The Destructiveness of Pride in a Christian

It's awfully hard to watch someone you know is saved that keeps trying to live the Christian life in their own power. They set themselves up for failure repeatedly and can't grasp the reason why they continually fail. It's personally sad, for no matter what you do to help, they don't see the problem is themselves.

No matter how many sermons they hear, or Bible studies they attend, they just won't let God be God. They won't get off the throne and trust Jesus to rule over them.... They won't let God have their lives beyond their salvation.

They haven't grown beyond the warm-fuzzy of their initial salvation.

It all comes down to the original sin of pride.

Pride destroys everyone and everything.

"For you (Lucifer) have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most high" Isaiah 14:12-14.

No one can sit on the throne of God except GOD. If a Christian keeps attempting to crawl up there, seeking to rule themselves, their sins will create more troubles for them and for all those around them.

"You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD. nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives" Hebrews 12:5,6.

There is something wrong when a Christian can keep sinning without some kind of remorse for theuir actions.

For to know Jesus went to the cross to take the punishment for your sins, and then as a Christian stand at the foot of the cross, looking up at Him, how can you shake your fist and say,

"You are the Almighty Savior, and I thank you for saving me."...but...
"No, you shall not rule over me."
"I know better than you how to run my life"
"I don't care about Your suffering so I can have abundant life."
"I am not going to submit beyond faith that Your forgave my sins."
"I am not going to obey."
"I will not trust You to command me."
"I will not pray."
"I will not read my Bible." 

"Thus also faith by itself, it if does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' 'Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:17,18.

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"

James 1:22.

The term 'backsliding' is the picture of a cow with her feet firmly planted, pulling back on the lead rope, refusing to be led into a stall.

Only Christians can be backsliders, since they are the only ones who are led by God into His 'stalls' to be fed and nurtured. They can 'backslide' by willfully refusing to obey the commands of God.
A non-Christian has no personal interactions with God, so they, as wild cattle, have no room in God's 'stalls'.

Prayer for fellow Christians is vitally important. Sometimes your personally steadfast walk of faith is the only thing that can help both you in your sorrow for your friend, and your friend as they watch your interaction with our Holy God.

Pray and Pray and Pray

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The Lamb Of God

As He grew up, Jesus saw the yearly Passover lamb killed for the Atonement for sin.

At some point in the 33 years prior to the cross, Jesus, fully human and fully God the Son, accepted the knowledge of why He came to earth.

John the Baptist said on seeing Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

His last night on earth, facing the horrifying death of the cross the next day, Jesus said to God the Father, "Not My will, but Yours be done."

At some point, Jesus the Man knew what His life was worth. He knew what His sacrifice was worth.

It was worth our lives.

Do we know this?

Do you know this?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16.

If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, forgive you and be your Lord, pray something like this. Pray from the heart, with faith.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner who deserves hell. I know You love me so much You died on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me of my sins against You God and against my fellow men. Please save me Jesus and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus for saving me."

If you prayed this prayer, begin reading the Bible and find other believers. Go to a Bible teaching church or join a Bible teaching group.

You may feel differently, you may not, but believe that God has heard you and He has heard your heart say the prayer. He has come to you and He has saved you forever and ever.

Tell someone you have been born again into Jesus and want to learn more about Him.

And I, Susan Estes, welcome you my Brother, my Sister, into the family of God.

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Are They All Spiritualy Healthy?

Are you concerned about the Spiritual health of your brothers and sisters?

Do you think because someone is a member of your assembly that they have a good grasp of their salvation in Christ?

Or because someone comes on Sunday, or to any studies, or Bible activities in your church building that they are safely living their new life of Christ in the world?

God shows us that just by asking a few simple questions, we can find out the spiritual health of a fellow believer. To know this, read the gospels and the book of Acts to see how the many gifts of God are used to bring people to know Jesus and His death on the cross. It was for their Spiritual needs; the immanent necessity of knowledge to obtain the righteousness given by Jesus' death on the cross.

God has more concern for the spiritual health of His people than their physical needs.

"Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" Matthew 6:31-33

• We trivialize the cross of Jesus Christ by making it pretty.
• We make the cross of Jesus Christ frivolous by making it a symbol.
• We accessorize the cross of Jesus Christ as what God did from love.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the wrath of God.

"The only ground on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the cross of Christ; to put forgiveness on any other ground is in unconscious blasphemy."

Oswald Chambers: My Utmost for His Highest

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" Proverbs 1:7

"Bear one another's burdens , and so fulfil the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2.

(Jesus said), "This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you" John 15:12

Ask a few questions to see how your brothers and sisters in Christ are doing in their Christian walk and help them where they need strengthening.

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Complete Swap & Trade--It's A Great Deal!!!

I have a 1 billion dollar, fully furnished home, on 1000 acres of private landscaped land. I offer to completely swap it for your house. Plus it's tax free and I pay for all maintenance for the rest of your life. Also, before you leave your house, you may smash all the windows, break everything inside, destroy the grounds, tear huge holes in every wall, floor and ceiling. You have the privilege of running up a huge mortgage, and homeowner's debt.

And I swap my beautiful home... completely to you for yours, no strings attached...would you take it?

Jesus has such a deal with you.

God has given absolutely everything He had, even going to death on the cross.

He offers you eternal life with Him in Paradise and all you have to do is give Him your life now, with all it's broken pieces, dirty laundry, loaded baggage.

He'll make a complete swap with you, giving you His eternal life, His comfort, His peace, His new birth, His riches in heaven and a new body on the new earth He has prepared for the future.
You exchange all the temporary brokenness of this life for paradise without end in the next.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Everyone born from Adam is dead in their trespasses and sins. Only through Jesus can you be born again into the new life of righteousness and be prepared for God's kingdom.

You can choose to live in paradise with God or you can choose to die forever in hell. God only pleads with you to ask Him for forgiveness and salvation from eternal death. God won't force you to accept eternal life. It's your choice.

While I do not have a 1 billion dollar home to swap--if the offer came to you, would you turn down a 1 billion dollar home that comes without strings?

So- would you turn down God's offer of His free salvation?

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" John 3:36.

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I Can’t Believe Spurgeon Didn’t Say That-Guest Blog by Joel littlefield

This article is posted by permission. Visit Joel Littlefield's personal Blog Made to Make Disciples to read more.



I Can't Believe Spurgeon Didn't Say That

A couple days before my new book, Beeline to the Cross, released to the public, I found out some slightly disappointing news. I had been speaking with Christian George, one of my book’s endorsers, about some possible promo ideas. The thought of having his help to get the word out about the book was tremendous. If you don’t know who he is, Christian is the Curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Theological Seminary, and the assistant professor of historical theology.

Basically, if you want to know something about Spurgeon’s life and ministry, he’s your guy. And if you want to promote a book that has a title that was inspired by Spurgeon, then he’s your man. That’s why I reached out to him in the first place. I’m grateful to have connected with Christian.

In the process of our discussion he asked me if I could tell him where the original source is to the quote that inspired my book’s title. Charles Spurgeon is credited thousands of times by authors and theologians all over the world for saying, “I take my text and make a beeline to the cross.” It’s such a good quote and it sounds so much like Spurgeon that I never thought for a second as to whether or not he actually said it. How couldn’t he have?

So I began searching as deep as I could. Mostly google of course, but digging into sermons and old biographies, trying to find a place where Spurgeon actually said it himself. I kept coming up with pastors, authors or Church historians saying, “Spurgeon once said in regards to his preaching, ‘I take my text and make a beeline for the cross'”. Hey, that’s exactly what I said.

I was getting frustrated and honestly a little discouraged. Was the original “quote” that became the early inspiration for my book actually a falsehood?

Christian George and a team of guys at the college had also dedicated some time over the summer to finding this citation. They came up empty handed too. If they can’t find it, I’m not sure anyone can. So, now what? Is my book a fake? Was it not worth publishing because quite possibly Spurgeon never said what I, and so many others, thought he said?

I don’t think so. And here’s why.

Whether or not Spurgeon said it, he still did it. I believe he displayed a dedication to getting himself and his people to the cross in nearly every sermon. Was it always a direct line to the cross? Maybe not direct, but he got there one way or another. I’ll be encouraging people to make a beeline to the cross till the day I die.

That’s the whole purpose of the book. That’s why I wrote it. Because I believe it!

The Apostle Paul spoke strongly about preaching Christ and Him crucified. In fact, he made it a determination in his life to be known for that. He didn’t want to be the preacher who was known for his eloquence, his style or his many accomplishments regardless of the method. He wanted Christ to be exalted in the Church and for people to know the love of God in Christ; a love that was displayed perfectly at the cross.

I believe the message of the cross of Jesus is so significant and so powerful today that whether you’re a preacher, a student, a factory worker or school bus driver; your life can be dramatically altered in going there. As a believer, as you grow in your knowledge of the work of the cross you will experience needed change, life-strengthening power and the inspiration you need in order to do all that God has called you to do.

I stand with confidence on the premise of “Beeline to the Cross”. Not because Spurgeon did or didn’t say it, but because the cross should be and needs to be that important to all of us.

So what did Spurgeon say about the cross? Here’s just a few.

“The cross is the focus of all human history—I was almost going to say it is the centre of the life of God, if such a thing can be. All the ages meet in Calvary. Jesus is the central Sun of all events.” Sermon #786 – The Great Mystery of Godliness.

“No scene in sacred history ever gladdens the soul like the scene on Calvary. Nowhere does the soul ever find such consolation as on that very spot where misery reigned, where woe triumphed, where agony reached its climax.” Sermon #126 – Justification By Grace.

“The cross is the standard of victorious grace. It is the light-house whose cheering ray gleams across the dark waters of despair and cheers the dense midnight of our fallen race, saving from eternal shipwreck, and piloting into everlasting peace.” Spurgeon Sermons Volume 31 – The Cross Our Glory.

“I wish that our ministry—that mine especially—might be tied and tethered to the cross. I have no other subject to set before you but Jesus only.” Sermon #1940 The Best Bread.

Salvation, life, victory, forgiveness, joy, friendship with God and true satisfaction is found in Jesus Christ; at His cross. Once you’ve discovered that that is the source; the spiritual life-giving nectar for the Christian life, return to that source every minute of every day. Do not turn to the left or to the right, but look only to Jesus; to His cross, and to the work He accomplished there on your behalf.

Truth be told, there a several other quotes that have been attributed to Spurgeon which he never said. Dr. Christian George recently wrote the article, Six Things Spurgeon Never Said, that covers that very subject. I recommend you all give it a read. Then head over to Amazon and grab a copy of my book. You can let me know what you think by leaving a good review when you’re done.

Remember, in all of life and in every season, make a beeline to the cross.

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Joel Littlefield

Joel is a husband, father of three, pastor and worship leader. His desire for blogging and writing is from a heart for the Body of Christ to glorify God in everything, and through every season.

To read more of Joel's writings, visit Made to Make Disciples 

Joel is the author of

Grace In Crossville (Amazon)
and
Beeline to the Cross (Barnes & Noble)
(Tate Publishing & Enterprises LLC.)
& Amazon

Beeline to the Cross

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A Personal Opinion of the Fall of Mankind in Genesis 3

A personal opinion of what happened in the Garden of Eden. This is not to be taken as fact but is just an idea of mine.

After he figured out that God loved these weak little creatures Jesus made, Satan wanted to be worshiped. However, because of his newly expressed pride, Satan was kicked out of heaven for trying to elevate his position to a god.

Therefore, angry at God for not accepting his self-appointed promotion, Satan decided to see wha...t damage he could do to God's perfect little creatures. He took a walk around the Garden of Eden watching and studying the man and his wife. Finally figuring out a way to hurt them, Satan approached Eve with his evil plans.


Satan succeeded in killing the relationship between God and man by getting Eve to question God's love for her simply by making her wonder why God would tell her not to do something.

Satan killed us all, bringing the wages of sin in the form of death to all people. Spiritual death and eternal separation in hellfire from our original relationship to God and physical death in our bodies that returns to the earth God formed us from.

Thank God for His gracious salvation Jesus provided through the cross!!

Completely rhetorical question---How long would you imagine it took Satan to figure out from which tree Adam and Eve weren’t to eat?

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It Is Today's Commission Too--Guest Blog by Joel Littlefield

This is an excerpt from the 30 day devotional Grace In Crossville by Joel Littlefield, Assistant Pastor at Calvary Chapel Crossville Tennessee.

This is used by permission, with minor editing and change of formatting.

Day 18

It Is Today's Commission Too

"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority

in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe

all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am

with you always, to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19

Allow the words of Christ to sink deep into your life, so you will not forget. Shape your life, your church, and your family goals around this Great Commission. This not a mere suggestion as I'm sure you've heard before, but it is a holy command That comes fully equipped with the power to carry it out.

The Creator, Jesus, the one who upholds the very universe we live in, the one who flung the stars into the deepest space, the one with the authority to save a soul from the pit of hell, He is with you until the very end. He has commissioned you, His Church to make disciples. the fields of your communities, towns, workplaces, and even your homes are white for harvest. Bring the love of Jesus to someone. lead them to the cross. Baptize them as a testimony to the world of the all sufficient blood of Christ to cleanse man from sin. teach them the word of God with your very life, and remember that you are not alone.

Jesus is building His Church and has chosen to use you in His mission to save souls out of every nation, tribe, and tongue. The words of His commission were among the last words of the savior. Cherish them unto obedience.

Father, You sent Jesus, and now Jesus sends me.

The world He came to was dark, and so is the

world that I live in.

Even still, You have commissioned me to be

Your witness. Show me the harvest that I

should take part in. Burden my heart with

Your compassion for the lost, and give me

boldness to proclaim the gospel, the only

message that saves.

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Joel Littlefield is the father to 3 wonderful children, and blessed to be married to Callie. Joel currently serves as the worship leader and assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel in Crossville, TN.  His passion is to preach and teach Christ to the Church, and show that His glory, His joy, and His will are our primary mission in life as Christians.

Joel is the author of

Grace In Crossville (Amazon)
and
Beeline to the Cross (Barnes & Noble)
(Tate Publishing & Enterprises LLC.)

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Did They Really Believe Him To Be More Than A Man?

Have you ever wondered what the disciples were doing when Jesus came into Jerusalem on the donkey? What they were thinking? Do you think they really understood?

Just a few days before Jesus entered the city, Peter had answered Jesus' question “Who do you say I am?" with “You are the Christ, the Son Of God” but none of them were thinking of the prophecies of Isaiah, even after Jesus explains it to them.

On the way to Jerusalem, James and John asked for the two seats on either side of his throne, but they are thinking of an earthly throne. We can assume that Judas might be thinking of the monies he would have to hand; about having permanent place in the court next to the king. However, what were the others thinking; Andrew, Simon the Zealot, Bartholomew; what of the women?

It appears from the texts, they believe they’re on the way to Jerusalem to see the Deliverer of the Hebrews take over the kingdom of Rome. They know he has the power. For three years he’s shown them incredible things. But do they really believe him more than a man?

I doubt anyone was surprised by this entrance. Jesus has a big crowd of followers and the news of his coming has probably been circulating for days. What everyone is waiting for is a powerful leader charging in to defeat Rome.

They're most likely thinking Isaiah's prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of them. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulders and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. but they stopped at the Government shall be upon His shoulders."

Jesus enters the city with great fanfare. No Jewish person has ever been welcomed into Jerusalem with such spontaneous celebration. During this cheering and praise there were Romans on the streets, watching and probably at arms ready, Red Alert. But the first thing Jesus does is go into the temple and chase out the religious cheats. Jesus stays at the temple the rest of the week. He doesn’t go anywhere near the Romans or the seat of power of Rome in Jerusalem. The soldiers probably relax.

But the Disciples are still waiting, all week, for him to attack Rome. Judas is getting disgusted but are the rest getting perplexed? Wondering?

What the people got was a quiet man with one thing on his mind, of which they failed to understand.

They just didn't get it.

The night of his betrayal, his disciples are so unaware, they go to sleep. They’ve completely forgotten that Jesus came there to die. He’d told them. But nothing has happened and they’re not paying attention. To them, at what we call the last supper, the cup and bread didn’t mean what it does to us. Christians know what it means.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, will not die but have eternal life." John 3:16.

His broken body and spilled blood is our salvation. That whole week of Jesus in Jerusalem was the examination of the Lamb for Passover. The Priests examined Him and in the end could find no fault. They had to accept a lie to kill him.

We have to accept his death to be saved. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23.

We look on the beautiful, perfect Lamb of God at the end of that week, broken and bloody for our salvation. Jesus rode into quietly Jerusalem on a donkey and at the end of the week died horribly on a cross to give us the kingdom.

What the Disciples thought was going to happen that particular Passover week, ultimately happens, at the end of times. And this ride into Jerusalem means just as much to us today in bringing in the kingdom.

Later, they fully understood Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, but just then, they were blind.

Jesus is fully God and fully Man.
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Is Your Life Manna?

And they asked "What is it?"

When the children of Israel needed food in the wilderness, God supplied them with a heavenly substance. It tasted sweet and it sustained their lives.

"So when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as the frost on the ground. So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, 'This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat."" Exodus 16:14,15

"And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey" Exodus 16:31.

"What is it?"

Good question.

Simply, it was something only God could supply.

In the wilderness, the Israelites were certainly going to starve if they had to fend for themselves. Moses, the man of God in their midst, interceded, asking God to provide for the people's lives. Through His infinite grace, God gave them Manna, which was like a sweet pastry and it nourished them completely, though they had no idea what it was.

"The children of Israel....gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need" Exodus 16:17,18.

No one, throughout the entire camp, went without. The excess was distributed to all as each family needed.

Today, God has given to the world bread from heaven which gives a better, everlasting life. Jesus, as a symbol of the God-given Manna, is our source for eternal life.

Jesus said "I am the bread of life...This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" John 6:48 &50,51.

While we cannot and do not physically eat Jesus, we do have Him in ourselves through faith. And because of our faith that He died for us, in our place on the cross, He lives in each believer in the Holy Spirit. We do not fully understand this, but we know He gives us eternal life.

Among the Christian church today, for those in Christ:

"...There is one body and one Spirit, just as you

were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord,

one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,

who is above all, and through all and in you all.

But to each one of us grace was given according

to the measure of Christ's gift" Ephesians 4:4-7.

But around the world some gather none, while others gather much of Jesus.

Are we, the people of God, interceding for those who are starving for Jesus?

Are we willing to share Christ Jesus with those who have little of Him, or none at all?

Are we giving Christ Jesus away from the abundance He has supplied of Himself to us?

If Christ Jesus lives in born again Christians, giving us sweet, wonderful, eternal life, are people asking "What is it?"

Is your life Manna?

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Thank you.

Jesus Is God From Everlasting To Everlasting

My favorite verse is  "For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

The Bible holds all the power of God in it's words, so knowing some good verses (they're all good) to speak when witnessing helps allow the powerful Spirit of God to convict the person to whom you are witnessing.

Jesus said… “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:12, 13

The Webster Dictionary definition of repent is a verb, a visual action on our part. Latin poenitēre, to cause to feel sorry, regret. “Being sorry for my wrong.” Outward visual of grief over committing a wrongdoing.

Webster’s defines penitent as an adjective, a description of an action, also in the definition of the Latin root repent and to suffer. Paenit-(ere) plus pa-ti.

“I am sorry and turning from my wrongdoing and doing the correct.” The penitent person displays a distinct visual action from wrong to right, a change of heart for accountability and credibility.

Webster’s defines mercy as a noun, an object, or something of substance. Latin root word: mercēd: wages, reward. Late Latin root word: favor, leniency. “I will pity.” The action of not giving punishment deserved by a wrongdoing. 

Jesus came to the lost, unrepentant world,

to save us to repentance

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 35

Jesus hates sin. Sin came into the world through Adam’s willful rebellion in the Garden of Eden. We inherited Adam’s sin because we all descended from Adam. That means that the absolute best behaved, most generous, most morally right person ever to live is still a sinner. Because of sin, no one can be in God’s presence. Only perfect people can stand before God, and no one is perfect. Our imperfection is sin. We have all missed having sinless perfection.

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:23

All people are sinners

Jesus loves sinners

‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5: 8

God is perfect. God’s perfection cannot and will not tolerate sin. He must and will destroy any and all imperfection.

‘Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.’ 1 Timothy 6:16
We all are condemned to death—to separation from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 8:12

‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 6:23

The gift He gives that we don’t deserve

‘As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no not one; There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.’ Romans 3: 10, 11, 12

The Good news is: ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.’ John 3:16
 

Grace

is

God’s favor

on an

unlovable,

undeserving,

sinful world!

Christians are born again believers, once were unrepentant, He has now made penitent. Those trusting in Jesus for Salvation can and will stand in the presence of God. The grace of God allows them to come near Him. Our Salvation is our faith in Jesus.

‘And being found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.’ Philippians 3: 9

If you do not have the Son of God, you are not His. You are still in your sins, unrepentant, and destined for eternal death.

‘He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.’ 1 John 5: 12

The Good News: ‘…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,…’ 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

Jesus, God, came to earth, was born of a virgin, died on the cross for the sin of the world, buried in a tomb, rose again the third day from the grave because His sacrifice for mankind fulfilled the death penalty required. He ascended back to heaven to sit on the throne beside the Father, and He will return someday to take believers to live with Him forever and to judge the unbelievers to separation forever. Without Jesus, there is no hope of salvation. That is the Gospel taught in the Bible from Genesis 1: 1 to Revelation 22: 21.

That is the Gospel. He does not want anyone to die and be eternally separate from God in the outer darkness, where there will be wailing a gnashing of teeth. He came and died so no one would have to be lost forever.

‘In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ 1 John 4: 10

May it be every believing, born again Christian’s desire that no one die and be eternally separate from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’

We attend church, perform good works, and pray. We sing, fellowship, and worship but He desires mercy from us, not just the performance done in His name. He commands that we are to let others know about the wonderful miracle He gives to the whole world; eternal Salvation. Let us have mercy on the lost and dying world and tell them the gospel of Jesus.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28: 19

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A Theorized Explanation of Satan in the Garden

This is not to be taken as a Biblical fact, nor to be used as a commentary, but it is my theory and mine alone, of which I hope you find interesting.

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”1 Timothy 2:14.

There is no way to say how long Satan examined this couple before he approached them. My personal theory is Satan fell from heaven after God created the heavens and the earth and Adam and Eve.

Here he is, the most beautiful creature ever created. He’s the voice of worship and his place among the angels of glory is gorgeous and glorious. He enjoys pleasing God with his music, his magnificence, and all the splendor of his being, created to lead worship before God’s Throne. Lucifer is a great worshipper.

Then God fashions this tiny thing called the universe, and these puny little beings He calls humans. Suddenly, God has another worship leader, Adam. Yet Satan sees something exclusive about the worship Adam brings to God. Adam freely adores God with loving reverence. Worse, it brings God enormous pleasure the more Adam learns to worship.

Not one of the angels ever had the thought of not worshipping God. God created Lucifer to worship and lead worship. It hadn’t been a thing to contemplate before; it was how God ordained heaven's business.

Satan starts looking at Adam as a rival. Now Satan’s character changes and he begins to see where he is now second fiddle and it’s no place to be in the orchestra of the heavenly host.

That’s where we get God’s explanation of Lucifer’s sin in Ezekiel 28. Satan decides he wants the type of worship Adam brings to God. God says that pride entered into him and the most gorgeous cherub suddenly became the most abhorrent thing in heaven. Sin can never stand before God’s perfection and Satan has to leave heaven’s throne room.

Where’s he going to go? He’s a created being and there’s only two places available. Kicked out of the one God entirely occupies, he heads for earth and the garden.

Because everything is as it should be, Eve would have no qualms about submitting to Adam. He shows her around the neighborhood introducing her to the animals and all the fruit trees. She learns him and he learns her. It’s flawless, they are one, and both are naked. They’re naked of clothing because it wasn’t necessary and they are naked of fear, faults, or worry. God visits and the abundant life is theirs. Nothing is missing in Eve’s life. Eve’s submission was without fault and there’s no flaw in her marriage. There is no pain, no sorrow, no jealousy, and no strife. Their relationship doesn’t hurt at all.

The lord of the flies is about to land in the perfume. Satan has examined these simple little creatures for some time now and has seen how they walk and talk and interact with God. Since his defection, his one desire is be worshipped and these creatures have minds of their own. Maybe he’s tried to get cows to worship him, or serpents and concluded that’s futility. Adam and Eve, they’re different.

He can’t approach Adam, he’s always studying what to ask God at the next meeting But Eve, well, she’s always studying how to please both Adam and God.

Satan comes dressed as one of the peaceful garden creatures and offers her something other than submission. It might have seemed natural for it to speak to her, after all everything God made was good. Instead of asking why it was speaking, she entered into conversation with it. The first thing Satan does is deceive her with a lie about her relationship.

Eve could have said no. She should have said no. Eve had the perfect support group to run to and rat him out: Adam, and God. However, Eve stopped being submissive the moment she desired that fruit and ate it.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan won a small battle. But a small victory was all it was, even for the centuries he's walked to and fro on the earth, tormenting people and destroying souls. Compared to the Omnipotence of Almighty, Eternal God, it is a small victory. The created being he is, there is no successful future for Satan. His defeat was at the cross where Jesus Christ died.

And his future, final defeat is when Satan loses even the stolen control of the world when he is thrown into his eternal prison, the Lake of Fire.

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None Perfect, No Not One!

Born again Christians are not perfect people.

Born again Christians are imperfect people living on this imperfect earth who know God saves imperfect people and He will change us into perfect people in the next life for all eternity.

  "Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:50-53."


Perfect, Holy God knows we're not perfect but by His grace He chooses to accept all believers as perfected in His Son Jesus. Because born again Christians accept Jesus' death on the cross as the substitute for their own punishment, God gives all believers this future of perfection guaranteed in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
  "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54-57."

Have you gotten your guarantee of perfection yet?

   "Jesus said, "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" John 3:3."

"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Hebrews 3:7."

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The Strange & Worshipful Story-Luke Chapter 2

David Ray Jr.

This was the Introduction I wrote for the 2015 Christmas Program at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville, Maine. This wasn't read, because our Pastor, David Ray Jr., prepared a better opening.

However, this says much about God's plan to save all mankind from their sin. And if it hadn't been for the strange birth of God becoming a Man, we never would have had the Cross to celebrate at what we call Easter.

They Missed Christmas

Introduction:

Before God ever created the world, He knew everything that would happen on earth. He knew that man would sin and destroy the perfect world God created. Man would reject Him and rebel and sin would rule.  Because of this flaw, God had to destroy the sin and that meant destroying the sinners. But God so loved His wonderful creation, He had a plan to save everyone from their sins. That plan was that He would come and be destroyed in the place of all the people God lovingly created for His pleasure.

Over 2000 years ago, God fulfilled part of that plan when He became a man, born of a virgin and living here among us for 33 and a half years. Then He died the death that sin deserves so he could allow us back into His perfection again.

On the day we call Christmas, we remember the day that God came to earth. God came to earth as a small, poor baby and that was just the beginning of the life God planned for Himself. The story is strange and beautiful, full of worship, and anger, and love and murder. Several people knew and embraced the miracle of the first Christmas, and yet at the same time, many rejected it and missed Christmas.

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What He Saw-A Fiction Story

This is a fictional story I wrote some years ago, about a man who had a significant meeting with Jesus (John 9)

What He Saw

Huge tears streaked the dust on his face. He'd skinned his knuckles raw  from tightly wringing his hands. An anguished moaned crept from his throat. "No, no, no." The scene was unbearable yet he couldn't turn away. The horror filled his vision, sickening him. When he could look away for relief, his eyes would betray him, drawn to look again.

There, on that hill, the one across from the city wall, the bloody body hung, naked, strings of flesh hanging, the blood dripping from the shredded veins. The fist-pulped face bloated where they beat him and yanked out his beard. And that mockery of a crown; such blaspheme to the royal head!

He buried his face in his hands and his bony shoulders shook with sobs. "Why, my Lord? Today was a day of gladness. We are to celebrate the Passover, remember our heritage, and our day of deliverance. Why did this happen?"

Although larger than normally witness to a crucifixion, it was a typical group. Many came there for the spectacle, to get a thrill from the cruel barbarianism, while others shuddered at it and feared the cruelty of Rome. Then there was the added oddity of the religious leaders yelling insults at the dying man. What were they thinking? They who should know, yet were so angry and filled with hate.

As the anguished watcher looked on, the sky grew dark. People grew uneasy and stared around. Some muttering went through the crowd and some headed back for the town gates. As the throng thinned, he moved up closer to the execution hill, close enough to see the bloody body struggling to lift up, shuddering to inhale. In the torn face, the white, strained eyes swung heavenward as the darkness almost blackened out the sun. For the watcher the dimmed vision gave no respite.

What was happening? What more were they doing to him?

He stumbled forward, wanting to know, though fearful of what he might see. The road was rocky and crowded with the spectators leaving for the safety of Jerusalem. He moved against the jumble people, going in the opposite direction. At one rough area, he tripped and fell into somebody who cursed, shoving him away. Feeling the clothing of the man, he was amazed it was a priest. The religious man grabbed his robe around him, lifting the hem indecently to break into a trot, hurrying to get away. The man turned, also hurrying, but he wanted to get closer to the dying man.

When he was within fifty feet, a Roman soldier stood in front of him, his spear at ready. Not knowing what was going on, the guards nervously formed a circle around the top of the hill, halting anyone from approaching the three condemned men. He found a place beside a grieving woman and a young man, resigned, knowing this was as near as he could get to the man he loved. His weeping joined their wailing.

Somehow, as if sensing him, the eyes in the bloody face sought him through the darkness. Did the disfigured face attempt a smile, or was it his own imagination because he needed that recognition?

There was a horrible rasping sound as the condemned man agonized to pull himself up once more to inhale. The tongue poked through the crushed and bloodied lips. The dying man spoke. "I thirst." One of the soldiers took a stick with a soaked sponge and held it up for the man to suck the sour drink. After getting some of the liquid, he looked heavenward, working the moistness into his mouth before saying, "It is finished."

The body abruptly slumped, the head flopping to the chest, mouth open, eyes blank. The woman beside him gave a great wail and the young man futilely tried to comfort her. His own heart broke. It was over, the great Rabbi was dead.

The watcher stared at the dead, his eyes flooded with tears. The eyes Jesus of Nazareth restored sight to, only a few days before.

The End

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4 Lessons From Paul

"For you will be a witness for him to tell all men what you have seen and heard" (Acts 22: 15 Good News for the Modern Man).

Paul is a good example of a changed life.  Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He knew his religion and kept the rules down to the last one. When this man met Jesus he went from being zealous for formal religious rituals to a man zealous for the peaceful and life-changing love of God. 

This is the foundation of Christianity. God loves us all-sinners everyone, yet all can be saved by the love of God--in Jesus.

Paul says, "This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, but it was for this very reason that God was merciful to me, in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life" (1 Timothy 1: 15, 16 Good News for the Modern Man).

Here are four things we can learn from the Apostle Paul's life.

1. Humility.

The hard part of true love is humility. Do you find it hard to be humble? It goes against our natural self-preservation. Paul had to learn how to be humble but he says he learned it. "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little" Philippians 4:12. (NLT) This man, who at one time was so proud of his social stature, had to be let out of a window in a basket to save his life. Paul, the law-keeper, would have most likely stood up to his persecutors, but Paul the evangelist took to his heels for the sake of the little church just being born in Damascus. (2 Corinthians 11:33) That takes humility.

2. God-Dependent

Paul's life made a 180 degree turn after he learned Jesus truly is God. Before his conversion he was faithful to everything he could do in keeping the law and all the Pharisaical rules. After he was talked to by Jesus, he went from self-sufficiency to God-sufficiency. "For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ" Galatians 2:19. (NLT)

3. Be Encouraging

Today's times are hard for God's church. All around the world persecutions are arising more and more, and even more in America, the church is now being turned on vigorously by those in political power. In the 1st century church, when Emperor Nero was running amok and killing Christians, Paul sent letter after letter encouraging his small churches. We know Paul sent many encouraging letters from prison cells. If this man could comfort others while being so debased and socially degraded, today's Christians need to be sending encouraging letters, email's, texts, tweeting, phone calls, any way possible to all those in their sphere of social activities. 

4. A Student of God's Word

By God's power and grace, Paul's letters are now a part of our Holy Bible. One familiar passage God had Paul record is "All Scripture inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do" 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. (NLT). If it is that important for God to record, then it should be vitally important for all Christians to read and study it.

Historically, and in Scriptures, we could name Paul as a very great man, yet he made himself every man's friend, brother, and co-laborer for the sake of the Gospel. Paul understood that all his work only made sense if he told others about the Free Salvation offered by Jesus' death on the cross.

Whatever our background, let us also be good examples of a changed life. Show Jesus in all we do. Give Him the glory and honor and praise for all things whether alone or publicly. Because of the mercy God has shown us sinners, He deserves all praise.

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