SALVATION IN AN INSTANT!

3-30-2018. . . . SALVATION IN AN INSTANT!

"Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Luke 23:42 NKJV) 

Over two thousand years ago a criminal, one convicted, condemned and justifiably crucified, turned to Jesus and made a simple request. The thief knew not when Jesus would enter into His kingdom, only that He most certainly would. Therefore, it is conceivable that he believed his request would be fulfilled at some point in the future and not immediately. To his surprise however, Jesus immediately responded to his ‘faith’ not just his request. Although he was a thief….guilty, convicted and condemned, he received salvation in an instant! Amazing! Jesus still responds immediately to ‘faith’ with salvation in an instant. Though one be a sinner….guilty and deserving of death, the gift on God (eternal life) is available to all who confess and believe. ….If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:9 KJV) Jesus accepts us where we are and like we are. He saves us and then transforms us from how we are. When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! All these new things are from God who brought us back to himself through what Christ Jesus did. (2 Cor 5:17-18 TLB) On this ‘Good Friday’, remember Jesus’ sacrifice made it possible for us to have ‘Salvation in an Instant! Tell everyone you know!!!!

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and saving me. Thank you for sacrificing your life for my sins and for the sins of the world.  Amen!

Luke 23:39-43. . . . And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. KJV

DON'T OPT OUT!

3-29-2018. . . .DON'T OPT OUT!

"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42 KJV)  

Submitting to God's perfect will is not always the easiest thing in the world to do.  In fact, at times, it is downright challenging.  If we would have our way, we would opt for God to relieve us of the weight and responsibility of the choice placed before us.   But then, where would our blessing be?  What God wants for us is what's best for us and for the greater good of others!  Don't Opt Out of It!

Prayer: Lord, what you want for us is best for us and for the greater good of others!   In spite of the challenges and responsibilities, help us not to opt out of it!

Heb 10:7-10. . . .Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  KJV

ENDURE!

3-28-2018. . . .ENDURE! 

"Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God."  (Heb 12:2 TLB) 

Let us remember this week and always that the pain and agony Christ experienced for us was very real, yet for our sake, (the joy of presenting us faultless before the presence of His glory) He endured it!  Because He went through, He is able to help all those that are going through!   ENDURE!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for going through for us!  Strengthen now everyone who is going through that they might endure to the end.  Amen!

Heb 2:17-18. . . .For since he himself has now been through suffering and temptation, he knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and he is wonderfully able to help us.  TLB

IT'S NOT TRUE!

3-27-2018. . . .IT’S NOT TRUE!

“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. (1 Cor 15:15-19 NIV)

 Imagine being still in your sins and lost, without help or hope! What a horrible thought indeed and a worst state to be in if it were true. Thanks be to God that it’s not true. Christ is risen from the dead and has made it possible for all who believe in Him, to rise again too!

Prayer: Lord, I can’t imagine being still in my sins, lost and separated from you! Thank you for making it possible for us to never ever be in that state again. Amen!

1 Cor 15:20-24. . . . But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. NIV

TRUST THE MASTER!

3-23-2018. . . .TRUST THE MASTER!

"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:37-39 KJV) 

Inevitably, storms come into our lives and seemingly, out of nowhere.  Although, the winds and rains of problems and challenges seem beyond human power to control, it is good to know that they are not beyond "The Master's" control.  We need only believe and trust our storms to Him and in an instance, He'll speak a word and all will be well again! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the Master of our storms.  In spite of the storms, problems, and challenges, help us forever trust them to you.  Amen!

Ps 107:28-30. . . . Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them.  He calms the storm and stills the waves.  What a blessing is that stillness as he brings them safely into harbor! TLB

ORDAINED TO MAKE IT!

3-22-2018. . . .ORDAINED TO MAKE IT!

"And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.  But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary." (Matt 14:22-24 KJV)

Walking in divine purpose does not mean we will never face opposition; we will!  Stay the course and weather the storm.  We are ordained to make it through to the other side!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the winds of opposition that blow against us.  Help us stay focused and on course as we pursue your divine purpose.  Amen!

2 Cor 4:8-10. . . .We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.  TLB

ONE NAME!

3-20-2018. . . .ONE NAME!

"For Jesus the Messiah is (the one referred to in the Scriptures when they speak of ) a 'stone discarded by the builders which became the capstone of the arch.'   There is salvation in no one else! Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them."  (Acts 4:11-12 TLB)

The call for salvation will never go unanswered.  There is no possibility of the line being busy, a missed call, a dropped call, or even a wrong call, because there is only one place to call.  One name above every name, and one name with the power to save.  J E S U S!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for salvation through your Son, Jesus the Christ!  All praise, glory, and honor be to His wonderful name!  Amen.

Prov 18:10. . . . The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. NIV

THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE!

3-16-2018. . . .THEY ARE WHO THEY ARE!

"Simon Peter replied, "Master, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life, and we believe them and know you are the holy Son of God."  Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, and one is a devil."  He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would betray him. (John 6:68-71 TLB)  

Everyone walking by our side is not on our side, even though we have chosen them to be so!  While the betrayer's actions inflict pain, they also open the door to destiny!  They are who they are; let them be!

PRAYER: Lord, there is no greater example than yours of how to bare the presence and burden of a betrayer.  Give us the grace to bear our burden with the same knowledge and patience.  Amen!

Matt 26:20-24. . . .That evening as he sat eating with the Twelve, he said, "One of you will betray me." Sorrow chilled their hearts, and each one asked, "Am I the one?"  He replied, "It is the one I served first.  For I must die just as was prophesied, but woe to the man by whom I am betrayed. Far better for that one if he had never been born." TLB

PROPERLY POSITIONED!

3-15-2018. . . .PROPERLY POSITIONED!

"Wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy!" (Prov 27:7 TLB)  

Friends wound us sometimes because they are close to us!  As they are a friend to us, so are we a friend to them and as such, have more than likely wounded them too.  Therefore, forgive them quickly remembering why they are called our friends.  Enemies on the other hand,  through their deceptive actions, attempt to get close enough to us to wound us.  Therefore, know them by their actions and keep them properly positioned so they can do no harm.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for true friends.  Although, they may wound us and we them, help us to forgive quickly and remember why we are friends.  Train our eyes to recognize our enemies and to keep them properly positioned so that they can do no harm! 

Prov 18:24. . . .There are "friends" who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. TLB

THE LESSON IS OURS TO LEARN!

3-14-2018. . . .THE LESSON IS OURS TO LEARN!

"There is a saying, 'Love your friends and hate your enemies.' But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too."  (Matt 5:43-45 TLB)  

If we are honest, this is one of the hardest biblical imperatives to carry out.  The last thing we want to do is be good to someone who is being a low down dirty dog to us; let alone pray for them!  However, as true sons and daughters, we are called to do exactly that!   The lesson is ours to learn and not so much for the benefit of our enemies.

PRAYER: Lord, your ways are best and will benefit us greatly if we follow them.  No matter how difficult it may be, help us to follow your ways concerning our enemies.  Amen!

Matt 5:46-48. . . . If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?   Even the heathen do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.  TLB

POWER IN PARTNERSHIPS!

3-8-2018. . . .POWER IN PARTNERSHIPS!

"Then-look! Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus but couldn't reach him. So they went up on the roof above him, took off some tiles and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his sleeping mat, right in front of Jesus.  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "My friend, your sins are forgiven!" (Luke 5:18-20 TLB) 

It is easy to exercise our faith when it benefits us, but to what extent are we willing to exercise our faith on behalf of someone other than our self?   There is power in partnerships!

PRAYER: Lord, without faith it is impossible to please you, but with faith, all things are possible!  Help us to use our faith to benefit others as well as our self.  Amen!

Matt 18:19. . . . Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  KJV

WHAT DOES THE METHOD MATTER!

3-7-2018. . . .WHAT DOES THE METHOD MATTER!

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.)   He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."  (John 9:4-7 KJV)  

It has been said and correctly so, "The Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform!"  What does the method matter if the result is your miracle? 

PRAYER: Lord, you and you alone are God.  Anyway you bless us, no matter the method, we will be satisfied! Amen.

Dan 4:3. . . .How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.  KJV

BEYOND GREAT!

3-6-2018. . . .BEYOND GREAT!

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Gen 15:1 KJV) 

No one can ever reward or bless us like God can! His commitment to us is without ulterior motives. He is our reward and His blessings to us are always beyond great!

Prayer: Lord, as you were Abram’s exceeding great reward, so are You ours! As You were faithful and blessed him, so also is our expectation and reward. Thank you, Amen!

Gen 15:1. . . . Afterwards Jehovah spoke to Abram in a vision, and this is what he told him: "Don't be fearful, Abram, for I will defend you.” And I will give you great blessings. TLB

STAND ON IT!

3-2-2018. . . .STAND ON IT!

“When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge-to the great amazement of the governor. (Matt 27:12-14 NIV)

Truth never needs a defense!  Be silent and stand on it!  You may be crucified for your stand, but fear not. . . .you will rise again.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the example of how to deal with false accusations. Truth crushed to the ground will rise again. Amen!

Matt 27:12-14. . . . But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders made their many accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. "Don't you hear what they are saying?" Pilate demanded. But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor's surprise. TLB

Dispense with the mess!

3-1-2018. . . .DISPENSE WITH THE MESS!

"The thief 's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." (John 10:10 TLB)

When we consider the great price Jesus paid for our redemption, to live life in any state less than it's fullness is unacceptable!  Yet by choice, many do just that.  Disobedience, rebellion, stubbornness, and willfulness are among the common attitudes that prevent one from living and experiencing life in its fullness.  Why settle for less?  Dispense with the mess! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the opportunity to live and experience life in all its fullness.  Help us to daily say, "Never the less."  Amen.

John 10:10. . . .

 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  

 

KJV