Take Heed!

Take Heed!

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

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

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

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

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

Are We Ready?

Are We Ready?

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

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

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

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

What Is Our Besetting Sin?

What Is our Besetting Sin?

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

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

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

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

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

All Of Grace!

All Of Grace!

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

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

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

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

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

The Lord Hath Need Of You!

The Lord Hath Need Of You!

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

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

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

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

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

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

What Good Thing Shall We Do?

What Good Thing Shall We Do?

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

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

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

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

To Know Christ!

To Know Christ!

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

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

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