Worship – Page 2 – Jesus ~ Amazing Grace!

Are You a Sinner?

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…

Just in case you didn’t know…we are ALL sinners!

Do you believe that sitting in church on Sunday or Saturday or any time of the day or night is saving you from your sin? Then think again…sitting in the pews will not save you from your sin! Why are you there? Don’t get me wrong! I’m not saying if you’re a sinner that you shouldn’t go to church , if that were the case then all the church buildings in the world would be empty! REMEMBER! WE ARE ALL SINNERS!

Maybe you’re thinking that whatever they have will rub off on you? Well maybe, some of it could, especially if you’re honestly searching for the “TRUTH”! Jesus – Yeshua is the way the TRUTH and the life, so hopefully, the church that you decide to attend is based on the Bible; the WORD of GOD! Cause if you’re there to find a way to get rich, or to become somehow enlightened in the realm of the unknown or to become united with the universe, you’re in the wrong place! If you’re in a church that is teaching eternal Salvation through the Blood of Christ – Jesus- Yeshua, then you’ve struck “gold” and with time, learning and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you’ll have found a place to call home on this earth that will help to prepare you for a future in the “Kingdom of God”.

Now I have to ask…are you going to church out of habit? Ahhh…it’s Sunday Morning and this is what you do on Sunday morning. You’ve been getting up and going to church since you were a child. Besides, you just got a new hat or a new necktie that you want everyone to see. Or maybe, you’re going to church because there’s nothing better to do…it’s raining and the fish aren’t biting! Oh Yeah! Jesus – Yeshua was a “fisher of men”, so maybe you feel HIM calling you and you don’t know how to answer, so going to church is a starting point.

Then are there times when you’re sitting in the pews and you look around and feel like you’re not fitting in? You’re surrounded by a congregation of elderly folks…lots of widows. There may be a few families and a spattering of younger people. The music isn’t quite what you signed up for, maybe the hymns are too long of the praise music is too loud or ….on and on it goes…you feel like you’re grasping at the question: why am I here? Do you look around and wonder are they truly happy? If not, why aren’t they happy? Is sitting in church just not fulfilling to you and you can’t seem to figure out how to fill the void of emptiness? Does the Sermon end with you asking more questions than it answered?

When you read in the Bible that it says “FEAR GOD” do you tremble? The Apostle Paul actually tells us that we should tremble at the POWER and the GLORY of our “Father in Heaven”. Maybe when you think about your sin, you’re afraid that you’re not forgiven, and because of this fear you’re not at peace?

You might be surprised to learn that Jesus – Yeshua asked questions too…not quite the same questions you are asking, but HIS questions were to wake us up so that we don’t sit in the pews and wonder why we are there.

Scriptures from the TLV ~ Tree of Live Version of the Bible

Could it be that you’re expecting more from the building, the preacher and the congregation than they are capable of giving? Now’s when you face yourself and ask yourself all the hard questions? Who is Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach? One of the first questions Jesus – Yeshua asked his disciples is “Who do you say I am?” Jesus poses the question in 3 books of the Gospel. It must have been very intense questioning for Matthew, Mark and Luke to remember it and then to write it down.

Matthew 16:13-16 When Yeshua came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴They answered, “Some say John the Immerser, others say Elijah, and still others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” ¹⁵He said, “But who do you say I am?” ¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Mark 8:27-29 Now Yeshua and His disciples went out to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ²⁸They told Him, “John the Immerser; and others Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹Then He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!”

Luke 9:18-20 Once when Yeshua was praying alone and His disciples were near, He put a question to them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹They replied, “John the Immerser, but others Elijah, and others that some prophet from among the ancients has arisen.” ²⁰Then He said to them, “But who do you that say I am?” Then Peter answered and said, “The Messiah of God.”

Peter’s answer was the one that Jesus was looking for at that moment, however, throughout the Scriptures, we soon learn that Jesus – Yeshua is ALL – Everything! HE is in the FATHER and the FATHER IS IN HIM!

If you don’t know exactly who Jesus – Yeshua is, then you will always have more questions than answers. There’s only one way to get the answers and that’s to not only read, but study your Bible! Everything you need to know from the beginning to the end of time is written down for us. There’s Love and War, there’s Love and Hate, theirs Love of money and the price people pay for greed. There’s Love between men and women and their children. There’s poetry, songs, guidance, and prophecy. There’s pain, loss and despair. There’s miracles and the supernatural. There’s so many facets of the Bible that once you’ve picked it up, you don’t want to put it down and then when you finally find yourself reading the Gospels and the “New Testament”, all of the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. Suddenly your recognize that the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed and the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed! You will soon learn that from the very first words of the Book of Genesis, Heavenly Father gives us the WORD (HIS SON JESUS – YESHUA) to tell us what He has is store for those who believe in HIS SON, who came to this world to save us from our sins by dying a horrible death on the cross and to rise again on the 3rd day to eternal life. If you repent from your sin and believe he died for you and then you are baptized the Holy Spirit will come to live in you and YOU WILL BE CHANGED.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is why we sinners sit together in church on Sunday or Saturday or any day of the week! This is where we go to share our faith and to gain strength from one another. This is how we become the body of the Christ – Jesus – Yeshua. This is where we begin to find the direction that Heavenly Father wants to lead us in, whether we become evangelists, teachers, preachers, etc…as followers of Christ, we take the first steps of honoring Yeshua by becoming HIS disciples. This is where we go when we are truly caught in the net of the one and only FISHER of MAN!

Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

The Butterfly is God’s Design

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Much to my disappointment Butterflies are not actually found in Scripture. I’ve been fascinated by them since I was a little girl and I called them “flutterbys”. When I went to school and one of our science projects was watching as a caterpillar spun its’ cocoon, I’ll never forget the awe I felt when the cocoon opened and a butterfly emerged! I realize now that I was given the gift to observe just a tiny part of God’s natural creation. All around us is the display of the glory and splendor of our creator, but most would admit that the Butterfly is uniquely amazing. It’s no small wonder that today, pastors and others who love God use a butterfly to provide a beautiful picture of spiritual transformation. The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has striking parallels to Christian conversion, resurrection, and transfiguration.

Although the caterpillar doesn’t die in the cocoon before his transformation. Unlike Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach who died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead; it’s a symbolism of how we are to leave our sinful flesh behind and how we become beautiful in the sight of Heavenly Father when the Holy Spirit enters into us and gently changes us into the image of His Son.

Romans 1:20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

Thank you to sixdays.org for the following beautiful article written about Blue Butterflies.

The Morpho is a butterfly from South America that has some incredible design features. All butterflies have features that are impossible for evolutionists to explain, but the special blue color of the Morpho is extra special.Morpho Peleides Chrysalis

A butterfly starts its life as a caterpillar. When fully grown the caterpillar then for some reason attaches itself to a branch hanging upside down, covers itself with a chrysalis (protective covering), dissolves its body and all of its internal organs, rearranges the millions of cells into new structures, and then emerges from the chrysalis as a butterfly.

Some differences between a caterpillar and butterfly:

Caterpillar	Butterfly
16 legs	6 legs
10 segments	3 segments
12 simple eyes	2 compound eyes
Eats plants	Drinks juice
Mouth	Feeding tube
Walks	Flies
Infertile	Reproductive organs

The ability to fly is no small task. An airplane uses the simple principal of lift to fly but a butterfly uses much more complex methods including wake capture, vortices at the wing edge, rotational mechanisms and ‘clap-and-fling’ mechanisms. No one has ever observed a non-flying creature develop the ability to fly, but if evolution is true then flight would have happened accidentally four times (in insects, birds, bats, and pterosaurs).

What makes the blue color of the Morpho special?

Morpho Butterfly Morpho Butterfly Scales 20,000x Magnification

There is no blue color.

The picture you are looking at has blue in it but the butterfly does not. Researchers have found that this butterfly has no blue pigment on its wings. If you use a electron microscope and look at the wings of a Morpho you will notice thousands of rows of cones on every scale. These cones have ridges on them that are spaced 0.00022 mm apart. That is 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These rows are so straight that the maximum distance they go out of line are 0.00002 mm. No machine humans have ever made have this type of accuracy!

If two people hold a rope and shake the end up and down you will notice some of the waves cancel each other out. The ridges on this butterfly do the same thing with light. The ridges are spaced exactly far enough apart to reflect the blue light but cancel out the other colors. Evolution has no way to create beautiful structures just for looks. These wings were created to show the handy work of God.

The metamorphosis and the complex surface of these wings would not be possible unless God designed the DNA. The DNA of a butterfly contains more information than any computer program ever written. Information always comes from an intelligent source, and cannot be produced by time and chance.

Evolution could never produce this incredible detail just for looks. Butterflies were created by our God, Creator, and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:16-25

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

External Links:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v15/i1/butterflies.asp

http://www.icr.org/article/blue-t-ful-beetles-birds-n-butterflies/

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/itbwi/preliminary-remarks-concept-information

http://sixdays.org/design (YouTube)

Important Guidelines for Life Part 2

Reflecting the Image of our Creator:

Mind Your Tongue: how many times have you said something that you wish you could take back? Told an offensive joke? Made fun of something that wasn’t funny? Gossiped or told a lie about someone?

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Proverbs 18:6-8 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.⁸The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.³⁷For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

The Book of Proverbs has numerous verses that address the subject of minding the tongue…I listed only a few of the Scriptures. All throughout Scripture, the WORD is showing us how to live and how to bridle our tongues. As a Christian we have the opportunity to be the “light of the world” and we do this by shining the “LIGHT of CHRIST” — What would Jesus do? What would Jesus say? How can we possibly shine a light into the darkness when we’re caught up in the immorality that oozes our of every crack in the sinful world that we exist in? Keep in mind: If YOU are CHRIST’S then YOU ARE NOT of this WORLD!

Put your tongue to good use and serve Heavenly Father not only with all your heart, your soul and your mind, but with every member of your body including your tongue. Once you’ve put bridling your tongue as a priority, you will not have time for the trivialities that consumes the world around you! You will be using your tongue to share the Gospel of Christ and His Salvation.

https://jesusamazinggrace.com/2020/05/03/the-plan-of-salvation/

Jesus Christ ~ My Living Hope

Have a beautiful and blessed weekend!

The Family Together: Worshiping God

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” Charles R. Swindoll, Evangelical Christian pastor

The church I go to is having a dilemma…from what I understand, they’re trying to figure out how to have a children’s church service/teaching during the main church service; apparently because there are some who don’t feel that the children are capable of maintaining for the length of the service. I truly feel like the odd woman out on this subject because I believe that it’s so very important for the children (at a fairly early age – 5 or so years old), to learn to worship our Heavenly Father with their physical family and their church family. It’s important that the children learn from an early age to appreciate the reverence and the splendor of worship. During church service, they will see not only their parents, but people of all ages who are gathered together for the “Glory of God”!

Sunday School is for teaching the stories, singing the fun songs with all of the hand motions, coloring of pictures that bring Bible stories to life and it’s the time to commune with friends that they may only see at church (which in itself sets these friends apart from the secular school friends). However, when Sunday School is over and church begins, this is an entirely different setting. Church time is when children along with their family show their love and appreciation for Heavenly Father…this is a bonding time with their family as well as the family of God. I sincerely believe that separating them from their family at this time isn’t good for them or for the church body as a whole.

I’d like to say that the worship of God, our Heavenly Father, should just come naturally, but most need to learn how to worship and the earlier the child begins the learning process the better they become at showing Heavenly Father and the world how much Love they have inside for God and and their brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.” anonymous quote.

Sure! You’ll hear them say from time to time that they’re bored, but think of what they’re actually taking in…familiarity with the songs and the procedure of the service. Even if the sermon seems to be deeper than their understanding, hearing the word is vital and seeing the congregation in worship will make a lasting memory…so much so that when they grow up, even if they fall away for awhile, they will never forget. Even when the service goes a little long and they get restless, they’re still learning.

Think of this…from the time a child is 5 years old until they graduate from High School (usually 18 or so), if they spend just that one hour a week with their family in sincere worship that adds up to 52 weeks X 13 years = 676 hours spent with Mom and Dad bowing their heads in prayer, singing hymns and worship songs with zeal, solemnly taking part in the call to worship…modeling after their parents and learning the awesome value they place on Heavenly Father. I can’t think of an example that can bring more Glory to God than anything else. This may be the only time during the entire week that the family spends together in worship as not all families take or make the time. Being in church together paints an indelible picture on the mind of a child of what a family should look like.

When we’re in church together as the children of God, we’re in the presence of Heavenly Father, Jesus -Yeshua and the Holy Spirit, we shouldn’t take this gift of devotion and closeness away from our children. I understand that thinking of a structured children’s church which will possibly teach more Scripture, but sometimes the best lessons are learned from experiencing something wonderful like being a part of the human and spiritual worship of God. On a personal note, seeing the families sitting together in the pews, generates a tremendous fullness of spirit that’s inexpressible.

Jesus makes it very clear in Matthew 19:13-15 “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

Are YOU on the Side of GOD?

Okay…You say that you’re a Christian! Do YOU study your Bible ~ God’s PLAYBOOK?

The WORD: the BIBLE is the supernatural inspiration of God and written down by 40 different writers…some are anonymous. Each reveals to us a version or a nuance of the same account: Creation, Fall and Redemption. Each account is a layer of God’s Truth woven into a tapestry that narrates history, faith and sacrifice. The Old Testament or the Tanakh informs and prepares us for the first coming of Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach; it also eludes to the 2nd coming (especially in Zachariah). The New Testament tells about HIS arrival on earth, His mission and His Sacrifice; throughout it tells us of the second coming of Jesus and lays down the rules for the final conflict between HIM and HIS followers and Satan and his followers. In the meantime, In both Testaments, we are warned throughout Scripture and especially in the New Testament about the “god of this world” who is Satan the devil!

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

If you haven’t chosen sides yet, you’re running out of time as we’re in the countdown to the end. Heavenly Father doesn’t want you or your church to be a fan club because we’re ALL Players here…NO FANS! Heavenly Father doesn’t want any bench sitters! HE doesn’t want the grandstands full! He wants to see us ALL out there sharing the Gospel of Jesus – Yeshua with everyone we meet until He comes!

Everyday, we’re all embroiled in a battle between good and evil. Every time we choose evil, we’re giving our life over to Satan and creating a rift between us and the Father. To be straight out honest, we’re choosing death instead of life.

Jesus already won the war on the cross! Now it’s a final battle for all of the souls that haven’t chosen sides yet and Satan will not admit defeat as long as there’s one person left on this earth for him to destroy; this is why when Jesus comes He awakens His dead and changes His living into Spiritual Beings. Once this has occurred, Satan can no longer hurt those who belong to Jesus .

Not only does mankind face this battle on a moment to moment basis, there’s a spiritual war that’s been going on since Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Satan and his angels have been in a non-stop spiritual battle with Michael and his angels…a battle that we can’t physically see, but it’s been going on since Lucifer (Satan the Devil) was cast out of Heaven and it’s still going on all around us!

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Is your church your social club? Is Sunday the day that you go to the refueling station to get your sermon fix and then go right back to living the life that you’ve grown comfortable with – maybe a life that is ebbing away at your salvation and robbing you of the promise? Then, in my book, it’s time to make a change, it appears to me that you’re a bench sitter or a fan! Are you too “nice” to tell you family or friends about Jesus – Yeshua? Are you so “nice” that because of your silence, you’re willing to stand by and watch them die and go to Hell?

Don’t you know that you’re in a battle for your life and the lives of everyone you come into contact with? That’s why you need to stand up today and proclaim Jesus as your savior! You need to put on the armor of God and pray like you’ve never prayed before! There’s only one way for you to present yourself to Jesus. You need to demonstrate your faith by speaking up and sharing your testimony of Jesus – Yeshua:

John 16:8 When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

There’s NO TIME like the present time for you to be BOLD! Look this world straight in the eye and show the world that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then repent from your sins and start living your life for Jesus! Fall and your knees in LOVE and WORSHIP and ask HIM to show you THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE!

We have to make a stand for Jesus and choose to be on God’s side in this great battle of God vs. Satan. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that God is the equal of Satan, what I’m saying is that Satan represents intrinsic evil and GOD is incomparable and HIS GOODNESS is something that we cannot fathom. God is HOLY and JUST and when we make the decision to live as God has taught us to live, HE saves us from the “power of darkness” and because of HIS SON, our redeemer, HE welcomes us to be part of “the Kingdom of the Son”.

https://jesusamazinggrace.com/2020/05/03/the-plan-of-salvation/

The Passion of Christ

Nisan 14 – the Passover lamb is Sacrificed

It was the custom since Moses gave the law and the statutes that 3 in the afternoon is the time of the day that the Jewish Priests sacrificed the Passover lamb. It’s no coincidence that this is the time that Jesus – Yeshua said “it is finished” and died on the cross. Nisan 14 is preparation day for the High Sabbath which is the 1st day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorating the time of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

John 19:28-30 After this, when Yeshua knew that all things were now completed, to fulfill the Scripture He said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹A jar full of sour wine was sitting there, so they put a sponge soaked with the sour wine on a hyssop branch and brought it to His mouth. ³⁰When Yeshua tasted the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

All four of the Gospels in the New Testament give an account of the time from the arrest to the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Ha Mashiach: Matthew 26:36—27:56, Mark 14:32—15:41, Luke 22:39 – 23:49, and John 18:1—19:37.

I’ll be taking scriptures from all 4 Gospels to paint a picture of what happened, but equally important is why…

The passion of the Christ was prophesied by Isaiah in the Old Testament:

Isaiah 53:4—12 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our pains. Yet we esteemed Him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted.⁵But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.⁶We all like sheep have gone astray.Each of us turned to his own way. So Adonai has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.⁷He was oppressed and He was afflicted yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, like a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.⁸Because of oppression and judgment He was taken away. As for His generation, who considered? For He was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people—the stroke was theirs⁹His grave was given with the wicked, and by a rich man in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.¹⁰Yet it pleased Adonai to bruise Him. He caused Him to suffer. If He makes His soul a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the will of Adonai will succeed by His hand. ¹¹As a result of the anguish of His soul He will see it and be satisfied by His knowledge. The Righteous One, My Servant will make many righteous and He will bear their iniquities.¹²Therefore I will give Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoil with the mighty—because He poured out His soul to death, and was counted with transgressors.For He bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.

Here’s the WHY:

Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom (peace) was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Scriptures from the TLV – Tree of Life Version (TLV is a new Bible translation produced by Messianic Jewish and Christian Scholars.) I have just recently become acquainted with the Tree of Life Version, so far what I appreciate the most is that is that Jesus is called by His Hebrew name Yeshua.

Here’s what Happened:

John 3:19-20 “Now this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved the darkness instead of the light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed.

Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour, darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33 When the sixth hour had come, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Luke 23:44-45 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵for the sun died out.

I marvel at the miracle of darkness that covered the land (earth). It became dark at noon and it wasn’t an eclipse (The darkness cannot have been a solar eclipse, because the full Passover moon is always on the wrong side of the earth for that to be possible). After solemn thought, I recognized that there can only be one reason for the darkness. Jesus – Yeshua is the Light of the world and when He became sin for us and He bore the weight of the sin of the entire world as he hung on the cross, His light was momentarily gone as he was clothed in our dark hideousness called sin. Throughout the Bible, we are told that Sin is darkness and the only light in this world is found in Christ.

Doesn’t it chill you to think of what this world will be without the Light of Christ?

1 John 1:5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you – that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

He endured the wrath of God:

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Because of our sin, the Father couldn’t even look upon His own Son! However, thankfully for us, Jesus’s death on the cross satisfied the wrath of God. He swathed Himself in our sin and paid the price in full! When we believe that He’s the Son of God, we are covered in His blood – His righteousness and Heavenly Father can’t see our sin! In order to continue in His light, we must all repent (turn away from) our sin and trust in the blood of Christ. In Christ we can truly see the light and there is NO darkness anymore…that is unless we seek it out!

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Doesn’t the pain of Jesus’ anguish when He cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” cause you to fall to your knees and beg forgiveness? Doesn’t it make you want to Live for Jesus – Yeshua because HE died for you?

Before the trial and His crucifixion:

Luke 22:44 And in His anguish, He was praying fervently; and His sweat was like drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Matthew 26:39 Going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me! Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

In the beginning Jesus – Yeshua and the Father, who are one, agreed on this plan, because They are “ALL KNOWING”, and They new that man would be tempted and therefore fall away. Jesus – Yeshua had walked this earth as a human and he fully understood what lie before Him! It wasn’t that His pleas fell on deaf ears, it was that once God says this is how it’s going to be, he doesn’t change his mind.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades.
But the word of our God stands forever.”

Malachi 3:6 “For I am Adonai. I do not change, So you, children of Jacob, are not consumed.

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³All things were made through Him, and apart from Him nothing was made that has come into being. ⁴In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.

Hebrews 13:8 Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The new man who lives for Yeshua:

Romans 6:6-8 knowing our old man was crucified with Him so that the sinful body might be done away with, so we no longer serve sin. ⁷For he who has died is set free from sin.⁸Now if we have died with Messiah, we believe that we shall also live with Him.

Romans 12:1–2 I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to God—which is your spiritual service. ²Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Galatians 2:20 and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by trusting in Ben-Elohim—who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new self—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

In Christ Alone

If you feel the darkness of the world surrounding you, turn to the “LIGHT” Jesus tells us that he’s with us til the end of time!

What is Evangelism?

Evangelism is the communication of the gospel message that includes a warning, an explanation, and a call to Salvation at the Cross by the blood of Jesus. Evangelism warns people about sin and it’s consequences.

John 16:8 When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:

Acts 24:25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I find time I’ll call for you.”

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. ¹²I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.¹³Then the sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works. ¹⁴Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

It includes an explanation of God’s remedy for sin—the gospel

Acts 8:29-35 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”³⁰When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”³¹“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³²Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth. ³³In His humiliation justice was denied Him.
Who will describe His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.

God’s Righteousness through Faith

Romans 3:21-26 But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets ²²—that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. ²³For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ²⁴They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. ²⁶God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

And it includes the clear call to REPENT (to turn from sin and to turn toward God) and believe the gospel, by faith.

Repent or Perish

Luke 13:1-5 At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ²And He responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things? ³No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well! ⁴Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? ⁵No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

Acts 17:29-31 ²⁹Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.³⁰“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

Romans 1:17 For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Romans 10:9-13 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. ¹¹Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, ¹²for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. ¹³For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

WE PLANT THE SEEDS! GOD MAKES IT GROW!

The principle of Evangelism is to bring our fellow man to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as his or her Savior. We must not be complacent…sometimes I think that Americans are the most complacent people on earth. We need to wake up as the day will come when His mercy will end, so we must not take His mercy for granted, share the Gospel while there’s still time!

The entire chapter of Matthew 10 tells the disciples of their commission to go out and preach, He warns them of the pitfalls…

Matthew 10:16 Jesus said…”Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves… so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Matthew 4: 17 And as ye go, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

As the a member of the body of Christ I’m blessed…I know Jesus died for me and that when I repented (turn away) from my sins and put my trust in Jesus, that by His intercession, He will save me from God’s wrath.

Here’s the Hitch!

There are many living on this earth, in this country and even in our town that don’t know Jesus. They don’t realize that they’re dead in their sins, because they don’t recognize what sin is. They may have heard of someone named Jesus, but they have no idea of what He did for mankind or the consequences of their thoughts and actions, because they’ve never heard the Good News.

The Ten Commandments EXODUS 20: 1-17 (NIV)

And God spoke all these words:

²“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

³“You shall have no other gods before me.

⁴“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

⁸“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹²“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³“You shall not murder.

¹⁴“You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵“You shall not steal.

¹⁶“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

“Now once a man has thus been humbled by the Law (10 Commandments) and brought to the knowledge of himself, then he becomes truly repentant for the true repentance begins with the fear and with the judgment of God. He sees that he is such a great sinner that he cannot find any means to be delivered from his sin by his own strength and effort of works.” (Martin Luther)

Martin Luther, O.S.A. 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk, and a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation. Luther was ordained to the priesthood in 1507. Wikipedia

The Bible teaches that as the church, we are the body of Christ. “We are to love the people of the world. We are here for this very purpose – to go into the nations and proclaim the Gospel to all who will hear.” (The Gospel Project, Vol 2, p.96)

***The Gospel Project is an adult Sunday school study program with teacher’s guides and student workbooks.

Creation Glorifies the Creator

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Isn’t it amazing that even in this fallen world, we really don’t have to look hard to see the GLORY of GOD’S CREATION! When I see something that I consider to be beautiful, whether it’s a newborn baby or a glorious sunset, I’m astounded when I realize that without sin and without the fall of man, just how glorious this earthly existence could be! NO misery of any kind: no pain or death, no deformed and sick babies, no crippled, no thorns or weeds an on and on it goes!

***In my heart and mind, I believe that’s why mankind will never leave this planet and as hard as we try to explore beyond our planet and solar system, He will not allow us to bring our sinful nature into the Heavens. Okay…enough of me trying to make sense out of the state of this world, it’s time to bring Scripture into the equation. I’ll be using the KJV – King James Version for Scriptures.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

If you read Genesis 1, you’ll discover that God created everything with mankind in his plans. He declared it all good and perfect before He breathed life into us.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

He not only created us, but He designed us in His image, therefore, we ALL belong to HIM! But keep in mind, that He loved us so much that he only puts HIS WILL upon us when we ask and pray for HIM to do HIS WILL such as David does in Psalm 23 when he recognizes that God leads us in paths of righteousness…we’re the ones who choose to take another path. In the Lord’s prayer taught to us by Jesus Messiah – Yeshua Hamashiach, He teaches us to pray for the Father’s will to be done and for Him to deliver us from evil.

Ultimately, right from the beginning of creation, He gave us total freedom to choose to obey or disobey Him…today, we still have the choice to exercise that freedom and our choices yield consequences…whether they are good or bad consequences…only you will know the answer.

He gave us the WORD so that we have ALL the knowledge we need to make right choices. He gave us the HOLY SPIRIT to guide us with wisdom and revelation through the WORD and therefore make it possible to navigate through this life, so that our existence could be as peaceful as possible on this fallen Earth. As we can see from what happened in the Garden of Eden, mankind didn’t trust God to be truthful. When Jesus – Yeshua – the Son of God came to earth in the form of a man, he proclaimed that He is the way, the truth and the life…so we’re all at a crossroads again as to whether or not we choose to believe and obey. I mentioned consequences earlier…to be exact, we’re talking about Heaven or Hell…He leaves it up to us to decide. https://jesusamazinggrace.com/2020/03/23/lets-not-soft-peddle-hell/

Throughout Scripture, it’s made very clear that Heavenly Father is our Creator, but He will also be our judge…Believe, Repent and Obey and the Blood of Jesus will cover your sins and you’ll become white as snow in the eyes of God! But that’s not the end of it, when you accept Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit enters into you and your body becomes the Temple of God. The Holy Spirit will guide and you and help you learn God’s will for you.

https://jesusamazinggrace.com/category/the-plan-of-salvation/

Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.