Ambassadors For Christ!

Thought For Today - October 22

Ambassadors For Christ!
By: Robert A Searles

      Life on planet earth is preparatory for the real life in heaven. It is a back porch, or mud room, as it were, where we learn how to behave and cleanse ourselves before we are allowed into the parlor. It is here that we hear and learn of God. It is here that God's grace is freely offered to us, and we either receive it or reject it It is here that we are saved.

We who are saved have been allowed to remain on planet earth after we were saved so that we might perform the work and ministry of ambassadors for Christ so that others might hear the good news of the gospel and be saved. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ some day and give an account of how we have performed this ministry.

      We have all been given the tools to work with, and we have been given instruction in the use of these tools. “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him.” James 1: 5.

We have all been given talents and abilities, all differing according to the will of God. Some day we will be asked, where is the talent and ability that was given to you? According to what we have done, and how we have trusted and obeyed, and according to our faithfulness or unfaithfulness we will have to answer to our Lord.

      How wonderful on that day would it be for our Lord to put his hand on our shoulder and say to us, well done thou good and faithful servant, but how ashamed we will be if we are found empty handed at that day with no crowns to place at our Savior's feet.

Let each of us, therefore: “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.” Colossians 4: 17.

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Pray For Revival!

Thought For Today  - October 29
Pray For Revival!
By: Robert A. Searles 

      “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

      My Father, I pray that thou will rekindle and ignite the fire of revival in my heart. I pray that thou will cleanse me from all my iniquity. Create in me O God, a clean heart and a pure mind, and renew a right spirit within me. I pray that thou will create a new hunger and thirst for thy word, and that I will desire more of thy fellowship. I pray that I will have a greater love and concern for all the brethren and children of God. Restore to me, O Lord the joys of my salvation, and grant me a greater zeal for soul winning. Let me be all that you have meant for me to be and let me approve all things which are excellent which will bring honor and glory to thy name. Teach me, O Lord to pray continually and without ceasing. Teach me to walk constantly with the blessed Holy Spirit, and open a door of utterance for me that I might make manifest your word as I ought to speak. Help me to walk in wisdom toward those that are without, redeeming the time. Let my speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that I may know how I might answer every man.

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A Dream Come True!

 Thougfht For Today - October 28
A Dream Come True!
By: Robert A. Searles

Have you ever had a dream come true? Have you ever had something wonderful happen to you that was beyond your fondest dreams and expectations? If you are one of us who have been saved and truly born again, you have had this happen to you. For once God's grace has been poured out to you, and you have been enabled by faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have received him as your Lord and Savior, and you know that all your sins have been forgiven and that you are on your way to heaven, your weeping is turned to laughter; your mourning has been turned to joy; and for the first time in your life you are set free.

 When the Lord turned your captivity to freedom, it seemed too good to be true. It seemed like a dream, and oh! the joy that filled your heart and you wanted to jump up and shout the glad tidings and tell the whole world.

We are so happy over what has happened to us that we want to go nd tell the whole world. We sorrow for those who remain in captivity to Satan, and we go out to sow the seed of the good news of the gospel in tears, knowing that by the grace and power of God, we shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us as we are promised in the word of God.

Oh! What a dream has come true for all of us who have put our trust in Jesus, that sin and death would have no more power over us, and he has turned our captivity and made us to be partakers of his glory in his heavenly kingdom.

“When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue witjh singing. Then said they among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm, 126: 1-6.

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Safe And Secure!

Thought ForToday - October 27
Safe And Secure!
By: Robert A. Searles

      “They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be moved, but abideth forever.” Psalm 125: 1.

      What a comforting thought this is to the believer. In Christ we are safe and secure. 

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 54: 17.

 “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever.” Psalm 125: 2

Oh, how wonderful to have the asurance that the love and protection of our heavenly Father surrounds the child of God for whom Christ died and is risen. He has given his angels charge over us o keep us safe in all our ways, and one day he will guide us to our desired haven, the city which we seek, wherein dwelleth the holiness and righteousness of the King of kings and Lord of lords. 

 “The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hand unto iniquity.” Psalm 125: 3

God hath not appointed us, his children, unto wrath, for our judgment is passed, having been placed on our Savior at Calvary; but he has ordained us to life eternal and everlasting in his heavenly kingdom forever.

      O praise the Lord for his goodness, and his mercy to all who will trust in him. Bless his holy name forever

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Alive or dead?

Thought For Today - October 26
Alive or Dead?

By: Robert A. Searles

      “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Christ has risen and conquered death

      Christian, when we were saved, we died, as it were to the world, and the flesh, but the question is, have we risen with Christ or are we just plain dead to the things of earth and nothing more? Since we were saved, have we experienced the resurrection power of our risen Lord, and does his life and vitality flow in us, and through us to bring inspiration and hope not only to ourselves but also to others? Are we seeking heavenly things, those things which are above where Christ is? Do things of the earth look strangely dim in the light of his glorious kingdom? Where is our treasure? For where our treasure is, there will our heart be also. When we died to sin we put off the old man with his evil deeds and vile affections, but have we truly put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that has created us?

      “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communications out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians 3: 1-11.

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The Likeness Of Christ!

 Thought For Today - October 25
The Likeness Of Christ!
By: Robert A. Searles

      As Jesus our Savior was the image of the invisible God when he was on earth, so we as Christians ought to bear the image of Christ in our bodies while our Lord is now back in heaven with the Father. We are to be witnesses of him even as he was a revelation and a witness of the Father. A witness is one who shows forth or proclaims to be true that which is, and that which is true.

      Someone has said that we tend to become like that which we behold, and affix our thoughts on; then if this is indeed true, we need to be constantly beholding the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, and by steadfastly fixing our gaze upon him, let his image be formed in us that the world in which we live and have to do will see a reflection of the living Christ in us. And by our yielding our mortal bodies to him they might truly be his holy temple wherein dwelleth the presence of the Holy Spirit and righteous God, established in the faith and resting securely upon the word of God. 

 If we are to be witnesses, then: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2: 6-10.

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Blessed Is He Whose sins Are Forgiven!

Thought For Today - October 24
Blessed Is He Whose Sins Are Forgiven!
By: Robert A Searles

      Oh! How blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven, whose iniquities are remembered no more! How it blesses my heart and soul to know that there is forgiveness with God! If God should hold grudges, as it were, and mark our iniquities, who should stand? 

 “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3: 10.

 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God with the exception of one, and that one person, our blessed Lord and Savior was perfect in all his ways and he who was sinless himself , bore all our sin and shame on the cross when he died for us; but praise God! He rose again the third day, proving that he is God and that God the Father had accepted his sacrifice of himself as the propitiation for all our sins, for as many as will receive it by faith, there is forgiveness with God for all our foolishness when we bow before him, acknowledging our folly and ask for his mercy to be bestowed upon us.

      Weary sinner, come to the foot of the cross and see Jesus dying in your place. Let the drops of his blood fall upon you by faith, and realize that divine blood was shed for you, and that because of the price that was paid, you are valuable to God. Then by faith visit the empty tomb and see that it is indeed empty: that he is not here but was raised for our justification, and because he lives, be sure that all of us who have put our trust in him shall live also.

Wandering prodigal, far from home, far from the Father's fellowship which you once knew, come home. There is forgiveness with God. Come back to the fold, come apart from the world. Our father is ready to kill the fatted calf and put a ring on your finger and clothe you with his righteousness. Oh yes! Thank God, there is forgiveness with God.

      “If thou Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” Psalm 130: 3-5.

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The Winds of Fate

 Thought For Today - October 23
The Winds Of Fate!
By: Robert  A. Searles

“One ship drives east, and another drives west, with the selfsame wind that blows;

Tis the set of the sails, and not the gale, which tells us the way to go.

Like the wind of the sea are the ways of fate, as we voyage along through life;

Tis the set of the soul that decides its goal,

and not the calm or the strife” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox-

The set of our sails insures that we can keep our course and direction no matter how the wind blows.

The set of our soul which makes such a difference in our lives is the presence of Jesus Christ, - the way - the truth - the life.  Let him be the pilot and captain of your ship, and when the storms and gales of life have abated, you will see the harbor lights and know that you are safely at home.
Set your course on him .

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An Instrument Of Praise!

      If God would cause my pen to fly swiftly across the pages of a book, I would want it to be an instrument of his praise: for who can tell of the majesty and power, and the glory of God our Father? Oh Holy spirit who dwells within me, I pray that thou will glorify our risen Christ with the words that I think, and speak, and write, and that out of my belly will flow rivers of living waters that might overflow into the lives of others through the way I live and by the way I speak.

      Create in me, oh God, a clean heart and a pure mind, and let my meditation be ever of thee. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to thee, O God my Savior.”         Whosoever you may be who reads these lines, be it known unto you that: “The Lord, he is God.” “It is he who hath made us and not we ourselves.” It is God who has saved us by the shedding of his blood, and - “There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4: 12. “At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2: 11

      Pen, fly swiftly and tell the world of the glory of my God so that he might be glorified and pleased with me, and receive me into everlasting habitations.

Have You Heard From God This morning?

      Have you heard from God our Father this morning? Have you spoken to him, and has he communicated to you his love? Have you stretched forth your hands unto him? Does your soul thirst after him as a thirsty land?

      Draw near unto God and he will draw near Unto you. “Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

      In the morning, as soon as we open our eyes from sleep, we ought to automatically stretch forth our whole being to Jesus our Lord. Our prayer ought to be like the psalmist who said: “I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land, Selah. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul for I am thy servant.” Psalm 143: 6-12

To Know God Better!

      If I knew God the way that David knew God I could praise him as David did. Oh! To be a man after God's own heart even as David was said to be: To be absolutely sure that - “The Lord is my shepherd and that I shall not want, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” Psalm 23.

      Faith to believe is a gift of God, and God gives to every man a measure of this precious commodity as he sees fit. To walk closely with God, one must be clean inside and out.

      “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart , who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24:3-5.

      Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed to be the propitiation for our sins has imputed to us his righteousness and we can now stand before God,, guilty, but blameless. This is our access to God the Father and close communion with him.

No Blank Pages!

No Blank Pages!

      Each new day is a page in the story of our life. God forbid that there should be one page left blank on which God does not receive honor and praise and glory. “This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us therefore rejoice and be glad in it.” Give God the glory, for great things he hath done. Without him we could do nothing. With him we can accomplish great things. We are indeed more than conquerors through him who loved us. Today let us be grateful for God's kindness and mercies. Today let us sing forth his praise. Oh Lord help us by your grace to love you more and worship you more. Help us to grow in wisdom and the knowledge of Christ so that: “....we might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience, and long suffering with joyfulness: giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who Hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins; who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist. Colossians 1: 9-17.

May God Be Pleased!

May God Be Pleased!

      Oh! That we might live in such a way that God would be pleased with us! If God could say of us: “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” as he said of Jesus our Lord. How wonderful it would be, if everywhere we went and in everything we do, we could glorify God, how wonderful it would be! God is so good to us and his loving kindness and tender mercies are so great toward us

      “ Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the most high: and call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalm 50: 14, 15. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God” Psalm 50: 23.

Press Forward!

Press Forward!

      This is the first day of the rest of our lives. Having come before our Lord this morning in prayer, and according to his faithfulness to cleanse and forgive, having received forgiveness and cleansing, let us begin at the place where we are at this moment, forgetting those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are before us. We can do nothing about what has passed except to ask God to forgive us for our sins and short coming, but by God's grace and enabling power, we can if we will, take that which we have now and “Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3: 14.

      What is the prize of the high calling of God? The prize of the high calling of God is: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3 10. The prize of the high calling of God is our Savior, the Lord JesusChrist: “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21.

Light Up The World!

Light Up The World!

      Let us Christians who love Christ shine as lights in the world, illuminating the darkness with our presence, and put to shame every evil thing because it is God who worketh in us to perform his good works. We ought to work for God with fear and trembling. We work for earthly employers with fear and trembling, fear of loss of rewards if we fail to perform as we are expected. Much more we ought to work for God with fear of loss of much greater rewards if we fail to perform for him as we as Christians are expected. We who are saved need to be diligent workers for the Lord.

      “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.” Philippians 2: 12-16.

Lifestyle of Christians!

Lifestyle of Christians!

      The lifestyle of all Christians ought to be such as becometh the gospel of Christ. Our lives ought to be honoring to Christ in every way. The way we think; the way we speak; the way we act; ought to manifest the life of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. All Christians are supernaturally bound together by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and ought to stand fast with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Christians ought to expect to be treated by the world and the enemies of Christ in the same manner as Christ was treated by the world. If the world did not want to accept the lifestyle of Christ, then we cannot expect the world to be engrossed by our lifestyle if indeed Christ lives in us.

      “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1: 27-30.

Jesus Never Fails!

Jesus Never Fails!

      Men will disappoint you, but Jesus never fails. Men will abandon you, but Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Psalm 27: 10. Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is one who sticketh closer than a brother.

      “If ye love me, keep my commandments and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever: even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14: 15-17. “If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14: 23.

    “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1: 6/.

      Put your confidence and trust in Christ, and not man. Christ is in control of all men ultimately and all elements of creation must obey him in the end.

Have Faith In God!

Have Faith In God!

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

      God honors the faith of the believer towards himself. We are justified by faith and the just shall live by faith. Faith toward God is resting our confidence on him who is invisible whom we have not seen, but believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Confidence in the reality of God and his goodness will enable us to put aside all doubts and fears, and the fiery darts of the wicked, and give us the strength and power we need to overcome the world. By faith in God the Red Sea was crossed successfully by the Israelites; by faith in God many victories have been won. By faith in God we who are his children shall arrive safely on the opposite shore and see Jesus and be reunited with those who have gone before. Have faith in God, he cannot fail. Have faith dear friend in God.

Go About Doing Good!

Go About Doing Good!

      As Christ our Lord went about doing good, we Christians ought to be continuing the work and ministry of our Lord by going about doing good. Christ was in the world offering salvation to all who would believe and receive him. He gave rest to the weary and comforted the lonely; he healed the sick and raised the dead, and brought new hope to the hopeless. We ought to continue doing all that God will give us the power to do so that Christ's work and ministry might continue through us. God may not give us the power to heal the sick or raise the dead (he could if it was his purpose) but he has commissioned us to offer salvation to the lost through his name and to bear each others burdens, and to share each others sorrows and joys, and to make life easier for those around us. We ought to be so secure in our own salvation and the love of God that we can forget ourselves and concentrate on the needs of others.

      “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Ephesians 6: 7, 8. God will be no man's debtor, we cannot out give or out serve the Lord.

When we go about doing good in the service of the Lord, we will find ourselves in a combat zone with all the forces of the devil against us. We must put on the armor and use all the defenses that God has provided for us.

      “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.” Ephesians 6: 10-13

Leaders In The Home!

Leaders In The Home!

      Christian husbands, you ought to assume full leadership of your home. All decisions should finally rest upon you as the head of your household as God has ordained it, and you ought to pray that God will give you wisdom in making those decisions, because you will be held responsible to God for what becomes of your wife and family spiritually as well as physically. You ought to love your wife even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.

      As the church is the body of Christ on earth, so your wife is part of yourself. When she hurts, you ought to hurt. Her concerns ought to be your concerns. Her spiritual and physical welfare ought to be your chief concern next to loving and serving God.

      The one who walks beside you as your life companion; the one who sits at your table; the one who  makes your home comfortable and cheerful for you; the one who sleeps in your bed,, raises your children, and nurses you when you are sick is a precious gift from God your Father and ought to be honored and treasured as such.

      “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So. ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Ephesians 5: 22, 33.

To Serve Him!

To Serve Him!

      “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2: 10.

      When God created us his purpose was that we should be instruments in his hands which he could use to fulfill his purpose, and bring glory to himself. When we yield ourselves to him to do his bidding, we find great satisfaction, and our joy and happiness is fulfilled. Though we are all sinners and have come short of the glory of God, God has provided a way by which we can be forgiven and reconciled to him by receiving Jesus Christ as our sin bearer and Savior.

      The word of God teaches us that every saved, born again child of God is given at least one spiritual gift whereby we can minister as ministering servants so that we might show forth the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see the glory of God. We ought to ask God to reveal to us the one or more gifts which he has assigned to us, and ask God to help us to develop it so that we might bear fruit for him.

      It was always God's will that the gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partake of his promise in Christ by the gospel. Paul says: “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulation for you which is your glory.” Ephesians 3: 7-13

      It is God's will that those around us in the world hear the gospel so that they too might see and know of the unsearchable riches of Christ. We are responsible to God to use the gifts he has given us to make this a reality. With the gift, God gives the boldness and confidence to utilize it for his glory. If we will yield ourselves to him - God is able to do with us,-- “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3: 20.

Someone said to D. L. Moody: “It has not yet been seen what God could do with a man or woman who was totally yielded to him.” Moody is reported to have said. “By God's grace, I want to be that man.” Moody went ahead and won two continents to Christ.

      The power that worketh in us is the person of the Holy Spirit, and when one is willing to yield himself to the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit, he can be filled with all the fullness of God. “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man: That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadeth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3: 16-21

Take Heed!

Take Heed!

      Jesus said: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matthew24: 4. To take heed means to be careful, to be discerning, to analyze carefully what we hear from others, to see if what we are hearing is indeed according to truth. We hear many voices all the time. There are many so called experts in every field of endeavor offering their seminars of advice, but we need to be very careful when we listen to the advice of experts in the field of religion and theology lest we be led away from scriptural truth and be swayed by every word of false doctrines. Search the scriptures daily to determine if what you are hearing is indeed scriptural truth. This also applies to any other area of our lives. There are many counselors in many different areas of life, but be careful of whom you take advice on any subject.

     God's word tells us that: “Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, nor standeth in the way of sinners, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, in his law doth he mediate day and night, he shall be like a tree planted by the river of waters, his leaf shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1

      The word of God is a lamp unto our feet, able to guide us, and direct us wherever we go and whatever we do;. Christians have a God given light that others do not have. Not that we should boast, but that we should be wise as serpents and harmless as doves and walk in the light of knowledge that we have from God our Father.

      “Let no man deceive you with vain words: For because of these things comneth the wrath of

God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. ( For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth:) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise redeeming the time. Because the days are evil wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5: 6-17.

Are We Ready?

Are We Ready?

      “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so, lest there be not enough for us and you: But go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And when they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, verily I say unto you. I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh.” Matthew 25: 1-13.

      Fellow Christians, if Jesus should return suddenly, or we should be called home without warning, would we find no oil in our lamps? Has the fire of enthusiasm for the Lord gone out? Are we so wrapped up in the things of the world that we fail to keep our lamps trimmed and the spiritual fire burning and a light shinning in the window for the Lord?

      The time will come when any further service for the Lord and preparation for his coming will be too late. The door will be shut, and those who beg to come in will be told, “I know you not”.                 

     Therefore, we must not let a day go by that we do not spend quality time in fellowship with the Lord, by reading and studying his word and praying, etc. Let us keep our lamp trimmed and oil in our lamps lest he come at an hour when we think not, and we be found not to be ready and the door close upon us.

What Is Our Besetting Sin?

What Is our Besetting Sin?

      A child of God ought not to be a fornicator, nor a whoremonger, nor have a mind filled with garbage and unclean thoughts and attitudes; but neither should he be covetous, nor an idolater. All these sins are grouped together and seem to carry the same weight of importance with God. One may frown on a person who has pre-marital or extra marital sex relations, but that same person may be given to covetousness and idol worship, and an idol is any thing that occupies the place in the heart and mind that God ought to occupy.

      “But fornication, and all uncleaness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5: 3, 4.

      You who do not have a mind filled with filthy thoughts, and do not gossip, and do not tell dirty jokes, and look with contempt on those who do, what does occupy the place in your mind that these forbidden things occupy in the minds of others? Is it covetousness? Is it longing and desire for things that God has not seen fit to grant you? Do you spend all your time and energy thinking of the things that you don't have, but would give anything to possess? Or is your mind occupied with thoughts of God and his righteousness and his coming kingdom? And are you busy giving thanks for all the blessings that God has already bestowed upon you?

      “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ephesians 5: 5.

      Beware dear christian brother or sister; and I speak to myself as well as to you, covetousness and idolatry will bar you from the kingdom of God just as much as fornication and adultery will.

All Of Grace!

All Of Grace!

      “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2: 8, 9, 10.

      God saved us because he wanted to, not because had to. He saved us because he loves us; because he created us for himself unto good works. He saved us because he is not willing that any should perish. Our salvation is by grace, through faith alone. He imparted unto us the faith to believe the gospel and to call upon Christ to save us.

      At one time we were without God in the world, having no hope; but while we were lost, while we were yet sinners, Christ came to save us, as many as will believe and receive him as lord and Savior.

      “But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances: for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace: and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby, and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets unto a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the spirit.” Ephesians 2: 13-22.

      Both Jew and Gentile are invited by God the Father to partake of his grace, and receive Christ as Savior, and become part of his body, the church, and enjoy his benevolence forever.

The Lord Hath Need Of You!

The Lord Hath Need Of You!

      “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shinneth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1: 1-5.

       Jesus and his disciples drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and when they had come as far as Bethpage, and the mount of olives, Jesus had need of an ass and its' colt, that he might humbly ride into Jerusalem as prophesied by Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.” Zechariah 9:9.

       Because of his divine power and knowledge, Jesus knew where to send his disciples to find the ass, and the colt. He knew where they were, because at this particular time and place to be used for this special purpose. No one disputed his right to use them for his divine purpose because they were his from the beginning.

       Likewise: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2: 10. Therefore, he has made each of us and has placed us in our particular place and callings and has a right to use us as he has need of us to fulfill his purpose and glory.

      We ought to be willing to be used by our Lord for anything that he has need of that will bring glory and hoinor to him, and ultimate happiness to ourselves.

      “And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethpage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, tell ye the daughter of Sion, behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them.” Matthew 21: 1-6.

What Good Thing Shall We Do?

What Good Thing Shall We Do?

      What good thing shall we do that we may have eternal life? If we would enter into life we must keep and obey all the commandments of God. There has never been any person on earth who has been able to keep and obey the commandments of God without fail except the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, when God looks upon us, he must declare that: “There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3: 10-12. All have failed to keep and obey the commandments of God in one point or another, if not in deed, then in the thoughts and intents of the heart. Therefore, if left to himself, mankind cannot inherit eternal life because: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6: 23.

      Our only hope for salvation is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, who kept the laws and commandments of God perfectly and obeyed the Father in every point of the law. The Lord Jesus, the perfectly obedient son of God offered himself for us as a sin sacrifice so that we, by receiving him as our Savior and sin sacrifice could enjoy everlasting life.: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5: 21. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

      The only way that we can have eternal life is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No other way can measure up with God.

      “And behold, one came and said unto him, good master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God, but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, which? Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother, and thou shall love thy neigfhbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Matthew19: 16-22.

To Know Christ!

To Know Christ!

      To know Christ, whom to know aright is life eternal, and to know the power of his resurrection; to have an intimate relationship with him should be the desire of every child of God. Our prayer ought to be - that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. We are brothers and sisters of Christ, he being our elder brother. Jesus said: “I ascend unto my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Having a common faith with our Lord makes us brothers and sisters with him.

     Oh! If only the eyes of our understanding might be opened so that we could see the fabulous riches of Christ and his glory, and to realize that as brothers and sisters of his, we are joint heirs with him and all that is his is ours. 

      Pray that: “The eyes of your understanding will be enlightened: that ye may kinow what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1: 18-23.