Proclaiming His Name

  Proclaiming His Name.

Isaiah the prophet writes,

"Behold, God is my salvation; 

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation."

"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  

And will say in that day:

Give thanks to the Lord call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted." 

                                                         Isaiah 12:2-4

Can you say “God is my Salvation”?

Can you say “The LORD GOD is my strength and my song”?

Can you say, “He has become my salvation”?

From personal experience I know that God is my Salvation my strength and it’s a wonderful feeling. And it gets better!

In the book of Acts we read this interaction between Paul, Silas and their jailor,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:30,31.

I know my family is saved. I know both my children are saved. Both are serving the Lord in their own way as is my daughter in law. 

I know my late wife is with the Lord. Some of her last words were “I just want to be with Jesus”. 

All of this come to be, because both my wife and I believed in “The Lord Jesus” while still in our early twenties before we met each other.

And while we are not household names. Just a small family who love The Lord. We have had the privilege of proclaiming the Love of Christ and the Salvation He offers both in word and in deed to all we come in contact with. 

And if we can do it anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ can do it also.

If you consider yourself a Christian, A true believer in Christ Jesus. Are you proclaiming the Salvation that comes through Christ in word and in deed to the world around you?

Please think about it.

If you believe with your heart

  If you believe with your heart.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9,10.

There is no need for explanation of this portion of scripture. It says what it says.

If you confess Jesus is Lord.

If you believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead.

You will be saved.

So the question becomes: Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

The way I see it

The way I see it
In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
If there is no God then the above statement is true.”everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind;...”
Some atheist say when we die we will live on in the memories of others. A statement that is not completely true. Perhaps if we have made a great discovery we may be remembered in some history book. But most of us will be forgotten within a generation or so.
Ask yourself, where was your great, great, great grandmother or father born? What was the colour of their eyes? What was their favourite piece of music? Where is their grave? What was their greatest achievement? Few people can answer these questions.
So my question to anyone who does not believe in God is where is the purpose in life if we are forgotten within a few generations? If all our achievements are only remembered in some dusty history book, or for that matter not at all?
The way I see it without God, life is meaningless. God’s existence makes life worthwhile. God gives us something to look forward to when this life is over.
And I am convinced that if we follow the advice of Paul and Silas who said to their Jailor,
"...Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:31 we will spend eternity in heaven.
Please think about it.

Foolishness?

Foolishness?

The apostle Paul writes,

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

                                                                                1 Corinthians 1:18.

Think about this. The whole New Testament revolves around Jesus. Jesus who claimed to be the Son of God. Equal to God. It talks about his dying on the cross for the sins of each individual who would believe in him. It talks about his resurrection from the grave. It tell of how he waked the earth after rising from the grave. Then ascended into heaven.
This to many people today and in the past seems foolishness. Yet those who believe in Christ Jesus believe it to be absolutely true.
The question is do you believe what the New Testament says about Jesus or not.
Many who dismiss Jesus and God out of hand I find have not read the Bible. What they know of the teachings of Jesus and Jesus himself is purely second hand. Which can be a dangerous thing. For second hand sources can have a bias.
I firmly believe individuals need to read the Bible for themselves. It is the only way to truly know the truth about Jesus and about God.
Thus my challenge to anyone who reads this take time to at least read the New Testament before you make up your mind about Jesus.
Please think about it.

Going to Heaven?

Going to Heaven?
Luke’s gospel records
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  
I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14.
Do you go to church on Sunday? How about during the week? Do you go to church during the week? Are you active in the church? Do you fast? Do you tithe?
Do you know you can do all of the above and not go to heaven?
Sadly many people who go to church including those who are in places of responsibility in the church, Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, Pastors, Evangelist, may not be going to heaven.
O they’ve prayed the sinners prayer and do good work in the church, but just because they do this doesn’t mean they are going to Heaven. It does not mean they are justified before God.
The evangelist Leonard Ravenhill once said,

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell

 than all the bars in America.” 

                                                   Leonard Ravenhill

Sadly the sinners prayer has become a formula, at least here in North America. It can and does many times give a person a false sense of eternal security.
I believe you can go to heaven without saying the sinners prayer. All one must be willing to do is confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe God raised him from the dead you will be saved.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans explained it this way,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:9-13.
So my question to you the reader is, Do you truly believe Jesus is Lord?
Your answer to that question can have eternal consequences.
Remember Jesus warned,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23
Please think carefully about it.

Christians are you saved?

Christian are you truly saved?
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23
Sadly what Jesus is saying is true. There are many people today who claim to be Christians who are not. That includes not only people who sit in the pews, but pastors, evangelist and others.
Leonard Ravenhill an English American evangelist said,
“I doubt if 5% of professing Christians in America are born again--and that's true of England!” Leonard Ravenhill.
There are many, many people who go to church that will find out one day that they are not going to heaven. That is especially true I think of many who have grown up in the church. These people know the ritual. They know what to say and when to say it. But they have no personal relationship with Christ.
Many go to church here in North America because it’s a social thing. Their grandparents went. Their parents went and their friends go to church. Thus they go.
But as the saying goes. “Going to church and reading your bible doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a fire station makes you a fire truck.
I firmly believe there is a need within the Church especially here in North America where I live for a revival. A revival that must start from within.
We as true believers in Christ Jesus need to be reaching out to the people within the walls of our church congregations to ensure that all who attending are truly in a right relationship with God. For if we don’t it will have eternal consequences.
Please think about it.

Where is your Faith

Where is your Faith?
The Psalmist writes,

“Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth.” 

                                             Psalm 46:10.

I as a believer in Christ Jesus believe one day every individual will meet God. That one day God will appear and judge mankind. I believe the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
The way I see it at this moment God is giving you the reader, and everyone who hears the Gospel message the chance to go to heaven.
I believe that getting to heaven is very much an act of faith. The apostle Paul writing,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  

not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

                                                    Ephesians 2:8,9

The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                              Hebrews 11:6.  

The writer of Hebrews defining faith this way,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                          Hebrews 11:1.

I believe God wanted us to believe in Him by faith, not because it was easy but because it is hard.
It is difficult for most people to believe in someone they cannot see, feel or hear. But God knows those who truly have faith in someone will keep that faith until their dying day.
So the question is, Where is your faith?
Please think about it.

The Narrow or The Wide Gate

The Narrow or the Wide Gate
Jesus said,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13,14.
There are many in the world today that say there are many ways to heaven. Believers in Christ Jesus do not believe this. We believe Jesus when he said,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
Even the apostle Paul admitted that what believers in Christ believed seemed to be foolishness. Paul wroting,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
That being said all of the disciples of Christ including Paul and every other believer in Christ to modern day believe Jesus is the way to heaven.
Individuals must understand that God does not do things the way man does things.
I’m certain most individuals would say the best way to show God exists and show mankind the way to heaven is by God coming out of heaven in a miraculous way. For God to show Himself in all his might and power.
The apostle Paul however notes,
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25
God wants individuals to have faith in Him because God knows that people of faith are the truest followers. Followers who will literally go to the grave for what they believe in.
The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                       Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

                                                                                 Hebrews 11:6.

Ultimately it all comes down to you the individual and what you believe. You have the choice to believe there are many ways to heaven, or you can believe Jesus is “The Way” to heaven The choice is yours. However remember this the writer of Proverbs states,

“There is a way that seems right to a man 

but in the end it leads to death” 

                                         Proverbs 14:12.

Thus I would ask the question, How firm are you in your beliefs?
If you were to die today do you believe you would go to heaven?
Please think about it.

Is your faith real?

Is your faith real?
Matthew’s gospel records this incident between Jesus and a rich man,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
  Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:16-26.
Let me make something clear here. Having wealth is not wrong. The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
Notice Paul states it is “the the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”. Money in itself is neither good or bad it can be used for both purposes.
Jesus in the above incident is not telling the rich young man his money is evil. He is asking the young man what is his faith truly in, God, or his wealth. As it turned out it was his wealth because he was unwilling to give it up and put all his trust in God.
Jesus tells us,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Our faith needs to be entirely in God. Not our wealth. The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                  Hebrews 11:6.

The writer defines faith as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and 

certain of what we do not see.”  

                                          Hebrews 11:1.

That rich man believed there is a God. He’d obeyed the law of Moses.  However he did not have the faith in God to provide for all his needs.
Question one: Do you truly have faith in God to provide for all your needs?
Question two: If God were to ask you to give up all your wealth and ask you to totally depend on Him, could you do it?
Please think about it.

Walls

Walls
Matthews Gospel records,
“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1,2.
Here is an example of “religious legalistic leaders”.
Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field on the Sabbath, picking some of the heads of the grain rolling it in their hands to remove the outer shell and then eating it.
The Pharisees who were extremely legalistic interpreted this as them harvesting, threshing and eating a meal. The harvesting and threshing of the grain being considered work and not allowed on the Sabbath. It is a classic example of “religious leaders” taking things too far.
It happens in the church today. Many churches have rituals and traditions that quite often take the place of what God wants us to do. Traditions and rituals that when first introduced had a purpose even illustrated points from the Bible.
Sadly however many of these traditions and rituals have lost their meaning over the years and in the twenty-first century actually keep people away from God. We as Christians need to be aware of this.
Something I’d never really thought of at one time, was dressing up for church. That was until a person told me. They didn’t have a suit to wear to church. Which is why they didn’t go.
     No one should be discouraged from going to church because they don’t have “the right clothes”.
Fortunately that is changing in many churches especially here in Canada. The church I attend has a come as you are policy. Even our pastor will preach wearing blue jeans. Workers are nearly all casually dressed.
God does not care how you dress but what you believe.
Another thing is the lack of inclusiveness in the church. Some groups are reluctant to go to evangelical churches in particular, because they feel they are being centred out as “special sinners”. This should not be so.
Matthews Gospel records this incident,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
In Christ’s day the “special sinners” the Pharisees pointed to were tax collectors and others.
In today’s world there are Christians who refuse to sit down with members of the LGBT community or with those of other faiths. They feel in doing so they are guilty by association. When really there is no guilt involved on anyone’s part.
Many from the LGBT community do not feel welcome in Evangelical churches especially. This should not be so.
As Christians we must not become “religious” we must follow the example of Jesus and the apostles who associated with everyone. Who pointed people to heaven in word and deed.
We must not erect barriers that would prevent even one person from coming to know Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Please think about it.