Above Every Name!

Above Every Name!

      Who is the person that is most talked about in the world today? Everywhere you go, you cannot escape it, where ever you go today you will hear everyone from all walks of life talking about this person, yet they speak of him in blasphemous, and dishonoring terms, and use his name in vain, and drag his name through the mud, and trample his love gift under foot. This person is the Lord Jesus Christ.

      Yet, we Christians, who claim to be the born again, recreated children of God, shy away from talking directly about the Lord Jesus Christ. In our daily conversation with other Christians, and the outside world, how often are we actually talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, and sharing with our friends how wonderful he is? We talk about our church, and our pastors. We talk about our Sunday school class. We talk about all kinds of activities, and programs and service, but it seems to me that the person of the Lord Jesus Christ himself is terribly neglected.

      Jesus never intended for us to separate the sacred from the secular. He wants to be involved in everything we do. Sometimes we tend to put the Lord Jesus Christ in a glass case and put him on the shelf and talk about things that pertain to him, but this is not his proper place. He does not want to be an object of conversation only, he wants to be involved in it.

      When we are sitting in our living room the name of the Lord Jesus Christ should be as common in our conversation as anyone else there. He wants to be part of our family group, He wants to be our guest for dinner every day. Oh! How we ought to really love the Lord Jesus Christ after all he has done for us! We ought to praise his name and exalt him in all our doings.

Even when we are eating an apple we can love Jesus because he made all things and sustains all things and freely gives us all things to enjoy.

      So often the church, the activities, and the service programs in which we are involved take the place of our actual, personal relationship with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. All these programs are good and should not be neglected, but these should come about and be the result of our deep love and gratitude, and personal relationship with the Lord, not as a substitute for it. What a wonderful person the Lord Jesus Christ is! How he loves us and how we ought to love him in return! “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlalsting life.” John 3: 16. God did not send the church to die for us. He did not send angels, he did not send pastors, he did not send activities and he did not ordain services to be the propitiations for our sins. No, he sent the person of the Lord Jesus Christ to die for us and to be raised again for our justification. He alone is worthy of our praise and worship. He alone is the object of our love. He ought to be the center of our life and conversation.

      Dont't just say – I am happy, but rather say - The Lord Jesus Christ makes me happy.” Don't just say: “this is a good day”, but rather say: “The Lord has given us another beautiful day”. Don't say: “I have a new dress, or a new car, or a beautiful house, or things”, but rather say: “The Lord has showered me with all these blessings to enjoy.” Don't avoid calling him by name by just saying in a vague way, “Lord, “ “The Lord, “ or “God,” or “the man upstairs,”or “the creator”, or “the divcinity”. These are all proper names for him to be sure, but he wants to be known in a familiar way and known and proclaimed as the Lord Jesus Christ whom we know and love as our own personal Savior.

We sing, O, how I love Jesus, but many times he is grossly neglected and ignored from our conversation and activities, and from actual involvement in our lives.

      None can proclaim, with honesty, The Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior and Lord, and acquaintance, and object of love unless he has been born again. Jesus said: “except a man be born again he cannot see the kindgom of God.” John 3: 3. “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7: 21. And what is the will of our Father? It is to love the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart, all our mind, and all our soul. No man calleth Jesus Lord except he be led and taught of the Holy Spirit.

Sing Unto The Lord!

Thought For Today - November 28
Sing Unto The Lord!
By: Robert A. Searles

      “O come let us sing unto the Lord: Let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and great king above all gods.” Psalm 95: 1-3.

      O Lord my God, my Savior, I want you to see my heart and know that as I read these inspired words of the psalmist, I agree wholeheartedly that I ought to indeed sing unto you, and make a joyful noise unto you, the rock of my salvation, because you have been so good to me, and blessed me with so much. Your own blood has paid the price of my iniquity.  You have forgiven all my sins from the foundation of the universe. You have pulled my feet from the miry clay and set my feet upon a solid rock and by your grace, you have caused me to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

I want to come before your presence with singing and with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto you with psalms and songs of praise.

      I confess with the psalmist that you are the God of all gods, King of all kings, and Lord Of all lords. All things are yours, for you have made all things, and sustain all things. You alone are worthy of my worship and praise. Therefore, I want to bow down and kneel before you, and worship you with my whole heart. You are my God, and I am a sheep in your pasture. Holy, Spirit, lead me in the paths of righteousness for Christ's sake, and give me peace in mind, body, and soul.

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Born Of God!

Born Of God!

      “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3: 3. “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: 5,6,7.

      My friend, if you cannot fully appreciate the word of God, believe its' promises, and perceive with your heart and mind all the glories, joys, and happiness of the kingdom of God; if you cannot enjoy the fellowship with God as a parent – child relationship, and experience the sense of justification and forgiveness of sins, past, present, and future, perhaps it is because you have never truly been “born again” into the family of God.

      When Adam and Eve our first earthly parents disobeyed God in the very beginning of creation, they sold their birthright to Satan , and since then every human being that has ever been born has inherited the sin nature, and comes into the world already estranged from God. So, when we are born, we are born in the flesh only. Our spiritual life does not begin at the time of our physical birth.             Although God is the creator of all, he is not the father of all until his child has been conceived and born. God is spirit, he must be worshiped in spirit, and to become a child of God, we must be born in the spirit. “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.

      In order to be born into the family of God, it is totally a work of God's grace. We must be drawn by God to hear and accept the word of God as absolute truth, and by faith, believe, as it says that: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” and that “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.: One must accept by faith that Jesus Christ is the divine son of God, and that he died for the sins of each individual person who will receive him, and that his bodily resurrection was proof that God had accepted his sacrifice in payment of the sin debt, and for the justification of all who will receive him.

      Intellectual knowledge is not enough. The heart must confirm by faith, what the mind knows factually. The world says prove it to me, and I will believe. God says, believe me, and then I will prove it to you by spiritual discernment.

      “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned but; but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.” John 3: 16,17, 18. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of theflesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1: 12, 13, .

      Dear reader, I invite you to believe the Word of God; to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. If God is drawing you to himself, and has implanted within your heart a grain of faith as minute as the mustard seed; if you are willing, by receiving the Word of God into your heart; this grain of faith will become impregnated with the word of God, and cause you to become a child of God. Then the Holy Spirit will dwell within you and cause you to know God, enjoy God, and perceive the kingdom of God, and have the assurance of eternal everlasting life.

Which Road Will You Take?

Which Road Will You Take?

      There are two roads in life upon which mankind may travel. It is impossible to travel both roads at the same time; therefore, one must choose which road he will travel. Both roads start from the same place, and it appears at first that they both will lead to the same destination, for they seem to run parallel to one another for quite a distance, but then very subtly they begin to separate and the distance between them begins to widen, and after a while they have gone in completely different directions.

      Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior has warned us about choosing the wrong road in life, and he has described these two roads for us. He has pictured one as being a very broad, well paved, well lighted, easily traveled highway on which it seems would be the most logical way to travel if one had alternate ways of reaching the same destination. This is the highway upon which most people travel. This is the most popular highway for the multitudes, but this road does not lead eventually to heaven, but it will take you directly to hell. Jesus said: “Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat.” Matthew 7: 13.

      If one would go to heaven, he must choose the narrow road. This is the unpopular way according to the multitudes. It is difficult to travel. It has treacherous curves. It is rocky. It is a road that few people want to travel, but it is the only road that leads to heaven. “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life and few that be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. ”Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13: 24.

      My friend, if you want to go to heaven and enjoy the riches of God's glory forever, then you must choose the right road.

      Jesus said: “I am the door”. He also said “I am the way, the truth, and the life” If you would have life eternal, you must choose to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive him as your Lord and Savior, and by his grace, walk in the same paths that he has trod.

What Is True Religion

What Is True Religion?

      What is true religion and true service to God? Does God require continual fasting, continual sacrifice? Does God require us to have a sad countenance, and to be constantly clothed with sack cloth and ashes, and continually be doing some sort of penance to atone for our sins? No! We could never pay for, nor atone for our own sins. There has been provided for us a perfect lamb: a perfect sacrifice which was slain from the foundation of the world. Once and for all the great transaction is done. Our sin debt is forever paid if we will receive it. Christ came into the world to save sinners. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures,” 1 Corinthians 15: 3,4. He is ascended into heaven, at the right hand of God, interceding for us as our great high priest.

      What then does God require of us? God requires us to receive by faith his free love gift, his son the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior, believing that Christ died for us, each of us individually, and present our bodies to him for his service, and allow the Holy Spirit to be in control.

      What kind of fasting and sacrifices does the Lord require? “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58: 6,7.

      The world is bound in wickedness, we who know the Lord have a message and a testimony for the world, that if they will accept the truth of the word of God, the heavy burdens will be lifted and the oppressed will go free. God's requirement for us is to deal thy bread to the hungry. Feed a man when he is physically hungry and cannot help himself, but more importantly, feed him with the bread of life. Tell him of Jesus mighty to save.

Wait On The Lord

Wait On The Lord!

      “I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27: 13, 14.

      Oh, the sloughs of despond that we as Christians so often and so easily fall into when we are anxious for our lives, and have not the patience we need to be calm, and to wait on God. Oh, how difficult it is to believe that which we cannot see and touch. This is part of our old carnal nature, but the gift of God is faith. Faith even as the size of a grain of mustard seed to believe the promises of God's word. If we exercise it properly, will be as a light in a dark tunnel that will direct our thoughts and actions toward God, and allow us to perceive the goodness and providence of God.

      Believe God , trust his word, stagger not at the promises of God. Even as Abraham of old, believe God implicitly and God will not fail those who put their trust in him. Believe to see the goodness of God in the land of the living, and you will not faint. Many times throughout the scriptures we see that God does not seem to be in any hurry to do all that he has planned to do for our good.

      We honor God when we determine in our heart to wait for the promise of God's infallible word. If God has spoken, it shall be done as he has said. Therefore, “wait on the lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say on the Lord.” Psalm 27: 14

Created And Saved To Serve!

Created And Saved To Serve!

      We were created and saved so that we might serve God and bring honor and glory to his name. As we begin this new day, let us ask ourselves, how can I best serve God today and bring the most honor and glory to his Holy name.

      First, we must acknowledge him as God, the sovereign authority in the universe. “He that would come to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him.” We must realize that he is the Holy God and cannot look upon sin.

      We are all sinners by nature and estranged from God, but God in his mercy provided us with a Savior, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to take our sins upon himself, and to as many as would believe on him, and receive him, forgive us and justify us before God the Father.

      Having been given so great salvation, let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our soul. Let us seek first the kingdom of God in all areas of our lives. Let us have a heart filled with gratitude for all the blessings and good things that God has bestowed upon us. Let us confess all our known sins, and claim the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins. As someone has said, we ought to keep short accounts with God, and having confessed our sins, let us present our bodies as living sacrifices to God if perchance he might see fit to use us as channels of his blessings to someone else or for some noble cause. Let us not blush to name the name of Jesus our :Lord among our comrades while others are blaspheming that worthy name. Let us be ready always with an answer for those who would inquire of the hope that we have in Christ. Let us open wide our lips and praise the lord with our whole heart.

      “I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth for thou has magnified thy word above thy name.” Psalm 138: 1,2.