Bless the Lord at all Times

Thought for Today - August 31
Bless The Lord At All Times
By: Robert A. Searles

     “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Psalm 103: 1

     We who are Christians and know of the  mercies of God ought to spend the remainder of our lives blessing and praising the Lord for  all his goodness to us.  How wonderful to know that he has forgiven all our  iniquities, past, present, and future, and we  will never again come unto condemnation.  How wonderful to know that our once sin sick soul has been healed from the plague of the dominion and power of sin, and sin has no more power and dominion over us to keep us in its' prison.

     The loving kindness and tender mercies of God has redeemed our life from destruction.  As the mother bird feeds its' young, God daily fills our lives with good things.  All things work together for good to them that love God.  I am so glad that God hath not dealt with me after my sin, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities, but he sent his only begotten son to die in my place and take my sin upon himself and pay the penalty for me, and as far as  the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgression from us.

     My friend, if you are not yet a Christian, if you have not yet believed in the only begotten son of  God whom God sent to earth to manifest himself to sinful men, and offer himself a sacrifice for the sin of the world, I admonish you to receive him by faith, and ask him to forgive your sin, and come live in your heart and give you eternal life.  Then as millions of others will testify along with the psalmist, you will have gladness and joy in your heart, and you will have reason to bless the Lord Jesus Christ  all the day long with all that is within  you.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Judgment or Mercy, Which Will it be

Thought For Today –  August 26, 2022
Judgment Or Mercy, Which Will It Be?
By: Robert A. Searles

     Are you one among those who advocate the removal of the ten commandments from public view, or one who would ban prayer during our public events and educational systems?  Are you one of those who denies the existence of almighty God, and consequently are lost, and without hope, ether in this world or the next? 

 If you are a member of this group,  I, as a servant of Almighty God, am pressed to warn you of the consequences of your denial of one who loves you with an everlasting love, and desires your eternal salvation and future welfare.

     I know that the Lord God  Jehovah – the Lord Jesus Christ exists and lives today because of all that he has bestowed upon me and my family in love, mercy, and salvation.  God is merciful, and extends his love and mercy to all who will respond and receive him; however, God is also a righteous judge, and will bring final judgment  upon all those who reject and deny him.

     As God warned his people Israel, through the prophet Isaiah many centuries ago, about that which would become of them if they continued in their sinful ways,   I must warn you today that God will certainly bring righteous judgment on all those who spurn his words of warning and reject his offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Listen to that which he said to Israel, and that which he is saying to all of us today.

     “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!  Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!  Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust! Because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the holy one of Israel.  Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand  against them and hath smitten them; and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets, for all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” Isaiah 5: 20-25.

     If this should be all that you have to look forward to because of your unbelief, why not recognize God's offer of love and mercy before it is too late, and receive Christ as your savior today.  He will not turn you away if you sincerely repent and receive him by faith.  May God be gracious unto you!

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry 

                               Psalm 26: 7

From Darkness Unto Light

Thought for Today - August 25, 2022
From Darkness Unto Light
By: Robert A. Searles

     Once I walked in spiritual darkness.  I was blinded by the night around me.  I could not see.  I could not believe, and I had no hope. I was like the vast majority of people in the world today who walk in spiritual darkness, and without any real purpose for living and without hope.

     How great is that darkness which enshrouds the world  in its thick cloud of evil and hopelessness and despair!  How sad it is that so many who profess themselves to be wise in the wisdom of the world have become fools, and declare that there is no God!  Some of those who are  leaders in our government who claim to be highly educated and possess great qualities of leadership are walking in gross darkness and leading us astray.

 “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16

     It seems that the great curtain of night has been drawn on this great land of ours.  There are countless numbers of men and women, boys and girls, and young people who admittedly have no real joy, no hope, for anything better  in their lives than a mere animal existence.  They have been taught from birth to worship the gods of self, and money, and  self esteem. Spiritual darkness causes many to stumble.

 “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they  stumble.” Proverbs 4: 19.

 Those who are embedded in the darkness stumble over moral issues, and not being able to discern right from wrong, make wrong decisions concerning pro-choice, resulting in the murder of millions of unborn babies by abortion.  Because of spiritual darkness, many have abandoned the traditional family values of one man with one woman united together by God in holy matrimony for life.  Because of spiritual darkness, bible reading and prayer has been abandoned in the government schools system and replaced with armed guards necessary to prevent children from trying to solve their problems by killing one another.

     How great is that darkness which covers our land when in the name of “policital correctness”, the name of Jesus Christ is forbidden to be mentioned , even on his own birthday, and our attention  directed to some pagan god or goddess, to honor them instead, and call it a happy holiday. Those who persist to walk in darkness do so because they love the darkness, and they love all the evil that is present in the darkness. Because of the darkness, some people would rather spend their time in a dark dingy barroom, crying over their beer, so to speak, than to be among those who have been snatched out of the darkness and have entered into the light of eternal life.

     “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light  that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”Matthew 6: 23

 “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: 19

     Mankind does not have to dwell in spiritual darkness and remain  in the spiritual eternal night of evil and sin, for light has come into the world.  “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.  They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shinned.” Isaiah 9:2

     “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be  upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.”Isaiah 9:6.

     Jesus Christ is the light of the world.  “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4.

     Dear reader, if today you are dwelling in the darkness of spiritual night, if you have no joy, no peace, no hope for an eternal future in heaven with God – reach out to the one who came into the world to snatch us out of darkness, and receive by faith the great gift of love he has offered to all who will believe and trust him.  This is what Christmas is all about.  When we walk in the light as he is in the light we have new spiritual sight, and  we  can see things by faith the way he sees them, and we come to realize that he is not willing for us to remain in darkness, but to live forever in the glory of his eternal light and love.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

                               Psalm 26: 7

 

What Did Jesus Say - Concerning the Law

Thought for Today - August 24, 2022
 What Did Jesus Say Concerning The law?
By Robert A. Searles

      When almighty God created the universe and all things therein, he established certain laws by which it would function and continue.  

He established all the laws of physics, mathematics, and astronomy, which he has by grace revealed to mankind; likewise, he established spiritual laws by which mankind was to relate to him and enjoy his fellowship. 

 He delivered to Moses  the ten commandments and other instructions that were required to be obeyed if one was to have fellowship with him and inherit his eternal glory.

    No one can see God and inherit his glory unless they keep the whole law.  If they fail in one point of the law, all is lost.  God knew from the very beginning, because of the nature of man, what was in man, and the frailty of man, so he made provision for mankind by sending Jesus Christ into the world, the one and only person and member of the human race who is one hundred percent man, and at the same time, one hundred percent God, who alone was able to obey the whole law in its' entirety.

     God still holds all mankind responsible for obeying his laws, but warns us that no one is capable of obeying the law perfectly, therefore unless someone else who is capable does for us that which we cannot do for ourselves, we are without hope and are lost.  But the good news is that Christ Jesus came into the world to save us from the curse of the law and set us free and place us under the grace or unmerited favor of God.

    Jesus said: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.  I am not come to destroy but to fulfill, for verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them shall be  called great  in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case  enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5: 17-20.
  
  Some people may think that because Christians are under grace and not under law, that the laws and commandments of God no longer apply, but this is not so.  Jesus taught otherwise.  The requirements of the law are in effect today as much as they ever were, but none of us can meet those requirements no matter how hard we try.  Our only hope is to flee to Jesus for forgiveness and ask him to impute his righteousness to us.  Then sin no longer abounds but grace does much more abound, and we are set free from the curse of breaking God's laws. 

 Whosoever shall call upon the Lord -Whosoever shall confess their sins - Whosoever shall repent, invite Jesus Christ into their heart and life shall be forgiven, saved, and have everlasting life.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

Psalm 26: 7

Have We Heard From Gpod this Morning?

Thought for Today - August 23. 2022
Have We Heard From God This Morning?
By: Robert A. Searles

     Have we heard from God this morning?  Every day we go to the mail box and receive letters and information from our loved ones who are separated from us by time and distance.  We rejoice greatly when we have heard from them. 

 How about the lover of our souls?  Have we heard from him this morning?  If we do not hear from God every new day then we are indeed in trouble.  We become dry and barren and unfruitful spiritually.

     We were so made and designed by God to be as Jesus said – like branches from a tree that draw their life and sustenance  from the vine and its' roots.  If we have  not heard from God today, is it because God has not spoken? No! God has spoken but we have not listened.

     “And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not....”Jeremiah 7: 13

God was up before we were this morning, rising up early and speaking. If we have not heard from him it is because we are deaf to his voice.  God speaks in a still small voice of calm, in the stillness of the night, and the quietness of the morning.

     “Be still and know that I am God:  I will  be exalted among the heathen.  I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10. 

 Psalm 23: 2 says: “he leadeth me  beside the still waters.”  Sheep will not drink where the waters are turbulent.  They must drink from still waters.  The good shepherd leads his sheep to still waters.  The great shepherd of our soul leads us to still water where he can speak to us and allow us to draw our sustenance from him.

     If we have not heard from God this morning, perhaps it is because we  have not followed our shepherd to a place of still waters where we can hear his still small voice of calm.  “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God”

    We need to  stop whatever we are doing, and sit down or lie down, and   believe that - “God is, and that he is the reworder of all them who diligently seek him.”  Believe That - “God is spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” “Enter his courts with praise and thanksgiving.” Come into his courts in the name of  his son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put  everything out of our mind except God and the glories of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Be quiet before him, recall the promises of his word.  God is speaking to us from his written word in the still small voice of calm by the Holy Spirit. Let us be quiet and listen, We will hear from God and be blessed.

Teelehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

                               Psalm 26: 7

Call Unto God, and He Will Answer

Thought for Today - August 22
 Call Unto God, And He Will Answer
By Robert A. Searles

     “Unto thee, O lord, do I lift up my soul.  O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.  Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be  ashamed which transgress without cause.  Shew me  thy ways, O Lord, teach me thy paths.  Lead me in thy  truth, and teach me  for thou art the God of my salvation, on thee do I wait all the day.” Psalm 25: 1-5.

     God will not disappoint any who truly wait for him to bless them.  God's ways are not our ways, and God's timing is not our timing.  God knows what is the best, and God knows when the time is right.  God will not allow our enemies to have the final victory over us if we truly trust him. In God's own time all our enemies will be put down, even death itself.  If there is anything that our chief enemy, Satan would like to have us to do is to doubt the word of God and his faithfulness to us.  God's word tells us that the just must live by faith, and when we do, we are greatly rewarded.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-books.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Call Unto God and he will Answer

Thought for Today - August 22, 2022
 Call Unto God, And He Will Answer
By Robert A. Searles

     “Unto thee, O lord, do I lift up my soul.  O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.  Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be  ashamed which transgress without cause.  Shew me  thy ways, O Lord, teach me thy paths.  Lead me in thy  truth, and teach me  for thou art the God of my salvation, on thee do I wait all the day.” Psalm 25: 1-5.

     God will not disappoint any who truly wait for him to bless them.  God's ways are not our ways, and God's timing is not our timing.  God knows what is the best, and God knows when the time is right.  God will not allow our enemies to have the final victory over us if we truly trust him. In God's own time all our enemies will be put down, even death itself.

  If there is anything that our chief enemy, Satan would like to have us to do is to doubt the word of God and his faithfulness to us.  God's word tells us that the just must live by faith, and when we do, we are greatly rewarded.

                  Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry 

                                                      Psalm 26: 7

Are You Thirsty? Come and Drink; Are you Hungry? Come and Dine

Thought for Today - August 21
Are You Thirsty? Come And Drink.  Are You Hungry? Come And Dine.
By: Robert A. Searles

     “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And you laborfor that which satisfieth not?  Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isaiah 55 1,2 KJV Bible

.  “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake
 his way, and the unrighteous man his thought: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him,; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55: 6,7.KJV Bible

     Think about the wonderful grace of God and the gift of God's love; God offering himself to us as the source of life, cleansing power, and satisfaction for our hungry souls.  Those who know not God in the world are empty and hungry and thirsty, and lack satisfaction for their souls.  Those who know not God are forever pursuing happiness and never finding it. Those who know not God, toil and sweat and labor, and spend their years in endless searching for something that will make sense
 in their lives.

     God made humans in his likeness in such a way that the only thing that makes sense and brings joy and happiness and fulfillment to their lives is when they are right with him and in the right relationship and fellowship with him through the Lord Jesus Christ.  God says that if we are thirsty we can come without money and drink from the living waters.  And if we are hungry we can come
without money and eat the bread of life.  God has spread a banquet before us.  He has paid the price and he invites all who will tocome and enjoy the feast at his expense, all by free grace – God's riches at Christ's expense.

 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall followme all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Psalm23: 5,6.  KJV Bible

     Whosoever will may come.  Jesus said: “He that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.”
 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5: 6

. Jesus answered the woman of Samaria and said: “If thou  knewestthe gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink;thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given theeliving water. The woman saith unto him, sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well,and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him,shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be inhim a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4: 10-14. KJV Bible

     The words of the hymn writer puts it this way: “There is a fountain filled with blood which flowed from Immanuel's veins.  Sinners plunged beneath that flood loose all their guilty stains.”  Yes, they loose  their spiritual hunger, they loose their thirst, they are filled from within, they are satisfied in Jesus.  Seek ye the Lord while he may be found and he will satisfy your thirst and your hunger.

     “Ho every one that thirsteth, come to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isaiah 55: 1.

  All who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.  Jesus said: “whosoever
cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”  Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, by faith call upon him and receive forgiveness of sins.

  “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.KJV Bible

 “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.  Believe it, and receive Christ today and you will never be spiritually hungry and thirsty again.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Greatly to be Praised

Thought for Today - August 19
Greatly To Be Praised
By: Robert A. Searles

     Our God is a great God and greatly to be praised.  Sometimes we do not give God enough praise for who he is, and what he is.  We do not really worship God enough.  We ought to spend more time in prayer and meditation, not necessarily asking God for things, although he has told us to ask and we will receive, but because he has already given us salvation and eternal life, and given us an inheritance in his kingdom.  He supplies our daily needs and gives us sufficient grace to meet every emergency. 

We ought to spend much time in prayer, just loving God, telling him that we love him and thank him for his great love for us.  We can see God's love for us all around us in the things which he has made and given to us for our comfort and  enjoyment.  Even among people who cannot read or write, or who have never heard the word of God, they can look around them and experience the love of God.

     It is very presumptuous for us to enjoy all the benefits and joys and pleasures that God has given us without praising him for them.  Did you ever think of how presumptuous it is for us to sink our teeth   into a beautiful apple that God has made and given to us for our welfare and use, and just take this for granted without any thought of God?  Did you ever stop to think how many of God's creatures have been destroyed and have had to die to support our life here on earth?

     Psalm 19 verse 12 says:  “Who can understand his errors?  Cleanse thou me from secret faults.”  We begin to have secret faults when our minds wander away from God to things of ourselves and things of the world.  We cannot sin while our minds are stayed on Jesus.  It is when our minds are  not focused on Jesus that we are drawn away into temptation and sin.  No matter what we are doing, or  where we are, Jesus can always be found stranding in the shadow of our thoughts and mind if we choose to have him there.  He has promised to keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on him.

     Psalm 19 verse 14 tells us:  “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,  O Lord my strength, and my redeemer.”  If our heart is constantly and continually meditating on the Lord Jesus Christ twenty four hours a day, every day, seven days a week, and if we are in a continual attitude of prayer and praise, and if our love is constantly and continually flowing out to him, and his love is flowing back to us and being received by us, then the meditation of our heart will be right, and as a result the words of our mouth will be right and acceptable to him, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

     Jesus said:  “That men ought always to pray and not to faint".  “Take note of the word “always” “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with  all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6: 18. “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5: 17. God is greatly to be praised!

Walking With God

Thought for Today - August 17
Walking With God
By: Robert A. Searles

     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 are we 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 sinis 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 this  life that we would be handicapped in the army of the Lord
.
 If you have tasted and seen that the Lorgratitude, present yourselves a living sacrifice to God which is your reasonable service, that you might d is good and merciful, and that he has raised you up out of the miry pit, how can you not with 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?

Almost Persuaded

Thought for today - September 16, 2022
Almost Persuaded
By: Robert A. Searles

     If perchance someone may be reading these lines who is not a Christian, and does not know  what it means to be saved, and you do not have the joys of fellowship with our wonderful Lord and Savior Jes

Go

dus Christ, you ought to stop right where you are and consider the alternatives.

It is possible to have a pearl of great price slip through your fingers and be lost to you forever, and it is possible to be so close to much treasure, and yet to lose or neglect it all.

     Perhaps a wife or husband; a mother or  father; or a son or a daughter has been praying for your salvation.  Perhaps they have very lovingly told you of Jesus and his power to save.  Perhaps they have very patiently and kindly explained to you God's simple plan of salvation.  It may be that at times the Holy Spirit has tugged at your heart and you have been almost persuaded, almost but not yet, another time, when I am older, after I have  exhausted all the pleasures of a worldly life style: almost persuaded to believe and trust Jesus, almost, but still lost.

   You, no doubt, have heard the gospel preached at church, or on the  radio, or television, or from literature such as you are now reading, and yet you continue to neglect your salvation.

     My dear friend or relative, whoever you may be, millions throughout the ages have tried and tested the Word of God and have found it to be sure and steadfast and trust worthy.  The Word of God teaches us that it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment and stand before God and give an account for what he did with God's greatest gift to man, his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ: That whosoever should believe on him and call upon the name of  the Lord shall be saved.

     My friend, the only alternative to being saved is to be lost, and to be lost does not mean cessation of existence or annihilation, but it means to spend eternity in an eternal hell, separated from God forever.

     "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? Hebrews 2: 3, 4.

     If you have  neglected your salvation, won't you reconsider before it is eternally too late?

     A loving God and Savior is calling and waiting for you to respond to his invitation.

     Time is short, death  beds are coming, Jesus is tenderly calling for you.

God forbid that when my time on earth is ended, that I search over heaven for you my friends and loved ones, and not find you there, simply because you have not heeded the warning.

Jesus Christ loves you so much, and he gave his all for you.  It is so easy to have the assurance of the forgiveness of sin and be persuaded that when you die you will go to be with him in heaven forever. 

What must you do to be saved? Believe in your heart that Jesus is the Christ, the divine son of God born of a virgin, and that he died to pay your sin debt to God , and that God the father raised Jesus from the dead as evidence that he had accepted his sacrifice for the salvation of all mankind.

By faith, believe the good news of the gospel, Call upon  Jesus, Ask him to forgive your sins- past, present, and future - and come live in your heart and make him your Lord.

If you will do this you will be fully persuaded  that you are born again, saved, and on your way to heaven.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

                                  Psalm 26: 7


    

God's Promise of Forgiveness

 Thought for Today - August 15
God's Promise Of Forgiveness
By; Robert A. Searles

     The question is asked - “Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord?, Or who shall stand in his Holy place?” Psalm 24: 3 (KJV).  Since the fall of mankind in Eden, no one has been found to be qualified to stand, in his own righteousness, before God, because the answer to this question, and requirement is - “He  that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity; nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24: 4, 5.

     Only one person has ever qualified to enter the gate of God's holiness, and he alone is righteous among men.  He alone has clean hands and a pure heart, and has not lifted up his  soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  His name is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah who came down from God.  He alone may enter, in his own righteousness, into the presence of God the Father.

     For God has declared that  there is none righteous.  “For as it  is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10 (KJV)  “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of  God.” Romans 3: 23 (KJV)
Thought
The good news is, that there is no sin that God cannot or will not forgive if we will humble ourselves and by faith ask for his forgiveness.  Jesus, while feasting in the house of a Pharisee, forgave a sinful woman, who showed her faith and acceptance of him by washing his feet with her hair, and anointed them with precious ointment. See Luke 7: 36-50 (KJV).  If we expect to be the recipient of God's mercy and forgiveness, we must not hold resentments and grudges against those who have trespassed against us, but we must be willing to forgive as God has forgiven us

    All of mankind carries a heavy burden on his shoulders, and that burden weigh him down,  and causes  him shame, and degradation, and if not removed, will send him to hell.  That burden on the shoulder of all mankind is sin.  Those who continue to carry that heavy burden of sin in their heart, can have no fellowship  with God. And since God created man to enjoy his fellowship,  and when a man's fellowship with his creator is not a fact of his life, then man is like the beast of the earth that perish. God is not willing that any should perish. He has provided a way by which all men and women, boys and girls, can  have the burden of sin removed from them, and their fellowship with him restored.

     Without God's fellowship, men and women, boys and  girls, perish;  families fall apart; nations and empires crumble.  It is almost impossible today to turn on the television or log on to the internet without seeing someone with a gun or weapon in his hand ready to kill, or to witness someone in bed with another person's wife or husband, committing adultery, or hearing filthy blasphemous words being broadcast for all to hear.  How could a Holy God have fellowship with that kind of trash?

     I fear for our nation that , if it's people do not turn from their wicked ways and get back to the business of fellowship with God. Who has made provision for  all who will accept his offer of salvation.  God is more willing to forgive than we are to be forgiven.  God has promised us forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with him if we will only accept his  terms.

     What are God's terms?  They are – to humble ourselves; pray; turn from our wicked ways; seek God; Then God is faithful to keep his covenant with men.  God hears; forgives sin; heals; the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger; plenteous in mercy; he remembers sin no more; the lost are found and restored to fellowship with him.  God has provided forgiveness to all who will call upon him.and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

     A well known promise from the word of God which has been  repeated and quoted and preached many times, but is truly valid  for the salvation of our nation - “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 sin, and heal their land.” 2Chronicles 7: 14 (KJV)

“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 (KJV)

     “The  Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever.  He hath not  dealt with us according to our iniquity.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far  hath he removed our transgressions from us.”. Psalm 103: 8 -12 (KJV)

     “And they shalt teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, sayeth the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity; and I will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31: 34

     How wonderful for us to have God remember our sins no  more!  God has provided  a way that  his promise of forgiveness may be fulfilled through his only begotten son, the Lord  Jesus Christ.  Christ died for our sins according to the   scriptures, he was buried and rose  again the third day, according to the scriptures, he ascended into heaven-and is now our high priest interceding for us.  He will come again  at God's appointed time to restore all kingdoms and nations to himself.

Whosoever shall call  on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Only Trust Him

Thought for Today - August 14
Only Trust Him
By: Robert A. Searles

     “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and  lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5, 6. KJV Bible

  “Trust in the Lord and  do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt
 be fed.  Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in him and he shall bring it  to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement as the noonday.  Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,  because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." Psalm 37: 3-7. KJV Bible

 “Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish  from the way, when his
 wrath is kindled but a little, blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalm 2: 12. KJV Bible

     What does it mean to trust in the Lord?  Trust is the word  frequently used in the old testament to mean the same as faith in the new testament, for example: to trust is to have faith, and if we have faith, we trust.  It means to take refuge, to lean on, to follow, to wait for.  To trust in the Lord is to put full confidence in the word of God for our salvation, and for our strength as Christians, and for our daily needs.  We are told not to lean on our own understanding.  In other words, we are not to try to rationalize or figure out God's amazing grace, or his power, or the working of miracles, or his work of redemption n our lives; but we are simply to trust in what his word tells us. God honors those who have confidence in his word.

     How can we trust in something with which we are not familiar?  How can we claim promises if we do not know what those promises are?  This is why it is so important for us to spend so much time in God's word, and in our private meditation, so that we can know what God's word has to say, then we can put our trust in it.

     “Trust in the Lord and do good."

 In other words, when God has spoken through his written word or through the Holy Spirit in our lives, again, we ought not to try to figure out what is going on in our heart or to rationalize away the working of the Holy Spirit.  Instead, we ought to trust  God and do good.  God”s word tells us the things that are good and right.  We ought to obey God immediately with the right heart attitude when He speaks, and trust God for the results.  As we read and study the word of God, and as God  reveals himself to us and we see his glory unfolded before our eyes, we ought to delight ourselves in him. He ought to be our prime source of joy and happiness and gladness, and our chief desire and purpose in life ought to be to love, honor, and serve him.  If we delight ourselves in the Lord, then all the cravings and desires of our heart will be good and pure in his sight, because they will come from on high, and we shall be satisfied when he fills us with his Holy Spirit.

     We ought to commit ourselves completely to the Lord.  This means to surrender everything to the Lord.  It is like jumping from a tall building with full assurance that someone will catch us, or we will land on something soft.  We ought to let go in our lives, and let God have our family, our job, our finances, and all that is important to us.

     “In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 6. KJV Bible

Where is Our Boasting?

Thought For Today - August 12
Where Is Our Boasting?
By Robert A. Searles

     “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 gloring 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: 12.(KJV) Bible

     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 standardss we may seem very poor.

What Did Jesus Say - About Worship?

Thought For Today - August 11
What Did Jesus Say - About Worship?
By: Robert A. Searles

     Worship – what is worship?  Worship is said to be the act of showing reverence, adoration, to adore; to love; and to admire.and to serve.

     The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.  It was made by him, and was all his from the beginning, but he temporarily laid aside all that rightly belonged to him so as to become one of us earthlings, made a little lower than the angels, so that he could share in our miseries, and pay our sin debt so that we could be like him.

     Many wonderful things that God has made and placed within our reach tempts us to be covetous.  Satan, while tempting Jesus, reminded him of all the kingdoms of the world that he could rule over if he would just turn his affection away from God the Father, and worship him, who had gained control of all these  things through the fall of the human race.

     Satan said to Jesus: “All these things will I give thee if thou will fall down and worship me.”  In other words, Satan was sayin -  all can be yours if you will reverence, adore, love and admire me above all else, including God the Father.

    What did Jesus say?  “Then saith Jesus unto him, get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shall thou serve.” Matthew 4: 10. (KJV)

     This beautiful world that God has made is full of enticements for us to covet.  Some things are good for us; others are not right for us to have.  We are likewise tempted by our flesh, and by Satan to  neglect our worship and service to God to go after those things, forgetting that God our Father, who gave his only begotten son to save us, will through him also give us freely all good things to enjoy if we will dedicate our worship and service to him only.

    When we seek material things more than we seek a spiritual relationship with God our Father, we are falling into Satan's trap to worship him.  The result is that we may have pleasure and comfort for a season, but in the end only misery and desolation.

     Let us be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, and remind ourselves as Jesus said: “It is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve.” Math 4: 10 (KJV

God.s Promise of the Holy Spirit

Thought for Today - August 10
God's Promise Of The Holy Spirit
By: Robert A. Searles

    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 KJV Bible

     “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 ofmy Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24: 45-49 KJV Bible

“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 KJV  Bible

     “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 Judea, 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 thatwhich was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Acts 2: 14, 15, 16. KJV Bible

     “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. KJV Bible

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. KJV Bible

  “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2: 21. KJV Bible

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 KJVV Bible

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

Bless The Lord At All Times

Thought for Today - August 8
Bless The Lord At All Times
By: Robert A. Searles

     "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." Psalm 103:1 (KJB) Bible

    We who are Christins and know of the mercies of  God ought to spend the remainder of our lives blessing and praising the Lord for all his goodness to us.  How wonderful to know that he has forgiven us all our iniquities, past, present, and future, and we will never again come unto condemnation. How wonderful to know  that our once sin sick soul has been healed from the plague of the dominion and power of  sin, and sin has no more power and dominion over us to keep us  in its' prison.

     The loving kindness and tender mercies of God has redeemed our life from destruction.  As the mother bird feeds its' young, God daily fills our lives with good things.  All things work together for good  to them that love God.  I am so glad that God hath not dealt with me after my sin,  nor rewarded me according to my iniquities, but he sent his only begotten son to die in my place and take my sin upon himself and pay the penalty for me, and as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our trangression from us.

  My friend, if you are not yet a Christian, if you have not yet believed in the only begotten son of God whom God sent to earth to manifest himself to sinful man,and offer himself a sacrifice for  the sin of the world, I admonish you to receivce him by faith,and ask him to forgive your sin, and come live in your heart and give you eternal life. Then as millions of others will testify along with the psalmist, you will have gladness and joy in your heart, and you will have reason to bless the Lord all the day long with all that is within you.

Who Shall Abide in thy Tabernacle

Thought For Today - August 7
Who Shall Abide In Thy Tabernacle?
By: Robert A. Searles

     “Lord, who shall abide in  thy tabernacle?  Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that Walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and  speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his  tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.  In whose eyes a vile person is condemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord.  He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh a reward against the innocent.  He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” Psalm 15

     God cannot fellowship with sin, therefore if we have any vestige of sin in our lives, we cannot expect to enjoy the full fellowship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, even though we may be the children of  God.  We ought to examine ourselves daily and keep short accounts with God so that we will be able to abide with God and dwell in  his holy hill.

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to  forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9

     Lets daily ask ourselves these questions, and if we  find ourselves guilty, let us judge ourselves that we be not judged, and ask God's forgiveness:  Do I walk uprightly?  Do I the works of righteousness? Do I speak truth in my heart? Do I not  back bite with my tongue? Do I do no evil to my neighbor?  Do I not  take a reproach against my neighbor?   Do I keep my word even to my own hurt?  Do I fear the Lord and do I honor all them that do fear the Lord?

 “He that doeth these things shall never  be moved.” Psalm 15

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Here to Serve

Thought for Today - August 5
Here To Serve
By: Robert A. Searles

     Once we are saved, we are left here on earth to serve the Lord, and to continue his ministry of reconciliation  and good works which Jesus began when he was with us on earth. Now, the members of his body, being many and scattered throughout the world, having been anointed with the power of the  Holy Spirit, can accomplish great things for him  if we are willing and obedient servants. We are left here on earth after we are saved, not to do our own will but the will of him who saved us.  The repeated routine of every day life does not make a lot of sense unless we realize why we are doing it.  We work to buy food, clothing, and shelter, and some luxuries so that  we can take proper care of these bodies, and be happy.  Why do we do these things?  It ought to be so that the Holy Spirit which lives within  us can use us to  accomplish great things for the glory of God. 

     “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye  lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that  the Lord he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the  sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100: 1-5 (KJV)

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Preach the Gospel

Thought for Today - August 4
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

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

No True Atheists

Thought for Today - August 3
No True Atheists
By: Robert A. Searles

     There are no true atheists, for all people everywhere believe in something, and trust in something,  but they that know not our Christ, and the one true God which he reveals himself to be are like the gods which they bow down to.  They are dumb and stupid.

     “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of mans  hands.  They have mouths,  but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:  they have ears, but they hear not; noses have they but they smell not:  they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat.  They that made them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. Psalm 115: 4-8

     It is dumb and stupid to trust in things, or ourselves, or other people, or houses and lands, or riches, yet the world worships at the altar of materialism, and  the religion of secular humanism is the faith of the masses of unsaved heathen.  The heathen  is not limited to remote primitive peoples as we have sometimes stereotyped them to be, but in spite of its' beginning, America today is a heathen nation for the most part, for the majority of the people of this  country are idol worshipers, worshipers of false gods.  We have departed from the faith of our fathers and put our  faith in man and man's so called achievements.  Men and women are living together in adultery and fornication contrary to the teaching of God, and new born babies are being slaughtered by the millions and few people lift a finger to stop the massacre.

     Heathen Americans point their bony , self righteous finger in the face of God and mock him; but you self proclaimed atheist, who are not really atheist, but worshipers of false gods, better be aware of the fact that the true God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the keeper of Israel and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will bring judgment on all evil doers.

     “Wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God?  But our God is in the heaven: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Psalm 115: 2,3.

     You who have a mind with which to think, and  not yet completely sold to be a puppet on Satan's rope: - “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall  be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be  as wool,  if ye be willing and obedient,  ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be  devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1: 18-20

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Lie Not Against the Truth

Thought for Today - August 2
Lie Not Against The Truth
By: Robert A. Searles

     “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom decendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is there is confusion and
 every evil work.” James 3: 13-16

     Dear friends, one of the methods that Satan uses to try to destroy us and to ruin our testimony as a christian is to cause us to harbor bitter envying and strife in our heart.  Satan knows the effect that bitterness and strife can have on our mind and our bodies.  It can cause an imbalance in the chemical make up in our bodies, eventually causing breakdown and illness, and it can cause our thinking process to be irrational and perverted; also , it can cause our thoughts to be turned away from our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  My friend, if there is any trace of bitterness or strife in your heart this morning as you begin this new day, glory not, but confess it to God and lie not against the truth.

     Jealousy, envy and covetousness are all grievous sins and displeasing to God our Father who has promised to be generous to his children and to provide for all our needs.  Bitterness, envy, strife, jealousy and covetousness are the elements which lead to war.

     “From whence come wars and fighting among you?  Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and can not obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not because ye ask not.  Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that  ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4: 1-3

     Dear friend in Christ, turn to your Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ this morning, and to the written word which he has given us, and allow the Holy Spirit, through the word of God to wash away all this bitterness, and to cleanse us and make us fit vessels for the  master's use.  Get into the word of God, and by  the washing of the word, be clean.

     “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and goodfruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” James 3: 16-18

     “But he giveth more grace, wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4: 6-10

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Bring Forth Good Fruit

Thought for Today - August 1
Bring Forth Good Fruit
By Robert A. Searles

    We are not to judge one another. No one is qualified to pluck the mote out of his brother's eye while he still has a beam protruding from his own, nevertheless, we are to be discerning, and we ought to know which fruit comes from which tree. No one is above his master, but we Christians all ought to desire to be as our master, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ought to abide in him, and in his word even as a branch is attached to the vine so that our fruit might be good fruit
.
     “For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  For every tree is known by his own fruit.  For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.” Luke 6: 43-44

     In this world of practical things, we ought to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  We ought not to associate and derive wisdom and counsel from those among us who might be likened unto the thorns and bramble bushes, where we know that we will obtain nothing but sour and poisonous fruit.  We ought to first of all seek our fellowship with our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the first fruit of all that is good and wholesome, and wonderful, and then our earthly associations and sources of wisdom and counsel ought to be with those  who are attached to him,  and abiding with him as the branch is attached to the vine.

     We can know when we have found the good fruit, for - “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of the heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundnce of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6: 45

Brought to you by: Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
www.bibles-books-gifts.com
www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com