GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE - PART 1

I remember many years ago asking myself: what am I here for? What is the purpose for my life? Well, that question was clearly answered December 27, 1979 when a group of Christians approached me with what God had to say.

We were created to have a personal, intimate relationship with God. In the beginning, the Bible says that God created Adam and Eve and put them in a garden called Eden. They walked, talked and had a personal, intimate relationship with the Creator. But that soon was broken, because we sinned. Sin separates us from God eternally, But God, who has always wanted to repair and establish a continued relationship with us, provided a way. He became a man and dwelt among us, teaching us His ways, dying on a cross and shedding His blood to pay for our sins, and resurrecting on the third day to give us eternal life.

The Bible says in Romans 10:9 that “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” I repented from my sins and believed that Jesus’ blood and death was and is sufficient as complete payment for all of my sins (past, present and future.) Now I experience a personal relationship with my Creator, Lord and Savior.

John 1:12 says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” Now He is my Father, I’m part of God’s family; He calls me “son.” 2nd Corinthians 6:18 says "And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.” What a privilege, that the Creator of the Universe, the God Almighty would do such a thing for this sinner. Ephesians 2:19 says “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household” and John 15:15 “I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” What a wonderful thing, that I can talk to Him at any time and He listens and He can talk to me at any time through the Bible, through His Holy Spirit and prayer, through circumstances and through other fellow believers.

Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Start today.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

To appreciate the beauty of Christmas, we must recognize the ugliness of Christmas too. God decided to be born in a manger, and when we think of the manger, we see it as a beautiful, clean place with lights and music, but the reality is that a manger was simply a stable, a stall where animals were kept, with filth, manure and darkness (remember, there was no electricity back then.)

Maybe God decided to be born in a stable to show us that the pure, clean, Holy God was intervening and saving a filthy, unclean and sinful world. The Word of God says in 1st Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” Many times during Christmas, we celebrate the first part of the verse “… Christ Jesus came into the world…” and forget the rest “…to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

In Matthew 1:21, the angel told this to Joseph: “She (Mary) will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Praise His name for Christmas! Jesus was born, yes, but He grew and eventually died on a cross to pay for our sins and resurrected on the third day to give us the hope of eternal life.

Merry Christmas!

THANKSGIVING

Someone once told me a story about a person that died and went to heaven. While the Apostle Peter was showing him around, they stopped at a huge room where there were millions of angels constantly typing in front of their computers. The person asked: and what are all these angels doing? and Peter said: This is the prayer department, these angels are typing the millions and millions of daily requests coming from the human race. Wow! the person responded. Then they went to a small room next to it, where there were just a few angels sitting in front of their computer typing a few words every once in a while. And what are these doing? the person asked. Peter replied: this is the Thanksgiving department.

Many times we find ourselve asking God for stuff, but we don't thank him enough for all His blessings. The Bible says in 1st Thessalonians 5:17-18 "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

God's presence is experienced when we thank Him. Psalms 100:4 says "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."

Today, stop for a minute or two and thank God for His goodness to you.

NUMBER 7

Even before receiving the The Lord, the book of Revelations has been fascinating to read. Many people read it because of its prophetic content, but the book is filled with many other amazing teachings. It's a book of perfection, completion; the number 7 is mentioned constantly, for example: there are 7 stars, 7 golden lampstands, 7 letters to 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls, etc. But this morning, during my quite time with the Lord of the Universe, I was meditating in the 7 "blessings" that appear in the Book, read them and be blessed by His Word:

1. Rev 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads and hears the Words of this prophecy, and the ones keeping the things written in it, for the time is near.


2. Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, and their works follow them.


3. Rev 16:15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.


4. Rev 19:9 And he said to me, Write, Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.


5. Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.


6. Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the Words of the prophecy of this Book.


7. Rev 22:14 Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

Let God bless your life through His Word!

THE DISCIPLE AND GOVERMENT

Lots of controversies and arguments have been raised in recent years regarding the disciple’s involvement with politics and government. In this article I give my humble opinion.

The disciple’s allegiance is to Christ and His Word. Regarding local or global political involvement, we are not called to promote or go against any form of government. Our authority comes from our Lord and His Word, which is above any political view or ideology.

With and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can operate under any type of government and be loyal to it, up to the point where we are required to compromise our testimony or deny the Lord.

We are not called to conspire against any form of government. The apostle Paul example and teachings are clear regarding the Christian’s submission to government authorities. We read in Romans 13:1 that “everyone must obey state authorities, because no authority exists without God’s permission, and the existing authorities have been put there by God.”

We are commanded to pray and share the good news with those in government positions as written in 1st Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

As Christians, we are to proclaim the gospel to all people; this calling we received from God (Mark 16:15.) We are ambassadors of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:20). We are just passing by; as Peter called us “we are aliens and strangers in this world” (1st Peter 2:11) and as Jesus also declared to His disciples: “My kingdom does not belong to this world; if my Kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight” John18:36

People need a fulfilling eternal solution, which is only found in Jesus, rather than a temporal empty remedy. Government and political ideologies will never bring the peace that only Jesus can give to the heart.

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 9 (Wealth continued)

To continue with the theme of the disciple and wealth, a true follower of Jesus sees himself as a conduit used by God to touch others, not only in the spiritual realm sharing the gospel and the Word with others, but also in others areas of need. In 1st John 3:17 we read “If anyone has material possession and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

When we read Jesus’ parable of the bad steward found in Luke 16:1-13, we conclude that the lost are wiser, more aggressive and take more risk preparing for the future on earth, than the Christians are in preparing for their future in heaven. Jesus’ practical application in found in verse 9 where He says: “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Real disciples use their material possessions to win other for Christ. A day is coming when, either by death or by the rapture, those friends won by the wise use of our wealth, will receive us as part of a welcoming committee when wee enter heaven.

The only way that we can lay up our treasure in heaven is by investing into something, or better said “someone” that is going to heaven.

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 9 (Wealth)

What did Jesus mean when He said in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”?

As Christ’s disciples, we need to understand the urgency of using our time and resources for reaching others with the gospel. If we had the cure for cancer, and we wouldn’t share it, we would be considered very selfish. We have something more precious than the cure for cancer; we have the cure for eternal damnation separated from God in a place of eternal torment. “Salvation” is in our hands, we must do whatever it takes to share the antidote with as many as possible.

Don’t live a careless lifestyle. Use the resources God gives you to win others for Christ. Another passage where Jesus spoke about this is found in Luke 16:9 “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” Our “things” can be used for eternal purposes, in which case it would be a treasure in heaven, or it could be use for selfish means, in which case is a treasure on earth.

This is not a call to be poor; this is a call to use the wealth the Lord provides you with for His glory. Live boldly for Him!

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 9 (forsake all)

One of Jesus’ hardest quotes regarding the requirements for a disciple is found in Luke 14:33 where it says: “Any of you who does not give up everything he has, cannot be my disciple.” Many Bible scholars have tried to interpret this passage by saying that it doesn’t really mean what it says, but it is evident by the way the disciples acted as the Lord Jesus called them for service that they understood exactly what Jesus meant. Forsake all means forsake all, nothing more, nothing less.

A true disciple is able to abandon it all for the sake of the call. He uses the resources God places in his hands for the advancement of the gospel. This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t work. On the contrary, he labors hard to provide for his family and those in need. He understands the Lord’s commandment when He said “Do not store for yourselves treasures on earth.” Matthew 6:19

By forsaking it all, the disciple offers to God that which he cannot keep anyway. One day, we will be before the Lord and we will give an account for what we did with our life. These words seem distant now, but believe me, one day they will be a reality for you and me. Jim Elliot, a famous missionary said it well: “he is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.”

One of my favorite verses is Philippians 3:8, where the apostle Paul wrote: “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”

Rich Mullins wrote in one of his songs that “The stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things .” Lord, release our lives from the temporary so that we may take hold of the eternal. Amen

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 8 (be fruitful)

A disciple's life is also marked by being fruitful. The Lord said in John 15:8 "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciple." There are two aspects to being fruitful, an internal and an external.

The first one has to do with our character. We read in Galatians 5:22-23 that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." These are all character traits that can only be manifested when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and living our lives in such way will bring glory to God.

The second aspect is the external, and it has to do with bringing glory to God by winning people for Christ. The Bible says that if we are truly following Christ, we will be reaching others with His message. Jesus said: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19 God has appointed us with the task of bringing much fruit, and that this fruit would remain. It is our responsibility to obey. Jesus said in John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain."

Whether it be the fruit of the Spirit or people won for Him, He wants us to produce much of it, and that it would remain. By doing this, we prove to be His disciples.

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 7 (love the Word)

Christ’s followers also love and are passionately devoted to His Word. They love to spend time listening to what God has to say. Can you imagine? We actually have access to God’s Word. That is an incredible privilege, that mere imperfect humans as we are, are able to listen to God speak through His Word.

Jesus said “If you continue in my word, you are really my disciples.” John 8:31. To finish strong in a race, we most prepare as much as we can, and what better way than to fill our minds with God’s Word. Allegiance to God’s Word is a continual desire for those that truly follow Jesus. Our love for God is directly related to our love for His Word. Jesus said in John 14:21 that “Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me.”

There are so many benefits to reading and putting the Bible into practice, that I would run out of space, but I just want to mention a few:
- It brings happiness to our lives. Psalm 11:2
- It helps us be pure. Psalm 119:9
- It helps us not to sin. Palm 119:11
- It fills our lives with joy. Psalm 119:14
- It revives us. Palm 119:25

Wanna know more? Read the whole Psalm; it’s all about God’s blessings us through His Word.

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 6 (Follow Jesus)

So far we've defined the life of a true disciple as one that:
- Loves the Lord more than anything

- Loves others

- Forsakes self

- Carries his cross

Now we continue reading in Luke 9:23 where Jesus said "if anyone would come after me, he must... follow me." That means that we would want to be as He is, we would want to walk as He walked. Of course, no one can be like Christ in His deity, because He alone is God, but we can be like Him in His character and ministry. As a matter of fact, He said: "I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you." John 13:15. To do this requires sacrifice. It requires a daily strength that can only come through the power of His Holy Spirit. We cannot do it on our own; we need Him. The apostle Paul said that his desire for the believers was that Christ would be formed in them. Read it for yourselves: "Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I'm going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives." Galatians 4:19 Oh, but the benefits, and the joy is unsurpassing! There is nothing better in this world than to follow Jesus!

The apostle Peter wrote: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."1st Peter 2:21 Those that are called are the believers, the disciples, and we were called for the purpose of following in His steps. This means a life of zeal and expenditure for His interests, His Kingdom, a life of passion for Him and those that belong to Him, a life filled with His Holy Spirit.

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 5 (carry your cross)

Our quest is to find out what Jesus had to say about what it means to be a real disciple. In today's Christianity, the meaning has been watered-down; as a matter of fact, the term is hardly used. Many would be offended by Jesus' hard standards, and many have diluted Christianity to an easy going, comfortable lifestyle, pretty much like the lifestyle of the rich and famous with some Bible seasoning. This is contrary to what Jesus taught in the Bible.

Real Christianity, the one we read in the Book, is a lifestyle where the cross is being carried by those who confess His name. "If anyone would come after me, he must carry his cross daily" are the words echoed by our Savior. And I don't mean a crucifix; the cross is a symbol of suffering, of rejection, of being dammed, a symbol of reproach, dishonor and scorn.

Those that decide to follow Him closely are also willing to accept the scorns given first to our Lord. Jesus said that "It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!" Those that turn back are not worthy of carrying the name of a disciple. Matthew 10:25. The Apostle Paul said that "some avoid the cross of Christ to avoid being persecuted" Galatians 6:10

I love the way the Message Bible puts it (plain and clear): "Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there's no getting around it." 2nd Timothy 3:12

OUR ALL - Principles of Discipleship Part 4 (deny yourself)

Self very often gets in the way in our pursue for God's standards for discipleship. The Lord spoke of a complete submission to Him and a denial of self (not self denial, but a denial of self.) Jesus said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:23. When a soldier enlists, he or she denies his/her rights to do as he/she pleases. He/she has offered his/her "all" to serve and obey the commands of others. He or she will obey the commands of any higher rank officer without questions asked, or else it might be taken as an act of disobedience, or insubordination.

When we enlist in our Savior's army as a disciple, we are willingly renouncing to do our own will. Our happiness and joy is to obey our higher rank Officer our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Anything else would be considered insubordination and disrespect, and we would fall short of His standard for discipleship.

The apostle Paul put it plainly when he wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

OUR ALL – Principles of Discipleship Part 3 (love one another)

Another ingredient of a true disciple is “sincere love for others.” The Bible is full of passages telling us to love one another. Because of our nature, it is easy and natural to love only those who are nice to us, but Christ’s love, which was poured into our hearts by His Holy Spirit, goes beyond our natural tendencies and abilities.

This is the love that suffers all, that is not easily provoked, that bears, that believes, and that hope all things as described in 1st Corinthians 13. To love is difficult and many a times impossible, that’s the reason we need our Lord. He says that “with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. Do you want to experience true, sincere love for others? Draw near to Him. "If we don’t love, we don’t know God, for God is love” as it says in 1st John 4:8. Again, our Lord made it clear that if we do not have this type of love for one another, we fall short of having the privilege to be called His disciples. “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

OUR ALL - Principles of Discipleship Part 2 (love for God)

In our last article we read about Jesus' requirements for discipleship. Wow! What does Jesus mean when He says "If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sister, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”?

Our love and devotion for our Savior would seem as hatred in comparison to the love for our family members. Let me give you an example: you are a follower of Christ and your spouse is asking you to lie in your taxes so that you can get a larger income tax return, but you want to please God by not lying. Your spouse may take that as a rejection and may say that you don’t love her/him. This verse doesn’t mean at all that we must hate others, for the Bible doesn’t contradict itself (love one another.) It does mean that we are to have a love so deep and strong for our Lord manifested through our obedience, that others would perceive it as if they are second place, that they are not important, or that they are hated. This is the kind of love that we should have for Him; anything short of that would disqualify me as a true follower or disciple of Christ.

Jesus says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Luke 10:27

OUR ALL - Principles of Discipleship Part 1 (Love for God)

Jesus is seeking for men and women that would give Him their all. Jesus wants first place in your life, not the spare times, or the weekends, or Sunday mornings. Men and women, who have truly understood our Savior’s love, are also prepare to go through the path of self renunciation for Him. Grasping grace so abounding, love so amazing can never be quenched with nothing less than the complete surrender of our lives.

With respect to our Lord’s Words, they cannot be misinterpreted, misunderstood. His Words are clear. If we accept the fact that medical students give their all for pursuing a medical career, if we accept the fact that soldiers give their lives for patriotic reasons, we most accept the demands that the Lord gives to those that are to be called His disciples.

Many Christians see Christianity as a mere escape from hell, as a free ride to heaven, but is much more than that. The abundant life in Christ has been confused with a life of luxury, with hardly any sacrifice. We find very difficult to reconcile our lives with those very strong radical teachings of our Lord and Savior.

To have a correct understanding of Jesus’ love for us is the beginning to start living a fully devoted life for Him. When we grasp the fact that the Creator of the universe became a man to suffer and die for our sins, then we start to love Him in return. A thousand years of daily devotion and service to Him wouldn’t be enough as thanksgiving for what He has done for us. Our love for Him ought to be above all other loves, including self. Jesus said: “If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sister, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

EMPTY TOMB!

On my way to church, I saw a church sign that said "The tomb is empty so that you don't have to be." What a great truth. This is the gospel as described in 1st Corinthians 15:3-4 "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, and he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." If we really understood this message our lives would never be empty. He came to save us. This sentence alone bring tears to my eyes. We were destined, because of our sins to a horrible place of continual torment. The Bible describes it with the following words:

• A place of fire. Mt. 5:22


• A place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Mr. 9:44,46


• A place of torment. Lk. 16:23


• A place of gloomy dungeons. 2nd Peter 2:4


• A place of darkness. Jude 1:6


• A bottomless pit (Abyss.) Rev. 9:2


• A eternal prison. 1st Peter 3:19


• A place of eternal punishment. Mt. 25:46

Praise the Lord that He rescued us and that we are not condemned. Romans 8:1 says: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

THE REAL DEAL – Am I really a Christian? Part 5

If you have noticed, all of the elements described as proof of salvation have to do with our internal character, rather than our exterior manifestations: fellowship with God, right attitude toward sin, not loving the world, and loving our brothers and sisters, they are all internal attitudes that have external manifestations. We don’t do to try to be, we are, and therefore we do. In today’s article we are going to learn about the element that drives all these internal changes in our lives. There is an amazing, humbling event that happens in the life of the believer when we first believe.

5. Do you have the Holy Spirit? The Bible says that at the moment you first believed, a great miracle happened. God the Holy Spirit came to live in you, and "He in you" is proof that we are really His. 1^st John 4:13 says that “by this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” Are the manifestations of the Holy Spirit present in your life? Let me share with you some passages of Scripture that are very clear about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and you be your own judge:

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13 Do you experience illumination, clarity and guidance when reading Scriptures?

“When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8. Do you get convicted when you sin?

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” John 14:16 Are you experiencing God’s help and comfort?

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18 Are you experiencing companionship and friendship with God?

“And all those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Rom 8:14 Do you perceive God’s guidance and leading in your life?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Gal 5:22-23 Do you experience the fruit of the Spirit in your life?

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1^st Co. 12;4,7 Do you have at least one of God’s spiritual gifts manifesting in your life?

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Rom. 8:26 Do you perceive the Holy Spirit interceding for you, when you need help and don’t know what to pray for?

“Be filled with the Spirit.” Eph. 5:18 Is your life filled with wisdom, passion, devotion for God?

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.” Eph 3:16 Are you strengthen and empowered beyond your natural means?

“Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:3 Do you experience the unity with God and other believers?

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” Eph. 4:30 Do you feel sadden when you are not being obedient to God?

Romans 8:9 says that “if we don’t have the Spirit of God we are not His” Make sure that God’s Holy Spirit in present in your life continually. If not, this may be an indication that you are not His yet. When people were confronted with the truth of the gospel, they asked the apostle Peter: what shall we do? And he responded: “Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

THE REAL DEAL – Am I really a Christian? Part 4

There is a perfect balance in discomfort and comfort, in anxiousness and peace, in doubt and assurance when we are exposed to God’s teachings. The correct preaching of the Word will make me uncomfortable and expose my needs by convicting me of my shortcomings, but if the word is preached with balance, it will also point me to God’s grace and love, bringing comfort, peace, and assurance. There is sin, there is condemnation, there is punishment, there is torment, there is eternal death and, yes, hell is a real place, but there is also virtue, there is salvation, there is reward, there is happiness, there is eternal life and, yes, heaven is a real place. God shows the wound to heal it. That’s the driving purpose of these series of articles. Being mistaken about your salvation will have the most catastrophic eternal effect. So run to Jesus!

4. Do you love your brothers and sisters? If there is one specific element given to us when we were saved by Jesus it is love. Not loving should raise a big red flag in our minds regarding the genuineness of our salvation. The apostle John says in 1^st John 3:14 that “we know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.” This is clear and simple: no love = no God; Know love = know God. Love is part of the standard equipment given to every believer when we first believed. Romans 5:5 says “because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Notice that is says that “has been poured out,” this is an event in the past, it happened already, we have the love, we just need to use it. Are your actions done in love? Is love predominant in your live? Or is it hate and criticism, and envy. One place where we can easily test ourselves in the matter is at home. Do you love your spouse and your children, your parents and those around you? Are there needs around you that you can do something about it, but you don’t?

The book of 1^st John is filled with verses that deal with this very important matter of “love.” The passage in chapter 3 continues like this:

15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

This one is a tough element, I know, and hard to swallow, but better to be convicted and repent, than to neglect or ignore God’s opportunity of grace.

THE REAL DEAL – Am I really a Christian? Part 3

How can you tell if a person is a true Christian? That has been our theme for the last couple of articles. We are saying that there are definitive character traits that mark the life of a Christian. We said first that a Christian spends time with God. Do you like to pray? Do you love to read His word? Secondly we said that a Christian does not practice sin. God’s nature is in us and we have the power given through the Spirit to say no to sin. Do you practice sin? Are you remorseful when you sin? We now come to our third question:

3. Do you love the World? When we say “world” we are talking about the world system. It says in 1st John 2:15 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The Bible clearly says that this world system is under Satan’s domain. The devil tempted Jesus by saying: “And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” Luke 4:6.

There are two parts to this “loving the world” deal: one is external and mainly evident by the people we hang around with, the places like we like, the activities we enjoy. Questions like: do you enjoy more spending time with unbelievers than believers? Do you like hanging out in the wrong places and doing activities that don’t please God? The other part is the internal because it begins in our hearts and is evident by our attitudes. They are basically 3 cravings, desires, or lusts: Physical gratification (all kinds of sensual activities are included in this category), eye gratification (coveting everything our eyes see, desiring to have more and more - materialism) and the pride of our possessions and achievements. The apostle John puts it this way “For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1^st John 2:16

So how are you doing so far? Making sure that you are truly saved will bring joy to your life. On the contrary, if these questions make you uncomfortable, make it right by truly repenting of your sins, and turning to Jesus. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

THE REAL DEAL – Am I really a Christian? Part 2

We continue in our quest to find answers to the very important question: How can I know for sure that I’m a Christian? In our previous article we ask ourselves this question: do I desire and enjoy having fellowship with God? Now let’s continue with the following question:

2. Am I indifferent to sin? Or in other words, do I practice sin? Do I feel remorseful when I sin? The Bible says that when you become a Christian, God’s nature (His character) is born in you. Part of His nature is holiness, purity or sinless, so if you are really born of Him, you will not want to continue to sin with your life. 1st John 3:8 says “the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” This doesn’t mean that as a Christian you will not sin, in the same epistle in 1^st John 1:8 we read that “if we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But it does mean that a true Christian is sensitive to sin, and with God’s nature living in us, we will not want to continue any sin pattern in our lives.

An evidence of continual sin in one’s life may be the evidence of a non-repented and unregenerate heart. The Bible is clear about this matter as stated in 1^st Corinthians 6:9 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

We may claim to be Christians, but if there are no signs of Christian character in our lives, this may be an indication that we are not the real deal. We have the idea that because we went forward during an altar call or we repeated a prayer some time ago, we are saved. Salvation is not about going forward or repeating some words; salvation is about having a deep sorrow for the sins we’ve committed, asking and receiving God’s forgiveness given through the death of Jesus Christ, and being reborn to a new life in Christ. John the Baptist’s message was plain and clear: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” Matthew 3:2. The Lord Jesus’ message was plain and clear: Repent, and believe the Good News” Mark 1:15. The disciple’s message was plain and clear: “They went out and preached that people should repent” Mark 6:12. Have you truly repented from your sins? Are you the real deal?

Still more to come…

THE REAL DEAL – Am I really a Christian? Part 1

Salvation (being rescued and preserved from the greatest calamity which is the conscious and permanent state of eternal torment in hell by having our sins forgiven, and instead receiving the assurance of eternal and abundant life with God through Jesus Christ) is the most important matter in one’s life. The Bible says that we can know for sure if we have eternal life. 1st John 5:13 says “these things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” It is possible to know for sure that you are saved.

Moreover, the Bible also tells us of ways to confirm our salvation. You may ask yourself: how can I make sure that I am really a Christian and that I have eternal life and that I am going to heaven? In the same epistle, John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, left us guidelines that we can use as a test to make sure that we are really saved, kind of the same way that a doctor checks for vital signs to make sure that a body is alive or not. The matter of salvation is so critical, that the Lord through the Apostle Paul left the following commandment in 2nd Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? So we ought to test ourselves to make sure that we are “THE REAL DEAL.”

The general idea is “change.” I heard once “A heart that has seen Jesus will never be the same.” Think about it, if you have really had an encounter with Jesus, your life will be rocked; mine has. So based on that, let’s start. Here is the test (and to make it easier, I’m going to put it in the form of questions):

1. Do you spend time with God? Do you enjoy fellowshipping with God? 1^st John 1:3 says “and our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” The first evidence that we are the real deal is our desire to have fellowship or spend time with our Lord. If we say that we are His follower, and do not spend time with Him that might be an indication that we haven’t had a saving encounter with Jesus. The word fellowship means companionship, friendship, wanting to be together, intimate familiarity. Do you have an unquenched desire to read His Word, to talk to Him in prayer, thanksgiving, praising and singing to Him?

This is just the first question. Stay tune, there is more to come soon…

VITAL SIGNS

Throughout the centuries, the word Christian has lost its meaning. Today its real meaning has been very much diluted. What is a Christian? How do I know if I am truly a Christian? Is it just enough to say and proclaim that I am one, or are there vital signs, traits, evidences that demonstrate my claims? Stay tune to learn more...

WHEN?

Today! God wants to use you today! Our lives consist of the sum of the time that we have since we are born until we die. Life is the sum of seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, and years that God allows us to live. What we do with that time is our responsibility. My advice? Don't leave for tomorrow what you should do today. God says that today is the day for salvation. And why not tomorrow? because you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow you won't be alive.

The Bible says: "If you hear His voice today, do not harden your heart." God wants you to enjoy His plentiful, abundant, blessed life today. If you are not a Christian and you are reading this, please consider seriously that only Jesus Christ can forgive your sins: 1st John 1:9 says that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Only Jesus can save you: Act 4:12 says "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." If you are a Christian, live each minute intensionally for Him, do everything with purpose, with passion for God. Don't waste your life in futile, idle things.

Start today with what you have; don't wait until tomorrow to serve the Lord. Don't say: "when I learn more, then I will do or say or teach." I'm impressed with the fact that Christians in the first century, didn't even have the complete Bible, but they accomplished a lot more in only one century than modern Christianity with the complete revelation of God's Word, all the Christian literature, and all the technology. God needs you today. The abundance or the lack abundance you have, offer it to Him today. I'm not saying only material possessions, but everything, your intellect, your talents, your time, your life; maybe a word of encouragement for someone, a phone call, a visit, a prayer...

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1st Corinthians 15:58

SMALL STUFF!

Over and over as I read the Bible, I'm amazed how God uses insignificant stuff for significant purposes. Let me explain by going through God's Book and just choosing a few of the many instances:

• God used the dust of the earth to make mankind - Genesis 2:7
  
• He used a rib from the man to make the woman - Genesis 2:22
  
• He used Noah (one person) to save mankind and all the animals - Genesis 6:19
• He used the seed of one man (Abraham) to form a race that no one can count - Genesis 22:17
  
• He used Moses (one person) to save over 2 millions Jewish slaves from Egypt's domain - Exodus 3:10
  
• He used Moses' staff to divide the waters and open a path for the Israelites to pass through - Exodus 14:16
• He used the sound of trumpets to destroy the walls of Jericho - Joshua 6:5
• He used trumpets, torches and empty jars and 300 men under the leadership of Gideon to defeat and army of 100,000 - Judges 7:16-22
• He used a donkey's jawbone to save a nation (Samson) - Judges 15:16
• He used one stone in the hand of a shepherd boy (David) to strike down the giant Goliath - 1st Samuel 17:40, 49

I'd love to mention many more examples in the Old Testament, but let's jump now to the New Testament and name a few:

• Jesus used mud and saliva to heal the blind man's sight - John 9:6
• Jesus used 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread to feed 5000 men plus women and children - Matthew 14:17, 21
• Jesus used a boy's lunch to feed 5000 men plus their families - John 6:9-10
  
• Jesus used Paul, a persecutor and murderer of Christians to eternally save many from hell, and to write many of the precious God-inspired books in the New Testament
  

Do you believe God can use you and me? Of course He can! It's not the small stuff in itself, it's what God can do with it if we would only offer it to Him.

PEACE!

Peace! How easy to say. This word seems so far away in a world filled with war, crime, financial instability, natural disasters, sickness, sin. But there is a place where we can find a peace that surpasses all understanding. That place is "in the presence of Jesus. He said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27. The vast majority is looking for peace in the wrong places: a better job with more money and more stability, in relationships, well... you fill in the blanks. Our lives are a chaos until we find God's peace. Jesus said to us: ""Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29.

There are a few things that we can learn about this passage:

1. Come to Jesus
2. Give up the control of your life. The yoke is an apparatus that is placed on top of the oxen to control them. Give God the reigns of your life; trust in Him.
3. Let God teach you. He uses His Holy Spirit to teach us through His Word, prayer, other Christians, and circumstances. Be sensitive to His voice.

Do you want to know more about God's peace?

1. It is abundant in those that love and obey His Word. Psalm 119:165
2. It is the result of prayer and thanks living. Philippians 4:6-7
3. It is the result of love and forgiveness. Colossians 3:12-17
4. We need to pursue constantly. Psalm 34:14
5. We only find it in Jesus. John 16:33
6. It is the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22
7. It is contagious. James 3:18
   

“Spend time with Jesus. It is good for your soul.”

LIMITS?

Life is too short to be thinking small thoughts, and to be dreaming small dreams. We have been created by God for great things. A couple of days ago, a good friend of mine, using Genesis 1 (the first chapter of the Bible) shared with me that God is a creative God, and we have been created in His image, meaning that we have the potential to create... awesome thought! We have the tendency of putting limits to ourselves. God has great things for our lives, but we won't find out until we try to do them. In life, all is possible, until we discover that something is impossible. And even then, not being able to accomplish something at a certain time, doesn't mean that it is impossible; maybe we just need to try again.
Many people, to fulfill their dreams have had to try over and over, and even the failures, help them to achieve success. When someone puts a limit to what one can do, that person has already put a limit to what he/she will do.

Moses was chosen by God to free the Jews from slavery from the land of Egypt. When Moses was first confronted with God's proposal, he didn't think he was the right person. Imagine Moses, an insecure person, with speech impediments, and a murderer, selected by God for such a big task. But even with all his inabilities, God chose him and used him to deliver over 2 million people from bondage. Someone said once "Never say to someone that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting for many years waiting for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do the impossible." Great leaders and successful people normally have been esteemed as idealists.

Through the Bible, God encourages us to go to places that we haven't gone, to practice faith. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1. "What is impossible for man, is possible for God" Luke 18:27. Status quo is a concept that many times defines our lives. We are comfortable living around our comfort zone, where we are or we think we are secure. And we ask ourselves why is it that we feel without meaning, bored, without purpose. God created us for much more. If you believe that something is impossible, you already made it an impossibility.

How many fantastic projects have been accomplished because someone followed dreams that to others were impossibilities?

"You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior." Psalm 65:5

THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS – Short prayers with faith

Have you ever felt down emotionally, spiritually, or in some kind of need and wanted God to do something, but didn’t know how to communicate with Him? Sometimes we think that to talk to God and for Him to hear us, we need these eloquent long prayers. May I suggest to you that in most cases, all we need is a short “Lord, please help me.”

God can and will do incredible things if we would only believe and ask. Take a look at these 3 examples of short prayers and answers:

A man with leprosy came and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus said "I am willing, be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Matthew 8:2-3

A woman with a bleeding problem said: "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus said, "Your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. Matthew 9:20-22

Two blind men said: “Have mercy on us, Son of David!" Jesus asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored. Matthew 9:27-30

So we see that it only takes a short prayer with faith for God to graciously respond to our needs. Jesus said: "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 9:9-11

RADICAL TRANSFORMATION - From Death to Life

I'd like to share with you something that has transformed my life in a radical way. Nothing in all of history can compare with an event that happened in a small corner of the world. This event is "Calvary. " We've heard about it many times and we've let it go by; the most important few hours of history and we take them for granted. Maybe our hearts are hardened and we are not allowing that the truth surrounding this event would melt our hearts of stone.

I will ask you that as you read these words, you would do it with a desire that God will speak to your heart. For me, this truth is most fascinating, most important, and the central point of my life. When we perceive what happened in Calvary when Christ died, we are confronted with the biggest dilemma of the largest magnitude in our lives, and we are forced to make the toughest decision of either give everything or nothing. So many times we've heard about Christ dying for us, but what would happen if we were transported 2000 years back into history and we could contemplate this event, of seen the blood being shed and dripping from Jesus' body, seen the God made man dying on it, and we had the capacity to understand completely what was happening. That this sacrifice was designed by the Creator of the Universe for the forgiveness of mankind's sins, to free us from an eternity in a anguishing hell, to give us abundant, fulfilled lives and eternal life together with Him.

Me, amazed by the dimensions of such great salvation, fell down on my knees, surrendering before Him, and since then, I haven't stopped to worship Him. I can't stopped being amazed by His grace bestowed upon me. Day and night, I am fascinated and enthusiastic about Him who has called me from the deepest darkness into His wonderful Light, from death to life.

I invite you to listen to His calling. He is telling you: "I love you, I died for you, repent and turn to me." Listen, and respond to His voice.