willing to forsake it and change the direction of your life. God challenges people to prove their repentance by their deeds (Acts 26:20). You must do this. God will not forgive any sin you are not willing to forsake.

Sin is [TRANSGRESSION] against God's Perfect Holy Moral Law. (you are Guilty!!)

(read:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV).

(REPENT ~ read on:

Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:29-32 NKJV).

(REPENT ~ read on:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9, 10 NKJV).

(REPENT ~ read on:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 7 NIV)

To repent is to go in a new direction, seeking wholeheartedly to live in a way that pleases God. Repentance does not save, yet no sinner ever was or ever will be saved without it. None but Christ saves—but an impenitent heart cannot receive Him.

How can I get right with God? How can Christ become my Savior?

As a result of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6), every part of man—his mind, will, emotions and flesh—have been corrupted by sin. Because of man’s sinful nature, he does not and cannot seek God. He has no desire to come to God and, in fact, his mind is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7). God has declared that man’s sin dooms him to an eternity in hell, separated from God. It is in hell that man pays the penalty of sin against a holy and righteous God. This would be bad news indeed if there were no remedy.

All the Bible’s teaching points to the death of Jesus. Neither his perfect life nor his marvelous teaching nor his powerful miracles are the focus of the Bible’s message. These are all important, but above all else Jesus came into the world to die. What makes his death so important? The answer is that he died as a Substitute, a Sin bearer and a Savior. Jesus the Substitute. This demonstrates the love of God. Sinners are guilty, lost and helpless in the face of God’s holy law, which demands punishment for every sin. How can they possibly escape God’s righteous wrath? The Bible’s answer is this: God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). As part of an amazing rescue plan God the Son volunteered to take the place of sinners and bear the just penalty for their sin. The sinless Son of God willingly suffered and died for them, the righteous for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18).

Jesus the Sin bearer. This demonstrates the holiness of God. There was nothing ‘faked’ about Christ’s death. The penalty for the sins of others was paid in full by the death of God’s sinless Son. As he hung on the cross he cried out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Mark 15:34). At that terrible moment God the Father turned his back on his beloved Son, who then endured the penalty of separation from God.

All men are under the fierce just wrath of God because of their vile wickedness. Someone had to drink down that wrath. Jesus on that tree bore the guilt of his people and stood in their law place. Then all the holy just hatred, wrath, judgment, and justice of God like blinding white light came crushing down on the head of Christ. Have you never read — And it pleased the Lord, YAHWEH, to crush his Son — to grind him to powder (Isaiah 53). Notice how this shows God’s perfect holiness. All sin, every sin, must be punished — and when Jesus took the place of sinners he became as accountable for their sins as if he had been responsible for them. The one man who lived a perfect life suffered the double death penalty of the guilty.

Jesus the Savior. This demonstrates the power of God. Three days after his death, Christ was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). He gave many convincing proofs that he was alive and he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him (Acts 1:3; Romans 6:9). In raising Christ from the dead, God powerfully demonstrated that he accepted his death in the place of sinners as the full and perfect payment of sin’s penalty and as the basis on which he can offer a full and free pardon to those who would otherwise be doomed to spend eternity in hell.

You must have faith in Christ. First of all, this means accepting that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16) and that Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6). Secondly, it means believing that in the power and love Christ is able and willing to save you. Thirdly it means actually putting your trust in Christ, relying upon him and him alone to make you right with God. Your proud; sinful nature will fight against abandoning trust in your own ‘goodness’ or religion. Yet you have no alternative. You must stop trusting in anything else and trust only in Christ, who is able to save completely those who come to God through him (Hebrews 7:25).

If God has shown you your need, and given you this desire, then turn to Christ — and do it now! Ideally, pray aloud to him; this may help you to be clear about what you are doing. Confess that you are a guilty, lost and helpless sinner, and with all your heart ask Christ to save you, and to take his rightful place as the Lord of your life, enabling you to turn from sin and to live for him.

The Bible says that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved and that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9; Romans 10:13). If you truly trust Christ as your Savior and acknowledge him as your Lord, you can claim these promises as your own.

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8 NKJV).

~copy, paste and share Christ's message~