" Where Is Your Focus ? "

 

2nd.Chronicles 20:5-13  "And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said, O LORD GOD of our fathers, art not THOU GOD in Heaven ? and rulest not THOU over all the kingdoms of the heathen ? and in THINE hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand THEE ? Art not THOU our GOD, WHO didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before THY people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham THY friend for ever ? And they dwelt therein, and have built THEE a sanctuary therein for THY name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in THY presence, (for THY name is in this house,) and cry unto THEE in our affliction, then THOU wilt hear and help.

And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom THOU wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of THY possession, which THOU hast given us to inherit. O, our GOD, wilt THOU not judge them ? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon THEE. And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives and their children."

     Where are your eyes focused in the time of trouble ? As much as we would like to think otherwise, GOD's children do not always have the proper focal point. It is easy to allow the problems, struggles, and perplexities of life to so fill our vision that we cannot see the working of GOD in the midst of it all. We are like the little boy who holds his thumb right in front of his eyes in order to blot out the image of his father and mother as they scold him. If I cannot see them, they are not there. How often do we do that to our heavenly FATHER ? We do not see HIM at work because the trial we are enduring has become the whole focus of our being. David encountered this problem, and three times in Psalms 42 and 43 he asked the question of himself: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul ?" Three times his answer was: "Hope thou in GOD." We must get our focus back on GOD and not our difficulties.

     King Jehoshaphat, when faced by the impossible odds of an invading army, turned to GOD, admitting that he and his nation had, "no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon THEE" (v.12 pictured at top of post). Our loving GOD says: "Look unto ME, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I AM GOD, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:22 pictured above). The prophet Micah sets the example: "I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the GOD of my salvation: my GOD will hear me" (Micah 7:7). Focus on the LORD in your time of trouble. If your soul is weary and troubled, and no light in the darkness you see, focus your gaze upon JESUS. HIS WORD will not fail you. As the songwriter penned, "Believe HIM, and all will be well." JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" How Do You View Yourself ? "

 

Romans 12:3  "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as GOD hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

     People have a tendency to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think despite the godly and timely admonition from Paul: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly . . ." We also should take to heart the weighty word from a Plymouth Brethren writer by the name of Henry Dyer who said, "Ever regard yourself as worse than any you may at any time address."

     Do you remember the prophet Isaiah's response to his vision of "the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and HIS train filled the temple" (Isaiah 6:1 pictured above) ? As he gazed upon the LORD and the seraphim's cried to one "another, and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts," Isaiah's simple but heartfelt reply was, "Woe is me ! for I am undone" (Isaiah 6:5 pictured above). The Apostle Paul said that of "sinners . . . I am chief (1st.Timothy 1:15). He realized what he had been in his unsaved state before salvation: "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious" (1st.Timothy 1:13). Paul considered himself to be "the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the church of GOD" (1st.Corinthians 15:9) and "less than the least of all [the] saints" (Ephesians 3:8). Job, in response to GOD's probing questions, answered with a humble and contrite response: "I have heard of THEE by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth THEE. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6). "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that HE may exalt you in due time" (1st.Peter 6:6). We are sinners, all, in need of GOD's grace. May this always be our view of self. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" Rapture Realities "

 

1st.Thessalonians 4:13-18  "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 (raptured) together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD. Therefore comfort one another with these WORDs."

     The pagan world in Paul's day, as in our own, had no hope of life after death. A typical grave inscription might have read: "I was not - I became - I am not - I care not." These unbelievers had no assurance whatsoever. On the other hand, the Christians at Thessalonica, having been taught of Paul, were "wait[ing] for [GOD's] SON from Heaven, WHOM HE raised from the dead, even JESUS, which delivered us from the wrath to come" (1st.Thessalonians 1:10 pictured above). However, they were concerned about loved ones who had died: If the LORD should return, would their deceased loved ones miss out on the catching up (rapture) to be with CHRIST ? With questions like those in mind, the Apostle Paul responded with biblical teaching on the rapture of the church, comprised of both dead and living church age saints. In his answer to their concerns, the Apostle brought forth five fundamental facts in order to give them encouragement and comfort.

     First, what Paul shared with them was based on revelation -- GOD had disclosed to him truth concerning the rapture of the church: "For this we say unto you by the WORD of the LORD (v.15a). Second, the Apostle assured them that CHRIST is, indeed, coming again (vv.14-15). Third, these saints needed to know that the Christian dead will rise (vv.15-16). Fourth, the living believers will be "caught up" (raptured) (v.17) -- caught away speedily, seized by the power of CHRIST, claimed as HIS OWN, moved to a new place away from this sin-cursed world, and rescued from the horrors of the coming Tribulation period. Fifth, GOD's WORD assures us that Christians, both the living and the risen dead in CHRIST, will forever be with the LORD (vv.17-18). PRAISE BE TO GOD ! JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" Are You 100% Sure of Heaven . . . ?

 

     Let me ask you a question. Are you 100% sure that if you would die today that your destination would be Heaven ? How do you know ? What are you basing your answer on ? Some would say that they have been water baptized as a baby or even as an adult. Others would say that they were born to Christian parents, or even that they do good things and are good people. You might even compare yourselves with others around you, like neighbors who drink, swear and act indecently. But let me tell you from personal experience, none of that matters to GOD !

     If you identified with any of those above mentioned reasons for believing that your destination at death is Heaven, then I can tell you with full assurance that Heaven will NOT be your eternal home at death. GOD says in HIS WORD, "As it is written, There is none righteous no, not one: . . . there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10,12b). GOD also says in HIS WORD, "For ALL have sinned , and come short of the glory of GOD."  When Adam sinned in the garden he condemned all of mankind to a sin nature. We are born with it and there is no getting around it. In fact, GOD says "For the wages of sin is death;" (Romans 6:23a).

     There is a payment that must be made for the sins of mankind, all of mankind. I can't pay for your sins and you can't pay for mine because we are sinners. Without your sin debt being paid in full, none of us have any hope of a home in Heaven. But GOD knew this way before the foundation of the world. HE knew we would need a SAVIOR. ONE WHO is without any sin. ONE WHO would be willing to come and pay mankind's sin debt in full. That ONE is JESUS.

     Anyone who tries to go to Heaven, outside of JESUS, will not be allowed in. GOD says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: NOT of works lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9).  You see if we could work our way to Heaven, by any means possible, then think of how many would not be able to do enough works to get in. Everything that we need to do to go to Heaven was provided by GOD for us. JESUS came in fulfillment of all the Old Testament Scriptures pointing to the coming MESSIAH. HE is the only answer to mankind's sin debt problem.

     "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that HE was seen . . ." (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a, 3-5a).

     JESUS had to come, fulfilling the Old Testament Scriptures, so that you and I and anyone can be forgiven of their sins and have an eternal home in Heaven. GOD's WORD says in John 3:36, "He that believes on the SON (JESUS) hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him."  Also in John 3:17 JESUS says, "He that believes on HIM is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten SON of GOD (JESUS)."

     Now we come to the only thing that you must do to go to Heaven - BELIEVE. When Paul and Silas were in prison there was an earthquake and the prison doors were opened, but no one escaped. The keeper of the prison realized that all the prisoners were still there and he went into Paul and Silas and asked, 'What must I do to be saved ?' (Acts 16:30b) "And they said, Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved," (Acts 16:31a).  So Paul and Silas spoke to the keeper of the prison all about JESUS and what HE did for him. They gave him the Gospel and what to do to be saved.

     In Romans 10, GOD's WORD tells us, "That 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. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10, 13).  Some say that repentance is also needed. Repentance is a turning to GOD from sin, yes, that is what is happening when you confess in prayer that you are a sinner in need of a SAVIOR. Remember, there is NONE righteous (right with GOD). JESUS, the perfect LAMB of GOD gives you HIS righteousness at the moment of salvation. The moment you turn to GOD from your sin in repentance and faith.

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

     This is a simple prayer that you can pray or one like it if you are willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith.  JESUS said in John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death (eternally in Hell) unto life (in Heaven)."

     GOD's WORD gives us full assurance of our eternal home in Heaven in 1st.John 5:11-13, "And this is the record, that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in HIS SON. He that has the SON has life; and he that has not the SON of GOD has not life. 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."  Don't wait, "Behold, Now is the accepted time, Behold, Now is the day of salvation." (2nd.Corinthians 6:2b).

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

#heaven  #eternallife  #salvation  #gospel  #JESUS  #GOD  #Hell

" IS JESUS GOD ? "

 

Is JESUS CHRIST GOD ? Is HE equal with GOD the FATHER ? That is, does HE have all the attributes that make GOD, GOD ? The Bible gives 7 testimonies concerning the Deity of JESUS CHRIST.

1.  The testimony of the BIBLE.

"In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was GOD. . .And the WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us. . ." John 1:1, 14a

"WHO (CHRIST) being in the form of GOD thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD" (Philippians 2:6).

2.  The testimony of the UNBELIEVING PHARISEES.

"The Jews answered HIM, saying, For a good work we stone THEE not; but for blasphemy; and because that THOU, being a MAN, makest THYSELF GOD"  (John 10:33).

(There was no doubt in their minds as to WHO JESUS claimed to be !)

3.  The testimony of the PROPHETS.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a SON is given: and the government shall be upon HIS shoulder: and HIS name shall be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, the PRINCE OF PEACE" (Isaiah 9:6).

4.  The testimony of the APOSTLES.

Paul - "For by HIM were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by HIM and for HIM: And HE is before all things and by HIM all things consist" (Colossians 1:16-17).

". . .GOD was manifest in the flesh. . ." (1st.Timothy 3:16b).

John - says JESUS was ". . .that eternal life, which was with the FATHER and was manifested unto us" (1st.John 1:2b).

". . .the true GOD and Eternal Life" (1st.John 5:20b).

5.  The testimony of the ANGELS.

"They shall call HIS name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is GOD with us" (Matthew 1:23b).

6.  The testimony of CHRIST HIMSELF.

JESUS calls HIMSELF the great "I AM", John 8:58. This is the Hebrew word of Exodus 3:14 for GOD HIMSELF.

JESUS said, "And I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish. . ." (John 10:28a)   (GOD alone can give life.)

JESUS said, ". . .HE that hath seen ME hath seen the FATHER. . ." (John 14:9).

7.  The testimony of GOD THE FATHER.

Speaking of CHRIST: "But unto the SON HE saith, THY throne, O GOD, is forever and ever. . ." (Hebrews 1:8a).

JESUS CHRIST is declared in the Bible to be GOD. As GOD manifest in the flesh HE died for your sins on the cross.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: And that HE was seen . . ." (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a, 3-5a)

Have you believed on HIM as your personal SAVIOR ? Perhaps you will say that you are not such a bad sinner. But the Bible says in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD." Also in James 2:10 we read: "For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."  Will you right now repent (turn to GOD from your sin) of your sins ? Will you turn from your sins today and accept JESUS, GOD's only SON, as your personal SAVIOR ? If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer or one like it, of salvation"

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. Help me to live for you always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

The LORD JESUS said, ". . .I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. . ."  (John 10:28).  Everlasting life is ours when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR. #GOD #JESUS #SAVIOR #HEAVEN

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" GOD and the Nations "

 

Acts 17:22-31  "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious (religious). For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions (the things you worship), I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, HIM declare I unto you. GOD that made the world and all things therein, seeing that HE is LORD of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though HE needed any thing, seeing HE giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the LORD, if haply they might feel after HIM, and find HIM, though HE be not far from every one of us: For in HIM we live, and move, and have our being as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also HIS offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of GOD, we ought not to think that the GODhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance GOD winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: because HE hath appointed a Day, in the which HE will judge the world in righteousness by that MAN WHOM HE hath ordained; whereof HE hath given assurance unto all men, in that HE hath raised HIM from the dead."

     From our viewpoint, certain nations seem very imposing and threatening: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, etc. It is helpful to see the nations from the LORD's perspective: "And [GOD] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth" (v.26a). All the nations of the world come from one source; they are derived from one man: Adam. All men who dwell on the Earth, regardless of race or background, originated from the same man. The Greeks, whom Paul was addressing in Acts 17, did not believe this. They thought that they were specially created by their own Greek gods and that other people, such as barbarians, were created by some other gods in the lands where they lived. They were ignorant of the one united human race created by the ONE TRUE GOD WHO "hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" (v.26b).

In this remarkable statement, we learn that GOD has determined every nation's limit, both chronologically and geographically. HE has determined who is going to live where and when, for how long, and under what conditions they will live there. For example, GOD determined how long Israel would dwell in Egypt (Genesis 15:13 see pictured above) and how long the Amorites would survive (Genesis 15:16 pictured above). GOD set limits on the great empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, and HE is just as involved with the nations of today. GOD gives the people of every nation only a certain amount of time to come to know HIM and respond to HIM, and HIS judgment often follows. This is an amazing declaration about GOD's sovereign rule over the nations. We can rest in the fact that HE IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL ! GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

"Resurrection: Yes or No ? "

 

1st.Corinthians 15:14-17  "And if CHRIST be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of GOD; because we have testified of GOD that HE raised up CHRIST: WHOM HE raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not CHRIST raised: and if CHRST be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."

     Can you not believe in the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST and still be a Christian ? The short answer is no, JESUS' sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection form the core of the believer's faith. In writing to the saints in Rome, Paul opened his letter with the fact that GOD's SON, JESUS CHRIST our LORD, "was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the SON of GOD with power, according to the SPIRIT of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:3-4 pictured above). In John 11:25 JESUS told Martha, "I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in ME, though he were dead, yet shall he live." It is easy to put a check mark in a box on a survey to profess that you are a Christian, but it is another thing to truly believe the Gospel. After speaking concerning the imputed righteousness received by Abraham, the Apostle Paul indicated that we, too, enter into the imputed righteousness of CHRIST "if we believe on HIM that raised up JESUS our LORD from the dead; WHO was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:24-25 pictured below).

     Paul addressed this same issue (faith in the finished work of CHRIST - HE died, was buried, and rose again) and declared that it was all in accordance with the Scriptures. The truth of the resurrection of CHRIST is crucial and central to Christianity. The Corinthian believers were challenged with this truth by these words: "IF CHRIST be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. . .And IF CHRIST be not raised, you faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins" (vv.14, 17). If you say you are a Christian but do not believe in JESUS' resurrection, the only person you are deceiving is yourself ! JED

Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org