God's Promises When - We Feel Despair

God's Promises When We – Feel Despair

      When we find ourselves in a seemingly hopeless situation with no foreseeable remedy, whether it be because of our ill health, or financial difficulties, or personal, family, or moral issues, we tend to fall into an abyss of dark discouragement from which there seems to be no escape. This is where Satan would like to have us imprisoned where he can taunt us with morbid thoughts, and cause us to doubt the love and protection of our heavenly Father. When we allow ourselves to be confined to this prison of despair, we tend to accuse God for mistreating us, and blame those around us for our adverse circumstances.

      When we allow ourselves to fall into a state of despair, we are turning our back on God and contradicting his covenant with his children, to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory.

When we see discouragements approaching which could drag us down deep into the pits of despair, we need to remind ourselves, and ask ourselves this question – If God so loved us that he gave his son to die for us to save us from hell, will he not also give us freely and provide for all our need as we ask, believe, and receive, whether it be for our health, finances, the salvation of love ones or for other problems?

      God has promised to meet our every need. He admonishes us to ask, believe, and receive his blessings, and continue to walk in his light, as he is the light of the world. We never need to be ashamed of our hope, as long as we are hiding ourselves in God. God's law is our hiding place.

      “Uphold me according to thy word that I may live and not be ashamed of my hope.” Psalm 119: 116.

     God promises to revive the spirit of the humble, and revive the heart of the contrite ones. “For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”Isaiah 57: 15.

      God tells us not to cast away our confidence in him. “Cast not away, therefore, your confidence which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God ye shall receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10: 35, 36, 37

      We have a treasure within us – the Holy Spirit, who provides the power for us to accomplish all that God asks us to accomplish. We may be troubled, but with God in us, we cannot be destroyed. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not in us. We are troubled on every side, yet not destroyed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor 4: 7,8

     With God with us we need not succumb to despair, for with God we can overcome and accomplish great things. Nothing is impossible with God.

God's Promises When - You Feel Dejected

God's Promise When – You Feel Dejected

      Almost always, we as Christians bask in the sunshine of God’s Love and mercy and enjoy fellowship and communion with him. We go to the mountain top, as it were, and we, by faith, behold his glory. These are the times that we have the full assurance of our salvation and eternal destiny, and we feel that we are more than conquers with Christ.

      Then, soon after our experiences of great joy and the exhilaration of our victories in serving the Lord, the dark storm clouds of the realities of our daily life gather around us, and we find ourselves to have descended down into the valley of depression and near despair. It is here, during the storms of the reality of life, that we begin to doubt, and fear, and become discouraged, dejected and cast down to the pits, it seems.

      During these cycles in our Christian experience, we must be on the alert of our mortal enemy, Satan, who would grasp every oportunity to persuade us that our faith and walk with the Lord is foolish, unreasonable, and profitless. During these times it is very important to keep in mind the precious promises of God that he has given in his word, the Holy Scriptures, to lift us up and sustain us in our infirmities and trials of affliction.

      David, king of Israel, a man after God's own heart, found himself in the valley of dejection, when he asked himself the question: why art thou cast down, O my soul? “My tears have been my meat, day and night, while they constantly say unto me, where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me; for I had gone with the multitude. I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept holiday.” Psalm 42: 3, 4.

      David had descended from a holiday of joy and praise to a valley of dejection where he asked, where is thy God? Now he asks himself: “why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted in me?” Verse 5. Then God brings to his remembrance all the ways in which he had blessed David and given him many victories in the past. “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan. And of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar,” verse 6

      “Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me. And my prayer unto the God of my life. “I will say unto God my rock, why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” verse 9. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” verse 11

      In times of darkiness and despair, we need to remember all the blessings and victories that we have already received from the Lord, and search the scriptures diligently to discover all the precious promises that God has given us to light our darkness.

     Jesus has promised us that if we will draw nigh to him, he will draw nigh to us, and we will find rest for our soul. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11: 28-30.

      God has promised to help us in times of discouragement and trouble. “Let us therefore come bodly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4: 16.

     God has promised to lift us up when we come humbly before him. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4: 10.

      If we will diligently search the scriptures, and find and believe all the promises of God, no matter how dark the night, we will find it true that “.......weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30: 5

      “Thou has turned for me my mourning into dancing, thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness to the end that my glory may sing praises to thee and not be silent, O Lord my God; I will give thanks unto thee forever.” Psalm 30: 11, 12.

God's Promise When You: - Feel Guilty

God's Promise When You: - Feel Guilty

     Appearing before the judgment seat of God, how do you plead – guilty, or not guilty of sinning and breaking the laws of God? The prosecuting attorney, our accuser, which is, by the way, our own guilty conscience, if you will, bears witness, and makes stunning accusations against us before the throne of God.

     Whether we want to admit it or not, we know that the witness of our own conscience is true – that we are indeed guilty of disobeying and sinning against God. If we plead not guilty, we make God out to be a liar, because the Holy omniscient God has already declared that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

     When we try to hide our guilty conscience from God and others, and try to justify ourselves by our own good works, we fail miserably, and we end up bearing a heavy burden of guilty feelings on our shoulders. Living with this heavy burden of guilty feelings on our shoulders day by day, not only effects us, and makes us miserable, but it also effects the lives of those around us as well.

     Why not plead guilty before God. Confess our sins, rely on God's mercy, and claim his promises for the remedy of a guilty conscience. God has given to us precious promises to relieve our soul of guilt, and restore fellowship with himself.

     Sin not confessed, causes us to be banished from God and from his fellowship, but God has made adequate provision for us to be restored.

     “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him.” 2 Samuel 14:14.

      God in his mercy and love, has from the foundation of the earth, devised means whereby he can forgive sins and set the guilty free, and draw them back to himself. “If thou Lord should mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand, but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou might be feared.” Psalm 130: 3,4.

     God offered his son, who knew no sin, to suffer the penalty of our guilt by his death on the cross, and by his resurrection, justified all who will believe and receive him as Savior. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of the life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” Romans 8: 1,2.

     “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers with themselves with mankind, nor thieves nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11.

If any one who may be reading these lines is plagued and cast down with a heavy guilty conscience, please believe and accept the promise of God. “If we will confess our sins, he is just and able to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9.

O Sinner, please accept Christ today. Drop the heavy burden of guilt from your shoulders and go free. Oh! Sinner, go free!

Wait For God

Wait For God

       We must learn to wait for God for all things. Our time schedule is not necessarily God's time schedule. In fact, God exists outside of time, because he created it, and time, as we know it, means nothing to God. Past, present, and future, is all combined in eternity - the now with God.

      Man exists in time and space, everything that man does or experiences is controlled by time and space. This is not so with God. God knows the beginning and the ending all at the same time. He sees our down sitting and our uprising all at the same time. He is the Alpha, and Omega, the beginning and end.. Therefore, after all is said and done, no evil can befall a child of God, because all things work together for good to those who love God, according to Romans 8: 28.

      Jesus taught us that we are to be anxious for nothing. God's time is not our time, and God's ways are not our ways; his thoughts are not our thoughts. Jesus said that we are not to be anxious, but to trust God and wait for him. “And which of you by being anxious can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then, be not able to do that which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Luke 12: 25, 26. “But I would have you without carefulness.” 1 Cor 7: 32. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4: 6. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. “Therefore, take no thought , saying what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or where withal shall we be clothed? But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Math 6: 31,33.

      We must learn to always be seeking first the will of God; the glorification of God, and the kingdom of God; and to trust God and wait for God.

      “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,which built his house upon a rock.” Math 7: 24.

      Wait for God. “My soul wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” Psalm 62: 5

       “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master, and as eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress: so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” Psalm 123: 2. “Say not thou. I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.” Proverbs 20: 22.

      Let us learn to wait for God.

The Strange Woman

The Strange Women

      As well as warning us to beware of the folly of the lust of the flesh as it pertains to falling into the sin of adultery, the mention of the strange woman in scripture typifies, and speaks of anything that would draw us away from God. Adultery in scripture also has a twofold meaning, in that, not only does it pertain to the actual act of physical adultery, but it also typifies and speaks of the act of turning away from our first love, who, for the Christian and child of God, is our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The command given to us that we should not commit adultery is a twofold command to warn us not to leave our physical mates for another, but also, it is a warning to the bride of Christ for us not to become involved in any affair that would constitute our committing spiritual adultery against our first love. So, the mention of the strange woman in the scriptures speaks of any thing, or any one, that would draw us away from God and his perfect will for us. Speaking of the strange woman, Proverbs 5: 4 says: “Her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edge sword.”

What are the results of yielding to those things that draw us away from God? When we are drawn away from God and commit adultery with other gods we are cast about by every wind or doctrine. We are like the chaff that is blown about by the wind, according to Proverbs 5:6 . an unstable life without foundations , where it says: “Lest thou shouldest ponder the paths of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.”

What are some of the strange women in our lives with whom we commit adultery? Could it be a sin that we have not confessed that draws us out of fellowship with God? Could it be a grievance of the Holy Spirit because of something that we have not made right, perhaps a broken promise, or a vow that we have not kept? Could it be that there is some person - husband, wife, son or daughter, mother, father, or friend, that we desire their admiration, respect, and esteem so much that we would turn aside from God to them? Is the strange woman in our lives our material possessions, our house, our car, our business, bank accounts, our Job? Is it our education? Is it our standing in the community?

Whatever it is that draws us away from God and causes us not to put God at the very pinnacle of our lives, and the seat of our conscious worship, is nothing but an adulterous whore, and we are warned to seek wisdom that we may be kept away from the strange woman which flatereth with her words. Following the strange woman means ultimate destruction. God admonishes us not to be a wanderer away from God. Be true to your first love. Be true to the wife of your youth. Bride of Christ, be true to the one who has bought you and married you.

Thou shalt have no other gods before thee. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. So shall thou keep his commandments and live.

First Fruits Of Our Increase

 

Thought for Today - November 26, 2022

First Fruits Of Our Increase

By: Robert A. Searles 

 

      “....But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6: 33.

      “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3: 9, 10.

      The first fruits of all our increase not only includes our money and material possessions, but it also includes our time, our health, and our youth, and the freshness, and soundness of our minds.

 When God awakens us from sleep each new day, he has increased our time upon earth. If we truly seek first the kingdom of God, then we will give to him the first fruits of this increase. The first moments, or first hours of each new day ought to be spent in quiet prayer and meditation, and fellowship with God. 

 Often we are content to give to God whatever happens to be left over after we have taken the best of the crop for ourselves. Then we give to God the gleanings. After we have all the sleep we want, after we have eaten all the breakfast we want, after we have done all our work, and taken care of all the necessary things that have to be done for ourselves, then we will try to find time to fulfill our obligation to God. If it is an obligation that must be worked in somewhere in our time schedule, then we ought to forget it, because God wants our first fruits, brought to him with a willing heart, with love, and adoration and gratitude.

      “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5: 3.

 Morning implies newness, freshness, first things. Morning is the first fruits of each new day. How can any machine which depends upon an outside source of power, for its' energy, be expected to function if it is not first connected to its' source of power? How can we, as humans who are dependent upon our creator as our source of power and wisdom, function properly if we are not connected to our source of life?

      Our first act when we awake in the morning ought to be to call upon the name of the Lord. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If we want to be safe in the arms of Jesus all day long, then we ought to call upon him the moment we awake from sleep.

      Seeking first the kingdom of God means that we first want to live in God's presence and kingdom more than we want anything on earth. We ought to seek the kingdom of God early in the morning with the freshness of our minds, and our youth, and our health.

      Don't you think that God is well plerased when his children arise early in the morning and offer to him, with sincerity, gratitude, and love, the first fruits of the new day that he has given to them? When we honor God by opening our eyes in the morning and calling upon the name of the Lord, and say: Thank you Lord for this new day in my life, I want to walk and talk with you today, and have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in all that I do this day; this is well pleasing to the Lord. Each new day the Lord is knocking on the door of our hearts and lives the moment we awake in the morning.

      Jesus said: “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man will hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with me.” The door must be opened the first thing in the morning. If we wait until it is convenient for us to open the door, it may be that we will forget to open the door at all and we will have missed a very important dinner guest. 

 “As for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy. And in thy fear will Iworship toward thy holy temple.” Psalm 5: 7.

      “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will Idirect my prayer unto thee,and will look up.” Psalm 5: 3

      “Lead me O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.” Psalm 5:8.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Mnistry 

                                      Paslm 26: 7

Where Is Jesus Today?

Where is Jesus Today?

      Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is no longer in Jerusalem; no longer walks the shores of Galilee; no longer in the fisherman's boat; no longer hangs on a cross; and no longer in the tomb. Our Lord and Savior has risen and ascended into heaven as our great high priest, our advocate with the Father; our lawyer in heaven, as it were, interceding for us, and preparing a place for us in heaven. He is preparing his kingdom and calling his people.

      One day we shall hear the trumpet sound and we who know him as our own personal Savior will be drawn away to meet the King of kings, and dwell and reign with him forever.

      It is a good thing to study history and remember our beginning and consider our roots. It is good to remember and never forget the miracles, and sinless. Holy, unspotted life of our Lord; it is good to remember that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, taking our sins upon himself and bearing all our iniquities; shedding his blood as the only cleanser of our guilt and sin. It is good to reflect and remember, but we must not stay in the past. We must consider where we are today in our relationship with him. We must be constantly in communication with him today to know his will and get instructions for our daily activities.

      He has promised us that from heaven he will hear our prayers; accept our praise; and provide for all our spiritual and physical needs. Let us learn to keep our minds and our hearts stayed and focused on him, and walk in the spirit and grow in wisdom and grace. He has promised to keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on him.

Where Is Our Boasting?

Where Is Our Boasting?

      “Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 9: 23, 24.

      What are we boasting in this morning, my friends? Are we gloryng in our high degree of intelligence; our great worldly wisdsom; education, college degrees, or our position in life? Are we boasting in our youth, or in our physical beauty, or our health?

      You may be saying within yourself - I am young yet; in perfect health; I have the world by the tail, but do you, really? Don't be presumptious, boast not thyself of tomorrow, or even of today, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Take heed therefore and consider - “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, not the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them” Eccleslastes 9: 11, 12.

      Each of us need to stop and consider that all that we are; all that we have; all that we ever can hope to become has been bestowed upon us by our creator and heavenly Father. Every good and perfect gift comes down from our Father above, whether it be our eternal salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or the gift of intelligence, or health, beauty, position in life, or great riches. It is God who gives us the power to accumulate wealth. “That according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:31.' “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Corinthians 10: 17, 18.

      Friends, lets turn our eyes away from ourselves, and fix them upon our wonderful God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and let all our boasting and glorying be in him.

      “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the trangression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us: he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the sea.”Micah 7: 18, 19

      When we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are indeed the richest persons in this world system, although by worldly standards we may seem very poor.

Our Daily Bread

Thought for Today - April 3, 2023

Our Daily Bread

By: Robert A. Searles

      Give me this day my daily bread so that my soul might find nourishment in thee, O God of my salvation, and that I might have to give to others, that they too might be fed. Except you do break the bread to me, I cannot feed the hungry. A person can receive nothing except it be given him from God. You have told us, dear Lord in your word, that as our days are, so shall our strength be.

Each day the manna falls from heaven upon your beloved own, and provision is made for our well being; therefore, dear Lord, we ask for strength that we might gather that which you have already provided for us.

      Your word O God is a banqueting table to which all who will hear your voice have been invited to “come and dine.” A banqueting table filled with the finest cuisine of heaven; the bread of life; the lamb of God; the heavenly manna, the Lord Jesus Christ, who said that if we eat of his flesh and drink his blood we shall never hunger and never thirst, and live forever. He is at the head of the table with his arms outstretched and calling to the multitudes, “come and dine.” Sinner, will you believe and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior today and partake of the bread of life?

      Christian friend and brother and sister, will you leave the scraps of the world to the hogs and come to your Father's table and eat like a king's son. God has promised that he will supply us with daily bread, but our daily bread is found within the pages of his holy word. We must gather and eat by reading and prayer and meditation in a disciplined time and manner. Then the Holy Spirit will feed us. Then we will have enough for ourselves and others, and “baskets full left over”.

 

 

How Could I Know?

How Could I Know?

      If I had never been ill, I could not have experienced for myself the healing power of God. If I had never been troubled, I would never have learned first hand that God can deliver from all troubles. If I had never been afraid, I would not have known that God is truly my refuge and my high tower. If I had never been lonely, I would not know the comfort of the Holy Spirit's presence.

      My praise shall be to God who has greatly healed both my soul and my body, and has delivered me from many great and sore troubles. He has been my strength and refuge in times of fear and great difficulty, and my unfailing companion in times of loneliness. Therefore, my lips shall speak his praise and my heart render thanks for all that he has done and will do for me.

      “Thou, which has shewed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God, unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee, and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.” Psalm71: 20-24.

Where Is Safety?

Thought for Today - November 30, 2022

Where Is Safety?

By: Robert A. Searles

      The safest place to be is in the center of the will of God; and to dwell in the secret place of the most high, and abide under the shadow of the almighty.

 

 There is no greater refuge or fortress than our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we put our trust completely in him, he is faithful and just to forgive all our sins, and to deliver us from all unrighteousness.

 

      Our enemy, Satan, is seeking to devour us and ruin our testimony. He sets traps for us, but when we hide beneath the “wings”, as it were, of our heavenly Father, we are protected, and the Word of God is our shield and buckler.

 

      Many are lost all around us, and many are caught in Satan's traps. We see destruction all around us, but from the battlements of heaven, as it were, because we are in the high tower of our Lord's habitation.

 

 No evil can befall us, and no plague come nigh our dwelling, unless God so wills it for reasons we know nothing about.

 

      Our body guards are the angels, and they are under the strict orders of our heavenly Father to protect us and watch for our welfare. One cry or one whimper directed to God from one of God's children in distress is enough to set the whole host of heaven in an uproar, and set everything in motion for our rescue.

 

      “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress; my God in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou has made the lord, which is my refuge, even the most high, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder, the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” Psalm 91.

 

      If we want to be sure and confident of God's protection from the evils that are in the world, and all around us, we must change our place of residence from the world, to the secret place of the most high.

 

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

                                  

                                       Psalm 26: 7

Righteousness Exalteth A Nation!

Righteousness Exalteth A Nation!

      “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29: 2. How do we define “the righteous” and “righteousness”?

      The holy word of God ( the Holy Bible) says that there is none righteous. “As it is written, 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

      If, according to God's word there be none righteous, who then can be deemed righteous enough to be placed in positions of authority to rule over us in the every day affairs of government? Perfect righteousness can be found only in the person of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son. Only those who have believed and received him as Lord and Savior, and strive to be obedient to him, have had his righteousness imputed to them, and are looked upon by God as being righteous and qualified, according to God's word, to rule. We had better pray diligently for our government leaders, and when it comes time to elect new leaders, if we want to keep our country free, with happy, prosperous people, we had better make sure that when we cast our vote, we ascertain whether they are righteous or wicked, and are standing for righteousness, or if they have no regard for the inspired Word of God.

      “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.” Proverbs 25:4,5

     If we do not wake up and take heed to what God tells us in his word, someday it will be too late. “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29: 1.

      When God tells us over and over again to do something, or not to do something, and we do not take heed, then there comes a time when God cuts us off without hope.

“In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it."  Proverbs  29: 6,7

Are we righteous? Do we sing and rejoice? Do we consider the cause of the poor and the downcast and try to do something about it?

This Man Called Jesus

This Man Called Jesus

      This man called Jesus, the good shepherd, the divine son of God, our Savior and our Lord! To him belongs all honor and glory, and majesty, and all men and women, boys and girls, and young people ought to humble themselves in his mighty presence, and acknowledge him as the only way to God the Father, and the only way to eternal everlasting life.

      All who have gone before him are thieves and robbers, and all who may come after him are imposters. Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4: 12

      “Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God The Father.” Philippians 2: 9-11

      He came into the world to rescue the lost and to bring them safely home to God the Father, even as a good shepherd goes into the wilderness to search for the lost sheep and finding it, brings it safely back to the fold.

      This man called Jesus is Christ the Lord, the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53: 5-6

      Obedient to God the Father in every aspect of his life, setting the example for us who have been rescued, to follow in his steps that we might grow into his image and someday in heaven, reach the ideal to be as he is. He has given unto us who have received him by faith, eternal life, and we shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck us out of his hand.

      He and the Father are one, and he has so reconciled us to God, that we are also one with the Father through him. Thanks be to God our Father for his unspeakable gift of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior, our Lord and our shepherd. This man called Jesus who is God incarnate.

Teach The Children

Teach The Children

      Those of us who are parents, grandparents, senior citizens, the old and the gray headed, ought to be speaking from experience, and constantly showing forth to this present generation, and every one that is to come, the great power and strength, and righteousness of our Holy God. We ought to show our young people what it means to trust in God who is REAL and not just a fantasy, who cares, and who is willing and able to meet all our needs, both physical and spiritual. We know not the number of our days; therefore, every day ought to be precious to us, and we ought to utilize it wisely to honor God, and with great joy and gladness, magnify God before this younger generation so that they may seek and long after God.

      It seems that Satan is out to capture the minds, the souls, and lives of our children through his many diabolical devices. Satan is not as he is pictured in medieval literature as a red suited character with horns and pitch fork, whose habitation is hell. No! The bible describes him as an angel of light who goes about seeking whom he may devour. He uses many seemingly innocent schemes and devices to capture his prey. He sometimes uses people who know not the true God of eternal life and salvation to promote his programs.

      The word of God, the Holy Bible warns us not to have any fellowship with the works of darkness: nor to seek after the occult, nor to seek after familiar spirits. It tells us to “sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and dread.” Isaiah 8: 13. “And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God; for the living to the dead?” Isaiah 8: 19. “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consultant with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” Deuteronomy 18: 10-12.

     There are many other scripture verses which warn of the same thing, but there is not room enough here to list them.

      In spite of all these warnings from God, it is sad to observe that even Christian parents are allowing their children to pursue these demons of darkness in the literature and films they are allowed to read and watch. Why should we encourage or allow our children and grandchildren to worship the so called heroes of darkness – witches, wizards, familiar spirits, monsters etc., when we ought to be introducing them to wholesome, uplifting literature and films which honor and glorify God?

      The Holy Bible is full of great adventure stories for young children, adolescents, and even adults - Stories of Moses, Joshua, the children of Israel in the wilderness, the story of Daniel, of Ruth, stories and predictions of the prophets, and stories of great kings and kingdoms, and best of all, the stories of Jesus and his great plan of redemption and salvation. I have to wonder how many children and young peo0ple today in our society, even among so called Christian families, can relate to us these great adventures, and how they may apply them to our everyday living. I also sadly wonder how many parents, or grandparents, including Christians, would “camp out” overnight at a bookstore or public library, to hear the stories of these great bible heroes, as some do when the latest occult novel is being released.

      Our world is going to be governed by the upcoming generation and the generations following them. Who will be in control, Satan or God? We all know the final answer, the ultimate victory is God's, but oh! What a price we will pay in the meantime if we do not teach our children right things.

“My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness, and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the number thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord God. I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only, O God, thou hast brought me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.” Psalm 71: 15-18.

     What is most important to you, mom, dad, grammar, grandpa? How do you teach your children?

Are You Saved?

Are You Saved?

      Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Christ Jesus came into the world to save me, and Christ Jesus came into the world to save you. Are you saved? If you cannot say with absolute assurance that you are saved and know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die, then it is absolutely true, according to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Bible, that you are still lost, and if you are still lost when you die, you will spend eternity in hell forever with all its' misery and torments, separated from all that is pure and lovely, and righteous, apart from the presence of God forever.

      The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy said: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15. If the apostle Paul declared himself to be chief of sinners, where does that leave each of us? This should convince each of us that we are lost and need a Savior.

      We have a Savior provided for us if we will believe him; accept and believe his word when he, through the scriptures, warns us of our fate if we make the wrong choices concerning him.

      “As it is written, 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. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23.

      God in his love for us has offered us a remedy for this condition by offering to us by his mercy and grace, his own righteousness through Christ. “Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” Romans 3: 20-22

      Otherwise: if we refuse God's offer of salvation through Christ – then -”The wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6: 23. If we choose to receive wages for our sinful works, then we receive eternal death; but if we would rather rely on the free gift of God, and denounce our sinful works and our own righteousness as “filthy rags”, and acknowledge that Christ paid our sin debt with his blood and sacrifice for us, then we are freely given life eternal.

      “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not is son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, that his deeds should be reproved; but he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought of God.” John 3: 14-21

      “He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3: 36. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. “ 1 John 1: 10. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9

      How about it? Are you saved? Will you choose life or death? Will you choose light or darkness? Will you choose Christ or the Devil?

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Roommate

Roommate 

      Do we who claim to be “born again” Christians commune and visit with our roommate, the Holy Spirit, throughout the day, or do we just accept the fact that he is present with us and just ignore him? He wants to be a vital part of our life; he wants to be our counselor and guide.

      The bible tells us that when we receive Christ as our Savior the Holy Spirit moves into our body, and it becomes his holy temple, and he bears witness with our spirit, (that is- he makes himself and the things of God known to us in real way). How fortunate we are as Christians that where ever we are, and where ever we go, our roommate goes with us to be our companion; to keep us sealed unto salvation; to be our physician to keep us healthy and well; to be our lawyer in heaven, to keep us out of trouble with God the Father; to be our teacher, and to show us the things of God our Father, and Christ our Savior.  It is he who empowers us to go forth sowing the seed of the Gospel so that others might be saved.

      He is our lord's promise to us after his resurrection that when he ascended into heaven, he would send us another comforter who would abide with us forever. Let us not neglect him, but include him in all our conversation and daily activities.

Have We Been Spanked?

Have We Been Spanked?

      The bible tells us how the prophets of Israel warned God's people, the nation of Israel, that because of their turning away from him to their worship of idols, and committing all kinds of whoredoms, adultery, fornication, even offering their children to be burned as sacrifices in the fires of false gods, and turning their backs on him who had loved them and delivered them out of bondage from Egypt, that unless they turned back to him in repentance and obedience, he would have to bring judgment and destruction upon them which history has shown did actually happen. Just as one example was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

      I wonder if perhaps, through some of our natural disasters, which has brought so much misery to so many people, and has left so many dead and homeless, that God may be warning us as individuals and as a nation that unless we turn back to him in repentance and ask forgiveness for our sins and idolatry; unless we turn from our killing of our children through abortions; unless we stop our whoredoms and fornications; and stop worshipping the idols of sex, money, and power, and return to a revival of the Christian principles upon which this nation was founded; and instead of glorifying 'mother nature' which is a non-entity, and recognize that it is God the Father who is sovereign over the elements and the entire universe, that there may be worse things to come.

      We may have just received a mild spanking from a loving Father to warn us of worse things to come in the way of judgment. May we as individuals, and as a nation not wander so far away from God that he has to rebuke us or draw us back to himself through his anger, wrath, and hot displeasure.

“O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath:neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.” Psalm 38: 1

Hell Is No Joke

Hell Is No Joke!

      Has anyone ever told you to “go to Hell”? Have you ever told anyone to “go to Hell”? Have you heard any “jokes” about Hell? Have you told any “jokes” about Hell? My friend, allow me to tell you and warn you, by the authority of the Word of God, the holy bible, that Hell is no joke and is not to be trifled with and taken lightly.

      Hell is a real place, even as earth is a real place, and Heaven is a real place. Hell is a place of continual fire, kindled by the anger of God: “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest Hell and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.” Deuteronomy 32: 22.

      Hell is a place prepared by God for the devil and all the rebellious angels who followed him, and the eternal abode of all who willfully reject the love of God. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41. No one will automatically go to Heaven; but everyone WILL automatically go to Hell unless they are SAVED. There is no middle ground where we receive a second chance. Someone has rightly said: “Going to Hell requires no decision, and no reservation is necessary.”

Unless we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ: that he is God manifested in the flesh, Emanuel, God with us, and that he came to offer himself a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins, and unless we confess that we are all sinners and need a Savior and recognize Jesus Christ as our redeemer and rescuer, and call upon him to have mercy upon us and save us, our destiny will be to spend eternity in that horrible, eternal place called Hell. Being in Hell forever is the natural state of mankind without God, just as cold is the natural state without heat, and darkness the natural state without light.

To be condemned by God and separated from him forever means Hell, indeed! The bible says: “He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God, and this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3: 18, 19

      My friend, if you would rather “hide out” as it were, in the darkness of sin, and rebellion rather than to enter into God's light of love; if you are a lover of this world rather than a lover of God, then on the authority of God's word, Hell is your inheritance forever. When our blessed Lord Jesus Christ walked on the earth, he taught and warned of the dangers of Hell fire more than the glories of Heaven.

      Hell is a place of continual, everlasting sorrow, grief, anguish, pain and suffering; it is a place of perpetual darkness where there is “weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth”, and as the scripture says: “the worm dieth not” - that is – the fire is never extinguished, the thirst is never quenched, the pain is never eased, the loneliness and despair of being forever separated from a loving God and godly loved ones is never abated. - See Matthew 8: 12 and Mark 9: 43-48. “The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” “If thy hand offend thee, cut it off it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into Hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into Hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.” The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed the fact that Hell is a real place of fire and eternal punishment, and gave us warning that it is to be avoided at all cost.

      There is a great gulf fixed between Heaven and Hell, between the good and the evil. That gulf cannot be crossed. No one is able to go from one to the other. God is kind, and merciful and long suffering, but he has warned us that “his spirit shall not always strive with man.” Gen 6: 3. One day God will close the doors of Heaven and all who have refused to hear his call will be shut out, and then all there is left is Hell forever. Today, the door of Heaven is wide open, God is calling. If you hear his voice, answer his call and be saved: “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6: 2. Tomorrow may be too late. The door might be shut.

In Luke's gospel chapter 16, verses 19-31, Jesus told of one who was rich in this world's goods and thought he had no need for God; but when he died he went to Hell: “And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off and Lazarus ( a poor beggar, who in his lifetime knew and trusted God), in his bosom, he cried and said, father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame” Now it was too late for him to repent. The door had been closed. He was there in Hell forever, forever to be tormented.

      Don't fool yourself, my friend. Don't play Russian roulette with your eternal destiny. Any moment could be your last on earth, and then where will you find yourself in Heaven or in Hell? “It is appointed unto man once to die (young or old, rich or poor), and after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. Where will you stand at the judgment? If you were to die today do you have the assurance of Heaven or is the mouth of Hell gaping wide open , waiting to receive you into everlasting habitations and torment? Death is not the end of your existence, my friend, but commencement, as it were, when you are either promoted to Heaven, or consigned to Hell forever. When God created you and me, he gave us a life that would go on forever. You and I will spend eternity some place, either in Heaven or in Hell. The bible says. “ It is appointed unto men once to die” (that is – our spirit is to be separated from our physical body), “ and after that the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. How will you be judged when you find yourself before the judgment throne of God? Jesus said: “At the end of the world, the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13: 49-50. , How will you b e judged when Hebrews 9: 27. How will you be judged whedn you find yourself before the judgment throne of God? Jesus said: “At the end of the world, the angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Mathew 13: 49-50. How will you be judged, as among the wicked or among the righteous? In the book of Revelation John tells us: “And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, every man according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works, and death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the secomd death, and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20: 12-15. “The fearful and unbelieving and the abominable, and murderers and whore mongers, and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death.,” Revelation 21: 8.

      My friend, is your name written in the lamb's book of life? Have your sins been forgiven? Have you believed since you heard the Word of God? Have you asked God to show you his loving kindness and tender mercies and apply the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to your account so that you might be declared righteous in his sight? As you read these words and hear his voice, the opportunity is still available to you, but consider the awesome alternative that lies before you if you refuse.

My friend, don't expect to party with your drinking “buddies” in Hell. Hell fire always burns, but never consumes. A split second after you leave this physical body, if you find yourself in Hell, it will be a terrible unnecessary situation because God in his love and mercy has provided a way of escape from the horrors of Hell to enjoy the pardon of God forever. “I amAlpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. “Revelation 21: 6-7.

      The good news is that God himself so loved you and me that he took upon himself human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, and came to earth to rescue from Hell, and to save all who will believe and trust in him. “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.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved and thy house.” Acts 16: 31. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3: 10. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. “The wages of sin is death (separation from God in Hell forever), but the gift of God is everlasting life (with God forever in Heaven) Through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6: 23. “What must I do to be saved?”, the Philippian jailer asked. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” Acts 16: 31 was the answer.

      My friend, while there is still time for you to avoid the horrors of Hell forever, won't you heed the warning? Hell is no joke: it is a horrible certainty for you unless you believe God, ask for his mercy , and trust in his promises. If you have read thus far in this message, if you have in your possession a copy of the Word of God, the Holy Bible, and if you have ever heard the preching of the Word of God, perhaps the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart, even perhaps causing you to be quite uncomfortable and miserable, convicting you of the truth of what you have heard and read, and if that is so, then this is good evidence that God is drawing you to himself to be saved. The bible says that no one can come to Christ except the Father draws him. No one can earn salvation by any amount of good works or good intentions or good deeds, for salvation is a gift from God. “For by grace are ye saved, through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8 ,9.

      My friend, God sends no one to Hell willingly. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. If you go to Hell it will be because you have trampled on the love of God and the prayers of Christian loved ones and friends, the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and the working of the Holy Spirit. Don't be a fool. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” Psalm 53: 1.

      Believe the gospel that - “Christ Jesus 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. “Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7: 25. He is able to save all who will come to him by faith, and admit their sins and ask for his forgiveness.

      Will you dear reader consider doing this if you have not already done so, before the door is eternally closed and it is everlastingly too late, and you learn for sure that Hell is no joke because you find yourself there? When you have received Christ into your heart, and have become a born again child of God, confess him with your mouth. The bible says that “With the heart man believeth and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10.; Tell your friends, your wife, your

husband, your children, your parents and co-workers. You ought to seek the fellowship of other believers in a bible believing fundamental church where the bible, and the bible alone is the sole authority for faith and practice. You ought also, after you are saved, follow the Lord in believer's baptism as a testimony of your new life in Christ. May the Lord lead you and bless you and save you from the horrors of Hell which otherwise you will find is no joke.

Written by Robert A. Searles – all rightrs reserved

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Why?

Why?

      Why do we write these things? Why do we preach these things? Why do we plead with people to take heed to the warning of the word of God? Why are we so concerned with those who do not really want to hear what we have to say and what God has to say, and may even resent us and hate us for it?

It is because we, who have by the grace of God experienced the love of God, and have been pardoned from our sins, and come to know the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and have been taught by God through the Lord Jesus Christ, have been commissioned by him to “speak the truth in love” and warn the wicked. Who are the wicked? All of us, whether we are now saved, or have not yet come to the truth, could at one time or other, fall into this category.

      What is truth? There is one absolute truth in all the universe, that is, almighty God and God's word. Who is God? “I am, that I am” The Almighty God said to Moses. There is no other God. “Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22. Emmanuel, God with us in human flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who is Christ, the Messiah.

      God has revealed himself to us in nature, by the things he has made. “the heavens declare the glory of God.” He has revealed himself in the holy scriptures, The Holy Bible, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” God has revealed himself to us through his living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is confirmed to be who he said he is and accepted by God the Father by his resurrection, which is an established fact of history, having shown himself alive by many infallible proofs, and being seen by over five hundred people at one time after his resurrection

      Wicked people are all those who will not acknowledge these absolute truths, and humble themselves before a loving heavenly father and accept his gift of love in the sacrifice of Christ for their sins. The fool says in his heart: “no God for me” Psalm 53. That kind of fool is a wicked person, and God's absolute word tells us in no uncertain terms: “The wicked shall be cast into Hell and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9: 17

      Those of us who claim to be Christians, have been commissioned by our Lord to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature and warn the wicked. If we have little or no concern for the state of the wicked and those who are lost without Christ, then our Christianity is weak indeed. We who know the truth have a responsibility to our friends and neighbors for their safety, whether it be physical or spiritual, then it is our responsibility and duty when we see our neighbor's house ablaze to call for help, and to break down every barrier to get to him and snatch him from the fire. Likewise when we see our friends and neighbors in danger of hell fire because of their willful neglect of God';s call to them, then it is our duty to do every thing we can to snatch them from the fires of eternal hell, even if they become angry at us for doing so. Besides, we must give an account to

God if we neglect to do this.

      “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small, if thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be slain – if thou sayest, behold, we knew it not, doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works? Proverbs 24: 10-12.

       If we are truly the children of God who have been born again through our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God did not leave us here on earth just to brag, as it were, of our salvation, and sit in church Sunday afer Sunday, and sing hymns and pat each other on the back and tell each other how wonderful we are, this is good and has its' place and something we ought to do, but God has a larger and better job for us to do, even as he told the children of Israel in Ezekiel's day. He has commissioned us to be watchman to warn the wicked and the lost of our day so that they might be spared the judgment of God.

      “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore, hear the word at my mouth and give them warning from me, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked ways, to save his life: the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet, if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because thou has not given him warning, he shall die in his sins, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 3: 17-21

      We do not want to stand before God almighty and give an account for not sharing our testimony of personal salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. We would like to see all men and women, boys and girls, turn from their wickedness and seek God. This is why we write these things, and preach these things, and plead for those who read these lines to accept Christ as their Savior. God said: “So shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.” Isaiah 55: 11.

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May Thy Kingdom Come

May Thy Kingdom Come

      There comes a time when babies must stop eating soft food and drinking only milk, and they must begin to digest solid food. Likewise, there comes a time when Christians must put aside the milk and soft food of the word of God, and start to digest and absorb the meat of the word, and to think about and watch, and prepare for the future kingdom of Christ on earth.

      We will not always have to put up with corrupt and sinful governments on earth. We have the promise of God that one day, the righteous God, the King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, will rule from the throne of David with a rod of iron. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the migfhty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end, and upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment, with justice from henceforth and even forever. The zeal of the Lord of host will perform this” Isaiah 9: 6-7. “And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Rev 11: 15.

      Let us have our wicks trimmed, and our lamps filled with oil and burning, as it were, and let us be listening for the sound of the trumpet, and watching for our Lord's return for his own, then seven years later for him to return with his own to establish his kingdom on earth as he has promised.

That which God has promised, he has and will still fulfill. While we wait for him, let us be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

God's Enemy And Our Adversary

God's Enemy And Our Adversary

      God's enemy and our adversary, the devil, goes about seeking whom he may devour. As he did in the garden with Adam and Eve, so will he do with us, by lying to us and causing us to doubt and disbelieve God's word. Have faith in God, believe and not doubt. God's word is sure and steadfast and unmovable.

      “The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.” Psalm, 59: 10. God promises to go before us and clear the way for us, though there be lions in our pathway. God has promised to break out their great teeth and render them harmless so that all they can do is to roar at us. fear, pain, sickness, poverty, worry death, low self esteem, all these, our enemies will God scatter and break their teeth and power over us as we put our faith and confidence in him.

      “Break their teeth, O God in their mouth, break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord, let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. Psalm 58: 6-7

      As we learn to walk and talk and fellowship with our God our father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our adversary, Satan and all his demons will flee away. “God will scatter them and bring them down, O Lord our shield” Psalm59:11

      “But I will sing of thy power, yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee oh my strength will I sing, for God is my defense and the God of my mercy,” Psalm 59: 16-17.

Hunger And Thirst After Rigfhteousness

Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness

      We as Christians ought to hunger and thirst after righteousness. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5: 6.

      Christ has imputed his righteousness to us if we are saved. He made the first step toward us by offering his righteousness to all who will receive it. Righteousness is simply being right in our actions, and thoughts, and attitudes toward God. Our Lord and Savior was and still is the only person who could measure up to this requirement.

      Righteousness has its' rewards: “Righteousness delivers from death”-Proverbs 11: 4.

By right thoughts and actions toward God, we are not only delivered from spiritual death, but often we will prolong our life on earth because we will have avoided those things that can destroy us.

      “The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way.” - Proverbs 11:5.

When our mind and our thoughts are in harmony and agreement with the mind of God, the Holy Spirit will direct our paths so that we follow a lifestyle that is good for us.

      “The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them.” Proverbs 11: 6 Being right with God assures our escape from the penalty of sin, and guarantees a sure place in heaven because - “Righteousness tendeth to life.” Proverbs 11: 19.

      "The seed of the righeous shall be delivered.” Proverbs 11: 21.

Even our childfren and grandchildren, and future generations will reap the rewards of our righteousness; but on the other hand, they will also reap the penalties of our wickedness if we are wicked.

      “The desire of the righteous is only good.” Proverbs 11: 23

When we are right with God, when our thoughts and actions toward God are right; when we seek God with all our heart; then we can trust that the desires of our hearts are from God. When we delight in the Lord, he gives us the desires of our heart.

      “The righteous shall flourish as a branch” Ptoberbs 11: 28 and - “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30. A good tree grows tall and spreads its' leaves and branches and provides shade. It provides a nesting place for birds and other creatures. It provides food and offers protection. May we each live and have our being as a tree of life in thee, oh Lord and win others to thee.