The distinction of.....REPENTANCE

Jesus warned individuals to repent of their sins and to trust in himself in the motive of love, because he desired to love his Dad and do what he wanted, which was to take upon himself the full brunt of His Justice for sin. Jesus' motive was love and he desires your motive to trust and follow him to be love, not fear of Justice. Indeed, the consequence of our sin is heavy and eternally final (hell), but do we understand perfect Justice, and are we recognizing that there has been an escape route provided by God (the Just One) through His Son Jesus Christ for us? The fact that God has made a way to escape also makes Him the Merciful and Kind One! 

Everything God has done for us is wrapped up in love. God loves you and Jesus loves his Dad enough to obey him in suffering for you. Out of love for you, Jesus would rather suffer your just penalty for doing wrong then for you to have to for all time. He did this for your family too.

There is WAY more to life then what we can see and feel with our bodies. Friends, there is an eternity of life or death awaiting our souls after we die. Don't discount the Gospel (Good News) about Jesus in these present times no matter where you live in this world. The Devil has worked so hard to deceive you, and keep you from thinking that your sins have eternal consequences, that it's no big deal to do what you want, and to completely put aside and not give attention or heed what the Bible says. Think about how the world regards the Word of God today?Remember, you don't know if today is your last day on this earth, or your family member's or friend's for that matter. We are all one heart beat away from standing before God who knows everything. No person will enter into eternal separation from God, without first having to step over the love scarred body of Jesus, who says now, " Believe in me! I've done everything I can to keep you with me! I willingly took the consequence (death) for your lies, unfaithfulness, indifference, lust, stealing, self sufficiency, selfishness, sexual immorality, murder, hate, pride.... all your sins so you can be free. You were born in sin, but I want to make you born again. Repent and believe in me for your salvation. My Father loves you so much that He asked me to do this for you!! I TOOK THE PAIN BECAUSE I SAW THE JOY WE COULD SHARE TOGETHER FOREVER. You must turn from your ways (repent) and come to me in order for this transaction to begin!"

Christianity or Following Jesus Christ is misunderstood when repentance is not realized. True Christians are those people who have come to realize they are sick and in need of being saved from their sickness (sickness being sin or their nature that misses the Mark of God's Holy Standard) and practice repentance. Repentance is filled with significant implications. It turns us FROM something TOWARD something DIFFERENT. Repentance transforms your life, your values, your attitudes, and your actions. True biblical repentance includes your entire being: the mind, will, and emotions. This results in new thoughts and beliefs, new words and actions, and eventually new emotions. When you repent of your sin, and put your trust in Jesus, God forgives you of your sin and puts Jesus' perfection upon you. Through that faith and repentance you become perfect in God's eyes, because You trust in who Jesus is, and what he has done for you.... NOT in yourself nor what you have done, nor others or what they have done. God's way is NOT the way of this world, it is NOT wrapped up in your own understanding, or in the millions of books that have been written by men. You say, " well the Bible was written by men?" Start reading the Bible yourself and spending significant amount of time considering what you read, then ask we're these men not inspired by God when writing these books? Try it, read the Bible for yourself. It's divine.

The Bible reveals a most wonderful thing about God's grace for those who practice repentance. He knows those who trust him will struggle in sin even after turning to him in faith, and yet through his Holy Spirit he knows they will hate to keep on sinning, because they love Jesus and appreciate the sacrifice he made for them personally. Why would a person who is a Christian want to continue on doing the very things that Jesus had to die for to save them ....without putting up a daily fight to starve that thing or kill it or repent of it? The distinction of a true Christian is they live in a state of repentance and movement toward Jesus, who is the Great High Priest, and able to wash away sins eternally or "70x7" fold! The goal of a true Christian is to reach a greater repentance through God's grace, not through man made effort or works, but HIS GRACE AND WORK.

So how does a person come back to being a true Christian if they have not been repenting of their sin? How does a country come back to being Christian if it has not been repenting of its sin? Are the individuals of that country willing to admit their wrong doing, wrong thinking, wrong believing, wrong condoning and repent? Are they willing to put the Bible back in schools, prayer back in schools, are they willing to ask forgiveness for their sins. God is powerful enough to heal you, and any country that will repent. Nothing is impossible with God.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:14, 15 NLT)

God's Word is very clear about what is right and wrong for all people. We ought not minimize it, avoid it, down play it, parcel it out, believe only in the bits and pieces we agree with and ignore the rest, add to it, for any reason. The consequences of such things are serious.

"And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31, 32 ESV)

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! (Matthew 18:21, 22 NLT)

The power that is in Christianity is experienced when repentance is applied. Christianity is the only faith that believes God did the ultimate and final work for people to get to heaven through Jesus Christ. All other religions depend on man's own attempts to get right with God. But our man made effort is not good enough:

For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction]. (Isaiah 64:6 AMP)

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But those who are being saved know it as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31 NLT)


"For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. (1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV)

To repent you:

1: Stop sinning and confess your sin:

*Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning..... (1 Corinthians 15:34 ESV)

*If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:9, 10 ESV)

2. TURN FROM YOUR SIN:

*But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who confesses the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19 ESV)

3: DO THE OPPOSITE:

*Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25-32 ESV)

There is not much time left. Repent from your sin back to God by walking to the foot of the cross of Jesus and ask him to forgive you and wash you clean. To give you a new heart and to become your Lord and Savior.

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, (Acts 3:19 ESV)

I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. (Revelation 2:21 ESV)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2 ESV)

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matthew 3:8 ESV)

So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. (Mark 6:12 ESV)

Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. (Revelation 3:19 AMP)

....and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. (Revelation 9:21 NASB)

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT)

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but WANTS EVERYONE TO REPENT. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, (2 Peter 3:9-11 NLT)

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. (1 John 2:15, 16 NLT)

Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27 NLT)

Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. (Proverbs 16:6 NLT)

Like

The Fruit of Tough Love:


I am taken back when I begin to think about the Christlike Character that is going to be required to demonstrate true love in the days to come. That's because real love is no longer recognized as love, but is seen as hatred, intolerance, and narrow mindedness. Why? Because our country and culture has turned away from biblical principles of righteousness and justice which are the very things that sustain life and civilized living. It's crazy that this is even possible but we're there, and the bible says in Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” We are living in the days when evil is being paraded around as "good", and the good is being shut out as "hate speech", "intolerant", "shameful" and "politically incorrect." The examples are everywhere. BUT there is good news in all this. God is alive and he is Good and Just and Righteous. The amazing thing about the Living God is that He is the one who demonstrates eternal love both in his mercy and his justice. 

"A boy or girl who grows up in the home knowing that they are loved will not despise discipline." unknown

I am impacted after reading that quote because our society and social system are in a moral crisis.  I personally do not despise discipline when it comes upon me. Even though it is not fun I do not despise it. I know I need it desperately. This is because I was really loved by my parents before and after they gave me a good loving wack when I was in the wrong. But mostly it is because God loves me and I know it. Because his Word is amazing and true. Do you think the people in this country are ready for a good loving wack? Do you think the people in this country despise discipline? Do you believe the majority of people in this country feel genuinely loved? Do people in this country believe in Jesus Christ as co-Equal with the Heavenly Father, as Creator of Heaven and Earth, as the only Savior of the world, as the only way to get to heaven for all people?


20If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot^a love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:20.


People don't know Love or how to love until they come to know the love of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Once we know God's love we will not despise his discipline, and we will be able to love people properly because we will see people properly.

Bend Low and Break that Stiff Necked Self!

One of the gifts that Jesus Christ brings to those who humble themselves before him is Peace. Jesus said that the peace he gives is not of this world:"I am leaving you a gift-peace of mind and heart- And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." John 14: 27. When I place my trust in Jesus Christ I am literally depending on him to be my Peace because there is no other place where peace can be found. He was the Peace Offering. In order to place my trust in Jesus and receive his peace I must become humble and broken before him. I must renounce my self and bend low at the foot of the cross.

"THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE! GOD HAS GIVEN NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED" THE APOSTLE PETER : IN ACTS 4:12

Christians, Today is the day of your testing

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=929111718380

A Rest for the People of God

7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,“Today, if you hear his voice,8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,on the day of testing in the wilderness,9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath,‘They shall not enter my rest.’”12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15As it is said,“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”16For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. 

2 Peter 2:20

20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

I took some notes recently on a message by Tim Conway that was convicting to hear. All I can say is that God is faithful and he is in complete control over each and every soul...giving everyone a faithful opportunity to come to him and trust him with a saving faith, and to get right with him before he returns. 

The "Promised Land/Heaven"...AKA..."Being with Jesus Forever" is worth every worldly humiliation and willful surrender of the flesh so as to conform to the true standard of God. Today, I notice that there are so many different standards that have been raised among the "Christians" on what it means to live right before God....and it is confusing! But life really changes for the better when we begin to learn what the standard of God is, and come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit to live by his standard. When I get away from doing what the Bible says my life spins out of control and out of the will of God, but I begin to see the vast differences between God's standards and man's when I read and hear the WORD of God.  To a follower of Jesus, living for him is serious business and it is the most incredible life, but it is the most challenging life at the same time . It is challenging because we must strive and agonize to continually live obediently and to "be holy as Jesus is holy" in a fallen world and in a fallen nature. That's what he calls his followers to do...to be obedient and to live holy... all the time. That is the serious standard of it all: to never take sin lightly within me or reduce/justify my sin as ok, or to ignore it as if it is not a big deal. All these things are easy to do if I am not striving to trust in the Lord.

To lessen the standard of God is dangerous. As a Christian, I know that Jesus Christ died for my sins, rose from the dead and is alive and active through the Bible and his Holy Spirit in my life. I know that he forgives me every time that I come to him and sincerely repent and turn away from doing or thinking in ways that are below his standard. But if I don't continue striving and I give into the world and start conforming to the world, and don't listen to the Holy Spirit's conviction it shows whether I have faith or not. I am saved by faith through Grace. God's grace is enough for me and I am thankful that he has planted in me a faith that will respond to the Holy Spirits conviction and the caring accountability of friends and family in my life. God gave this message to me so that I can re-standardize some things in my life with him, my marriage, and my family. The message is linked above if you want to listen to it. 

As a friend if you are a Christian and are sincerely wanting to live by the standard of God, and are dealing with anything where you choose sin more then obedience to Jesus Christ I encourage you to listen to these messages. God has been faithfully drawing near to me as I draw near to him.

Christians, Today is the Day of Your Testing Notes:

• What is saving faith that agonizes to enter the narrow gate? This is everything. 
• Faith & Striving are the same. 
• Strive not to fall into the same disobedient unbelief that was found at Massah and Meribah in Exodus 17:1-7.
• Strive by faith to stay in the faith.
• This faith is connected to the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 shows us the character of God's Word
• Faith that agonizes exists because of the character of God's Word
• God's Word confronts us with the same choices- Hebrews 4:7
• Do I have deaf ears like those who didn't have faith to strive?
• Today the Word of God is the same as it was in the past
• God does not bring me to his rest if I do not strive or agonize, labor diligently and trust him.
• I will not enter God's rest if I do not trust Jesus with an agonizing faith- Hebrews 4:11
• The Word of God makes layers of falsehood and hypocrisy come off my inner life.
• The Word of God goes deep and unveils if there is faith driving the thoughts and actions. It reveals my whole man.
• I am to strive and cling to the promises of God.
• My time, money, behaviors are driven by choices and I must strive to trust Christ and follow the  Word of God.
• When all the layers are removed by the Word of God do I have agonizing faith?
• Strive to have the Word laying me open and exposing my life bare because unbelief will kill me.
• If I find unbelieving choices in my soul throw it away and repent immediately.
• Bring everything about me into the light...strive and agonize into the light, because it moves, stirs and lives.
• The Word of God is my very life or it is nothing to me at all....If it is not my life I am dead. 
• Pay attention to what I have heard about Christ and seek his love. 
• God's word shines in the deepest places with promise not condemnation.
• Psalm 95 bounds up my future.
• Do not conform to the World. Conform to the Word of God
• Hank strive to Christ in times of discouragement nothing else. Strive into prayer, love and the Holy Bible alone. Simply believe your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

How Can You Love Others If You Can't Love Your Wife:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=213112338493

Do You Have Wisdom to See the End of Your Path: 

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=929111725541

Strive to Enter His Rest

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=1128112381610

I hope these series of songs bless you. I've heard each song in the past but they never stuck like they did this week. The lyrics are uplifting and true. Thanks Lord for faithful ministers of music that glorify you and proclaim the truth and love that is only found in Jesus Christ!

• But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6
• But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
• And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
• Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:24
• For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
• For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:8-9
• Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

GOD'S HANDIWORK:

Before you read this blog please listen to this awesome song:

http://youtu.be/ewvcCT3yYnk

As we place our trust in God he hides from us the glory that he is producing in us for himself..... so that he gets all the glory. That means right now God is doing something bigger than you through you...unbeknownst to you. Do you trust that God is doing that or can do that? No wonder he says when we are the weakest he is the strongest. The revealing ceremony for God's glory will be truly awesome! I can't wait to see what God has done through you for his eternal purpose and for his glory! We're all going to be surprised and amazed at his handiwork! Wherever you are at it is no accident and God is not surprised. Good or bad. Did you once love Jesus well? Well, he has never stopped loving you perfectly! Have you never loved Jesus? Well, he died for you even while you were in the act of sinning. You can trust that because of all he has been through for you. See those wounds of his? 

 

Believe it! Those wounds of Jesus are yours.... and he is humbly and passionately thinking of you at every scourge, mock, piercing, blow, humiliation, at every shameful moment. He is Gladly, Lovingly, Passionately taking His Father's Justice for your sins. Even if you have wandered away from God he has not wondered away from you! Even if you have never trusted in Jesus he is calling you now to do so. Do you feel your heart is too hard for God?  Well, maybe he has just prepared you to be perfectly broken so that he can start shining in your life. 

As a loving warning, not trusting in God is sin. It is prideful sin. Amazingly, these two things, unbelief and pride, keep us from receiving what God took drastic measures to give us... His eternal salvation....his Son. Our sin does not bring glory to God. The prideful weak person is still weak. The humble weak person trusting in God is strong in God's strength alone. Run back to Jesus or run to him for the first time in faith. Repentance is a gift from God. Cry out to Him to help you turn from pride and unbelief and he will give you a new heart.

                                        

Because there is only one true character, and there is only one real way to live God says come to me and I will give you my rest, my life, my character, my perfection, my Holiness. Because all men are like withering grass, and all have turned away from God to their own way we are starving and dead without trusting in Christ. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. The beauty of the cross is that you can come just as you are no matter where you are and Jesus will forgive you. This is the Good News about Jesus. I love you and am praying for the faith that pleases God to be born in you. "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Jesus Rose from the Grave after he died for you and I. He is alive and is coming back soon. He is the powerful King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the keys to death and Hades are his! Jesus says, " I am the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." Revelation 1:18 

 

Check out these other verses from the Bible:

·   And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

·   And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15

·   But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

·   But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 

·   16“For God so loved the world,ⁱ that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:16-21

·   but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

·   For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12

·   Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10

·   A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor. Proverbs 29:23

·   Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6

·   But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

·   The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

·   The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18

·   The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

·   For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15

·   For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

·   Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

·   In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:4

·   For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

·   The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9

·   Isaiah 53: Who has believed what he has heard from us?^a
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected^b by men;
a man of sorrows,^c and acquainted with^d grief;^e
and as one from whom men hide their faces^f
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;^g
when his soul makes^h an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall seeⁱ and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,^j
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,^k
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Love In Christ,

Hank

Your Answer!

Jesus is the most powerful! He is greater then your need for water! And your need for food! And your need for shelter! He is more important than your family, and children! He is so significant! Jesus is the very essence of life itself! He is the only source of life! He IS LITERALLY LIFE. This is the BIG DEAL about Jesus Christ. He said it about himself, "I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father unless they come through me. "

When you die if Jesus is not in you or in other words if his Holy Spirit is not in you ....you will not live forever with him. You will be dead forever and separated from Him (God) for eternity. Jesus is the only option for eternal life after this earthly material life. Think that through. If Jesus is not in you now you are NOT REALLY ALIVE right now. Even though you are physically "living" you are spiritually dead and when you die you will be spiritually dead forever. Don't you want to be spiritually alive? Physical life is +/- 75yrs........

You are dead because your sin is separating you from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit Himself. The One True God who IS LOVE; who is HOLY and different; set apart, is turning his face away from your SINFUL STATE of being, mind, behavior. He is rejecting the essence of who you are which is SIN. BUT he wants to shine his face upon you!! In contrast, the essence of God is Righteous, Holy and True, Just, Love. He is a Consuming Fire. Perfect. And he gave humanity His Law in the Torah to prove he is different in these ways. The Ten Commandments are a BIG DEAL. God has always protected us from ourselves. Our sinful way. He protected first through the law which will always be good. But because we can not do the law or fulfill the law of God perfectly he chose to protect or save us through a better way then the law. Loved One! God loves you so much that he wants to remove your sin for you. He wants to remove the stain that lying, stealing, sexual sins, pride, anger, gossip, (name your sins) has left and replace it with clean garments that are white as snow. The only way to do that is to give up himself for you. And he did through Jesus His Son.

Look at this verse:

Romans 3:21-22

Christ Took Your Punishment

21 But now God has shown you a way to be made right with him without
keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings
of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 You are made right with God by
placing your faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who
believes, no matter who they are.

That verse is the bottom line truth and Jesus is your answer. Jesus is not just another man. He is God and he gave up his life willingly for you because he loves you. Jesus is the only one who died to fulfill God's Justice in your place. If you want to be made right with God right now you can! Do the following and have Jesus defend you when you stand before God on Judgement Day.

1. Admit you are the problem. A Sinner.
2. Believe in Jesus Christ that He alone is God's solution to your problem. Believe, that by living perfect and sinless on earth Jesus is the perfect and only sacrifice needed to cover your sins. Believe that by dieing, Jesus fulfilled Gods Justice for all your wrongdoing once and for all. Believe, that by raising from the dead Jesus conquered death and you can now live in Christ spiritually, physically, emotionally free forever. 
3. Confess that Jesus is God. Your Loving Creator, Savior and King. Confess that you are a sinner and ask Jesus to personally cleanse you from all your unrighteousness. Confess to Jesus alone, wherever you are (He will hear you), that you want him to remove your sins and to be the Lord and Savior of your soul forever. Confess that you place all your trust in His finished work on the cross for you and that you repent ( turn and walk away from your sinning behaviors and thoughts) of your current lifestyle of sin. Confess that you will live in the grace and mercy and love of God and not make your new faith a legalistic man centered religion.

If you do this Jesus will respond to you personally through his Holy Spirit. And he will provide for you and bless you because you have become his child! Praise God! Go buy a Bible and start reading Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are the Gospels that share the good news about Jesus. Seek Jesus through prayer and find a good church where you can meet people who love the Lord and are seeking him and conforming to his image. Gen 1:26.

You are meant to know God personally.

Nothing is more important than this.

You are meant to be in heaven worshipping, praising and enjoying Jesus forever.

Much love,

Hank

The Bride Groom Cometh!!!!!

It's amazing how close the REALITY of being with Jesus is! So close you may have a checks and balances going on inside of you.....back and forth we go ........."Really!.. now.... could it really be? and then ..........Excited nervousness realizing we could stand before our Lord........... then............"NO WAY he will tarry. It can't be now. No one knows the day or hour not even Jesus" ...........then......." it is so possible. Look at all the signs!" Back and forth we go.



Nevertheless, if you are WATCHING for Jesus as Jesus has commanded (Luke 12:38, Matthew 26:40, Matthew 25:13, Mark 13:34, Galatians 6:1, etc) you probably have an amazing sense that this could very well be the last few ________ we are in these tents. Filling the blank with "years", "months", or "days" causes people to have different reactions, BUT is it really CRAZY to say that we can't rule out days and months, especially if you are watching for Jesus?


Are you aware of how things are merging and how God's moeds (appointed times / Feast Days) work according to HIS timeline, and how he speaks to us through times and seasons, the stars, the moon, the sun? Do you see the geopolitical and religious fronts imploding and standing against Israel? Do you realize that that there is a huge gap between the Bride of Christ and the False Apostate Church? Do you knoe the parable of the good fish and bad fish? Can you factor in the moral decline of the world and its universal cry for a false peace to save it rather then Jesus Christ Himself? Do you know the UN is voting Sept 20 on something very important? Do you know Sept 21 is world "peace day"? Can you discern the times like the Sons of Issachar did in 1 Chronicles 12:32? Do you know the sign in Rev 12 is being fulfilled Sept 30th? Do you know The Feast of Trumpets is Sept 29th or 30th? Can you discern the jubilee years of Israel? do you know...............that there are even more things on this earth and in the heavens and in the spiritual realm aligning that if you knew you would be left stunned and amazed and have a hard time believing?


As we know, our God is a God of order, he is a God who reveals his mysteries to those who watch and seek for him. As the Bride of Christ, we believe the rapture could happen anytime right? We say this and agree as most Born Again Christians do, but interestingly not all Born Again Christians seek Jesus the same, not all are fully open or comfortable with all that Jesus wants to give them in scripture. I believe Jesus wants us to know his mysteries ..........which is simply an outcome of having intimacy with him. He is so gracious and kind and merciful to invite us to seek him in a special way as shown in Jeremiah 33:3 , and we see references throughout the word that mysteries can be known, seasons can be understood, times can be discerned: Romans 11:25, Eph 5:32, Col 1:26, Eph 3:3,4, Rev 10:7, Dan 2:19, 1 Thess 5:2,4 etc.


When I learned that the Feast of Trumptets is actually known as "The Feast that no one knows the day or the hour of its arrival" I was amazed. It left me asking, "Do we really know what Jesus was refering to in Mark 13:32 and Matthew 24:36?". Was he alluding to something more? I would never say that a certain date is when Jesus is coming or the rapture is happening. But I would definitly say that we can know the season of his coming for us in connection to Moeds, signs in the heavens, and on earth, according to Matthew 24. We are indeed in that season now! The time of the Bride's Harpazo is emminant, the time of Jacob's trouble is emminant. Things are not how they have always been! Iran has never been in alliance with Russia as they are today, for example. Triads and Tetrads of Lunar eclipses and Solar eclipses are declaring God's Glory. Consider that Israel and the Nations are ripe for judgement.


Dear family in Christ, don't rule out that it could possibly be days and months for our Harpazo (Rapture) unto Christ!


Consider that:


Peter Rebukes those who scoff at the coming of the Lord whether it be the Rapture of the Church or the Day of the Lord.


1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,a not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodiesb will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.c11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:1-13


God keeps some things hidden until they are needed to be known.


"And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." Dan 12:9-10"


"...who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:5"


"For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:2,4",


"Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2"


Some details in scripture have not made sense until enough revelation occurred. For instance, Jesus' words in Matthew 24 (and Luke 17) about some people being taken and others left could not be understood from the time the concept of the Rapture was forgotten in the fourth century until it was revealed again in the latter days.


"For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took [Airo - remove] them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken [Paralambano - take to join with a companion] and the other left [Aphiemi - abandon, disregard, divorce]. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken [Paralambano] and the other left [Aphiemi]. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:39-44"


Jesus rebuked the religious leaders who had the knowledge of the scriptures for not knowing the time of His first visitation or the signs of the times. He would not have rebuked them for something they could not have known.


"Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." Luke 19:41-44"


1And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He answered them,a “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed. Matthew 16: 1-4


Will He rebuke believers for not knowing the time of His second coming and for not being trimmed with Oil in their lamps? You can count on it!


1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,a you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all childrenb of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
38Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38


1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lampsa and went to meet the bridegroom.b 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13


So many signs are aligning or are already aligned that a midnight cry is about to sound (we do not know if it is days, months, or years out) but it is very possible it could be days and your lamps best be trimmed with oil. It is the Lord Jesus himself who warned us to be ready. How do you get ready? Repent of your sins. Stop sinning intentionally! When you sin repent immediately. Seek Jesus' Face. Fix your eyes on Jesus.


If the Lord tarries (he does not wish that any shoudl perish but that all come to him through Jesus Christ), we will continue to become more excited for him, share the gospel with the lost and stand firm amidst persecution and troubling times. We will see amazing things and NOT BE SHAKEN. We will be able to discern the evil that's been twisted into "good" . Praise God! We will be sovereignly provided for by God. We will share our belongings, our homes, we will meet often together singing, praying and having communion together. We might die together in these bodies as we testify to Christ in a hostile world toward Christ. We are not destined for God's wrath and that fact alone strengthens our faith that the rapture is eminant.


Understand that WATCHING for Jesus is more of a heart condition that is excited to be with him and for others to be with him for eternity.

God Bless you,
Hank