Jesus is Lord!

Corinthians 13:3-6
3 I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you. 4 Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God. We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God’s power-the power we use in dealing with you.  5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. 6 I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Can others tell that Jesus Christ lives in you?  This is the true test of Christianity.  Being a Christian isn’t belonging to a church or a religion, it is having the Lord Jesus Christ live in you. It is living in this sinful world as a forgiven sinner working to become more like Christ.  Many call themselves Christian but fail the test because Christ is not in them.  There is a difference in knowing about Christ and accepting His gift of grace in your life.  Once you accept Christ, you turn from your sin and turn toward Him, God becomes the Lord of your life and you now live for Him.  The old person is gone and a new person is born.  Ephesians 4:24 states, “You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness-righteous, holy, and true.”  How do we become a new person?  Only through Him can we have the righteousness of God.  Because He became weak and now lives by the power of God, so we who are weak can live by the power of God in us.  Take the test and see if others can see Christ in you. If being a Christian were illegal would you be arrested? Maybe you are living with one foot in Christ and one foot in the world.  This will not pass the test.  Christ wants your whole heart and your whole life.  Don’t wait another moment to make Christ your focus and your Lord.

Have a God Day!

Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

God is able to give us everything we need, even though He does not give us everything we want.  God has given us so much; there has never been a generation of people who have so much.  Yes, there are still many poor in this country and this world, but most of the people reading this message are extremely blessed.  But even though we have so much, many are not satisfied.  The more we have the more we want.  This attitude is contrary to the Word of God, and is not what Jesus did when He was here.  He had nothing, no home, no job, no family, and yet He had everything. To become like Christ, we need to practice an attitude of gratitude, we need to practice being content with what we have.  Look at the needs of others around you and find someone you can help.  Do it in the name of Christ with no expectation of anything in return.  Practice doing this and always give your tithe and offerings first.  Walking in obedience to God in this way will change your heart to one of thankfulness and praise for your God Who provides for you.  Instead of thinking about what you do not have, thank God for what you do have.  After all, our most important possession is free and available to everyone, eternal life through Christ Jesus.

Have a God Day!

Ephesians 5:15-20
15 So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 19 Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

One of the keys to success is to live what we know.  Many of us know a lot of things but only live a small portion of our knowledge.  Being wise is to  apply the things that we know.  It is very easy to take the path of least resistance and let our emotions and feelings dictate how and what we will do.  Our behavior shows what is controlling us.  It is far too easy to just do what “feels” good and only those things that give us pleasure.  This is the aspect of a child.  It is adult to do the things that are not fun or easy but need to be done anyway.  So it is with our walk with God.  Christianity is not the easy road.  We must die to self and let Christ live through us.  We must be Christ to the world.  This means living the things we know, applying His truth.  The Holy Spirit controlled Christian is the Christian at peace.  This doesn’t mean we never fail it only means we keep learning and living what we have learned.  Take a small step today and apply one thing you know is true.  Focus on that one small thing every day and see what a difference it will make in your life.

Have a God Day!

Mark 13:14-27
14 “The time will come when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where it should not be–reader, pay attention! “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 15 A person outside the house must not go back into the house to pack. 16 A person in the field must not return even to get a coat. 17 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those days. 18 And pray that your flight will not be in winter. 19 For those will be days of greater horror than at any time since God created the world. And it will never happen again. 20 In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, the entire human race will be destroyed. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.  21 “And then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or, ‘There he is,’ don’t pay any attention. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 23 Watch out! I have warned you!  24 “At that time, after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 26 Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send forth his angels to gather together his chosen ones from all over the world–from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

The “sacrilegious object that causes desecration” refers to the statue of the Antichrist in the Temple of God and Antichrist setting himself up as if he were God.  Christ has given instructions to us about His Second Coming.  And He tells us in verse 26 that everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds.  There have been similar sacrilegious objects that have caused desecration throughout history and because of those events; people believe that the judgment Christ said was coming has already happened.  In 168 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes came into the Temple of God and sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the Temple altar.  And in A.D. 70 the Romans completely destroyed the Temple and then placed an idol on the site.  But do not be deceived because Christ is very clear that this event would take place right before His Second Coming.  When He comes again, no one will need to tell you because everyone living in the world at that time will know He has returned.  No one will need to be told.  We know that Christ has not returned at this time, so His return in yet in our future.  And these events in the Temple are in the future because there isn’t a Temple for the Jews to sacrifice. But we must be prepared for His return at any minute because before He judges the world; He will remove His people from the earth. To be ready for His return is to be living Christ to the world around you.  Waiting and watching for His Second Coming will keep you living for Him and will continue the process of sanctification in you.

Have a God Day!

Galatians 6:7-10 7
Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. 10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

We all have the exact same choices of receiving or refusing what Jesus Christ has provided for us. Our past, present and future as believers are all about the seeds sown by the choices we have made or will make. We think we are human beings having a spiritual experience on earth. But we need to understand we are spiritual beings for all time and eternity that happen to be having a little human experience here on earth. The choices we make today will affect us for all eternity. Many will go into eternity without the blood of Jesus Christ to cover their sins. Don’t be one of them, accept the gift of salvation now while you can. For the Christian, the decisions we make today will determine what we will be doing during the Millennium. Are you using the talents that God has given you for His Kingdom? Or are you hiding them? Are you too afraid to step out and take a risk? Break the cycle from your past and stop reliving your mistakes. Confusion, fear and unforgivness still thriving in your soul will hinder the work Christ has set before you. Think before you step outside of God’s will and do not sow anymore seeds you do not want to grow. Then pull the weeds of past regrets from your life by applying the grace and forgiveness of God. It will soothe your memories and calm your mind. Then you can move forward into eternity with a crop of plenty of work done, in the name of Christ.

Have a God Day!

John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! 8 My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

These disciples had Jewish concepts and their thought patterns had been governed by the Old Testament. He is telling them now that the nation Israel is not the genuine vine. Their identification with the Jewish nation and the Jewish religion is not the essential thing. “I am the genuine vine.” The important thing now is for the disciples to be related to Jesus Christ. That was revolutionary! Our Lord used a marvelous figure of speech, and He made it very clear that it is not your identification with a religion or a ceremony or an organization that is essential. We are to be identified with Christ! We are in Christ by the baptism of the Holy Spirit the moment we trust Christ as our Savior and are born again as a child of God.
J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.

Have a God Day!

Colossians 1:15-23
15  Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. 16 Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. 17 He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.  18 Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Jesus Christ was fully human and fully God. He was the visible image of the invisible God. Without knowing the deity of Christ, you can go no further. If He was not God but only a man, then He could not have been without sin. And if He was a sinner just like you and me, then He could not have died for our sin.  But Jesus Christ has always been God and will always be God. He has no equal. Satan is not a god, he is a created being, created by God and is not in any way His equal. Further more, when God came to earth as a human, He reconciled us to Himself. Christ’s death provided a way for all people to come to God. This does not mean that all have been saved but it cleared the way for anyone who will trust Christ to be saved. We can have peace with God and be reconciled to Him by accepting Christ, who died in our place for our sin. This is the Gospel of Good News. God came to earth and died for our sin. If you have not made peace with God, do so today though the work of Jesus Christ.  He is the only name under heaven that you can be saved!

Have a God Day!

Psalm 14:1-3
1 Only fools say in their hearts, There is no God. They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good!
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God.
3 But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

As a consequence of sin, death and a corrupt nature entered the human race. We were created by God for God and meant to live in fellowship with Him forever. But as result of sin, we have all turned from the only source of Life and have chosen to live without God. Romans 3:23 tells us that, “For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Though each one of us in our own way has betrayed God, He did not abandon us. There is hope for us. As God promised, He sent the One who would rescue us. His name is Jesus. The only Son of God became one of us and took the penalty for our sin when He died on the Cross. Because God is holy and just, He can not look on sin. But because Jesus Christ became a man while never giving up His deity, He never sinned.  There was no corruption in Him, therefore He could be the perfect atonement for our sin.  He stepped in and took the penalty for our sin. Every sin you ever committed or ever will commit can be covered by the Blood of Christ. So when you go before the Father, He sees you through the Blood and you are without sin. “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16,17)

Have a God Day!

1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve him, 13 even though I used to scoff at the name of Christ. I hunted down his people, harming them in every way I could. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how kind and gracious the Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus. 15 This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and I was the worst of them all. 16 But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL:Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

This is a very important verse of Scripture because it affirms that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He didn’t come to be the greatest teacher the world has ever known, although He was that. He didn’t come to set a moral example, but He did do that. He came into the world to save sinners. When you give your testimony make sure that you don’t tell people how wonderful you are or all you have accomplished. Tell them you were a sinner and that Christ saved you. That is what is important. When Paul says he was the chief of sinners, he is speaking the truth. He was the chief of sinners; he blasphemed the Lord Jesus. But, Paul says, I’ve been saved. The Lord Jesus came to save sinners, and if you say, I don’t think Christ can save me I’m the worst, you are wrong. Paul is the chief of sinners, and the chief of sinners has already been saved. So you will be able to be saved if you want to be. The decision rests with you. All you need do is turn to Christ, and He’ll do the rest.
J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System,(Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon
McGee.

Have a God Day!