"Watch!" - Inspirational Weekend

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always. that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  -  Jesus at Luke 21:36

"Watch" and "pray always":  two great duties of man.  To have a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God through His Son Jesus, we need to be diligent to prayer; to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).  Now in these latter days - the end times - we need to watch for the Lord's return with great expectation; to be ready for His imminent return; to be found worthy of heaven and thereby to be living a godly and faith filled life.  Although no one knows the day or the hour of His return, His Holy Word has given us the signs that are prevalent which point to His soon return.  Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 to learn of these signs of the last days.  

We are there !   Right in the last "hour" of the end times and therefore the time of Jesus' return must be very soon.   Only God the Father knows the exact time when our Savior will return.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."    -  Jesus at Mark 13:32.

Now is not the time to be asleep or concerned only with the immediate needs to survive..... to not be involved in materialism nor even to be caught up in the cares of this world and its desires.  The devil uses distractions to keep our focus on anything and everything but doing the Lord's will.   We need to be busy and occupied with the Lord's work of disciple-making; preaching and teaching the Gospel.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober."  -   1 Thessalonians 5:6

I have written previously about the Rapture and end times.  For more information go to the "Search box" at the top right hand side of this page and type in "Rapture" or "Tribulation" or "last days" (etc.) and several posts will appear for you to choose which ones that interest you to read.

Following is a 29 minute video from prophecywatchers.com  featuring host Gary Stearman with guest Dr. David Reagan, who is a prophecy expert.   

In this video, they stress the soon return of Jesus.   The Rapture has always been imminent; that is, it could happen at any time.  But now with signs of the end times all converging at once, it must occur very soon.   Be ready !

In light of Bible prophecy and current world events, it makes Dr. Reagan say, "It is like the Lord is shouting from Heaven, 'Jesus is returning soon.' "

One thing of interest is what Dr. Reagan brings to light in the above video.   He said that in the 1800's about 100 people a day were coming to Jesus; in the 1900's about 1000 people a day came to Jesus;  and today, almost 200,000 are coming to Christ in a day.

"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."  -   Hebrews 10:37

It is to this future hope that we must look.  Speaking from Heaven's point of view, there is not long to go before  Jesus returns for His Bride, the church, true believers.

Yes, believers have a blessed hope. (Titus 2:13)  We will have an eternity to spend with the good Lord.   In heaven, there will be no more death or sorrow or pain.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for the former things are passed away."    -  Revelation 21:4

Those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior have no such blessed hope.  There should be a dread come upon you when you contemplate an eternity in darkness and torments.  Why not be wise and surrender your life to the good Lord in faith and believe that Jesus is the Savior.  Only He can fill that void within your soul.  He will give you a purpose and a hope.  It is so much better than the alternative.

But we are not talking about "head knowledge" of Jesus.  We are talking about believing with your whole heart and all of your very being that He is the Savior and that only faith and belief in Him enables Him to wash your sins away.  Turn to the Lord in prayer and ask for forgiveness.  Sincerely repent of all sins and do not go back again to a worldly, lustful, and sinful life.  Believe also in Christ's resurrection.

Romans 10:9,10, and 13 tells us:  (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.   (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Jesus loves you and is waiting to welcome you to the family of God.  He will forgive you and wipe the slate clean.

If you are truly born again (John 3:3), you will surrender your life and will to the Lord and show your love by your obedience to His commandments. 

Find a true, Holy Spirit filled church that puts Jesus first.  Pray without ceasing and read your Bible daily.  You will then begin to grow to maturity and be pleasing to the Lord.   But keep in mind, it is not works that save you.   It is sincere belief and faith in Jesus that saves you......it is God's gift; it is His grace.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.   Not of works, lest any man should boast."   -  Ephesians 2:8-9


Keep watching !

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend...... and life !

Saved By Grace - Not By Works (The Way Of Salvation)

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   -  Ephesians 2:8-9

This post is for everyone, but especially for those who read my recent Inspirational Weekend post.  Reading over that information again today, I realized that I didn't explain something as carefully as I should have.  I made a note of correction on the weekend post, but felt that I should do another post today to further clarify what I had meant to say.

Yes, we are saved by grace when we, by faith, believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior.  (Ephesians 2:8-9, the verses quoted above.) You are then a child of God forever!  In my weekend post I had urged any unbelievers to pray and ask for forgiveness to be saved.  And then I said, "It will take effort on your part" and went on to encourage them to read their Bibles and to pray and to join a Christian church.    I realized today that that made it sound like they must also do "works" to be saved, when that was not my intention at all to convey such a thought.  We are saved only by belief and faith in Jesus.  What I had meant was that, after we are saved, we can only grow to spiritual maturity by pouring over God's Holy Word and by much prayer and by attending worship services and associating with fellow-believers.  All of that helps us to mature as believers and also helps us to have a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God our heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  -  Romans 10:9

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"               -  John 11:25-26   

Also, remember the thief on the cross who believed in Jesus at the very end of his life, and Jesus told him that he would be with Him that day in Paradise (Luke 23:39-43).  This thief had not had any opportunity to do good works; his faith alone had saved him.

I can look back to the time when I told Jesus that I loved Him and how that was the turning point for me.   There was no formula prayer for me; just a heart broken yet full of love for the Savior; a heart that was reaching out in desperation and in the hope He provided.  He showed His love, forgiveness, and patience in return.  I began to read the Bible more and to seek Him even more with all my heart.  I learned to let go of my previous "I can take care of myself" attitude and to turn to Him in surrender, willing to be taught by Him and with a desire to grow ever closer to Him.   So we are saved by believing in Jesus as our Savior, Lord, and Master; but if we are truly born again, we will have the desire to pour over His Word and to pray fervently and with importunity and to attend worship services and to thereby grow ever more in love with Him.

Following is a sermon on the way of salvation by Charles Spurgeon

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  -  John 14:6

"How To Be Strong" - Inspirational Weekend

How refreshing is this small waterfall !  It reminds me of what Jesus called "living water".  (John 7:38).  God's holy Word is even more refreshing - and more rejuvenating - than even this delightful waterfall shown here.  Just a side-note: when I do my daily Bible study I have an internet video going depicting a stream with waterfalls and with birds chirping in the background.  It is very soothing to watch and listen to as I read my Bible.  It is not distracting as the sound is on low and I only occasionally glance at the moving water.  Try it sometime.    

This post is about acquiring strength to face obstacles.  Reading God's Word and immersing yourself in its faith-building truths will enable you to do just that.... to face hardships and trials with the Lord as your strength.   

"My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according to Thy word."  -  Psalm 119:28

Philippians 4:13 tells us,  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."   I could almost end this post with that verse, because it just about sums up everything concerning strength and how it is possible when you have the Lord by your side.  You can face anything by the power of God/Jesus and you can endure the impossible in His strength.  Philippians 4:13 is a only a part of what Paul had in mind in this epistle as to Christ's abilities to meet all of our needs.  

A large part of endurance and learning to be strong is found in the ability to learn to be content in whatever circumstances one finds himself in.  (Philippians 4:11).  The more you have your mind on Christ and on heavenly things (and not on the lusts of the world), the more you will find yourself content, serving the Lord and living a godly life, with Jesus to guide and strengthen you in all things.

"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,"  -  Ephesians 1:19-20

"Only he who can say, 'The Lord is the strength of my life' can say 'Of whom shall I be afraid?' "  -  Alexander MacLaren

"You become stronger only when you become weaker.  When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires."  -  Erwin Lutzer

We need to rely on the power of God.  God cannot use a person who is self-centered and who relies on his own strength and not on Him.  That is the epitome of conceit and pride to rely on your own strength.  When we were saved, we were to rely on Jesus as our Lord and Master as well as our Savior.  Inquire of the Lord when you are in doubt and need guidance.   He is waiting to hear from you.   He will give you strength to endure and to face your mountains.   

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength...........But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."    -  Isaiah 40:29, 31

Remember, however, that if you ask for strength, God may give you difficulties to make you strong.  It is through endurance that we learn to be strong.   

"Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath.  For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is."   -  Thomas A. Kempis

Remember Paul and his thorn in the flesh.  In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul describes how he was caught up to the third heaven and that he "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."  Verse 7 tells us that to keep him from being prideful he was given a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet him.  He prayed to the Lord to remove it, but verse 9 tells us:

"And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."    And continuing with verse 10 of 2 Corinthians 12:  "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

We can see that the Lord's grace was sufficient for Paul because it was a better solution than to remove Paul's thorn.  "Human weakness provides the perfect opportunity for the display of divine power."  

To be strong requires strong faith.  If you have been born-again the Holy Spirit will increase your faith as you study your Bible and as you come to the Lord in much prayer.   Answered prayers is one of the greatest faith-builders there is !    When you are in distress or feeling blue, just remember how many times God has answered your prayers showing how much He loves you and cares for you.  Recalling His goodness and faithfulness toward you will guarantee that you snap out of your negative mood and that you will also be encouraged to continue life's journey with much faith in the Lord, which in turn will make you stronger in your walk with Him.

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."  -  Francis de Sales

"The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God.  When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength."  -  Warren Wiersbe

We find ourselves now living in the end times, the last hours of the last days.  We need our faith and strength in the Lord to be able to endure these perilous times.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5).  But, if you are a true believer in and follower of Jesus Christ,  you will be included in the Rapture of the Church which is soon to happen.  You will therefore not suffer the wrath of God which occurs during the seven year Tribulation period.  You do not want to be "left behind" and see and experience the horrendous judgments during the Tribulation; that is, if you are not saved now, you must give your life to the Lord in faith, believing in Him with all of your heart and also in His resurrection; repenting sincerely of all your sins and asking the Lord to forgive you and give you a humble and contrite spirit.

Time is short !!  


"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened  with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness  of God."   -  Ephesians 3:16-19