Jesus - A Man Of Sorrows

Sin, in the heart of man, brings death and destruction. Jesus knew what sin in the heart meant for mankind and it grieved His heart. Every evil done by man is a result of sin. Hate sin with all your being!! The first sin committed in the garden by Adam and Eve were the beginnings of our walk in sin. They listened to the Satan and yielded to temptation and entered into rebellion against God.


Gen.3:1-6 

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 
2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 
3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 
4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 
5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.


Matt.23:37-39 
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 
38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 
39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"


Is this not what the world is doing today? Are we not chief in rebellion against God? Look all around at the evil men do! Denying God's word, greed, crime, perverted assaults against children, all manner of lust, and tearing down the sanctity of marriage between man and woman. Lord, forgive us! How can we deny the sweet gift of salvation? Escape from the bondage of sin has been given to us, by Christ, through His death and resurrection. Our house is indeed left desolate, just as the people of Jerusalem. God is speaking to us about our impending destruction due to sinful rebellion. Look around to the signs of peril. No peace, destructive weather, illness, faintness of heart, an unstable economy, poor leadership in government, scandals of powerful men, and those who willingly pervert the truth of gospel to lead people in a direction contrary to God's teachings. Wake up before it is too late and you find yourself in eternity separated from God.

John 3:16-18 

16 "For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

God's word says who will not go into everlasting peace.
1 Cor.6:9-10 
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

God's plan!
1Cor.6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 


Let us pray for forgiveness, use self control against sin, flee from temptation and obey the Lord!
Lord, You are mighty to save, an all consuming power against sin and our coming King. We fall at Your throne of grace to receive mercy and pardon. By Your power and for Your glory among the nations! Amen and Amen

Sinners As Sinners

Christ came for sinners! He was numbered with the transgressors! He intercedes for sinners! Spurgeon said" Consider the plan." It was a plan of salvation and of neccessity it was intended to bless the sinner. The plan was based on grace, meaning it was for persons who did not derserve it. So if you think you need to change yourself before you ask Christ for forgiveness, you are wrong. Christ is the one who changes every man into a new creation. He wants a sinner just like you! You are who salvation was for, while you were yet a sinner, Christ died for you! Christ bore your sins! He felt the weight of your sin and my sin. He removed them so they are no more! There are some that make light of sinning but it was Christ who took the weight of sin and He was innocent. Come as you are with the blackest of souls, Christ wants you. I can not make you believe in Christ. It is free to all who will believe. Don't think it too good to be true. Don't think it too simple to snatch you from Hell. It is what Christ has done on the cross, period!!!

1 Tim.1:15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Luke 22:37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment."

Heb.7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermostthose who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Ps.103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Eph.2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.2Cor.5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Lord, we ask for the nations for Your glory. Open eyes to Your words of life. Amen

Spiritual Beggars

Matt.5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What is poor in spirit? One who has a deep sense of being in spiritual poverty and knowing his wretchedness. It is a wise man who knows he has no chance to be reconciled to God because of sin. He knows that Christ is his redeemer, He lived a sinless life, He died, He rose again and His gift of salvation is free. I hope you are aware that you are a spiritual beggar. You are completely and utterly at the mercy of Christ, the King of all creation and Savior of all souls. Do you have a humble opinion of yourself ? It is only through humbleness that your heart can receive Christ.

Is.66:2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

Psalm 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Lord, it is only by Your power and for Your glory that we have salvation. Remember us with mercy when we are stubborn and willfully do not obey You. Amen

The Ultimate Question

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Listen to the gospel and know the truth!
RADICAL

There Is Hope

What do you do when you see a person headed for eternal destruction? I pray, for my hope is in the Lord.  There are things we can say, if the person is willing to listen. We can present the gospel, if the person is willing to hear. But what do you do if the person is completely convinced that the gospel is a joke? If all their mannerisms tell you they want to be anywhere but here listening to this gospel. I pray, for my hope is in the Lord. Salvation is between you and the Lord. Each person will be held accountable, by God, as to whether he denies God or begs for mercy. We can live out the gospel before the lost but ultimately it is Christ who draws all men to Him. I do not know how many times God will offer salvation to a person. Today is the day of salvation!


Ps.39:7 "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
1Peter 1:21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

God's promise:
Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began


Through Christ
Heb.7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Heb.7:22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.


One time sacrifice:
Heb.7:27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.


Response to the lost:
1Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect


In the end:
Heb.9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment


Lord, salvation is by Your power alone! Help us to be obedient to You in living out your gospel truth. I grieve for the lost and bow humbly before Your throne of grace. To serve You all my days, in love and respect, for You alone are worthy! Amen

Unless You Repent You Will All Likewise Perish

Luke 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Repent means turning from sin! Turning from sin means going in another direction, one that is more pleasing to God. Another direction means seeking after the things of God. The things of God are loving the Lord with all your heart, obeying His commands, and loving your neighbor. You can only do these things if you are a new creation in Christ. God's changes are forever and He is Lord over all things. It does not matter what evil controls you, our God is mighty! You want peace? Read God's word and ask for Him to reveal to you the wonder of Who He is! He has revealed Himself to us in His word and in His creation.
Deut.29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
John 5:36-40
36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
Lord, only You can change hearts! My heart grieves for the lost and the sweet relationship they will miss with you. Lord, You are over all things. Help us to reach the lost for Your glory in the whole Earth. Amen 

Do You Know Who I Am?

Who is He to you? I am speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God! One day you will stand before Him and He will judge you, and it will be just for He is righteous. You want to know why?
He died, in obedience to His Father, on the cross when He took the wrath due you and me! All power in heaven and earth has been given to Him by the Father.


Matt.28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

We here on earth, put high importance on who we are. But that is not what is important. God's word says" It is appointed once for man to die and then judgement".


Heb.9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

Christ will not ask who you are but will ask do you obey Me, do you humbly bow before Me, and is your faith solely in me for salvation? There is salvation in no one else!


Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 

How can this fact be ignored by man? What will be the outcome if you ignore this precious gift?


Heb.2:2-4 
2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 
3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Heb.2:10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.


Hell and Heaven are real. Your soul is eternal! It goes to one place or the other. God has made a way for you to be reconciled to Him through His Son. You can repent and ask for mercy or you can deny and face the harsh reality of Hell. Don't let people lead you down a path of destruction. Read God's word, pray for forgiveness, repent and discover the truth for yourself. Before you do these things, look to creation for clues God has set before all mankind.



Romans 1:18-20
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Lord, open the eyes of wicked man to see the truth of Your glory revealed through out creation. Amen