Month: October 2013

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.  1 John 1:5-10, 2:1-2

I’m a sinner saved by grace. What does that mean? By the definition “forgiven” :To give up resentment of or claim requital for, grant relief from payment of<forgive a debt. To be redeemed is to be forgiven of all of your sins because God sent His Son, Christ the Lord to pay the price for our sins. It is through this forgiveness that our relationship with God the Father is restored through the efforts of the Son. The message—Probably the most famous quote of Scripture, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”   (John 3:16). We have heard the message, “God loves you!” We know that this world is not living in this truth, but rather in denial of this truth. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. You’ll never be deceived by God, He cannot lie (Titus 1:2), nor will you ever be able to lie to God, because He sees through your heart: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (v.6). So what’s the solution? But if we walk in the light that is, in fellowship with God as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. Getting my life right with God by confessing that I am a sinner, who has broken God’s laws is the first step to having proper fellowship with one another. That is both publically, and privately I have confessed Christ into my life. Why? Jesus said in John chapter 14, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (v.6). So it is only through Jesus Christ sacrificial death in my stead that I can have communion (fellowship) with God the Father. By what method? and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (v.7). Through the teaching of the Word of God the indwelling Holy Spirit shows the Christian there is still remaining an old nature in us and that during our earthly life there needs to be forgiveness, and so through our confession the blood of Christ is the divine provision for both restored fellowship and forgiveness.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us—I’ve said it before in previous posts, the ground is even before the Lord. Meaning there is not another human who has ever lived that can say, “I have not sinned.” Thus every human being will bow before Jesus Christ and confess to Him. The question is, in what way will you confess Him? As a sinner who humbly needs His forgiveness and grace which is now in this life, or after this life is over, in which you will face judgment. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:8-11). Jesus literally emptied Himself, that is, divested Himself of His visible glory. But that will change one day, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? “When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see You sick or in prison, and come to You?” “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels, (Matthew 25 :31-41).

This judgment of individual Gentiles is to be distinguished from other judgments in Scripture, such as the judgment of the Church (2 Corinthians 5:10-11), the judgment of Israel (Ezekiel 20:33-38), and the judgment of the wicked after the millennium (Revelation 20:11-15). The time of this judgment is “when the Son of Man comes in His glory,” that is, at the second coming of Christ after the tribulation. The subjects of this judgment are “all the nations,” that is, all Gentiles living on the earth during this future time. Three classes of individuals are mentioned: 1.) sheep, saved Gentiles who come out of the tribulation period. 2.) goats, unsaved Gentiles who probably have taken the mark of the beast; Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, “he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb (Revelation 14:9-10). Heavy judgment awaits those who do not ever believe in Christ, and His redeeming love for them. 3.) Brethren-the nation of Israel.

Beloved friend, Jesus Christ has sat down at His rightful place at the right hand of God the Father. He is resting from His finished work on the cross, His death for our sins, His burial and resurrection has given all who come to Him victory over our greatest enemy, death for the guilt of our sins. We were condemned already, without hope, then we received the grace of God’s forgiveness through hearing the message of the cross, and suddenly, as we received Christ into our hearts, now have been pardoned from all of our unrighteousness. Truly an amazing fact, that I will be with the Lord forever, because He saved me from my sins. Let us tell others about Him, let us not be afraid, for the time for His return for His church is coming soon. Let us be about our Father’s business till He comes.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

 

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion (lust), evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.  Colossians 3:1-7

This text is better translated, “since” you were raised. And this verb actually means “to be co-resurrected.” As a “Christian,” a genuine born again believer, you are not bound to the rudiments of this world. You’re not under the laws; touch not, handle not, taste not. You’ve risen with Christ. And because of our union with Christ, believers spiritually entered His death and resurrection at the moment of their conversion. This is so important for us to remember that I’ve highlighted it for our good. We are always with the Lord forever! We are made alive through Him so as to understand these spiritual truths, and their realities that make us now alive in Christ, and be found in the will of God. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph.1:3). In His providential grace, God has already given all believers total spiritual blessings from His kingdom. This Divine work from God reveals His priority of the spiritual over the material blessings, because material blessings can never be eternal, and have a limited source for which it will last. Spiritual blessing for example of the wisdom and knowledge of God, the Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ, not only gives us spiritually blessing that will be eternal, but also, much opportunity while living in this life to be a spiritual blessing to others.

So Paul is calling for us to “set our minds” on these things, the privileges and riches of the heavenly kingdom, all of which are at our disposal. To set your mind on is to also think on or have this inner peace about. Sitting at the right hand of God—The position of honor and majesty, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God enjoys now. And is the foundation of blessing by which our exaltation of Him, our praise and heart-felt worship of Him, is the source of blessings to all believers. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God—My life is a reflection of what I am, and what I believe. What we honor defines us. So I should not be living after the flesh, nor be pursuing the things of the flesh. This is no longer who I am, nor what I am about. My life is to be at one with Jesus Christ, and just as He died for our sin, since He was sin-less, He met all the requirements God required of a holy and righteous sacrifice. This is how and why we are saved. God sent His Son to take our place at the cross of Calvary. Now you and I need to consider ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but now alive in Christ.

When Christ who is our life—Can you say Christ is my life? That is key for our Christian walk, is Christ involved in everything in my life? Am I keeping Him from areas in my heart or life that excludes Him, and His Lordship over it. To be truthful and honest is individually up to you to decide this once for all. That in this life I am living is going to be lived for Christ, then I have to reckon myself dead to the things of this world, that are harmful to me or my family, and their walk with God. I am to be transparent in how I willingly admit my weakness in this or that area of my life, and ask in faith, Lord, please deliver me from that bondage. You died for it, therefore I died to it too. It is glorious to know, that what I am weak in, God’s grace is sufficient for me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” The weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God’s grace shines forth in your life, and in my life. The world and it’s agenda to fix all of their problems utilizing their own strength and limited human resources, cannot understand this spiritual principle, because the Bible declares that they are blinded by the god of this age, which is Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).

When Christ who is our life appears—Jesus is going to come again as He said with “with the clouds of heaven…and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). “Behold He cometh…every eye shall see Him” (Revelation 1:7). So when Christ who is our life shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory. Oh what a glorious Day that will be! So we believers have a common spiritual life with the Father and with the Son, the world cannot understand it, the full impact of a believers new life lived by faith. And  because we are eternally secure, we should be the most gracious and loving people on our planet. Which brings us to our concluding text and summation.

Put to death—The church pure is the church strong. There is a huge effect of sexual sin not only by the world who does not know Christ, but within the church today. Christian men who are addicted to pornography, Christian marriages ending in divorce because the wife won’t submit to her husband as the Bible indicates to. Two separate problems, yet, ultimately it is weakening the body of Christ. Paul in writing to the church at Ephesus, tells them pretty much the same things, that because of these things the wrath of God is coming to the earth. Therefore, we should not be guilty of committing these sins. What things? The things which promote sexual immorality. “Know this,” he said, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 5:5-6). And as Paul was writing to the Galatians and was listing the works of the flesh, he said, “That we know that those who do (practice) these things shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven” (Galatians 5:21). So what we read from our text in warning is not just written in a small way, to only one church in this case. Paul wrote this through out his epistles to the churches in the New Testament, so that its believers would take heed to its warnings seriously.

Beloved friend, No Christian will be ever sinless in this present life, but it is dangerously deceptive for Christians to feel secure in assurance in their offer of eternal salvation, even if they are professing believers, whose life is characterized by persistent sexual sin, which not only brings defilement to their relationships, being married or single, but also interrupts their own ability to have a close relationship with the Lord. So let us not be deceived, don’t let man deceive you who hold the truth of God in unrighteousness. You cannot live after the flesh and inherit the kingdom of God. Remember that you died to your flesh the moment you asked Jesus into your life. You are His child now. Born again, and as accepted by Christ, you have renounced your old way of life in the flesh. Dead to the flesh, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Living after the Spirit of God, being filled with the Spirit, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God (Romans 8:14).  Praise the Lord!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

 

 

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them that same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.  Acts 16:25-34

Do you have to believe in God? Here in our text is a great reminder of how God, or maybe I should say, “Only God can take our circumstances and use them for His glory.” By demonstrating that even in extreme conditions of suffering, the Lord can bring along people in your life that can change your whole perspective. Let’s have a closer look. We can imagine that to hear a fellow prisoner be singing such joyful praise and worship songs at the quiet hour of midnight, might not be received too well by their fellow inmates. The prisons at that time were dark and damp dungeon type of cells, and to add to their confinement by putting them in stocks, the painful fastening of their feet in leg irons as well, you could imagine they weren’t too happy with Paul and Silas. They might be wondering what kind of crazy men would be singing in this place. God is nowhere? Yet, what witnesses they were to these prisoners. Paul and Silas had been beaten and had many stripes laid upon them. And just thrown into this filthy dungeon, along with the rest of the prisoners. And why were they there? We didn’t cover it, but Paul had met a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination, who brought much profit to her masters by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and Silas, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And she did this for many days. But Paul finally had enough, and rebuked the spirit in her: “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”  And the spirit came out of her that same hour. And when the masters seen what had happened and their source of profit had gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the authorities. So you see, the Lord’s servants don’t need Satan to be their advertisers; God was orchestrating for Paul and Silas to be in this place of a prison dungeon, for divine purposes, and since they knew the Lord was leading them, they were filled with joy. And brought the presence of Christ into their prison cell. And so, the jail’s prisoners went from “God is nowhere,” to saying “God is now here.”

While they were singing together praises unto God and praying, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, immediately all the doors of the prison cells were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed. The keeper of the prison awakened and frightened no doubt, arose to find all of the cell doors opened, he drew out his sword, and was going to kill himself (vv.16:27-30). And because if the prisoners had escaped, he was responsible for them and would have been put to death. Paul knowing what he was about to do, whether because he saw him even though it was dark, more rather the Holy Spirit gave him bold witnessing power to stop this man from ending his life. Talk about your close call. God sovereignly reigns and rules in the foreknowledge of people’s lives. God allowed Paul and Silas to be there right at the moment of this earthquake so that they might reach this man with the gospel. Think about it. He is in heaven today, because God wanted to save him and his household from perishing in their sins. What an awesome display of amazing grace.

Now for the Christian who reads this, he or she might more firmly realize how willing the Lord is to use us, but always remember that there is a cost to it. Where Paul and Silas may be asked if it was worth it? They might answer, well, it spite of all the beatings and imprisonments, God is fair and just in His dealing with me, look at the fruit of my labor. This jailer, and all of his household was saved! You be it was worth it. So it will be for any of us who suffer today for their faith in Jesus Christ, as this world becomes more and more hostile to the followers of Christianity. We must be willing though, to count the cost.

“What must I do to be saved?”—Did Paul answer, “join the church; or pay your tithes.” No, all that was said by Paul to the jailer was: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” That’s all? You mean that’s all that is necessary? What about my being good first by keeping the 10 Commandments? or not ever being good enough? God has made it so simple. Paul in another epistle, the letter to the Ephesians said: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). So you see, man can not ever save themselves by ever being good enough, yet, God says, “It only requires believing in His Son, Jesus Christ.” That is the faith that is required for all who are believers now, or who have ever lived. And there is more good news. Paul said, “you, and your household.” God wants our families to be witnesses of His saving grace as well. Paul wrote in Romans 8, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (v.1). The staggering evidence brought out by Paul in chapter 7, that justification is by faith and faith alone on the basis of God’s overwhelming us with His saving grace. Truly a miracle that God has intervened upon the heart of mankind, and enables us to view from His perspective the great love that He has for us. By sending to us His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross, in place of our sin debt we could never repay. Truly amazing grace indeed,

Beloved friends, God has enabled us to persevere through difficult days so that we would rely more upon Him and His grace and merciful love that He has for us. All the while, He sovereignly has put us in places, where we witness to only He knows the numbers of people who are watching our lives, and seeing our reaction, may in turn may be willing to give their lives to Christ. Are you willing to join me in singing songs of praise to God at midnight? That might have significant meaning to numbers of believers but from a different perspective. Meaning your suffering accounts will differ from mine. Yet, through the rich mercy of God’s grace, we are able to take part in the redemptive plan of salvation, starting in your households, workplaces, classrooms, wherever He may be sovereignly leading you. Don’t forget hospitals and prison cells. His grace abounds in all directions utilizing His church to reach out to more and more people who are searching for truth in these last days. Stay the course, trust in the Lord who knows exactly where you are, and where your next midnight song will be sung.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.   Jude 1:3-4

How serious of a discernment of the times it must have been that Jude would not want to talk about salvation through faith in Christ, but found it necessary to warn of the apostate church? Today, were steep in the midst of the apostate church that I hope after reading this post, will make you more aware of the serious day, and days ahead that are still to come. First off, from our text, Jude had intended to write a letter on salvation as the common blessing enjoyed by all believers, perhaps to emphasize unity and further the fellowship among believers and to remind them that God is no respecter of persons. But instead, he was compelled to a call for the church to be armed for battle for the truth in light of the emergent arrival of apostate teachers. These workers of Satan had crept in unnoticed. So our first clue about the days were living in is that it is subtle in in its change, almost unnoticeable but to the discerning eyes of those who are alert to the times in which we are living in.

Jude wasn’t the only one who called the church to arms. Paul wrote to Timothy: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. The Greek word for “fight” gives us the English word “agonize,” and was used in both military and athletic terms to describe the concentration, discipline, and extreme effort needed to win the “good fight,” which is the spiritual conflict between Satan’s kingdom of darkness against the church, which is the body of Christ. Paul also tells the church, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). The Greek word for “wiles,” is where we get the word “schemes,” which brings the idea of cleverness, crafty methods, and cunningly deceptions. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (v.12). Satan’s schemes are propagated through the evil world system which is set up to advance their agenda against God which Satan rules.

Paul also writes in 2 Corinthians another interesting word to describe Satan’s agenda: Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). Satan wants to produce sin and animosity in the church to destroy what God has created. He hates for believers to be living unity and harmony with the Lord. So he uses every possible approach to accomplish this—even by using his minions to cleverly join the church (for certain men have crept in unnoticed,) from legalism to libertinism, intolerance to excessive passivity. Another word Paul uses for the word “wiles” from the Ephesians full armor of God, here, Paul uses a different word but with similar meaning. “Devices” it coincides with the terms like  “take advantage” and “ignorant,” and strongly implies that Satan targets the believer’s mind, but God has provided protection by unmasking Satan’s schemes in Scripture, along with providing the counteracting truth. Jesus said to His disciples, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32) The first step in the progress toward true discipleship is belief in Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of God. Abiding in Him helps bring about perseverance in obedience to Scripture (Matthew 28:19-20), and is the fruit or evidence of genuine faith (Ephesians 2:10). The word “abide” means to “habitually abide in Jesus words.” Truth that sets us free is that power from God to willingly holdfast with genuine faith the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ. Satan tried opposing Him, by tempting Him to act out in His own self will. But Jesus could never have been led to sin, because He was sinless who became sin for us, and took away our sins that we might become the righteousness of God (2Corinthians 5:21).

Beloved friend, Paul the apostle wrote in Romans: For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly (Romans 16:19-20). Paul thought it necessary to insert into his greetings of love this caution against harmful teachings and practices that undermine the truth of Christianity and are its greatest threat even for us today. Genuine love will be ready to forgive evil, but it will not condone or ignore it. And those who like Paul, who truly love other believers who are dear to them, will also do all that they can to warn them about sin and harmful false doctrines. Who do you know in your life could not benefit from these Biblical and spiritual truths? God our Father, help us to love and obey Your Words of truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today.

 

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,’ “ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works” ; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  Hebrews 4:1-10

Have you entered into that promised rest of God? Do you have that deep peace of Christ filling your mind, and your heart today? To define the nature of the “rest,” let us first describe where and when it was first given. The psalmist wrote: Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the sheep of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness. When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ “ (Psalm 95:6-11)

The writer of Hebrews is using this analogy from the psalm to compare the Hebrews unwillingness to trust in the Lord by going back to Judaism as being parallel as their fathers inclination to doubt the Lord and want to go back to Egypt. The “rest” was originally the Promised Land, where the people came to at the end of Israel’s 40 year journey in the wilderness. Now in the Book of Hebrews, the “rest” refers to salvation by grace through the sacrifice death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So the promise comes from the Lord, originally as part of the deliverance from Egypt, but was forfeited by the older generation by their disobedience. The content of this promise is defined as “entering His rest.” This is the rest God gives, therefore it is called “My rest” (Psalm 95:11). So let us take heed that we enter in that rest God has provided through Jesus Christ. For believer’s, God’s rest includes His peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), confidence of our salvation (1 John 5:13), reliance upon His strength (Philippians 4:13), and an assurance of a future home in heaven (Philippians 3:20).

Jesus gives us this invitation to enter His rest in Matthew 11,” Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (v.v.28-30) It is only those who respond to this invitation by the Lord who are burdened by their own spiritual bankruptcy, by their own failure of trying to save themselves through good works as an example, by trying to keep the law. The stubbornness of humanity, even we say, “I just need to see Jesus perform a miracle for me, then I will believe!” What makes us think that we would be better than the Israelites who saw Moses part the Red Sea? God doesn’t have to perform any more of a miracle, than to choose simplest of a man who is now being governed by God through the Holy Spirit. The witness of one transformed life has to be a miracle! Think about it! This person I’ve known all my life was not born this way. He or she was not that loving before, now they have a willingness not only to love, but to forgive the offenses of anyone who has come against them. That is not normal human behavior, that is super-natural behavior which is how God is now using His church to witness to our world. What is the condition of your heart today? God has given us the promise of rest. Let us take heed that we enter that rest.

Beloved friend, People might say to you, “But it’s so hard to rest in faith. It would be a lot easier if I knew ahead of time what God wants me to do!” “If He could just explain to me, why this happened in my life?” Then I would better serve Him.” It may be hard to rest in faith, but that is truly the only place you’ll ever rest is in faith. You cannot rest in your works, in your skills, in your personal wealth,. No, the only place man will find rest is in Jesus Christ. Until you’ve come to that place of being at the end of yourself, and willingly admit, “Lord, I can’t, but You can. You can change my perspective about things in my life that I need to let go of. It is robbing me of peace, and I’m just going to leave it in Your hands.” If that is sincerely in your heart to say to the Lord, then you’ve come to that place of surrender. It is where we all need to be. For those who are in Christ, the ground is equal. Meaning we all need His grace and His mercy to continue on in this life. Now the Sabbath day rest that was established in the law by Moses was a type of the rest that the believer today should experience in Jesus Christ. The difference being, where one day was singled out as a day of rest, the Israelites along with certain denominations even today, have made it into a real task to keep the Sabbath. But the Sabbath day was only a shadow of the rest that the people of God should experience in Jesus Christ. Why? For the Christian, the rest we must enter in is the completed finished work of Jesus Christ death on the cross, for our righteous standing before God. And it is believing by faith that my sins have been forgiven by this offer from God. I can’t add anything to this, but simply rest in Our Lord’s offer of forgiveness, and be found abiding in Christ when He returns, or till the day I breath my last breath. For then,  I will be ushered into His glorious presence! Praise God! For His redemptive work that has given us privilege to enter in His promised rest!                                         Who do you know that has need of this rest?

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

Thank you Pastor Chuck, Enjoy your  coronation in heaven!

 

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. An He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.  Revelation 19:11-16

The One who ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and had been seated at the Father’s right hand (Hebrews 8:1, 1Peter 3:22) will return to take back the earth from the unlawful ruler, and usurper Satan, and establish His kingdom (Revelation 5:1-10). The nature of this event depicts the difference from the Rapture of the church. At the Rapture, Christ meets His own in the air—(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). And in this event He comes with His church back to the earth. Also, at the Rapture there is no judgment, in this event it is all judgment. This event is preceded by darkness, described by the darkened sun, moon gone out, stars falling from the sky, smoke and darkness fallen upon the earth in judgment (Read Revelation 16:8- 21). This is all contrast with the brilliance and blinding glory of Christ’s return to the earth.

White horse—In the Roman triumphal processions, the victorious general rode a white war horse up the Via Sacra to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill. Jesus’ first coming was in humility as prophesied lowly on a colt of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Yet, we read in John’s revelation giving to him by the Lord, Himself; Portrays Jesus as the conqueror on His war horse, coming purposeful to destroy the wicked and to overthrow the Antichrist who will be ruling the earth, and Satan, and to take control of the earth (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Faithful and True—True to His word, Jesus will return one day to the earth, and in righteousness He will bring forth judgment. God’s patience will have reached it’s point of judgment, and has given all authority of this judgment over to Jesus Christ—For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him (John 5:22-23). This so solidifies why Christ could never merely be a prophet, or ambassador who is enacting in the name of a monarch. But this passage from John gives Jesus full and complete equality with the Father. And thus full and complete power to enact the coming judgment upon all those on the earth who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ, as God’s only begotten Son who died for the sins of all of mankind. So by the rejection of the Son, people are blaspheming the Holy Spirit’s witness of God the Father, who sent us His Son, to take away our sins by taking our place and dying on the cross for us. An Amazing reality when we see all that God has gone through, so we will not have to face judgment for our sins.

His eyes were a flame of fire—Nothing escapes the penetrating vision of Jesus Christ, who sees all and will judge righteously with just and accurate results. There are things you or I will never be able to comprehend, and we read, even the glorified saints will not be able to comprehend the name written on Him, but only Himself.

Robed dipped in blood—This will not be from the battle of Armageddon, which will not have begun yet, Christ’s blood-splattered garments symbolize the great battles He has already fought against sin, Satan, and death, and been stained with blood of His enemies.

The Word of God—Only John uses this title for the Lord. As the Word of God, Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15); the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3), and the final revelation from God. We will be with Him when He comes back, as the armies of heaven—Composed of the church (v.8), tribulation saints (7:13), OT believers (Jude 14; Daniel 12:1-2), and even the angels (Matthew 25:31). All of the Lord’s people will return with Him, not to help Him in battle, He doesn’t need our help. But it is so we will also reign with Christ after He defeats His enemies.

Sharp Sword—This represents the sharp and swift judgment of Christ’s power to kill His enemies (Hebrews 4:12-13). That the sword comes from His mouth indicates the battle is won by Him bringing forth judgment by speaking out against the unrighteous. In history, a king’s proclamation was all that was needed to bring forth judgment. In this case, Jesus, is all knowing and without equal, and brings judgment to the earth for its rebellion towards God. Who is longsuffering, but now has decided to act swiftly and will cause the earth’s inhabitants to fear the oncoming judgment (rod of iron).

On His thigh a name—Jesus will wear a banner across His robe and down His thigh with the title emblazoned on it that emphasizes His absolute sovereignty over all human rulers of all time, and His name that is above all names revealed to all of mankind on the earth.

Beloved friend, Paul wrote to the church in Colosse, Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:3-4). This is what Paul was reminding them, In spite of all that is going on all around them, don’t just focus on these things, but rather, set your mind on Christ, on heavenly things, which is really where your lives are now that you are born again. That is really good news for us as well today. Looking at our world’s increasing problems and the division of all of it’s inhabitants, our lives can become greatly stressed by all it’s uncertainties about the upcoming future. But if you are a Christian, you have died to those uncertainties, it is no longer your identity nor your future. For you have died to this world, and you are now alive in Christ Jesus, who is your life now. Suddenly realizing, that my future citizenship is in heaven, let these thoughts enable you to use an urgency if necessary, to let others know of your relationship to Jesus Christ. It is truly the only way of escaping the upcoming judgment to this earth and all of its unrighteous and wickedly rebellious people who will be one day be judged for their rejection of Christ. That is certain, but what is uncertain, is if all the people and loved ones you and I know, will all come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and receive His offer of salvation? That is where you and I can spend the rest of our lives telling others, and by letting them see His life in us. Faithful and True is our Lord, who will empower you!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!