Part # 2 of 2 " If A Man Die, Shall He Live Again ? "

   

      Yesterday we ended Part 1 with, " Next GOD is going to tell us about those who remain. " For this we say unto you by the WORD of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep." And so we continue........

             HE  ENCOURAGES
           Those  Who  Remain

     "...We which are alive and remain..." Those who remain are the ones that are alive today. The LORD wants to help and encourage us who are alive and remain.

          Our  life  must  go  on.

     First HE tells us not to " sorrow...as others which have not hope."  HE is not saying that there is no sorrow in the loss of loved ones. The LORD JESUS wept at the grave of Lazarus in John 11:35. HIS heart was broken, and HIS eyes were filled with tears. Yet HE knew that Lazarus was alive, and HE knew where he was.

     Truth will not keep your heart from breaking, but it will give you a reason to go on. It is impossible not to have a broken heart when someone we love and care for dies. However, we must remember in our sorrow that our life goes on. There are others who need us. Our sorrow and heartache is real, but we must not be carried away to where we lose all hope.

Sometimes the survivor of a terrible accident in which a loved one was taken has a hard time understanding why they were not taken and others spared. When a family member is stricken with sickness, and their life is cut short, we often question, "Why ? Why them and not me ?"

     I came across a poem that was a blessing to me about suffering and death written by O.Ray Burgess in 1949 called "Why  She  Suffered"

So you asked me why she suffered
All the days and all the hours,
And I know I cannot tell you;
This lies only in GOD's powers.
Someday when this life is ended
And the veil of tears has passed, 
And we sail into the Harbor
Of GOD's promises at last.

Then we'll know the hidden secrets
HE kept back from us a while,
And we'll find our greatest triumph
In the sunshine of GOD's smile.
In this life we find our trials,
And we suffer through the years,
Often we are disappointed
And we weep with scalding tears.

But someday when HE has called us
To that land of Brighter Day,
We will then be glad we suffered
For it all will pass away.
So you asked me why she suffered
And I still cannot tell why,
But we'll know someday, rejoicing,
In that Blessed By and By.

Death cannot take the memory and love we have for people. We are left with precious memories and, in many cases, great lessons of life that can be passed on to the next generation.

     The Apostle Paul said, " I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you, " and then he said, " because I have you in my heart " in Philip.1:3,7. Our lives are forever touched and blessed by the people we love and by those who love us.

     If their life truly influenced our life for good, then we will become their crown of rejoicing at the Judgement seat of CHRIST in 1st.Thes.2:19.  Their influence never ends if we carry their memory with us. They could say, " For now we live, if ye stand fast in the LORD " in 1st.Thess.3:8

We have something to look forward  to.

     The LORD reminds us that when HE returns, " we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD."

     HE says, " Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning " in Psalm 30:5. The joy that HE is talking about is when we are reunited with our loved ones. We truly have something to look forward to. That something is the great resurrection day.

Anyone who has ever waited on a loved one to arrive at the airport knows the excitement felt when the plane lands and the passengers start walking toward the waiting area. What joy when they see the one they love and have been waiting for ! Can you imagine the joy we will have when we see the LORD coming in the air with the ones who have gone on ? We have a reason to live, and we have something to look forward to.

We have others to encourage and help.

     The LORD said that we should " comfort one another with these words." What is hard for us to understand while we are going through darkness is that one day our experience of grace will be used to comfort and help others who are going through the same valley.

" Blessed be GOD, even the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of mercies, and the GOD of all comfort; WHO comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of GOD " in 2nd.Cor.1:3-4. We will one day take what we have learned about the grace of GOD and help others.

     Many of our great hymns of faith were written in an hour of sorrow. GOD draws near to us in these times of heartache and gives us " in the night HIS song " in Psalm 42:8.  One such song is, " It is Well with My Soul " by H.G.Spafford and Phillip P.Bliss. The first and second stanzas go:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, THOU hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

And LORD haste the day
When my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound
and the LORD shall descend,
"Even so"--it is well with my soul.

     The LORD has left us here to be a blessing and a comfort to others. HE will make it possible for our life to cross the path of someone who needs the great truth GOD has given us, someone for whom we can be a brook by the way. " Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

                 HE  CARES  FOR
             Those  Without  Hope

     The third group we are told about is " others which have no hope." How sad to think of hurting people going through the loss of a friend or loved one and " having no hope, and without GOD in the world " as Ephesians 2:12 tells us.

     Maybe you are one of those who are without GOD in this world. To die without hope and without GOD means to be separated from GOD forever.

     But the LORD cares for you. HE wants you to have hope and everlasting life. HE tells us in John 3:16:  " For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."

     The LORD wants you to know that you are loved. He said, " For GOD so loved the world..." You are part of this world, and GOD loves you.

     HE also wants you to know that you are of worth. You are so precious to GOD that "...HE gave HIS only begotten SON..."  He gave HIS SON to pay your sin debt.
   
     The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" in Romans 3:23. And sin must be paid for. " For the wages of sin is death..." in Romans 6:23.

     The Good News is that the LORD JESUS paid our sin debt in full. " For HE hath made HIM to be sin for us..." in 2nd.Cor.5:21. HIS payment for our sin was accepted by GOD, and it satisfied GOD's requirement for forgiveness.

     You may ask, " How can GOD forgive sin ?"  HE can do that because of what JESUS did for us. "...While we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us " in Romans 5:8.

     GOD wants you to have hope. HE said "...that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish..."This means that when someone who knows the LORD dies, they are not separated from GOD. They go to Heaven. The LORD wants all of us to have hope.

     GOD wants you to have a purpose in life. HE says that we " should not perish but have everlasting life."  Everlasting life is ours when we turn to the LORD JESUS CHRIST in repentance and faith and receive GOD's payment for our sin. You may ask, "How do I do this ?" The answer is as simple as ABC.

A--Admit that you are a sinner, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD "in Romans 3:23

B--Believe that JESUS died for you, for "CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures" in 1st. Cor.15:3.

C--Call upon the LORD to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" in Romans 10:9-13.

     Receive CHRIST today. HE has promised, " Him that cometh to ME I will in no wise cast out " in John 6:37. Come to the LORD JESUS for Salvation. If you would like to know CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR and have hope in this world, I invite you to pray this prayer and receive CHRIST today......

          LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I
          believe YOU died and rose again for me.
          I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come
          into my heart and save me, and help me
          to live for YOU.  In JESUS' name,  AMEN.

     Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

" These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the SON of GOD; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the SON of GOD " in 1st.John 5:13.

If you have received the LORD JESUS as your personal SAVIOR, " there is joy in the presence of the angels of GOD."  Your loved ones in Heaven at this very moment are rejoicing over your decision. And you have a great reunion to look forward to.
                                    
The question that has been on the hearts and minds of every person from the beginning of time is this:

   If a man die, shall he live again ?

The LORD JESUS answered this question and pulled back the veil of Heaven to show us a glimpse of life after death.                    
                                 Tom Sexton

Five Star Publications. A ministry of Gulf Coast Baptist Church,  312  SE 24th.Ave., Cape Coral, FL 33990  (239)574-STAR  
www.FiveStarChristianPublications.com
info@5scp.com

This publication was reshared to you, in its entirety, by me so that you would have a better understanding of Heaven and Life after Death.
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie

http://wordoftruthlighthouse.blogspot.com

Part # 1 of 2 " If A Man Die, Shall He Live Again ? "

COMFORTING WORDS about Heaven and LIFE after DEATH by  Dr. Tom Sexton

                 Comforting  Text

" But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that JESUS died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in JESUS will GOD bring with HIM.  For this we say unto you by the WORD of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the LORD HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of GOD: and the dead in CHRIST shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD.

Wherefore....Comfort one another with these words.

                   1st. Thessalonians 4:13-18

     The question that has been on the hearts and minds of people down through the centuries is this:

                     If  a  man  die,

                shall  he  live  again ?

     This was Job's question to GOD in Job 14:14 and the LORD JESUS answered his question, saying, " I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in ME, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in ME shall never die. "  John 11:25-26

     Nothing grips our hearts and minds like the loss of a friend or loved one.  There is no emptiness like the emptiness left by the Home-going of someone we love.

     GOD, WHO is " the GOD of all comfort " in 2nd. Corinthians 1:3  has given us this portion of Scripture to comfort those whose hearts are saddened by the death of their dear loved ones.

     GOD's WORD says, " I would not have you to be ignorant " in 1st.Thess. 4:13.  The world has always considered GOD's people to be a little bit ignorant.  But no one is ignorant who knows the ONE WHO holds tomorrow, the ONE WHO conquered death and the grave.

     The LORD JESUS removed the sting of death, and HE took the victory away from the grave in 1st. Corinthians 15:55-57.  HE said, " I AM HE that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, AMEN; and have the keys of hell and of death. "  Revelation 1:18

     GOD has some things HE wants us to know about life and death.  HE gives us these truths to strengthen our hearts in the time of sorrow.

     In our comforting test, GOD speaks to us about three groups of people.  HE speaks to us "concerning them which are asleep."  HE wants to encourage those of us "which are alive and remain."  HE is very concerned about "others which have no hope."  HE gives great truth to each of these three groups.

               HE  TELLS  US  ABOUT

              Those  Who  Have  Died

     HE says, " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep..."  First, GOD is speaking to us concerning those who have died.  HE is going to tell us about "them which are asleep," those who have died in CHRIST and have gone Home to be with the LORD.

     The WORD of GOD teaches us that " precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of HIS saints." in Psalm 116:15  The LORD is saying, " I do not want you to be ignorant about those who are asleep.  I want to tell you about them."

                  They   are   alive.

      First, GOD wants us to know that they are still alive.  This whole passage speaks of it.  They are with the LORD JESUS.  GOD created man spirit, soul, and body per 1st.Thess.5:23.  Their body died, but they are still alive.

     Like the beggar who died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom in Luke16:22, and the thief on the cross whom CHRIST saved and took to Paradise that day in Luke 23:43; our friends and loved ones (who die in the LORD)close their eyes in this world and wake up in Glory.  They take their last breath here below, and take their next breath in Heaven.  They are breathing new air and finding it celestial.

     When you die in CHRIST, it is not the end of your life.  Death is just a door you go through to get to Heaven in John 10:9.

     The Bible says in John 3:16, " For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."Everlasting means everlasting.

     When someone puts their faith and trust in the LORD JESUS as their personal SAVIOR, the WORD of GOD says they are given eternal life, everlasting life.

     The LORD JESUS said, " MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of MY hand. MY FATHER, which gave them ME, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of MY FATHER's hand. I and MY FATHER are one."  John 10:27-30

     When CHRIST said, " I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish," HE was saying, " Do not think that the grave and death are the end.  There is life after death."  Eternal life does not end with the death of the body.

     The LORD JESUS, when speaking to Martha about her brother who was in the grave, said, " Thy brother shall rise again."  Martha replied, " I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  Then JESUS told her, " I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in ME, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in ME shall never die." in John 11:23-26

     The LORD JESUS answered the age-old question, " If a man die, shall he live again ?" with a glorious  " YES !"  HE taught us that life does not end with death.

The LORD wants us to know that those who have gone on are not buried some-where in the ground. Their body died and their body is buried, but they did not die.  They are with the LORD; they are alive today !

We learn from GOD's WORD that " the LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." in Genesis 2:7   All men one day will die: " Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto GOD WHO gave it." in Ecclesiastes 12:7

     My dear Mother went Home to be with the LORD over the Thanksgiving holidays in 1999.  She is with the LORD this very hour.  My beloved "Pop" went Home to be with the LORD eighteen months before my Mother did.

     I can remember when my son-in-law Tim's Grandfather went Home to be with the LORD.  Someone asked Tim, " I heard you lost your Grand-father ?"  He said, "No, I didn't lose my Grandfather. When you lose something, you don't know where it is. I know where my Grandfather is. He is in Heaven."

     First of all, those that are in Heaven are more alive today than they have ever been. Second, they are presently with the LORD.

            They  are  with  the  LORD.

     The Bible says, " For if we believe that JESUS died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in JESUS will GOD bring with HIM." in our Comfort Text. If the LORD is going to bring them with HIM, they have to be with HIM now. They are with the LORD right now. Isn't that wonderful ! They are alive, and they are with the LORD.

     " Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the LORD: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD." in 2nd.Corinthians 5:6-8

These are great verses. The Bible says, "to be absent from the body" is "to be present with the LORD." We are far better off to be absent from the body and to be present with the LORD! Do you know what happens when a Christian dies ? They leave their body, and they are in the presence of GOD. What a thrilling truth !

     To have HIS presence in this life is wonderful, but to be in HIS presence is far better. " We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD."

     This is why the Apostle Paul said, " For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain." in Philippians 1:21  How could someone possibly say that to die is gain ? How could someone say it is better to die in CHRIST than it is to live in CHRIST ?  Because to live in HIS presence is wonderful, but to be in HIS presence is far better.

     The Apostle Paul said he was in a fix. He was torn between two things. He wanted to depart and be with the LORD, but it was more needful, he said, that he remain in Philippians 1:23-24.  Those who have died in CHRIST are alive today and are with the LORD. Next we are given more truth about those who have died.

       They  are  living  in  the  FATHER's  house.

     Not only are they alive today and with the LORD, but also they are living in the FATHER's house. How wonderful ! The LORD JESUS said, " In MY FATHER's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto MYSELF; that where I AM, there ye may be also." in John 14:2-3

     It is going to be so spectacular ! What is amazing is that these mansions are in the FATHER's house. Can you imagine what the FATHER's house is like ?

You see, not only are they alive today, and in the presence of GOD, but also they are living in the FATHER's house. Think about that. They are living inside the FATHER's mansions. Our heavenly Home is in a city that is " the perfection of beauty " in Psalm 50:2  with " gates...of...pearl " and a " street of...pure gold " in Revelation 21:21   " And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones " in Revelation 21:18-19.

     No wonder Paul said he had a desire to depart and to be with the LORD. Think about our departed lived ones living with CHRIST in that beautiful place.

     My dear Pop was a builder all of his adult life until he retired. He was very anxious about the new auditorium we built for the church. I was saddened that he went Home to be with the LORD before he could see it completed. I believe he would have loved it. He was always fascinated with construction. He spoke with me often about special construction projects.

     I remember when I was a young man, right out of high school, Disney World in Orlando was being built. They talked about how wonderful it was going to be as they started building that great complex in central Florida around the swamps and alligators.

     People all over the state of Florida were so excited, waiting until the day it opened. They had to go see it. The first people who went through looked around and said, "WOW ! Can you believe this ?"  I can remember as a young man going through there so amazed at what man had built. My Pop used to talk about those things.

     I want you to know that my dear Pop has been with the LORD JESUS and has witnessed the most wonderful building project ! He has witnessed the mansions being built. He is living in one today !

     Can you imagine what it is going to be like when GOD takes us to Heaven and reveals HIS house ? Nothing ever built in this world will even come close to what our heavenly FATHER has built for us.

The LORD is saying, " I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep." They are more alive today than they ever were in this world. And they are in the presence of GOD. Isn't that wonderful ? They are living in the FATHER's house of many mansions. If we could ask them to come back, they would refuse.

     I told our church a while back about a Preacher who was on my Ordination counsel, Dr.Leroy Perry. GOD bless him--what a great, old-fashioned Preacher he was ! Dr.Leroy Perry went Home to be with the LORD, and I remember going to his funeral.

     About two weeks before Dr.Perry died, the church bought him a brand new, fully loaded Buick Park Avenue. I tell you, it was some kind of car. One of the Preachers who spoke in the funeral service made a comment about it. He said, "This is a great car. How nice of the church to get it for him. I am sure Brother Perry would like to drive that car a little bit." Once he realized what he had said, he corrected himself. " Now hold on just a second. I don't mean that Brother Perry would come back and drive that car. To be with CHRIST is far better !"

     The closer we get to Heaven the more " the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of HIS glory and grace "(from Helen Howarth Lemmuel, Turn Your Eyes Upon JESUS, hymn).

                    They  are  with

           their friends and loved ones.

     The Bible says, " I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep."  Who are the "them" ?  They are the saints of all the ages who have gone Home to be with the LORD.

     In Heaven there is a wonderful reunion of family and friends. No wonder in Heaven there is " fullness of joy " and " pleasures for evermore " in Psalm 16:11.  And because in Heaven " there shall be no night there," in Revelation 21:25 & 22:5 we will arrive the same day. In this world we say goodbye, but on the other shore they say hello and welcome Home !

     In our sight it is sorrow, but " precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of HIS saints " in Psalm 116:15. It is precious because they arrive in a land where there are no more " tears, " no more sickness, no more " pain," and no more " death " in Revelation 7:17; 21:4; 22:2; Isaiah 25:8; 1st.Cor.15:26. There will be no graves on that bright shore.

     The LORD wants us to know that to be present with CHRIST is far better than to be in this world. HE said, " concerning them which are asleep." they are alive. They are with GOD. They are in the FATHER's house, and they are witnessing the building of the mansions. They are with their friends and loved ones and the saints of all the ages.

     The LORD tells us about those who have gone on. They have left this life of pain and sorrow, and now they are in a land where they will never grow old.

     Part #1 will be stopping here and Part #2 will be picking up with GOD telling us about those who remain. " For this we say unto you by the WORD of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep."

     Don't miss Part #2 that will encourage us because GOD does not want us to be ignorant of what happens "If a man die, shall he live again ?"

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

    

" The Homegoing of the Bride of CHRIST - COMFORT ONE ANOTHER "

    The Homegoing of the Bride of CHRIST,  when JESUS comes back for HIS Bride, the church; those who are alive and have been TRULY Born Again by the WORD and the SPIRIT will be taken up into the clouds by the LORD along with those who have died in CHRIST; we will not all die before this happens but we will all be changed at the time it happens. Currently in GOD's timeline, there is nothing that needs to happen except that " last "  soul that will come to HIM, by faith and complete the church, the LORD's Bride.

      But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep(died in CHRIST), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that JESUS died and rose again, even so GOD will bring with HIM those who sleep(died)in JESUS. For this we say to you by the WORD of the LORD, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the LORD will by no means precede those who are asleep(dead in CHRIST).  For the LORD HIMSELF will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of GOD. And the dead in CHRIST will rise(their bodies will be changed and reunited with their soul that the LORD brings with HIM from Heaven)first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be " caught up "(Raptured)together with them in the clouds(JESUS does not come to the earth, just in the clouds), to meet the LORD in the air. And thus we shall always be with the LORD.

Therefore, COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.

      But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the LORD so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, " Peace and safety ! " then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all sons of the light(True Born Again Believers)and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as others do but let us watch and be sober(self-controlled).  For those who sleep, sleep as night and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of Salvation.  FOR GOD  DID  NOT  APPOINT  US  TO  WRATH(the Tribulation period), but to obtain Salvation through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with HIM.  Therefore COMFORT EACH OTHER and EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, just as you are also doing. 

1st. Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11

      Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST and our gathering together to HIM, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of CHRIST had come.  Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will NOT come unless the falling away comes first(the Apostasy or turning away) and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called GOD or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.

Do you remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things ?  And now you know what is restraining(the church the LORD's Bride is still here) that he(the son of perdition) may be revealed in his own time.

      For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work(Satan is very active);  only HE WHO now restrains will do so until HE is taken out of the way(when the Bride of CHRIST is taken, so too will the HOLY SPIRIT).  And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the LORD will consume with the breath of HIS mouth and destroy with the brightness of HIS coming.  The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the TRUTH,(*those who have heard the Gospel of Salvation and rejected it), that they might be saved.  And for this reason GOD will send *them strong delusion that *they should believe the lie, that *they all may be condemned *who did not believe the TRUTH, but had pleasure in unrighteousness(rejected and rebelled against the TRUTH of GOD's WORD).

      But we are bound to give thanks to GOD always for you, brethren, beloved by the LORD, because GOD from the beginning chose you for Salvation through sanctification by the SPIRIT and belief in the TRUTH, to which HE called you by our Gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Therefore, brethren, STAND FAST and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by WORD or Epistle.  Now may our LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, and our GOD and FATHER, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and GOOD HOPE by GRACE, COMFORT your hearts and establish you in every good WORD and work.

2nd.Thessalonians 2:1 - 17

      Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood(the corrupted human body)cannot inherit the kingdom of GOD; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery :  We shall not all sleep(physical death), but we shall all be changed(the bodies of those in the grave and our bodies who are still alive when CHRIST calls for HIS Bride from the clouds),  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet(not the trumpet from Revelation).  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead(the bodies of those who have died in CHRIST) will be raised incorruptible(and reunited with their soul/spirit that the LORD brings with HIM), and we(those who are alive in CHRIST at HIS coming for HIS Bride)shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:  " Death is swallowed up in victory."   " O Death, where is your sting ?   O Hades, where is your victory ? "   The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to GOD, WHO gives us the victory through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be STEADFAST,  IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS  ABOUNDING in the work of the LORD, KNOWING that you labor IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.

1st.Corinthians 15: 50 - 58

      Now if you are not a Truly Born Again Christian and you have heard or read a clear presentation of the Gospel and continue to refuse HIS calling to repentance and Salvation through HIS Free Gift, then you are one of *those that are spoken of above. When JESUS comes for HIS Bride, the church, those who have heard or read a clear presentation of the Gospel will believe whatever lie is sent your way about what has happened to all the Christians.  If the lie would be about aliens coming, you will believe it. If the lie is about a black hole opening up and people disappeared into it, you will believe it - and you will not have another chance to believe the truth of the Gospel,  YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.  So while it is still day, repent and turn for today is still the day of Salvation.

      Now if you are not a Truly Born Again Christian and you have NEVER heard or read a clear presentation of the Gospel, then I have news for you. GOD loves you !  Even though you like me are a sinner, we were born sinners, we are not a sinner because we sin but because we are born that way. As proof, do you have to teach a little child to lie - NO, they will lie right to your face without even one lesson !  So yes, we are all born sinners and GOD made a way for us to be forgiven.  There needed to be a payment made for our sin, so GOD sent HIS only begotten SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to earth to die on a Roman cross at Calvary as payment for your sin and mine.  JESUS gave up HIS SPIRIT and died on the cross, they buried HIM and HE rose again, alive on the third day.  Since JESUS was WITHOUT sin, death could not hold HIM and GOD the FATHER requires a perfect sinless sacrifice as payment for your sin.  GOD loves YOU and gave HIS best for you.

      Now do you believe that GOD loves YOU ?  Do you believe that GOD sent HIS SON to pay the debt that you owe for your sin ?  IF so, then pray this little prayer  or  one like it :

      Dearest Heavenly FATHER,  I know that I am a sinner and that I can do nothing on my own to save myself.  I know and believe that YOU sent JESUS to die and raise from the dead, in my place for my sin and I ask that YOU forgive me and also ask that JESUS come into my heart and life and make me a new creature in HIM.  In JESUS' name I pray,  AMEN

Now if you have made a decision for CHRIST after reading this blog,  PLEASE let me know so that I can REJOICE along with the angels in Heaven who rejoice over one sinner that repents.  Don't be one of those who remain unbelieving and believe the lie and perish,  BUT be BELIEVING and saved, in CHRIST. Your promise of a Heavenly Eternal Home awaits all those, in CHRIST.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" To Lead the Way "

    " And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night."   Exodus 13:21

Our LORD is the greatest example of leadership. There used to be a sort of simple measurement for what to look for in an exceptional leader. The phrase went like this,  " a good leader leads by example."

So to does our LORD; HIS example of leadership qualities are exemplary and by studying HIS WORD you can see how HE did it.

There are many verses in Scripture that talk about the wrong kind of leaders, such as Isaiah 3:12b says, " O MY people ! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths."

and in Isaiah 13:16 it says, " For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed."

As you can see a bad leader does not have the best interest of the people in his heart or he would lead them according to the right path that the LORD had laid out for them.

Even the LORD, in HIS earthly ministry talked to HIS disciples and those that came to hear HIM and in Matthew 15:10-14 HE taught them about, not what goes into a person defiles the person, but what comes out of that persons mouth is what defiles him.

10. " Then HE called the multitude and said to them,

' Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.'  Then HIS disciples came and said to HIM, ' Do YOU know that the Pharisees 

were offended when they heard this saying ?' But HE answered and said, ' Every plant which MY heavenly FATHER has not planted will be uprooted.

Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blinds leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."   Matthew 15:10-14

If anyone should have known the right way to lead the people of Israel, their religious rulers should have, but didn't.  They were the blind leaders of a people not looking for their MESSIAH.  HE stood among them day after day for nearly 3 years and only those who were looking for HIM saw and heard what HE had to say.  We have looked, somewhat, at what bad leadership does; now let's spend the rest of our time on the perfect leadership of our LORD.

      " The LORD is my SHEPHERD, I shall not want. 

HE makes me to lie down in green pastures; HE leads me beside the still waters. HE restores my soul; HE leads me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake. "   Psalm 23:1-3

The 23rd.Psalm is probably the most well known of all the Psalms in Scripture.  Even those of unbelieving households seem to know this Psalm even if they don't realize it is pulled from Scripture.

If you read just the first 5 words of this Psalm it gives us such a personal glimpse of how the LORD leads. Look at the 4th.word "my", not our or they're or a but the word "my". This shows a personal connection to the SHEPHERD.  You're not just one of the flock. Since the SHEPHERD has made a personal connection with you, HE also has a vested interest in your well being.

As your personal SHEPHERD, HE cares about your needs, and the places that you visit. Are these places adding to your well being or taking away from them. HIS pastures are green and lush and full of good things that one of HIS sheep would thrive on and it is also well watered. The water being still and HIS sheep have easy access to the water that HE supplies.

HE leads HIS sheep in paths that are righteous because they are reflective of and on HIM.  It would be a poor leader who would take someone somewhere that would lead them to do harm or be harmed, spiritually.  HIS paths are always good for HIS sheep because they are paths that lead to bringing glory to the SHEPHERD's name.

      " Teach me YOUR way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies." Psalm 27:11 also shows our LORD leading us away from those who would do us harm. Many are the enemies of those who love and follow the SHEPHERD.

      " Thus says the LORD, your REDEEMER, THE HOLY ONE of Israel: I AM the LORD your GOD, WHO teaches you to profit, WHO leads you by the way you should go.  OH, that you had heeded MY commandments ! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. "

The SHEPHERD is a leader that only wants the best for HIS sheep and HE goes to great lengths to prove HIS love for the sheep even unto death. A true leader wants only the best for those around HIM. HE leads with the FATHER's requirements in mind and heart and these requirements are not negotiable nor are they harmful to the sheep. A true leader works all things for the good of all and there is nothing that is out of HIS control.

      " Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But HE WHO enters by the door is the SHEPHERD of the sheep. To HIM the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear HIS voice; and HE calls HIS own sheep by name and leads them out. And when HE brings out HIS own sheep, HE goes before them; and the sheep follow HIM, for they know HIS voice. John 10:1-4

A great leader always goes before the followers. HE knows what's ahead of the sheep and can prepare them. HE can either smooth the path or help the sheep across the rugged terrain, but HE never let's them struggle alone, after all HE is responsible for their well being.  The GREAT LEADER, our SHEPHERD came to give HIS sheep life and that the sheep would have a more abundant life. HE, the GOOD SHEPHERD gives HIS life for the sheep, but a bad leader cares nothing about the sheep and runs away when trouble or hardship comes.

      " MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of MY hand. MY FATHER, who has given them to me is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of MY FATHER's hand. I and MY FATHER are ONE."  John 10:27-30

When you put your hand in the hand of the SHEPHERD, you are guaranteed, eternal life, a home in Heaven.  The SHEPHERD also said, " that HE would never leave us nor forsake us " There is no safer place on earth or anywhere for that matter, then to be firmly planted in the hand of your SHEPHERD !

      " for the LAMB WHO is in the midst of the throne will SHEPHERD them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And GOD will wipe away every tear from their eyes. "   Revelation 7:17

As a child of GOD, you can clearly see how much we need good leaders; and as a child of GOD, we have the very best leader of all, the GOOD SHEPHERD WHO laid down HIS life for the sheep, for us.

But if you are not yet one of HIS sheep, then you need to come, by faith and receive the SHEPHERD as your own personal SAVIOR.

We are all born sinners, and GOD the FATHER requires a payment for your sin and mine.  So HE sent HIS one and ONLY SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST to earth, to die on a Roman cross to make payment for the sin of all mankind. They buried HIM and after 3 days HE rose again, alive for all HIS disciples and followers to see. HIS resurrection from the dead showed that HIS sacrifice of HIMSELF on the cross was enough to pay the price of man's sin debt in full.  So if you would like to be one of the SHEPHERD's very well lead sheep, say this simple prayer or one like it:

          LORD,  I know that I am a sinner and that 

                     JESUS came and died, was buried & 

                     rose again to pay for my sin. I ask

                     you to forgive me, and come into

                     my heart and life and save me and 

                     make me new.

                                      In JESUS name,   AMEN

I pray that those who read this post, if not born again, by the SPIRIT of GOD, will come to know HIM before it is too late.  Because Scripture says, " that today is the day of Salvation," this infers that tomorrow may be too late. None of us know how long we have on this earth, but we can know where we are going when we leave it................

      " And this is the testimony: that GOD has given us eternal life, and this life is in HIS SON. HE who has the SON has life; he who does not have the SON of GOD does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the SON of GOD, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe in the name of the SON of GOD." 1st.John 5:11-13

      " In HIM, you also trusted, after you heard the WORD of TRUTH, the Gospel of your salvation; in WHOM also, having believed, you were sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of promise, WHO is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession(me & you), to the praise of HIS glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

Friend,  Don't go one more day without settling your sin debt with GOD. HE already paid the debt, all you have to do is believe and receive, by faith, the free gift of Salvation.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie