Choice Is Yours #1

Gods Word, Love, Truth, , , ,

John 3:36

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

On Eternal Life Through Belief:

Those who believe receive eternal life (John 6:47), a promise echoed throughout John’s Gospel. God’s gift of His Son ensures that believers will not perish but possess eternal life (John 3:16–18), while everyone who beholds and believes in the Son will have eternal life (John 6:40). Hearing Jesus’s word and believing in the Father grants eternal life and exemption from judgment (John 5:24). Beyond the Gospels, God has given eternal life in His Son, and whoever possesses the Son possesses this life (1 John 5:11–13). Belief in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God results in life in His name (John 20:31).

“Man has only two options: trust in the Son or reject the Son”

Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 284.

On Judgment and Disobedience:

The inverse of John 3:36—that rejecting the Son brings judgment—appears in related passages. Those who don’t believe are already judged because they haven’t believed in the Son of God (John 3:16–18). Without belief that Jesus is the “I am,” people will die in their sins (John 8:24). Disbelief results in condemnation (Mark 16:16).

On God’s Wrath:

Webster’s defines wrath as:

: strong vengeful anger or indignation

: retributory punishment for an offense or a crime : divine chastisement

When John states that “the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36), he is referring to whoever rejects the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This rejection is a failure to believe in Christ and also disobedience on the sinner’s part. Having turned their backs on mercy, they abide under the wrath of God. Thankfully, God desires for all people to come unto faith and repentance, and He has made provision for escaping His wrath and entering into eternal life through His Son. Got Questions.org

The phrase “wrath of God abides on him” finds parallels in Paul’s letters. Justification through Christ’s blood saves believers from God’s wrath (Rom 5:9). Jesus rescues us from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10). God’s wrath comes upon those who disobey the truth (Eph 5:6), and wrath will come upon the sons of disobedience (Col 3:6).

These verses collectively reinforce John 3:36’s binary framework: faith secures eternal life and deliverance, while rejection or disobedience invites judgment and divine wrath.

The Choice is yours. Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with Jesus. Chrisitianity is not based on works (anything you must do). The Bible says the gift of life is free. Who is this gift? God’s Son. His name is Jesus. He is waiting for you today. Get rid of your rebellion, admit to Jesus you have sinned against Him and Him only. By faith receive His righteousness. Accept His forgiving work at Calavary and have eternal life today…the choice is yours.

Eternal Life is Yours

God loves you!

Repent (turn from your sin) and place your faith in Jesus!
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Christmas Bible Reading Plan

Bible Study, Gods Word, Lessons, Love, ,

Click the picture below for a beautiful Bible Reading Plan!

GotQuestions.org

Below I’ve listed the verses. On the website there are links attached where you can read a short commentary with a link for the full commentary. There are other Bible verse links for further study and reference. Of course, in the Got Questions website style, there are also links to common questions you may have.

  1. December 1 – Read Psalm 100
  2. December 2 – Read Galatians 4:1-7
  3. December 3 – Read Isaiah 7:14
  4. December 4 – Read Micah 5:2
  5. December 5 – Read Isaiah 9:6
  6. December 6 – Read John 1:1-5
  7. December 7 – Read John 1:14
  8. December 8 – Read Philippians 2:1-11
  9. December 9 – Read James 1:16-17
  10. December 10 – Read Luke 1:5-25
  11. December 11 – Read Luke 1:26-33
  12. December 12 – Read Luke 1:34-38
  13. December 13 – Read Luke 1:39-45
  14. December 14 – Read Luke 1:46-56
  15. December 15 – Read Luke 1:57-66
  16. December 16 – Read Luke 1:67-80
  17. December 17 – Read Luke 2:1-5
  18. December 18 – Read Luke 2:6-7
  19. December 19 – Read Luke 2:8-14
  20. December 20 – Read Luke 2:15-20
  21. December 21 – Read Matthew 2:1-12
  22. December 22 – Read Luke 2:21-35
  23. December 23 – Read Luke 2:36-40
  24. December 24 – Read Matthew 1:18-25
  25. December 25 – Read 2 Corinthians 9:15
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Invigorate Your Prayer Life

Believers, Lessons, Prayers

Earnest Prayer

Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

God cares about our earnest prayer. Being earnest is more than repetition or how long we pray. It’s our sincerity, concern and honesty in our offering to our Father. This kind of prayer is believing who God is and that He does reward those who seek Him.

Courageous Prayer

Daniel heard the edict signed by the king which said if anyone prayed to any god or man other than king Darius, they would be thrown into the Lion’s Den, and the Bible says he went to his room as always three times a day, knelt towards Jerusalem at his opened window and prayed. Now, that’s courageous prayer (Daniel 6:10). In our world today that grows increasingly secular, where people scoff at the name of God and prayer, we must have the same courage as Daniel. We must walk by faith in God, continue in prayer and be a witness for Him in everything we say and do. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?

Spirit Filled Prayer

We want our prayers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Be filled is what Paul tells us. “Be filled” here in this scripture is in the present tense, not a once-for-all experience. We are given power to worship, witness and testify by God’s own Spirit. What could be better than praying each day to be filled with the wonderful working power of God?

Praying in the Spirit

We absolutely need help in our prayer life. Our Lord Jesus told us He would pray to the Father and He would send to us another Helper in John 14:16. Thank you Jesus for sending help that will abide within us forever! Thank you Jesus that your first intercessory prayer for us was a request for help. Because we don’t always know what we should pray as we ought, we can know the Holy Spirit is there (Romans 8:26-28). He will take these prayers and turn them into ones that are “according to God’s will”.

Effective Prayer

Being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ makes you righteous in the sight of God. Therefore, you can go to the Father in confidence of an effectual prayer to the One who hears and will answer. James 5:13-18 says, the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  When you continue living in righteousness in Christ by faith and grace, you are offering effective prayers to the Father!

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His Light, His Truth, His Way

Bible Study, Gods Word, Love, Truth, ,
Please copy, paste and share this scripture pic! Thanks for the photo alexeys.

Psalm 43:3-4

Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.
Let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
to Your dwelling place.
Then I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.
I will praise You with the lyre,
God, my God.

We need God to send His light. As the flowers long to see the sun’s rays each day, we too should long for God to reveal in us the way in which we should go. And oh, how we need to have God send His truths to our heart and mind each day as well. When we speak truth to ourselves and others, we can be assured we are on the right path, headed in the right direction. God will lead us into righteousness by His light and truth. It’s up to us to seek His light, long for His truth and then faithfully follow.

Being led by God will surely take you into a closer communion with Him. Are you struggling in prayer, have you lost your zeal for God? Let Him lead. You only need to follow along depending on His compass. Along the path, He’ll draw up close to you, in fact, closer than you’ve ever felt Him before. With the Father’s leading, the Holy Spirit to light the way and the truth of the Son, Jesus Christ will reveal Heaven to you, the dwelling place of God, His very presence right here on earth.

In His presence, we are at God’s altar, the foot of the cross. It is there where we pour out our hearts and we praise Him for the joy He has given us! With the lyre, our voices, lifted on high with praises to the Father.

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AFA.net – Advent: From Luke Chapter One

Love

via AFA.net – Click here for a beautiful Advent Reading

Good Reading.  Christmas is a wonderful time to tell others about Jesus.  Know your Savior. Because believe me, once you share the Grace of God, the Son of God and the saving love that is available to all who will believe, there will be questions.  As a Christian we should “always be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have…” 1 Peter 3:15

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God’s Word & Morning Rays of Sunshine

Gods Glory, Gods Word, Love, Truth

Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who put their trust in him.

~Proverbs 30:5.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The Commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold…

In keeping them there is great reward.

~Psalm 19:7-11

During the work week, I always make it a point to read God’s word and have prayer time with him before I leave home each day. and because I  leave so early in the morning it’s always dark outside as I study God’s word. But on those Saturday mornings when I have nothing on my schedule I can hardly wait to get up before the sun, grab my favorite devotional or two, my Bible and of course some tissue along with my coffee. I start to read and pray asking God to open my eyes to what he would have me take with me throughout the day. His Word, His infallible Word that strengthens and sustains.

So, as I was reading, the Sun started to rise, coming through my front picture window…oh how I love to enjoy these moments.  I was reading from Come Before Winter by Charles Swindoll and the devotional was concerning  the infallibility of the Word of God.  The scripture used came from Psalm 119:89-96.  I went on to read through verse 171.  As I read, the sun was continuing to rise, the Word of God was, as usual touching my heart as I read through this beautiful Psalm all about the truth of God’s Word. Then all of a sudden there was a ray of sunshine that came through my front window and pointed directly at my heart!  How beautiful that ray of sunshine felt. It was like the hand of God reaching out and shining right into my heart!

Rays of God’s Love

 

“Consider how I love your precepts;

Revive me, O LORD, according to your loving-kindness.

The entirety of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever.”

~Psalm 119:159:160

While we live on this Earth, which most of the time seems so out of control and ever evil is lurking all around, I’m so thankful for God’s Word!  The Proverb above tells me that He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. I know I need His shield to protect me today and as the Psalm above states,”The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”  God’s word reminds me today that His truthfulness, His perfectness does indeed change hearts.  I pray today, many would come to the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ! I am comforted by His Word this morning, while His sun shines upon me, knowing that through all the chaos of this world, He is still changing hearts by His Word.  He is still in control and through Jesus, He is changing hearts, and He is busy changing lives. Freeing those bound by fear, anxieties, doubts, and feelings of being unloved and unworthy into hearts that are loosed! Hearts that can live in the light of Jesus, brought out of darkness, lies, shame and guilt.  Only Jesus can change your heart and give you new life and then an eternal life in Heaven with Him. Won’t you choose Jesus today? Won’t you choose a clean slate? A do-over of life? A life freed from sin? Do it today! Accept God’s free gift of Grace and Mercy. After all, His Word is truth and it reminds us He gave His only Son for you!  Jesus has paid your sin debt, He paid the price we can never pay ourselves and He did it long before you were born. That’s just how much God loves YOU!

If through this post, God is touching your heart and calling you to Him, I have a prayer here you can speak to Him.  Don’t put off His touch any longer. Heed to His precious calling.


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Not Ready Yet?

Lessons, Love

If you’ve made it to this web page, and you have decided to read more….my hope is you will open your heart right now.  Open it to the spiritual things of God.  Leave your troubles and doubts behind.  Let these words speak to your heart.

God speaks to all.  Over and over again.  Through scripture, through people, through situations, even sickness, sorrow and death.  He speaks, you say, “I’m not ready.”  Will there come a time when it’s too late to answer unto God?  The answer is yes.  The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment Hebrews 9:27.  Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart Hebrews 3:15.”  Can someone be so rebellious in arrogant sin that they pass of point of no return?  Again, the answer is yes. 

Romans 1 tells us and I am paraphrasing, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God…they became futile…and their heart was darkened…they exchanged the glory of God…therefore God gave them over…for they exchanged the truth of God for a lie…and as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind…

In my heart I truly believe everyone has heard the still small voice of God speaking to them.  Don’t let your heart darken.  Don’t exchange God’s glory.  Don’t listen to the prince of this world (Satan) turn truth into a lie.  Acknowledge the Spirit of God speaking and drawing you unto Him.  He’s there waiting on you right now.  God created you and He loves you so very much.  He wants to give you an abundant life now and an eternal life with Him in Heaven.  He sent His only son to take your sin debt and mark it “paid in full”.  God gives each of us a choice.  I am presenting the truth to you now.  The mind can be destroyed through delusion 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.  When you’re given the truth and you don’t want it, when you’d rather take pleasure in unrighteousness, you’re willfully deceived and God allows that.  Genesis 6:3, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man”.  God is infinitely patient.  He’s been waiting over 2,000 years.  2 Corinthians 6:2, “…Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.”  The old saying, “you’ve only got one life, better live it up”, is not true.  You will live eternally in one of two places.  With God or eternally separated from Him.  To be separated is to live in eternal place called Hell.  An eternal place of torment, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth Matthew 13:42 It is a real place.  In His Word, Jesus spoke of Hell more times than of Heaven.

Accept Christ today.  I have a prayer here and you can follow it to call on Jesus.  If you have questions, you may certainly reach out to me.  If I can’t find an answer, I will reach to someone who does.  I gave my heart to Jesus just five years ago and I don’t have the words to explain exactly what He means to me and the great change He’s made in my life.  But one thing I do, tell others about the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ.  If I could come to you and make you accept Him, I surely would!  Because I know the difference He can make, but most importantly, understand this…Jesus is soon to return to take His children home to Heaven.  We will either meet Him at our physical death or when He steps out on the clouds to receive us to the home He is now preparing. John 14:2 Won’t you meet me there in the air with Him? 1 Thessalonians 4:17

This lesson of Love learned from Pastor Adrian Rogers


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Sharing Your Heart

Amazing, Gods Glory, Love

 

Many times while scrolling through my Facebook page, I get the opportunity to read beautiful testimonies written by my friends about the love of Jesus and how He is speaking to their hearts.  So today I want to share Brittany’s morning testimony.  I know you will be as blessed as I was!

“I woke up this morning with something on my heart that I want to share. So many times in our lives we feel alone, abandoned, left out or the one that nobody wants. I want to encourage you this morning and remind you that you’re not alone. Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you, but I will be with you even till the end of the world. You’re not abandoned ever since you were born, God has been there even though sometimes we can’t feel him or see him he’s been there encouraging you and helping you not to give up.  You’re not the one that nobody wants. Jesus wants you if it wasn’t true he wouldn’t have died on the cross for you. He died for us all so that we could be forgiven of our sins and live with him forever. Jesus knew that he had to die for us but what love he had when he did it.  I don’t know of anyone who would be willing to lay down their life for this entire world but Jesus did and he was the only one that could do it because he was the perfect sacrifice.  I said all that to say this you are loved, important, never abandoned, never alone, never rejected, never the throw away child and YOU MATTER!!”

Thank you Brittany for sharing Jesus’ love.  We know that once you have Christ in your heart, you are never alone!


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Renewal in Christ Day by Day

Believers, Lessons, Love, ,

…yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16b

As we begin the new year of 2018, let us resolve a closer relationship with Jesus through His renewal in our inward self.  This renewal will only come when we meet with our Lord and Savior each and every day.  As a new Christian this is especially important.  Our fellowship with Jesus on a daily basis is our sustaining victory over the world who does not understand our love of God.   Let us resolve to make time for Jesus everyday without exception.  This will take great planning on our part.  Without a plan, we cannot expect to succeed.   We may need to even “fast” sleep.  Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier.  I know through my own experience, God will sustain and give you all the rest you need if only you will “Come to Him”.  Read Matthew 11:25-30. “Come  to me…and I will give you rest…Learn of me…and ye shall find rest unto your souls”.  In these verses we can also learn how meek and humble Jesus is.  Learning to be humble is truly a lesson in love and one learned only through fellowship with Him.

In your morning time with Jesus, pray and bow before Him asking for His love and He will pour an abundance into your soul.  Jesus’ love in your heart will help you to share his love to those who have yet come to know Him.  When we were forgiven our sins…when we were accepted into the family of God…when we were filled with His Holy Spirit, this was God’s grace given to us and this grace can only be preserved by daily renewal in fellowship with Him.  At the time of our salvation, we were also instilled in our inner self the “want” to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  Through precious time with the Father daily in prayer and through the reading and listening to His word, will we be renewed day by day.  This is the promise given in 2 Corinthians 4:16.   Our daily renewed souls, will allow us to humbly “Preach Jesus”.  You see, our faith in Jesus will come under attack daily and we must strive to learn from Him.  Going to His word every day without fail.  Not allowing the pace of this world to keep us from His word.

His truths will bear witness to all. 

Read 2 Corinthians 4.  Paul is teaching us….this world will wear you down!  Unbelievers and the god of this world will come against you on every side (vs. 8-9).  Paul teaches that the world cannot see the Light of Life (John 1:4).    The world cannot understand the light of Jesus within you and your favor of God will be envied and ridiculed.

Go to Jesus each day.  Learn from Him.  Be filled with his love.  Be humbled.

As believers, we have a ministry to share the Light of Life, to share Jesus!  By the renewal of your inner self, you can share His light. Others must see His love before they can begin to understand.  Renew you inner self with His love.  Sow the seed of love and God will do the growing.  Just as you carry your cross every day, the dying body of Jesus, the life of Jesus — His resurrection, may also be shown in you (vs. 10).

So, as we begin 2018, let us be renewed daily.  And not only for our ministry to share the Good News, but to also strengthen our faith.  Remembering from God’s word through the work of the Holy Spirit within us, that we are only passing through this world.  When trials of life come, when the road gets bumpy, and cumbersome on our soul…we can know there is a better time coming…a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, … for things which are seen are temporary but the things which are not seen are eternal.  (vs. 17-18).

If you don’t know Jesus  Christ as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to open your heart and mind to Him today.  Allow Him to give you an abundant life now and an eternal life in Heaven.  Click here to learn more about accepting Jesus into your heart.

~This lesson of love through my morning devotional by Andrew Murray.


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Hands Up! Praising God!

Believers, Lessons, Love, , , ,

 

You have done for us!
Worthy to Be Praised!

My Sermon Notes – Sunday night service May 7, 2017

South Gastonia Church of God – Many thanks to my Pastor, Dr. Bobby L. Gilley!

We need a support group.  That’s why God gave us the church!

Exodus 17:9-12

9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.

We are to praise God for who He is.  Being a child of God surely rewards us many benefits, but when our hearts are truly submitted to Him and we walk in His image, praising Him is what we do because we love Him.  Hands up! Praise God!  Continually praising and thanking Him for everything we have.  When Moses’ hands were up – there was VICTORY – and when our hands are down – there is LOSS.   Lives today are filled with spiritual warfare.  We will have roller coaster days.  We will have many challenges, we will begin to feel like Job.  But no matter the roller coaster we’re on, we should just PRAISE GOD.  You see God is faithful!  And keeping our faith in Him, we will be victorious, we will rise against our problems and our challenges will turn into opportunities to praise Him!

In verse 9 of our Scripture, Moses told Joshua (the spiritual leader and the army leader – we need both) to go down to Rephidum and fight against Amalek. The name Rephidum means “bed or place of rest”.  The Amalekites were enemies of the Israelites and were the “first of the nations” to make war against Israel (Numbers 24:20).  At the time of attack, the Israelites were thirsty, worn out and weary from their journey through the wilderness.   You see, the Amalekites had no fear of God and an unrelenting brutality towards God’s people.  It was said they were plunderers and harassers, dwellers of the valley, cavemen and war-like.

Our enemy today is the same!  Satan wants us down and out in the valley, overwhelmed, beat down and thirsty.   As mentioned above, Rephidum was a “place of rest”.   Here God miraculously provided water from a rock for the Israelites.  And even though they were complaining about this journey in the desert,  I believe the people were feeling a bit over confident.  After all, they had made it through the Red Sea unharmed and had been provided manna for food.   Yes, God tells us to rest physically but never spiritually because the devil will strike us when we’re “at rest”.  We’ll be caught off guard and won’t see his subtle attack on our life.  He wants to plunder and harass us at every turn and yes, he like the Amalekites is unrelenting against God’s people.  We cannot become lackadaisical!  Just about the time we think everything is all set and we’re confidently moving forward, Satan will attack!

In verse 9 we see that Moses didn’t stay in the valley.  He said, “I’m going up on the mountain”.  Here we can see a future glimpse of Calvary!  As we seek God, looking to the power of God through the work of Jesus on the cross, we as followers of Christ, should remember His work with our “hands up” in praise and prayer,  surrendering our lives to Him and allowing our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us!  That is exactly what Aaron and Hur did for Moses during the battle!  In verse 11 Aaron and Hur saw that when Moses’ hands were up, the Israelites were winning the battle, and when his hands fell,  Amalek started winning.  The verse then goes on to say Aaron and Hur found a stone and set Moses upon it, they positioned themselves on either side of him and held his “hands up”!

Psalm 5:11-12

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Jesus is the rock and our brothers and sisters are our help!  We need to keep our “hands up”, praising God” and when needed, use our church support group!  Just praise the Lord and praise Him continuously.  There is a battle going on in each of our lives.   We can praise God for WHO He is, what He’s already done, what He’s doing right now and what He’s going to do!  Heaven is awaiting!

  • Joshua and the army were physically fighting.  We too must do the same thing every morning, putting on the whole armor of God.
  • Moses’ burden was heavy for his people.  We also carry burdens for our family and church family.  We will need to help and be helped along this journey.  But with our hands up, praising God, we can know and trust our battles to be VICTORIOUS in the name of Jesus!


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