Have you?

  Have you?

The Psalmist writes,

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4,5.

Is this your prayer? Do you ask God to show you His ways? To guide you in His paths?

Is God truly your Saviour?

When I ask is God your Saviour I’m not asking have you prayed the sinners prayer. 

The Late evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said,

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell than all the bars in” America Leonard Ravenhill.

The sinners prayer can give a false sense of security. 

What I’m asking you here is; if you were to die today would God accept you into heaven? 

Are you absolutely certain that you will go to heaven?

We all have doubts from time to time as to whether we are good enough to go to heaven. We all question our faith in Christ Jesus. That can be a good thing if it spurs us on to read the Bible, pray and draw closer to God.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"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.

Thus my question to you; Do you truly believe in Jesus Christ? Have you called on the name of the Lord?

Please think about it.

About Matthew 7:22

  About Matthew 7:22

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12

Put this way 

in the year 2021 this means,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Would you?

  Would you?

In the book of James we read,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!” James 2:12, 13.

Do you show mercy to those around you to those you disagree with be it because of their faith, their lifestyle or other things?

You should James tell us we should. He also warns,

“...judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”

This echos the warning of Jesus who said,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

So the question I would ask you is; When you stand before God will you be willing to let God judge you in the same way you judged others? 

Would you be willing to let God show to you the same mercy you showed towards others?

Please think about it.

Flee evil Pursue righteousness

  Flee evil, Pursue righteousness 

The apostle Paul states,

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” 2 Timothy 2:22.

I think Paul's word cannot be any clearer. We are to flee evil and pursue righteousness. We cannot support anything or anyone that is evil. 

We must constantly pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, calling on the Lord with a pure heart.

Question: Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Watch out

  Watch out.

Jesus warned,

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  

Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:15-20.

Someone has said, 

“the devil is not destroying the church by attacking it. He is joining the church and destroying it from within.”

Jesus warned about this when he said,

"Watch out for false prophets. 

They come to you in sheep's clothing, 

but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

                                                               Matthew 7:15.

Sadly we cannot always tell how good or bad an evangelist, pastor or others in authority in the church are. Sometimes it’s because of a code of secrecy. Sometime it’s simply because we only see them in the media and have no idea what they do other that what we see in that media.

  Still we must be on guard even in a local church congregation against those who would lead us astray. 

That’s why we must take time and study the scriptures for ourselves. We must take time to understand what we believe and why we believe it. And we can only do this by taking time to read the holy scriptures, the Bible, for ourselves, praying and asking God to guide and direct us.

We need to pray asking God to lead us to a pastor and a church that we can trust.

We need to look for a church who shows good fruit. that shows the traits the apostle Paul talked about when he said,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

We must see first hand these attributes Paul described because they not only show an individual is following Christ but a Church congregation, is following Christ also.

Question; Are these qualities exhibited in your church Congregation, in your Pastor, in you? 

Please think about it.

Do you truly?

  Do you truly?

The apostle Peter wrote,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you” 1Peter 1:3-4.

Do you have the new birth Peter is talking about? When I’m asking that, I mean do you truly believe and follow Jesus Christ? I don’t mean have you simply said the sinners prayer.

The sinners prayer is not in the bible. It’s origins are from outside the bible. While the prayer in itself is fine. Sadly many churches here in North America sometimes tend to use it almost as a magic coverall prayer to get people saved. That results many times in false hope. 

The late evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said.

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell than all the bars in America.” Leonard Ravenhill.

Many people who say the sinners prayer have the attitude that they say the prayer and it give them an automatic ticket into heaven.

To get into heaven we must have true, unadulterated faith in God in all circumstances. Our faith should spur us on to do good works.

James the half brother of Jesus wrote,

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" James 2:14-20.

So I ask the question do you truly believe in God and the salvation He offers through His One and Only Son Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

Depart

  Depart

The apostle Peter wrote,

"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires" 2 Peter 3:3

In the book of Jude we read,

They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."  

These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  

Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 

Be merciful to those who doubt;  snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh" Jude 1:18-23.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

What Peter, Jude, and Paul warned about is happening to one degree or another within the North American church today. Men and women who are twisting the holy scriptures to conform with their beliefs. Men and women who are only listening to what they want to hear from the Bible. Pastors and evangelist who are telling people what they want to hear.

This should not be so. There is a dire need for evangelism within the North American church in particular. 

If ever there was a need for a revival within the church of North America it is now. 

If the church does not turn around then I’m afraid many pastors, evangelist, and people sitting in the pews will fulfil what Jesus said in Matthews gospel when he said,

"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 7:22,23.

Question; When you stand before God will you hear those words, “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers?

Please think carefully about it

My Help comes from

  My help comes from

The Psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth." 

                                               Psalm 121:1,2.

Where does your help come from? 

In the book of gospel of Matthew we read,

“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.” Matthew 19:16-22.

This man is an example of many in the church today. Rather than trusting wholly in God. They trust in their material possessions. 

Jesus warned,

"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

So where is your trust? Do you truly trust God to supply your needs or are you trusting in your material wealth?

Does your help come from “The LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." or someplace else?

Please think about it.

No other gods

  No other gods

In the book of Exodus we read God as saying,

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

"You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2,3

Billy Graham the late American Evangelist said,

"Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do." Billy Graham.

As Christians we must heed the words of God in Exodus. It is absolute. Anything we put ahead of God, is a god, be it a person an organization or thing. This should not be.

The writer of Hebrews states,

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2.

Jesus paid an horrific price for us. Jesus showed how far God would go in human terms to show us the way to heaven. We should never forget that.

Thus I would ask you the question; If you are truly a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus do you put anything before Christ?

Please think about it.

Impress them on Your Children

  Impress them on your children

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

The late American evangelist Billy Graham wrote,

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” Billy Graham.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to heed the words of Deuteronomy to impress our love of God upon our Children. We need to live our life for God in full view of our Children. We need to teach them all we can about our faith in Christ Jesus. We need to talk about our faith in God frequently.

When I say this I don’t mean force our faith upon them or as one of my friends said “figuratively bash our Children over the head with the bible.” this turns our children away from God.

We need to present the pure teachings of Jesus in word and in deed to our children.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus with children, are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Love not Judge

  Love not Judge

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

                                                                                                    Matthew 22:36-40

Jesus also said,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

I read an article the other day the article was on the church, in the United States. It noted how especially evangelicals have wandered well into the field of politics at the cost of their Christian principles.

What the whole article boiled down to was that the church needed to;

“Get back to the business of loving your neighbour instead of judging your neighbour.”

I would agree. Even here in Canada where I live I see many especially in the evangelical wing of the church passing judgement on those outside the church. And while many within the church do truly love others that love is masked by those who would judge anyone they disagree with.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

What Paul is saying here is simple. We are not allowed to judge those outside the church that is Gods job. 

Our job as believers in Christ Jesus is to see that what those inside the church are teaching is correct and lines up with the scriptures.

We have no right to say where anyone will spend eternity. 

Billy Graham the late American evangelist said it best when talking about Christians he said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love.” 

                              Billy Graham

Thus my question to you. If you consider yourself a Christian. A Follower of Christ Jesus do you love or do you judge?

Please think about it.

Let Us

 Let us

The Psalmist writes,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet 

and a light for my path.” 

                                 Psalm 119:105.

As 2021 begins, let all of us who would call ourselves followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Look to the word of God for guidance in our lives.

May all believers in Christ Jesus take time to study the Holy Scriptures and truly learn what it is to be ambassadors for Christ. Let us be attentive to the words of the Apostle Peter who said,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Dear friends,

 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12. 

Please as this year of our Lord 2021 begins to unfold Thin