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!