Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Be Encouraged Today!: Two Truths

Be Encouraged Today!: Two Truths: There are many things in this world that are true, and some that are false. There are many things that are right, and things that are wrong...

Two Truths

There are many things in this world that are true, and some that are false. There are many things that are right, and things that are wrong. In my thirty-seven (37) years of life, I have come to the conclusion of two definite truths – One (1) Jesus loves me (us) so very much, and two (2) the devil hates me so very much. These are true. Sometimes I think back on instances in my life, and think “It amazing that I am still alive.” But I know now that God had a plan! Jesus loves me (us) so much to the point of dying for us! Jesus died for you and me, and if you think of that in a personal way – ponder it – ‘Man, someone gave their life just me.’ Now I would probably give my life to save the lives of my children, but I a complete stranger; I’m gonna have to go with a solid no. It would definitely have to be God if I were to die for someone else; I ‘m just being honest – it’s preservation of life. Jesus probably could have backed out of dying, but He wanted God’s will, not His will, to be done (Matthew 26:39). He knew He had a job to do, and He fulfilled that job for ME (YOU). We could be lost in our sins, doomed to go to hell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, but Jesus took upon Himself my (our) sins so that I (we), sinners, could be reconciled back unto God – have a relationship with God. Hebrews 9:28 states: Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him. 1 Peter 2:24 states: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Not only did Jesus die for our sins, but He ever lives to make intercession for me (us)! Yes, Jesus prays for us! Hebrews 7:25 states: Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. Jesus is cheering me (us) on to make it to the finish line. He is waiting to “high-five” me (us) as my (our) name(s) are being called from the Book of Life of the Lamb to enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is not trying to trick me (us) or setting me (us) up to fail. He wants me (us) to win, and He has given me (us) every tool to be successful; that’s how much He loves me (us)! He has given me (us) tools to be happy, healthy, prosperous and whole in every area of my (our) lives. He took stripes on His back so that I (we) can be healed; He took on poverty and poorness so that I (we) can be rich; this is not just monetarily, but in every area of my (our) life. Isaiah 53:5 states: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. 2 Corinthians 8:9 states: For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied). Yes! Jesus did all of this for me (us), because He loves me (us) so very much; just think about it. Jesus is so in love with me (us); this I know personally for myself. There’s nothing anyone can say to change that. There’s nothing anyone can do, not even me that can change that love He has for me (us). I can truly say Romans 8:1 - Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for I am in Christ Jesus, because I live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit (One of my favorite chapters in the Bible). Yes, all the above is true, but there’s the truth that the devil hates me so very much too. If you truly name the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, then the devil hates you too. Well, I guess I wouldn’t take to kindly of someone constantly destroying my kingdom either. I don’t care where I am or to whom I must speak the Truth of God’s Word to, I will. No one knows more than I that the truth hurts – it hurts our feeling, our flesh. But the truth also encourages, builds up and gives us hope too. Of course, there’s a time, a place and a way in which we must tell that truth. The Word of God tells us if we see out brother (that’s a brother or sister in Christ) in sin and warn him not, then their blood will be required at our hands. Ezekiel 3:20 states: Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. We must always speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15); for love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8 & Proverbs 10:12, and always have scripture to back up the truth. I’ve said all of this because the devil, who hates me (us) very much, will cause us not to accept that truth, causing us to harden our hearts towards the Word of God thus allowing sin to run rampant in our lives. The devil is subtle, cunning a trickster. God has given us weapons to fight against the wilds, trick of the enemy (Ephesians 6). The devil, our true enemy, is the author of confusion. Where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work. His job is to constantly keep us in strife and confusion where we feel agitated, alone and defeated. Unlike Jesus, the devil is cheering for me us) to give up, to stop pressing forward, to get tripped up, and to trip up others, to steal, kill and to destroy any Word of God – Hope – in our lives. He wants me (you) to lose, and spend eternity with him in the lake of fire. He, the devil, is the accuser of the brethren; in the Book Job God called Satan/The Devil the adversary and accuser. He is not for me (you); He is against me (you). He is constantly bringing up my (your) past that’s under the Blood of Jesus, but those things that are for; behold, I (we) am new! I’m speaking to myself and to those who name the Name of the Lord, or who walk in the House of the Lord every time the doors are opened – DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE DECEIVED! Just because you go to church every time the doors are open, that does not mean that the Gates of Heaven will be opened to you. It is truly going to be a sad day when Jesus says “Come up hither.” There are going to be some really sad “church folk” that are going to be left behind. Understand that Jesus loves us, and He is the ONLY way to true salvation – there is NO OTHER WAY! All we have to do is turn from our sins, and accept Him as Lord and Savior, and do the Word of God. It’s not hard; we even have a book let us know what we should do; all we have to do is read it and do it. The devil hates you, and he wants you to fail. There is no love there; well except for the love to hate those who have truly decided to follow Jesus – The way of the Kingdom of God and not this world system. Jesus died for you; the least you can do is live for Him. Did you put your armor on today??? Be Encouraged Today!!! Remember there's a sinner's prayer on this site. If you have back-slid or haven't tasted and seen that the Lord is Good, say this prayer. You don't have to be in a church building to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. There is a moment that will happen, and it will happen in a twinkling of an eye (as fast as you can blink), and those who have confessed Jesus as Lord and have walked according to the Word of God will be raptured up to be with Him forever and ever. Yes, it sounds too fantastical to be real, but don't take the chance that it's not and be left behind. So don't put this off. No one knows the hour or the day when this will take place, but it is for us to be ready when it's time to go. The first step is to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you say this prayer, contact me; let me welcome you and personally encouraged you in your new life with Jesus!