Strength From The Lord

Strength From The Lord

by; Robert A. Searles

      “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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.;....” Ephesians 6: 10-18 (KJV)

      Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Be a true believer. Put on the whole armor of God. Take the confidence you have in the word of God, and hold it up in front of you whenever you are deluged with doubts and fears, and attacks thrown at you by Satan. Claim your salvation, always see Christ on the cross, bleeding and dying, but remember his resurrection on the third day, and realize that the price of your redemption is paid in full. The cross is empty and the tomb is empty. Therefore, it is impossible for you to be mortally wounded and destroyed if you have on the helmet of salvation.

      Let us fight a good fight as soldiers of Christ. Let us pick up our weapons and march off to war in the army of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God is the weapon of our warfare.

Robert A. Searles

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Preach The Gospel

Preach The Gospel!

By: Robert A. Searles

      The apostle Paul said: “So much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1: 15, 16 (KJV)

      The gospel, the good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost; the good news that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures; that he was buried and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures; the gospel is the power of God to save all that believe, therefore, we need never be ashamed or disappointed with the gospel. As God gives us the faith to believe and appropriate to ourselves this wonderful good news, we can have the assurance that all our sin, short comings, and failures, died with Christ, and a new life was resurrected with Christ. To show gratitude for all that God has done for us through Christ, we ought also to be ready and eager to preach the gospel wherever we go, and as we go, as God gives us the faith, and ability, and resources to do so.

Robert A Searles

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

The Field Of The Slothful

The Field Of the Slothful

      “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.” Proverb 24: 30-34 (KJV)

      Just as physical laziness will result in poverty and want, so will spiritual laziness and slothfulness result in poverty of the spirit and soul when we are too lazy or indifferent to pray and meet with God, and seek God, and do our duty toward him. Just as we need to work for our physical well being, so we must consciously make the effort to be spiritually well nurtured and adjusted by deliberately searching the scriptures, praying, and having communion with God.

      May we not allow ourselves to become negligent and lazy concerning the things of God, when God has opened his store house of blessing to us and invited us to abide in him and enjoy the abundant life which he has provided for us.

Our Greatest Asset

Our Greatest Asset

By Robert A. Searles

      If you were asked what you considered to be your most valuable asset, no doubt you would look about you and think for a moment, then you would probably list your property, savings, home, health and family. These are indeed, great assets to everyone, but wait, there is something that made all these things possible, that something is freedom – freedom to work, to accumulate savings; to build your home, and live happily with your family. Without this freedom we would be denied the right to speak or write our thoughts and express our opinions on important issues of the day.

      Our freedom which was fought for by the early American colonist, and which men have fought and died for many times since to preserve, is one of our most cherished heritages. It is something which we must never lose sight of, for if we do, then the nation is doomed to totalitarianism like so many countries of Europe.

      We must grasp this freedom and keep hold of it like a mother might grasp a small infant to keep it from falling from her arms.

      When we are going about our daily routine of living, we sometimes take freedom for granted and fail to see any possibility of losing it,; but remember, it could be suddenly taken from us as easily as a piece of candy could be taken from a small child; therefore, we must all join hands and work hard to preserve that freedom. We must guard it with our lives, and if necessary , fight for it.

      How can we ever hope to preserve our freedom when there are people that hate their neighbors because they have a different colored skin or a different accent in their voice from theirs, or perhaps they may go to a different church?

      When the colonist fought for freedom, they not only considered it a thing for men of the same color skin and nationality, but for all men, regardless of their race, creed, or color. If we foster prejudice and racial discrimination, then we have no freedom. If we refuse to have anything to do with a person just because he happens to be different from us, we are doing the same thing that the Nazis or the so called “master race” did. When we do this, we are gradually building up hatred in our own country. In a country where there is hatred there can be no freedom, and without freedom we cannot expect peace and the many comforts which we take for granted every day; therefore, we must get rid of intolerance and racial discrimination. Not until we do this can we ever hope for world peace and the end of dictators.

      Remember that our great country was discovered by foreigners and built by foreigners. If we eliminate men and women of different races, colors, and religions from our country, then we shall have little left.

      If we want peace we must strive to keep our freedom. The first step in keeping our freedom is to recognize the author of all freedom, he who created all men to be equal and to have equal rights, and honor him and give him thanks, he who is the great lawgiver of the universe. Without law there can be no real freedom, yet there are those who would bar from public view, those fundamental laws upon which our common laws are founded, namely the ten commandments handed down by almighty God to Moses.

      If there be no God whose commandments are to be respected and obeyed, why are the so called atheist who want to keep the laws of God out of public view, so afraid to have them seen? It seems to be quite ridiculous to be afraid of something non existent. Prayer and bible reading is being forbidden in our schools and public places, and we expect to preserve our freedom? No! My friends, whether we like it or not, the infallible word of God tells us that: “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all nation that forget God.” Psalm 9: 17

     A much quoted scripture which is very true says: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7: 14.

     Every day it seems that we are losing more and more of our freedoms, We are being told what we can and cannot do in the very privacy of our own homes. Even our foods are being laid out for us and we are being told what we should or should not eat. A call goes out to the children of God to come out of your closets and be identified as lovers of God, and lovers of freedom for all men. Humble yourselves and pray and seek the face of God and abide by his laws.

       If we want peace and freedom we must strive o keep freedom, and in order to keep freedom we must join hands with our neighbors whether they be black , white, yellow or red, and realize the fact that we are one nation under God, and under God's laws, and that a separated people are doomed.

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The Spiritual Conflict

The Spiritual Conflict

      When, by the grace of God, we are liberated, and set free from our natural state of blindness and of being oblivious to the things of God, and we by God's grace are given faith and spiritual sight to behold the glory of God and the truth of his word and his creations, we are reborn in the spirit, and suddenly we become aware of spiritual things, and we for the first time, come to see ourselves, as in a mirror, and we see the filthy rags of sin in which we are clothed. We see what we really are by ourselves in our own sinfulness, and we see the glory of God and the righteousness of Christ, and that which he has to offer us, and we cry out to him in despair – Oh God! be merciful to me a sinner, and save me for Christ's sake, and he hears our sincere prayer and immediately saves us. He pulls us up out of the miry pit and sets our feet upon the solid rock, then we have become the children of God, joint heirs with Christ, and inheritors of eternal life.

      Since the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden, there has been a spiritual warfare raging on earth between God and Satan, and between the children of God and the children of the devil. The children of God, being clothed anew by the righteousness of Christ, are now enlisted in the spiritual army of God and wear the uniform of the valiant soldiers of the King of kings and Lord or lords, all for the glory and honor of their redeemer. We are charged by God that we might war a good warfare. “Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2: 3,4. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6: 12.

      “But I see another law in my members, in warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:23

      The battle rages between good and evil, truth and error. The enemy is ruthless, and cruel, and powerful, and we are warned by our commander in chief to always be on the alert for the diabolical schemes of our adversary. He sets traps for us to fall into and be taken prisoner, and to be bound in spiritual chains from which, by our own efforts is difficult or impossible to escape – bad habits, attitudes, fear, resentments hatred, anxiety, rebellion, doubts, unbelief -all these and many more lethal weapons he throws at us to destroy our testimony and our effectiveness in proclaiming the truth of God, and claiming territory and winning souls to Christ

      Our foes are invisible, therefore we are warned to “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, talking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 10-17.

     “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5: 8,9.

      As soldiers of Christ, we have been well equipped and provided for the strife that lies before us. With Christ, as our commander in chief, our never failing conqueror, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10: 4. When we try to fight the battles of life with our own strength and resources, we fail miserably because in ourselves we are weak and easily succumb to temptations. “Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6; 17. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

      “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Romans 13: 12. “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand, and on the left.” 2 Corinthians 6: 7. “Let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

     Our enemies are those within our own soul. The battle rages within us. It is here that we must meet the spiritual conflict. Take the weapons that God has provided- read and study the word of God, search for and believe all the promises of God, pray diligently for ourselves and others. Let us have the mind of Christ, and let his teaching dwell in our hearts, and let us walk and abide with him every day and hour of our lives. If we will do this we will have the victory.

Walking With God

Walking With God

      Fellow Christians, let us examine ourselves, are we walking each day with God? Is he our constant companion wherever we go, and whatever we do? Do we go anywhere, or do anything that we could not go or do with the companionship of God? Are we really walking with God, or is he just tagging along behind because we have put ourselves, and other things ahead of him? He has promised never to leave us, nor forsake us; but we are guilty of ignoring his presence with us, because sometimes we want to indulge ourselves; we want to go places, and do things, and be involved in things that we know God will not be a part of because he is Holy and righteous.

      “Enoch walked with God for three hundred years and begat sons and daughters, and all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty five years; and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him.” According to Genesis 5: 22,23,24.

      Three hundred years is a long time to walk with God, but God and Enoch must have had a glorious time together, because their relationship was so intimate that Enoch was the first person to be raptured. (or caught away). One day God and Enoch were so involved in each others company, that suddenly Enoch was not, for God took him.

     God gives special favors and privileges and honors to those who will choose to walk with him, to deny self, and to forsake places, and things, and companions that are not pleasing to God. “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a just man and perfect in all his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6: 8, 9. Noah was given the honor of preserving life on planet earth during the flood.

      To walk with God, we must agree with God in all points. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” He that would walk with God must believe and agree that he is, and that he is a rewarder of all those who diligently seek him. Without faith it is impossible to please God. To walk with God, we must agree with God when he says: “there is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3: 10. And, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23. And, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”Romans 6: 23. To walk with God we must agree with God that these words apply to us, and declare with Paul, that we are chief among sinners, but the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. “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.

      To walk with God, we must agree with God that our standing with him does not come as a result of our good works, or our own righteousness, but “By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8,9

      God made people in his own image to walk with him. This is our calling as the ultimate creation of God. “Whosoever will may come.” Jesus said. “All who come to me I will in no wise cast out. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Micah 6: 8. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16: 9. “He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.” Job 28: 10. “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.” Psalm 11: 4. “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”Psalm 33: 18, 19 “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3: 12.

      Beware, we are under constant surveillance. We are constantly being watched. Shakespeare said: “All the world is a stage and men and women merely players.” What he should have said is that men and women are like microbes under God's microscope, although God does not need a microscope to see all the hidden things of man’s heart, his eyes are sufficient.

      We are being watched by the Lord, and all the host of heaven, to see what our choices will be in any given situation. The Lord's eyes are searching for the person who will choose to walk humbly with him and honor him. God does not overlook anything that he finds to be precious in his sight. God is ready and pleased to reward righteousness, and faithfulness when he finds it.

      My fellow Christian, if you have been saved by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, won't you come out of hiding, as it were, and make yourself known to the world as a Christian, hating sin as God hates sin, but loving the sinner as God loves sinners. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, and glorify God. Fellow Christian, God gives you a free will to choose good or evil, life or death. This old world in which we live is on its' last legs. Sin and corruption and wickedness prevail everywhere, and even our own beloved country is ripe for the judgment of God. We, who are called the children of God , must choose to walk with God moment by moment, and day by day, and put on the uniform of the redeemed child of God. As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, we must not become so entangled with the things of the life that we would be handicapped in the army of the Lord. If you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and merciful, and that he has raised you up out of the miry pit, how can you not with gratitude, present yourselves a living sacrifice to God which is your reasonable service, that you might walk with him, and that you might be an instrument in his hand; so that he might work a good work in you and through you as he did with Enoch and Noah, and all the other saints down through the ages who chose to walk with God.

      The bible teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, and when he comes, he will have with him crowns and rewards for those who were willing to choose to obey him, to hear his call, and go forth to battle for his glory. Fellow Christian, right now as you read this message, you are of necessity making a choice. What will it be?

God's Promise Of Joy

      We are told that the pursuit of happiness is the right of every one of God's created human beings, and so it is,; but sometimes, we are misguided into believing that happiness and joy are one and the same., but this is not necessarily true. Happiness must be pursued, and sometimes we find it, and sometimes we don't. Whether or not we are happy at any one particular moment can very often depend upon our state of health, our financial situation, our possessions, our gains or losses etc. Joy on the other hand, is a deep seated, lively emotion of happiness, a sense of gladness, and delight and well being that is a fixation in our soul that was not found by our pursuit, but has been imparted to us as a gift from almighty God.

      If we have ever experienced the overwhelming sense of security and gladness, delight, and well being welling up from the depth of our innermost being, even in times when our body may be experiencing pain, or our bank account balance showing zero, or perhaps we have experienced some great disappointment, or even in times of great loss or even death itself., then we have experienced true joy.

      Happiness is contingent upon our present situation or state of affairs, and no one could expect to be what the world calls extremely happy when stressed out by worry over health, finances, and our every day problems which we are trying to resolve by our own worldly wisdom; but when we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can take all our burdens to him, and not only can we find peace and happiness, but he will give us his assurance of our salvation, and give us his joy. We are told to take our burdens to the Lord and leave them there.

      Sometimes in the pursuit of happiness, we try to convince ourselves that we can find happiness and experience joy if we get that new house or that new automobile, or if we go to the shopping mall and accumulate a new wardrobe, and spend money for things that we do not really need, and sometimes find that we have over burdened ourselves with debt that only adds to our unhappiness in the end. Sometimes we even go to extremes and think that if we were in a different relationship with someone else other than the one to whom we are espoused, that we would have more happiness and joy, but none of these artificial remedies can bring us true happiness and everlasting joy.

      The basic problem with all of us is that we are all sinners and separated from God, our creator. In order to be filled with joy, and experience true happiness, we need to have our sins forgiven, and fellowship restored with God. We are all guilty before God of being born sinners. We need God's forgiveness and pardon. Christ came into the world for this very purpose, that though his death on the cross, men and women, boys and girls, might find forgiveness and restoration to God our Father. Until we, by faith, come to Christ, believing that he is God in human flesh, and that he offered himself on the cross for our salvation and freedom from sin and its' penalty of guilt and damnation, we will always be carrying around within our souls a heavy burden of guilt, because, whether we realize it or not, our discontent and unhappiness is the result of our guiltiness before God.

      We do not have to carry this heavy burden of a guilty conscience on our shoulders because all we have to do is to come to Christ by faith, believing his word that he is willing to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him. Sincerely ask for his forgiveness, and open our hearts and minds to him so that he might fill us with his Holy Spirit, and then we are born again, the children of God, and then the joy of the Lord fills our entire being. When we have the joy of the Lord in our hearts, then what we think of as happiness is there also regardless of our state of being or situation in life. God has not promised that we will not have trials and tribulations and problems, but he has promised us everlasting joy, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

      “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.” John 16: 24. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost” Romans 15:13.

      “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their hearts; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35: 10.

      “O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90: 14.

      “Thou will show me the path of life, in thy presence is fullness of joy: at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11.

      “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you that your joy may be full,” John:15:10-11. “And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy, no man taketh from you” John 16:22. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30: 5.

     You will experience Joy in serving Jesus.

Acceptable Sacrifice

Acceptable Sacrifice

      “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” psalm 107: 21, 22. “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.” Psalm 69: 30-31.

      An ox or a bullock offered upon the altar as a sacrifice to God is something that can be seen and touched, and something that seems to be real in the earthly sphere of things, and it is probably quite costly to the owner or the person offering it; however God has said that he values more highly than the ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs, the praise and gratitude of the heart.

      God said that love is the more perfect way. Good works, good deeds, good morals, sacrifices, all these things that man can offer up to God are abominations, and a stench in God's nostrils unless they are genuinely motivated by love and praise, and thanksgiving.

      Just to be talking about God, and to be doing things that pertain to God, and o be all wrapped up in some serviced for him in the name of God is not enough by itself. Martha was busy about many things. She was so wrapped up in doing things, that she had little time for the Lord himself. Jesus did not say that Martha was completely wrong in doing, but he did say that Mary had chosen the better part. What was the better part? The better part was to sit at his feet and worship him, and listen to his teaching, and love him and show her gratitrude, praise, and thanksgiving, by washing his feet with her hair.

      The acceptable sacrifice to God is love and gratitude to God. Jesus said: “thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy mind and all thy soul.” Our love of God will cause us to put everything else aside and make the Lord truly the Lord of our lives, and seek him first in all things, and trust him for all our needs.

      God will not fail us if we truly trust and believe his word. If we will be preoccupied with God – God has promised that all our needs will be met and that our barns will burst with new wine. Let us pray that God will help us individually and together to offer the right kind of sacrifices to him, which is -the best of our time, the best of our life, the first fruits of all our increase, the first part of every new day, and live in such a way that we will be a testimony to all people that we depend wholly on God and not out own efforts nor our own wisdom.

We Become Like What We Think About

We Become Like What We Think About

      “The wicked through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God; God is not in all his thoughts.” Psalm 10:4. Do we seek after God the very first thing that we do when we awake each morning? Is God in all our thoughts, or is God in any of our thoughts?

      It is very possible to perform services in the name of God, and to do good works in the name of God without really giving much thought to God, and without really seeking the presence and fellowship with God.

      Do we really worship and praise God in the spirit? Do we worship God in the beauty of his holiness, are we truly in love with God, or are we just in love with the idea of appearing Godly?

      Young people reach an age when they think that all that matters is being in love with members of the opposite sex. Psychiatrist will tell you that most of the time, they are not in love with any one person, but they are in love with the idea of love, because it seems to be the in thing to do. This is why it is dangerous for young people to get deeply involved with this sort of thing until they get older, but this is just an example of what can happen to us as Christians. We can become so involved in the idea of serving God, and being all wrapped up in activities, and going to church, and we can get so busy doing things, that we might forget to seek God, and exclude him from any or all of our thoughts.

      If we are to worship God properly, the way that God wants us to worship him in the beauty of holiness, we must worship him in spirit and in truth. God must be predominant in all our thoughts. What does it mean for God to be predominant in all our thoughts? It means that when we awake from sleep, our first thought will cause us to consciously fix our mind upon the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that by the process of our will, we choose to keep our mind fixed upon God all during our working hours. Every thought that comes into our mind during the course of the day will be in subjection to him. “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” Isaiah 26:3 This is what it means to keep our mind and hearts stayed on him.

      We are, and will become what we think. We can choose what we think; therefore, it is up to us really what we are, and what we will become, because by the process of our conscious will we choose the things that we think about. If the predominate thought in our mind is on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the beauty of his holiness, then we will, more and more each day grow into his image and likeness. Proverbs 23: 7 tells us that : “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Again, we are and become what we think about.“Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12: 2.

      Our power with God, and our blessings from God are directly related to our prayer life. What is prayer? Prayer is the verbal expression of the thoughts of our heart. In prayer, our lips express the thoughts of our mind. It is in the mind that we must worship God in spirit, and it is in our mind that we must pray. Our power and blessing from God comes through praying without ceasing. 1 Thes 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing” How can we pray without ceasing? We pray without ceasing by thinking, without ceasing, of the Lord Jesus Christ. “In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths” Proverbs 3:6 “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8.

     We are and become what we keep our minds fixed on.

God's Promise Of Peace

God's Promise Of Peace

      Peace! Peace! Wonderful peace, that state of being where there is quiet, tranquility, freedom from disturbance or agitation, a calm state of repose, absence or cessation of war, Oh! How we long for peace on earth, and peace within our soul.

      Almighty God is the author of peace. With him there is no confusion or turmoil. Within the soul of the natural man there is a raging conflict, a war, if you will, between good and evil, We all know, even without being reminded, that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are all guilty before God, and our guilty conscience bears heavy upon our shoulders. We cry out for peace when there is no peace.

      Mankind, in the natural state has been at war with his creator, almighty God, from the fall of mankind at the very beginning of time in the garden of Eden. Consequently, there have been wars and rumors of wars in the name of preserving peace, but all have failed and the state of the natural man is fear, misery, distrust, death ,and hell.

      Being separated from God by sin and disobedience, men and women are living in a literal hell on earth, whether they realize it or not; however there are those who have been lifted out of the darkness and guilty turmoil by receiving the gift of God's love and mercy, the forgiveness of sin, and restoration of fellowship with God through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

      God himself is the first peace maker. He first offered conditions of peace and forgiveness to men when the angels announced the birth of Christ. God's message to all mankind was a message of reconciliation to all who would believe and receive. God so loved the world that he offered himself as the sacrifice for sin so that peace and fellowship could be restored between God and man.

     So, God announced his good will toward men when the angels proclaimed: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will toward men”. Luke 2:14 “The Lord will give strength unto his people, the Lord will bless his people with peace.” Psalm29:11.

     Only a redeemed sinner can describe the blessed peace and relief that descends upon the heart and soul of one who has believed and come to Jesus Christ by faith, and asked forgiveness, and cleansing from sin, and accepted his sacrifice on the cross as full payment of the penalty for his sin. The burden of guilt falls from the sinner's shoulder, so to speak, and he is born again, and it seems that his youth is renewed like the eagle.. “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's ”Psalm 103: 1-5

     He is kept in perfect peace when his mind is stayed and fixed on Christ. We all sail on stormy seas through life. Sometimes the waters are calm and tranquil, and we esteem all to be well with us, then suddenly a storm arises, and the sea of life become a raging torrent. Our little bark is tossed to and fro, we are confronted with failure, financial stress, loneliness, loss of friendships, or loss of family and loved ones through death, we grow old and are confronted with ill health, and the stark reality of our own mortality. Fortunately, if we have accepted God's offer of peace, we are not alone in our little boat, for Christ has promised to travel with us and give us perfect peace and to bring us safely to the heavenly shores. 

     “Thou wilt keep; him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee .” Isaiah 26:3. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14: 27. “And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 7. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith unto the grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1,2

     If someone is reading these lines and has not yet done so, why not accept God's offer of peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. And enjoy the blessings of God's fellowship and his help and comfort in times of need and trouble. Christ paid a mighty price for our redemption, for our peace, our joy and eternal life, but it is offered to us absolutely free, simply to be received by faith. Only a foolish person would refuse such an offer and promise of peace. I pray that you too will find the peace and joy of God which passes all human understanding.

How Do We Approach God's Word, The Holy Bible?

How Do We Approach God's Word, The Holy Bible?

     With what attitude do we approach God's word, the Holy Bible? Is it a chore to read it, and are we bored with it and find it dull reading? Or, do we approach God's word with excitement and anticipation, expecting to see miracles performed before our eyes. While reading and studying God's word, do we hear the voice of God speaking to us, giving us direction for our lives? When God, through his word, shows us the experiences of other men and women of past ages, some who rebelled against God and his word, and some who honored God and his word, do we profit from it? If we have the first attitude that reading God's word is a chore and not interesting, then it may be that we are just drawing near to God with our lips, but our heart may be far from him, and the only reason we bother with God at all is because we have been taught by parents or teachers that we ought to honor God, and this is not truly the conviction of our own heart. If we don't really have a deep love for God, and the things of God down deep in our heart, and if our worship and service is only with our mouth and hands, and not with our whole heart, then the bible will be a sealed book to us, because the bible is the only book in existence which must have its' author present when read in order to be understood. When the heart of man is not really yielded to God, then the Holy Spirit is not present to interrupt the meaning of every word of God.

      The Holy Bible is the most profound book ever written, yet there is no college or university in existence which can give us enough education to understand it. On the other hand, it is revealed by the Holy Spirit to small children, and the simplest of men whose hearts are in tune with God's Holy Spirit.

      If we approach God's word with the attitude of boredom or lack of interest, we ought to give our hearts some careful examination to determine if we are saved, and have been truly “born again” and have the indwelling Holy Spirit with us in our heart.

Recognizing Our Enemy

Recognizing Our Enemy

      Who is the enemy of our soul? Who is it that tries to rob us of our peace, our joy, and our happiness? Who is it that searches us out to find a weak spot in our faith and character, so that he can take advantage of us and weaken us still further? Who is it that constantly tries to hold our sins and our faults before us, and accuse us before God and all the Holy angels? Who is it that goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour?

      Our enemy is none other than God's enemy, Satan. Our true enemies are not those who can destroy the body, but those who can destroy the mind and soul as well as the body. We must beware of our enemy and be acquainted with his tactics. Satan will accuse God's children before him. He will show us our past sins, mistakes, and failures, and try to convince us that nothing has changed, that we are the same persons that we ever were before we were saved. He will try to persuade us that God is not concerned with us. He will try to divide husband and wife, son and daughter, and every family member. If Satan can divide families, he has gained an important foothold, because family unity is the foundation of strength and a fortress against infidelity.

      Satan does not want us to be happy while serving God, so he causes depression, he brings morbid thoughts to the mind, and he wants us to believe that serving God is a drag, and that we are missing out on the joys of living. He would like for us to believe that the only way we can be truly happy is if we are pursuing the things of the world. So, he tries to get our minds off God and focused on the things of the world. As children of God, we must be aware of him and his tactics, and put our trust in God. As the psalmist said in psalm 7: 1-2 “O Lord my God in thee do I put my trust, save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.” Who is it that persecutes us and tears our soul like a lion other than the emissaries of darkness? When we know that Satan is afflicting us we can call out to the Lord as the psalmist did in psalm 7:6, “Arise O Lord, in thine anger; lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies; and awake for me tothe judgment that thou hast commanded.” Psalm 7: 8 says: “The Lord shall judge the peoples: judge me O Lord according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.”

      Our defense against Satan and his demons is in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I claim none of my own righteousness because I have none, except that which I have received from Christ by his grace. Psalm 7: 9 says: “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just, for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.,” verse 10 says: “My defense is with God which saveth the upright in heart.”

      Other scripture says: “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Whenever Satan tries to plague us and destroy us, let us sing praises in our heart to God, and remind ourselves that we are a child of God, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ask the Lord to rebuke Satan and cause him to flee away from us. Then we will have victory, and peace and joy and happiness will return to us.

Safe In The Arms Of Jesus

Safe In The Arms Of Jesus

Because I am a child of God; because I have been forgiven, and purchased from the realm of the evil one, Satan, by the precious blood of Christ, I can be sure that “though I walk in the midst of trouble thou will revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me, the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O lord, endureth forever; forsake not the works of thine hands.” Psalm 138: 7, 8. The Lord will never forsake the works of his own hand, and those whom he has redeemed.

No one is beyond the sight and knowledge of God. No one can hide from God. No one can keep a secret from God. He know everything we do, every thought we think, and every motive of our heart. We may be able to deceive our fellowman, but not so with God. He knows who has genuine faith and confidence in him, and who is a hypocrite. The knowledge of God is wonderful, beyond any human comprehension, but he is willing to impart his knowledge and wisdom to us if we will seek him and ask him for wisdom.

“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising. Thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139: 1-10

I am safe in the arms of Jesus forever.

Strength From The Lord

Strength From The Lord

      “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. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints...”. Ephesians 6: 10-18

      Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Be a true believer. Put on the whole armor of God. Take the confidence you have in the word of God, and hold it up in front of you whenever you are deluged with doubts and fears, and attacks thrown at you by Satan. Claim your salvation, always see Christ on the cross, bleeding and dying, but remember his resurrection on the third day, and realize that the price of your redemption is paid in full. The cross is empty and the tomb is empty. Therefore, it is impossible for you to be mortally wounded and destroyed if you have on the helmet of salvation.

     Let us fight a good fight as soldiers of Christ. Let us pick up our weapon and march off to war in the army of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God is the weapon of our warfare.

God's Promise Of The Holy Spirit

God's Promise Of The Holy Spirit

      When Jesus, after his resurrection, left the earth and ascended into heaven, he promised the apostles and other disciples who were present and witnessed his ascent, that in the manner as they saw him go into heaven, he would one day return and receive them unto himself, and while they waited for his return, he would send to them another comforter, the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit to be their comforter, teacher, and guide. He commissioned them to go into all the world and preach the gospel, but to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they received the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit.

     “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 for ever, 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. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me, because I live, ye shall live also.” John 14: 15-19

      “Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things, And behold I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24: 45-49

     “And being assembled together with them, he commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the utermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have see him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 4-11

      “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, behold are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” Acts 2: 1-8 “And they were all amazed and in doubt, saying one to another, what meaneth this? Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine.” Acts 2: 12,13 “But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these men are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Acts 2: 14, 15, 16.

      “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Joel 2: 28, 29

     Unless we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we cannot know God, and we are not saved. We can know when we are truly saved because the Holy Spirit which dwells within each believer, bears witness with our spirit that we are indeed the children of God.

      “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2: 14. When we are born into the world, we are born naturally – dead to the spirit of God because of an inherited sin nature. Jesus said: in order to know God and be saved and have the holy Spirit of God dwelling within us we must be born again .

     “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered , verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.” John 3: 1 -7.

     If any one is to be saved it must be the work of God alone to draw that person to himself, not by the mere choice of the person's will, or of his good works, or good intentions, or the will of others.

     “Jesus said: Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” John 6: 43-45. “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2: 21.

     To be saved means to be born again by the power of God when we are willing to confess to God that we have sinned and want his forgiveness, and believe that Jesus paid the penalty for all our sins by his death on the cross, and that we are justified before God by his resurrection. When this happens, we become new born babes in the family of God, and his Holy Spirit enters our lives, and we become spiritually alive to the things of God. When we are saved, we are saved forever and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and we are promised eternal life – that is as long as God lives, and that is forever.

     “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1: 12-14

     “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:3 – Please don't neglect your salvation.

Wise Children Maketh A Glad Father!

Wise Children Maketh A Glad Father!

      “A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. Proverbs 10:1. God compares our relationship to him as a father and son relationship. When we do wisely as his children, we please him, and make him glad. Walking in our own ways, and doing our own thing, and storing up treasures for the pleasure of the flesh will profit us nothing; but giving ourselves completely to God and living righteously delivereth from death.

When we give God less than our best, whether it be our time, or our money, or our abilities, or our very selves, we become poor. Psalm 10:4 says: “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”

      If we want to make our heavenly father glad, as verse one says that a wise son should do, and if we our selves want to be enriched, then we ought to be willing to go to work in our father's vineyard while it is yet summer, and we have the opportunity to do so. Verse 5 says: “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son, but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” “The labor of the righteous tendeth to life; the fruit of the wicked is sin.” Psalm 10: 16

      Jesus said in John 4: 35-38 “Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And here is that saying true, one soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that on which ye bestowed no labor; other men labored and ye are entered into their labors.”

      Babies cannot work in the fields, they must remain behind in the nurseries and be breast fed, and nursed with the milk of the word; but we are grown children, and no longer feed on milk alone, but we ought to be able to eat and digest meat of the word and gain the strength we need to go to work in the fields. If not, we are retarded children “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5: 12-14

God's Promise Of Salvation

God's Promise of Salvation

      A cry for help is heard from a lost and dying world. A world engrossed in sin and evil, shrouded in darkness, and seemingly without hope, clamors for answers, and gropes at the nearest floating straw which has no anchor.

      For centuries, since the beginning of time, and when disobedience to God entered the scene, evil has had dominion over the lives of men and women, causing them to murder, steal, lie, and commit all manner of cruelty and atrocities toward one another, and to blaspheme the Holy God who is their creator, and their source of life and well being, although wicked men and women may not recognize him as such. God's laws are ignored, his Holy word desecrated, and his appeal to the lost to accept his mercy and loving kindness ridiculed, yet a lost world cries for help, but refuses to recognize it when it is offered.

      Whenever we have a physical emergency, or a life threatening situation, we send a call to the nearest aid station, such as to 911, the coast guard, the police, the firemen, the national guard. We welcome the sound of the siren, and the first responders when they arrived on the scene.

      The inner soul of all mankind is in a life threatening state called sin, a state which we are all aware of because we have been given inherent awareness of our state of affairs. God has declared all to have sinned and come short of his glory, and consequently, all are lost and without hope in the world, being separated from God, and trying, by our own efforts to save ourselves. The world while sinking deeper in the mire of sin, cries peace! peace! when there is no peace, help! help! when there is no help but that from God.

     The desperate man cries for help -”From whence cometh my help? The wise man who has discovered his source of help answers - “My help cometh from the Lord who has made heaven and earth.” God has promised to help and save the lost if they will call upon him in truth and by faith, believing his promises. God is not willing that any should be lost, but that as many as will call and trust him, he will snatch from the pits of hell and the miry clay, renew a right spirit within them, clothe them with the garment of Christ's righteousness, and guarantee them a place in his kingdom, and give them eternal life.

    When the first responders come to save our physical possessions, and our physical lives, many times they risk and lose their own lives for the sake of those whom they are trying to rescue. Jesus said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should give up his own life for his friend.”

      When a loving heavenly Father responds to the call of a lost sinner, he responds immediately to the call. Rescue from sin and damnation is sure to the lost, and it is free to the one who receives it, but it was truly expensive to God who gave his only begotten son to leave his riches and glory in heaven to come to a sin cursed world to save the lost. No one need to be lost forever and spend eternity in hell. God has promised salvation to all who will believe and receive.

      Christ is the answer. He is the first responder to the cry of our soul for salvation. “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: 2,5. “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; he is their strength in time of trouble, and the Lord shall help then; he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them because they trust in him.” Psalm 37: 39, 40. “And it shall be said in that day, lo, this is our God; we have waited for him , and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25: 9. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and broken down the middle wall between us.” Ephesians 2:14

      “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.” Ephesians 2: 8.9

      God has promised salvation to a lost and dying world, but how shall we be saved? “And they said: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16: 31