THE WAY TO HEAVEN; THE HOLY SPIRIT (DO YOU HAVE IT?); WHAT DOES BORN AGAIN MEAN? - WITH VIDEOS AND MORE! - INSPIRATIONAL WEEKEND

The above photograph is of one of my grandchildren when he was a baby. There is nothing more precious than a tiny new born baby!  But spiritually speaking, there is nothing more wonderful and precious and to be treasured than "the new birth; being born again."   That occurs at the moment when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior -  believing in Him in all sincerity and with all of your very being that He alone is the Savior, the Redeemer, Who gave His life as a ransom so that we might have eternal life if we have faith in Him and the power of His shed blood to cleanse us from our sins, and the fact that He rose from the dead, proving that we may also have eternal life by faith in Him.  (Romans 10:9-13)

In other words, at the moment you are saved by faith, you are "reborn" in spiritual manner, and sealed with the Holy Spirit.  (Ephesians 1:13).

The excellent You Tube Christian Channel "Lion of Judah" has the following 15 minute video which helps to explain what happens to you when you are born again.  Please watch !  

In the above video it mentions that being born again is not really or exactly you "turning over a new leaf."  Watch the video in the beginning where it explains this.  It reminds me of many years ago when I worked in a small office environment, and one of the men there was a real character.  He truthfully said of himself -  with some humor and much truth :  " I need to turn over a whole new bush!"   Can anyone relate, or do you know someone like that ?

Actually, the above statement by my former co-worker is a good beginning!  A beginning of realizing that you are a mess (a sinner) and that you need help ! That can lead you to know Christ, if your heart is right and someone shares the Gospel with you.  Or even if you just read the Bible in earnest, the Holy Spirit can convict you of your need of a Savior, and lead you to repentance.  The Bible is, after all, "God-breathed", meaning God's Holy Spirit guided and inspired the men of old to write down the words of our Heavenly Father, which later became the Holy Bible.  

                                               [Seattle, Washington Botanical Gardens]

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."     -  John 3:7

Charles Spurgeon has written a wonderful devotion on the above Scripture,  John 3:7, which follows:

"Regeneration is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation, and we should be very diligent to take heed that we really are "born again",  for there are many who fancy they are, who are not.  Be assured that the name of a Christian is not the nature of a Christian; and that being born in a Christian land, and being recognized as professing the Christian religion is of no avail whatever, unless there be something more added to it - the being  "born again" is a matter so mysterious that human words cannot describe it.  "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth;  so is everyone that is born of the Spirit."  [John 3:8]    Nevertheless, it is a change which is known and felt; known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience.  This great work is supernatural.  It is NOT an operation which a man performs for himself:  a new principle is infused which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man.  It is NOT a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus.  To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: man can do the one, God alone can do the other.  If you have then been "born again", your acknowledgment will be:  "O LORD Jesus, the everlasting Father, Thou art my spiritual Parent; unless Thy Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day "dead in trespasses and sins.  My heavenly life is wholly derived from Thee -  to Thee I ascribe it."   -  "My life is hid with Christ in God."  [Colossians 3:3].    -      It is no longer I who live, but "Christ Who liveth in me."  [Galatians 2:20].      May the LORD enable us to be well assured on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope."   -  end of Spurgeon's quote.

(Charles Haddon Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892 in England.  He was a Baptist preacher who to this day remains very influential in many various Christian denominations.  He was and still is known as the Prince of Preachers.")

                                                       [Kailua Beach -  Oahu, Hawaii]

In todays topsy-turvy world, nothing is certain anymore, or so it seems!  BUT GOD!  We can be certain that God and His Word and His Promises will always remain certain and true and stable!

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."  -  Hebrews 13:8

Hang on to that, folks!  The way things are going now, (current world events that prove spiritually and also  according to Bible Prophecy), that our precious Savior will return very soon and take us to be with Him in heaven.  It doesn't get any better than that!  

The above video quotes John 14:1-3, where Jesus tells us that He is in heaven preparing a place for us (mansions, KJV) and that He will return for us!  We all need that good news today!  Hope! Something to hang on to.  And of course, our hope is in the blessed Lord!

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."  -   Titus 2:13-14

Recently, I have re-read a 29 page booklet by Andrew Murray that I have had in my possession for a few years.  It's title is "Lord, teach us to pray" and it concerns the "Lord's Prayer" which Jesus taught His disciples. Most of its contents is rather elementary, or would be to pastors or to faithful Christians of many, many years of faith in the Lord.  It is good to go over material from time to time that you are familiar with, because often you glean new insights you missed previously;  this is especially true of the Bible itself, as you no doubt have observed for yourself.  You know, how you may have read the Bible through many times, but one day a particular verse just "hits" you for the first time -  really speaks to you as if you had never seen it before!  

Anyway,  here is a short quote from Murray's booklet:  "Yes, to pray. This is what we need to be taught.  Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeble child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise.  It is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One.  The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal..  It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for others, for the Church, for the world, it is to prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength.  It is on prayer that the promises wait for their fulfilment, the kingdom for its coming, the glory of God for its full revelation.  And for this blessed work, how slothful and unfit we are.  It is only the Spirit of God that can enable us to do it aright.  How speedily we are deceived into a resting in the form, while the power is wanting."   -  end of Andrew Murray's quote.

There are many professing Christians today that do not pray - or, if they do, very seldom. And sometimes it is painfully obvious that they probably are not influenced by the Holy Spirit.  None of us are perfect, and neither are there any perfect Christians!  But it is essential that we believers be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  Following is an informative and helpful 10 minute video titled " Undeniable Proof that the Holy Spirit is In Your Life"  (by You Tube Channel "Grace for Purpose."

There are many gems in the above video!  One of which is that the Holy Spirit will help pray for and with you!

If Jesus were to return to take His Bride (the Church; true believers) to heaven in the Rapture  -  if it occurred tonight, or next week, or next month,   would you be ready?  Or would you be "left behind"?

  To go to heaven, either when you die naturally or you are "caught up" to meet Jesus in the air at the Rapture,  you first need to be born again.  That is discussed above in this article.  You need to recognize that you are a sinner and in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  You cannot save yourself or earn your way to heaven by any "good works" or whatever else you may have been taught. God does not grade on a "curve"; like if your good deeds outdo or outweigh your bad deeds, you're okay and good to go!  (Good enough to enter heaven, many people think). 

"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

If you repent, feel a deep remorse for your sins against God and heaven, and you turn to Jesus/God in heartfelt sincerity and pray for forgiveness, you will be forgiven!  No matter how terrible you have sinned.  It has been said by a pastor, that even if Hitler had repented and asked for forgiveness, God would have granted his request.

Following are salvation Scriptures for a guide for those who have not yet surrendered their lives to the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  -  John 3:36

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" -  2 Corinthians 6:2

"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

"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

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    -   John 3:16

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

 

"The Diamonds And Music Of Heaven" (Video by Andrew Murray) - Inspirational Weekend

Charles Spurgeon has said, "Prayer is the falling of a tear.  Tears are the diamonds of heaven, sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah's court, and are numbered with the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high."   

Isn't that a beautiful quote!  This blog has concentrated on articles concerning prayer in the past, but when I read a recent devotion (recent to my Email inbox, that is) by Charles Spurgeon I felt compelled to share it with you.

Spurgeon continues, "Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven....... Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears; yet that groan has made all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God and treasured in the lachrymatory of heaven."

Psalm 56:8 says, "Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in thy book?"

 Spurgeon says the above verse "implies that they (tears) are caught as they flow. The suppliant, whose fears prevent his words, will be well understood by the Most High. .......  Think not that your prayer, however weak or trembling, will be unregarded.  ..... Our God not only hears prayers, but also LOVES to hear them. "He forgetteth not the cry of the humble"   (Psalm 9:12 b)  ......He regards not the triumph and pride of man; but wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony, or a deep groan, or a penitential sigh, the heart of Jehovah is open; He marks it down in the registry of His memory;  He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of Remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious fragrance springing up therefrom."

"Their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto heaven."  -   2 Chronicles 30:27

Charles Spurgeon used the above verse as a starting point in another of his devotions delivered recently to my Email inbox.  Here is a partial quote from that :

"Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy's hand.  We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succours can come down to us by Jacob's ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities.  Prayer is never out of season. ...... In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from His holy place.  Nor is prayer ever futile.  True prayer is evermore true power."

Andrew Murray was a South African Christian pastor, teacher and writer and lived from 1828 to 1917.  Following is a very special audio video from one of his books.  The video is 25 minutes, and is about prayer.  Excellent teaching !

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." -    1 Peter 4:7

"Pray without ceasing."  -   1 Thessalonians 5:17

Romans 10:9,10,13 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."

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

"Slim Pickin's ?" - Inspirational Weekend

[Brazilian Cardinal On Coconut Shell On Hawaiian Beach]

Some time ago, from my reference photograph above, I completed an oil painting of this cardinal and titled it "Slim Pickin's".  Although the coconut contained sand from the beach, somehow the bird was finding some "slim pickin's" to nibble on.

It occurred to me just now that many people are surviving on just slim pickin's in their life, with no real "meat" of truth or hope to sustain them.  It's even true with some Christians who never read their Bible and seldom pray.

What to do?

First of all, we must have a vibrant and living faith and belief in Jesus Christ as the Savior.  Without that, you are dead....spiritually dead, and will not make it to heaven.

Secondly, we must die to self.  Yes, in an age where people are always thinking of themselves first and love to take selfie photos and the like, we must learn to put the heavenly Father and Jesus first in our lives.  

"Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay.  But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in."    -   C.S. Lewis (from his book, Mere Christianity)

Let us consider some Christian quotes and, most importantly, some Scriptures which follow that will enrich our soul and mind and heart.

"God always gives His very best to those who leave the choice with Him."  -   James Hudson Taylor

"Life is not about how long you live, but whether you are living intentionally and devotedly to Christ."  -  Dr. Charles Stanley

"Your life helps paint your neighbor's picture of God."   -  unknown

"Being at peace with yourself is a direct result of finding peace with God."  -  Olin  Miller

"The safest place in all the world is in the will of God, and the safest protection in all the world is in the name of God."   -  Warren Wiersbe

[Haleiwa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]

Lately, quotes by Christians on this blog have been more rare, as I think we should focus primarily on God's Holy Word. Following are some verses from Psalm 40, which all Christians can relate to:

Psalm 40:1-3 :    (1) "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  (2) He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (3) And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."

"For the joy of the Lord is your strength."  -  Nehemiah 8:10 b

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit."  -   Romans 15:13

"And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart."  -    Jeremiah 29:13

[Waterfall At Waimea Bay Botanical Gardens, Oahu, Hawaii]

Please ponder over the above Scriptures; let them sink deep into your heart.  But nothing compares to actually opening the Bible and pouring over God's Holy Word daily for yourself.   As has been stated here before, the Bible is God's love letter to us, as well as His instruction manual to guide us along life's paths as we endeavor to do His will.   When you read the Bible daily, you learn more about God and His Son Jesus, and you appreciate their attributes and that they personify love.... a love beyond our finite understanding.  You will grow to love the Lord more and more as you read His Holy Word..... you will draw ever closer to Him.

The same applies to daily prayer.  The good Lord wants to fellowship with us.  He loves us.  You cannot  develop a good relationship with anyone if you never communicate with him.   As you read the Bible and pray daily, you will find that you will grow in your relationship to the Lord.   It will become a close, intimate, personal, ongoing love relationship.  Isn't God awesome!

So do not live a life of "slim pickin's".  A life without Jesus is a failure.   True success is a life lived in obedience to Him.

".... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."   -    Jesus at John 10:10

"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

"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

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    John 3:16

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

"Guard Your Heart" (With Video on End Times and Salvation) - Inspirational Weekend

[Turtle Island Seen From Kailua Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]

Not every desire of your heart is from God !

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?"  -  Jeremiah 17:9

We all know what deceitful means, but I looked it up just the same in Websters 1828 dictionary where it tells us:  "Deceitful means to  tend to mislead, deceive, or ensnare;  full of deceit, trickish, fraudulent or cheating."

We cannot trust our own hearts, for it tends to lie to us or sugar-coat a forbidden practice or a forbidden love.   We tend to let our desires dictate to us what our actions are.   Sometimes our motives are not even clear to ourselves.   That is why we need to go to the good Lord in faith and trust and pray about every situation where our hearts seem to be contrary to His will.   We actually need to pray to God about everything.

If we are constantly in prayer and in God's Holy Word, we will develop a close, personal, intimate love relationship with the Creator, and that in turn will keep our heart focused on spiritual things and we therefore will be less likely to be deceived by the devil's wiles and trickery.  We will find that we are strong when we rely on God and Jesus.

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."   -    Philippians 4:13

"With God all things are possible" -   Matthew 19:26 b

Many years ago, when I was experiencing extreme hardship and even trauma, the above two Scriptures gave me hope and endurance.

Another problem is that our hearts tend to listen to people's opinions and we go by that instead of listening for and seeking God's guidance. 

Jeremiah 17:5 tells us:  "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."  

Notice in Jeremiah 17:9 it also says that the heart is "desperately wicked".   In other words, the heart is wretched, or feeble; distressed beyond all things, in consequence of the wickedness that is in it.  One commentator has this to say:  "I am quite of Mr. Parkhust's opinion that this word  (wicked) is here badly  translated -  as anash is never used in Scripture to denote wickedness of any kind.  My old MS Bible translates thus:  "Schrewid is the herte of a man: and unserchable: who schal knoweth it."

[Hawaiian Moorhens at Hamakua Marsh, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii]

We all have this problem called sin.  It is our nature to sin.  Please read Romans 7:18-20.  Actually, I will quote those verses here:

(18)  "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."   

What to do then?  We Christians know the answer to that question:  turn to the good Lord in repentance and prayer and ask for forgiveness.  Be humble and consult the Holy Word, which is the lamp of God which will give us Light in searching the Scriptures.  His word will settle into the recesses of the heart, with the good Lord's assistance.

The cure of sin is twofold; its guilt is washed away in the blood of Christ, and its power is broken down by the Holy Spirit.  

You must learn to hate your own sin, as well as those sins of others.

Too often we are quick to point an accusing finger at the mistakes of others, but cannot or will not acknowledge that we are just as guilty in our own "pet" sins.   John Newton, who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace" , had this to say: "Thus I judge of my heart that it is very deep and dark, and full of envy; but as to particulars, I know not one of a thousand."

Satan the devil knows his time left is very short.  He is trying as hard as he can to deceive and trick us into sin.  But we have Jesus to save us and guide us.   Remember, we are living in the last moments of the end times.   Bible prophecy and its precursors are happening right now.   We live in the shadows cast by the soon to occur prophesied 7 year Tribulation period, the beginning stages of which are already happening now.......   If the Tribulation is that close, guess how close the Rapture of the Church must be, when Jesus Christ comes to take true believers to heaven so they do not suffer the wrath of God during the Trib. period.  

Following is a video which discusses these end times, and also the importance of salvation NOW before it is too late and you are left behind during the Tribulation period.   It is a 26 minute video that is very enlightening and I pray that you watch it all. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIxCSTTOBSg  

In the above video, he tells us that it is not about religion.  Religion says "do".... it is all about works.   Salvation is about a relationship with Jesus.  Jesus' death at Calvary says all is "done".  Just have faith and belief in Him as the Messiah and believe in His resurrection and you are saved.... sealed as a child of God forever.

Romans 10: 9,10,13 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."

Keep looking up!

Keep watching!

We fly soon!

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

"Life Can Only Be Understood Backwards" (With Charles Spurgeon Sermon) - Inspirational Weekend

My photograph above could simply symbolize a beautiful day at the beach.  It could also mean a walk with Jesus, if you remember the poem "Footprints In The Sand" which was made popular many years ago.  The most touching verse of that poem was Jesus saying, "When you saw only one set of footprints in the sand, it was then that I carried you."

This article will be about how, with Jesus' help, we can lead a victorious life.  First, we must be born again.  We must have been truly converted and have put our faith and hope in Christ as the Savior and to believe with all of our heart that His death at Calvary....His shed blood there.... can wash our sins away if we have true faith in Him and believe in His resurrection.

One must also sincerely repent of his sins and not continue to live a sinful life.  One needs to pray for forgiveness and surrender his life to Jesus.

Romans 10:9,10, 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."

Salvation is not a big list of do's and don'ts or works to be performed.  Salvation is by faith.

"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

What originally inspired me to write today was a quote I ran across by a Danish poet, theologian, and religious author that lived from 1813 to 1855.  His name was Soren Kierkegaard and he is quoted as saying,  "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."

How true !  I have quite a few years on me now (I am a great grandmother!)  I can look back on many years ago, before I was born again, and see how emotional I was:  quick to anger, self-centered, self-willed, and not really understanding what life was all about.  So I regret the person I was during those past years, but now that the Lord has touched my heart and taught me to live for His will, I can understand more now what life is all about (it is all about Him).  I do not live in the past, but I have learned from past mistakes.   I am now free to  "live life forwards", as Kierkegaard said. 

Back to modern times, Philip Yancey has said something that is great food for thought:  "I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse."

"The heart of the Christian faith is found at the intersection of our brokenness and God's goodness, mercy, and love."  - Tripp Prince

Faith.  

The Christian who has a victorious life is one that is rooted and grounded in faith.  You can live victoriously !  You can triumph over this wicked world!    If you live for Jesus, you have no need to fear anything.  

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   -  Jesus at John 14:27

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God."  -  1 John 5:4-5

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."                   -   Romans 8:37

So how do we live victoriously?  How do we gain faith?

Read your Bible daily; it is God's love letter to us; His instruction manual for us to follow.  When you pour over God's Holy Word, it is like God speaking to you.   The Word has life and power!  It can draw you to God, and you begin to learn about His attributes and your love and appreciation for Jesus will grow.   Your faith will also grow.

Pray more than once a day.   Pray with importunity and with a heart totally focused on the good Lord.  You cannot come to know anyone intimately unless you communicate with them.   Tell God all of your fears, all of your worries, and ask Him for guidance in daily living.   Talk to Him as if you were talking to a beloved Father,  for that He is.   The more you pray, the more your faith will grow.  Especially as you see your prayers being answered.

But remember, in your prayers and in your Bible reading you must take time to listen to what the Lord says.   Pause and be silent and see if you do not "hear" His still, small voice whisper words of encouragement and love to your heart.   It is the Holy Spirit working to guide you and encourage you when you most need it.  He may send you a reminder of a certain Scripture which will manifest itself when you are in prayer.

Following is a short 4 minute audio video by J.R. Miller concerning the secret to victorious living.

And following is a 45 minute video sermon by Charles Spurgeon on "The Victory of Faith".   I pray that you will take the time to listen to the full, inspiring sermon.

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

"Think On Good Things " - Inspirational Weekend

Many are wondering what this new year of 2019 will bring our way.  Many are just concerned about their New Year's resolutions.  Let us consider some up-building and encouraging Scriptures and Christian quotes to lift our spirits.   Let us not even think about politics or world chaos.  Let us think pure and joyful thoughts about life and the good Lord.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,  whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  -  Philippians 4:8

What a positive and up-lifting verse that is !   You will be a much happier person and a better Christian if you do as it says.

A couple of years ago  I prayed and asked the Lord to please give me a much needed "hug" as I needed His touch and grace.  Shortly thereafter I found the following on the Internet and it was truly a great big hug from the Lord and I realized that in my daily Bible reading, I receive numerous hugs from Him.   For more on hugs from God, go here.

What a wonderful reminder of the power of God's Word !   The Bible is God's Love Letter to us, and also our Instruction Manual.  It can reach even a stony heart and it can transform the vilest person into a saint.  

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,  that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  -  Romans 12:1-2

"Man's way leads to a hopeless end!  God's way leads to an endless hope !"  -  unknown

"Christianity is not consistency to conscience or to convictions; Christianity is being true to Jesus Christ."  -   Oswald Chambers

"I don't need to read the Bible because I'm a great saint.  I read the Bible because I'll find God there.  It's about a daily walk with this person, Jesus."   -  Rich Mullins, a musician best known for "Awesome God."

Another thing, besides reading the Bible, is to be frequently in prayer; daily, hourly, whatever your soul needs and craves when you need to draw close to the good Lord, or to seek His guidance.

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  -  Philippians 4:6-7

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."   -  Jesus at Matthew 21:22

"Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of Him that we are capable of in this life."  -  William Law

"As a man prays so is he."  -  A. W. Tozer

"The best and sweetest flowers of paradise, God gives to His people when they are upon their knees.  Prayer is the gate of heaven."  -  Thomas Brooks

"To have God speak to the heart is a majestic experience, an experience that people may miss if they monopolize the conversation and never pause to hear God's responses."   -  Charles Stanley

A peacock struts around as if it is saying, "Look at me".  Peacocks, to me, are the epitome of pride.  God hates pride!

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."  -  Proverbs 8:13

"For all that is in the world,  the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."  -  1 John 2:16

Talking about pride is bordering on the negative in this "positive" article; but perhaps there is someone reading this that needs to be reminded that God hates pride.  Pride will keep you from having a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Let us be humble and turn to the Lord in love and submission.  Let us endeavor to always please Him in every way, and to live as godly a life as possible.

Recently I came across the full version of the "Serenity Prayer" which was written by Reinhold Neibuhr, who lived from 1892 to 1971.  Like many, I was only familiar with the first paragraph of this beautiful and hopeful prayer.   I feel the Lord urging me to share it with you today.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things that I can; 

And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; 

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

As it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

If I surrender to His will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with Him 

Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.

Don't let the world situation or your own personal trials wear you down; don't lose your joy.   If you are a child of God, you have much to rejoice about.  If Jesus is your Savior and you have been born again, then look up !  Your redemption draweth nigh!  (Luke 21:28)

True believers have a blessed hope (Titus 2:13).  Jesus will return soon to take His faithful followers  to be with Him in Heaven. 

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, now is the time to do so before it is too late.  Don't be left behind to face the horrors and wrath of the 7 year tribulation period.  Please do not lose your soul.  Please do not reject Jesus.  He is the only hope for us to gain eternal life in heaven.   

Jesus loves you.  

He will welcome you with open arms of love and forgiveness if you but repent and turn to Him in godly sorrow for your sins.  

Believe Jesus is the Savior.  Not with an intellectual knowledge, but with a heart full of belief that He and only He can save you by His shed blood at Calvary.  He died as a substitute in your place so that if you but believe in Him and that His shed blood can wash away your sins and make you a new creation, you will be saved and become a child of God.

Pray for forgiveness.  Repent.  Surrender to the good Lord with all of your very being.  The Bible tells us that we must also believe in Jesus' Resurrection.

Romans 10: 9, 10, 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 saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  -  John 14:6

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   -  John 3:16

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

"Doing The Impossible" - Inspirational Weekend

The above Hawaiian Black-Crowned Night Heron is attempting an impossible fishing task, as some of the Koi in this pond are as large or larger than he is.  That being said, I have seen him (or other herons) at this same location several times and they never seem to give up.  So maybe occasionally they do capture smaller Koi.   

Never, never, never give up !!   There is a lesson here for Christians.  Sometimes we have what seem like insurmountable obstacles; things which seem impossible to us......But GOD !

"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."     -    Philippians 4:13

Many times the above verse has enabled me to continue to hold on when things seemed hopeless.  Sometimes we simply do not see a way out; we do not see even a glimmer of hope.  But that is viewing things from a human perspective.  

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  -  Matthew 19:26

We serve a God that is omnipotent.  He has unlimited power and authority.  He is God Almighty and the Sovereign of the universe.  We can look to Him with confidence and faith that He will see us through anything if we but have faith and trust in Him to rescue us.  He will point the way for us; the path to take.  This may involve a period of waiting on Him; our trial may not be solved immediately.

Thus we need to endure for a season, perhaps, and this is where faith comes in..... endurance is a training ground for faith.

The above white duck was not sipping water from the quiet and rather dead pond but was catching moving "living water" by sipping it as it fell over the rocks.  I am, of course, not suggesting that this water was truly living water as mentioned by Jesus in the Bible.   I am merely saying that this duck preferred the moving water to drink, so that I may lead up to Jesus' words in John, chapter 4.

Our Rock is Christ Jesus, and only He can give that living water that will sustain us and lead us to our heavenly hope.  

"Jesus answered and said unto her,  If thou knewest the gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water."   -  John 4:10

In John 7:38-39 the term "living water" is explained as meaning the Holy Spirit, but here it refers to eternal life.  We must also consider John 4:14, where Jesus says: 

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

It may appear that I have digressed from the main topic "Doing the impossible", but I haven't really;  it all ties in.  We can do nothing without the good Lord.  (John 15:5).  He gives us the power to hang on when we exercise faith in Him and believe His every Word.   Which means we should read His Holy Word daily, and let it empower us to such a strong faith that we can do the impossible, with the help of the Lord.  Although it is actually the Lord Who does the impossible; we are the vessels of His workmanship, and we do as the Potter bids us.

Let us not be like the koi in a man-made pond, forever floating and swimming endlessly about in the same area , back and forth, and getting no where.   We can be strong and have a purposeful life when we look to the good Lord for guidance and strength.  He will guide us along the chosen path for us.   The good Lord will keep us from wandering aimlessly through life.  Our purpose is to glorify Him by obeying Him and sharing the good news of the Gospel.  Remember, "with God all things are possible."

To build our faith, and to live a meaningful life, we need to be much in prayer and much in the Holy Word of God.  In that way, we will build a strong, personal, and intimate love relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   God wants to fellowship with us, and we do that by prayer and by following His guidance as He "speaks" to us in the Bible.  The Bible is God's Love Letter to us and also it is His Instruction Manual for us.  There is much power in God's Word and much power in prayer.  It helps us to overcome hardships and sorrows and to believe we can do great things for God's glory if we but put all our trust in Him for guidance and help.

"And Jesus said unto them,  Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be unpossible unto you."   -  Matthew 17:20

"And He said unto 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."  -  2 Corinthians 12:9

Consider all the great things the Lord has done for you.  Primarily, the miracle of Salvation.  Following is a Scripture that says a lot in a few words:

"Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart.  For consider what great things He has done for you."   -  1 Samuel 12:24

Whenever you feel the least bit depressed or overwhelmed by circumstances,  think on that verse directly above in 1 Samuel. 

To have God's blessings, you must be a true believer in Jesus as the Savior.  You need to repent of any and all sins, and come humbly before the good Lord in prayer and ask for His forgiveness.  

Jesus loves you.

He will not turn any away who come to Him in sorrow and sincere repentance.  Then your sorrow will  turn into great joy as He forgives you and leads you along the paths of righteousness.   

Remember, we are in the end times now; Bible prophecy is being fulfilled as I write this.... or at least the precursors to prophecy are in place and about to be fulfilled.   

The Rapture of Christ's Bride (the true believers) will occur very soon.   

Don't be left behind to face the wrath of God upon all the ungodly left on earth who will go through unspeakable suffering and horrors of the 7 year Tribulation period.   Read the Bible book of Revelation concerning the sufferings and plagues and destruction that will occur during that time.  You do not want to be on this earth during the judgmental Tribulation.

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"    -   2 Corinthians 6:2

Romans 10: 9,10,13 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."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,  but  have everlasting life."   -  John 3:16

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

"Faith And Prayer Work Together" (Videos) - Inspirational Weekend

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."   -  Mark 11:22-24

I could end this post right now, for those words spoken above by Jesus say it all.   Faith and prayer go hand in hand; they work together.  

The Lord plainly explained that faith held the secret to having your prayers answered.

I am reminded of the account in Matthew 17:14-21 about how the disciples of Jesus could not cast out the demon from the lunatic son.  When the disciples asked Jesus why they failed, Jesus told them in Matthew 17:20 that it was because of their unbelief, and in verse 21, the Lord said, concerning the demon, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."  Evidently, the disciples had not been nourishing their faith;  they had not been in prayer (and they did not fast) so their trust and their efforts completely failed.   They did not have the power because they did not have a strong faith.

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."   -  Matthew 21:22

You need to believe.  You need to have faith.  So then when you pray, your prayers will be answered.   But remember, you need to be specific when you pray.   Also keep in mind that prayer is, in many ways, dependent upon the Word of God.  God's Holy Word becomes the reason and the inspiration of our prayers.

"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."   -  John 15:7

Hebrews 11:1 tells us,  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."     

Faith is believing that God will make a way where there is no way.  Following is an encouraging and up-lifting song of faith by Don Moen titled "God Will Make A Way":

"The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith.  The two are at opposite sides of the same coin."  -  A.W. Tozer

"If you find your life of prayer to be always so short, and so easy, and so spiritual, as to be without cost and strain and sweat to you, you may depend on it, you have not yet begun to pray."  -  Alexander Whyte

The good Lord wants to fellowship with us.  He loves us and desires to commune with us.   That word "commune" means with intensity, with passion, and with intimacy.  Our prayers should reflect that kind of intensity and intimacy;  I can picture that God cares not for many so-called "Ho-Hum" prayers that have no feeling and no depth.  Remember He is God Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign of the universe.   Show Him honor and respect, and be in awe of Him when you pray and worship.  You can do nothing without Him;  your very life depends upon His grace and love.  Give God the honor and the glory He deserves and expects.

Following are two short videos (around 16 minutes each) reciting from the works of Andrew Murray.  The first one is about the source of the power in prayer:

The next discourse by Andrew Murray concerns Faith:

But what if you are not saved?   Then the prayer that God will answer is the one where you ask Him for forgiveness, repenting in all sincerity, and believing with all your very being that Jesus is the Savior and also believing in His resurrection.

If you are living in sin and are disobedient to the good Lord, your prayers will not be answered unless you repent and ask Him for forgiveness and for salvation through Jesus Christ, and do this in humility and in faith.

"Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." -  Acts 4:12

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

"Jesus answered and said unto him,  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."   John 3:3

Many people realize that we are now living in the last days - the end times - and Bible prophecy is now being fulfilled before our very eyes.  Soon Jesus will return again to take true believers to heaven with Him.  They will avoid the horrific 7 year Tribulation period that follows.   Will you be among the true believers that go to heaven with the Lord, or will you be left behind to face the doom and disaster that occurs during the Tribulation?

The Lord loves you and does not wish for any to be destroyed.  

All it takes is one step of faith from you and a true repentance.

Jesus is waiting for you with love and outstretched arms of tender compassion to hold you close in His embrace and in the safety and salvation found in Him.

Time is short.  

Romans 10:9,10,13 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."

"It Takes Prayer - Much Prayer" (Videos) - Inspirational Weekend

The Lord has really been telling me to pray more, through the Bible as well as through sermons and various articles.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to "pray without ceasing."  Our main objective is to draw ever closer to God, and to do that we need to communicate with Him in prayer and thereby develop a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  He wants to fellowship with  us.  You cannot get to know a Person unless you spend time with Him.  Not only can we do that through prayer, but also by reading and studying the Bible, His Holy Word and Love Letter to us.  God speaks to us through His Word.

Another benefit of much prayer is our resulting sanctification or consecration.   Sanctification means being set apart for holy use; to make holy or to purify.  This should be the goal of every true believer.  Sanctification comes from the Latin word "sanctus". which means holy or to consecrate.

Someone has said, "In Hebrews 10:20, the word consecrate comes from a Greek word that means to dedicate.  .... You could say the Lord's death consecrated us by making us perfect in His sight and this opened the way into the Holy of Holies for us."

Hebrews 10:19-20 says,  "(19)  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, His flesh; "   

So we may boldly approach the Heavenly Father because Jesus made the way for us to do so when He shed His blood at Calvary, redeeming us who believe on Him and His resurrection.

Back to prayer now, although you cannot have prayer without consecration. They work together.  

"Prayer leads up to, and governs consecration.  Prayer is precedent to consecration, accompanies it, and is a direct result of it."  -  E.M. Bounds.

If my memory serves me right, I believe it was Charles Spurgeon that said something to the effect that "A prayerless life is a Christless life."  We will never grow in our spiritual walk if we do not pray.  How can we, for that matter, if we don't cultivate a true, powerful relationship with our Lord?

To be consecrated or sanctified we must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.  This happens when you are saved.  Holiness does not happen all at once and you are not instantly mature spiritually when you first come to the Lord in faith.  It takes time to grow in holiness, a lifetime.  And we will not be perfect until we are in heaven.  

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen."  -  2 Peter 3:18

"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."  -  Acts 6:4

The more you pray, the closer you grow to the good Lord.  And the more you know Him, the more you grow in His likeness.  As you pray and pour over His Word, you will grow in holiness and you will be less inclined to sin.  You will grow in your love for Jesus, and you will not want to do anything to grieve the Holy Spirit.  

Yes, it takes prayer - much prayer.  

"I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  -  Romans 12:1-2

We cannot be holy and be worldly and carnal at the same time.  That is why we need to renew our minds with God's Holy Word and spend our time doing His will and being among His people.  If you are worldly or a "carnal Christian", then you most likely were not truly born again.   There is no such thing as a carnal Christian.  Repent and pray for forgiveness and turn to God with all your heart and soul and strength and mind.   

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment."   -  Jesus at Mark 12:30

Remember that prayer is powerful !

"No prayer, no power; much prayer, much power."

I am reminded of the account in Exodus 32 where the Israelites made a golden calf to worship and Yahweh was extremely angry and told Moses in verse 10,  "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation."  Moses prayed to Him not to destroy the Hebrews, and verse 14 tells us, "And the LORD repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people."

Yes, there is power in prayer !

Following is a 16 minute reading of Andrew Murray on the subject of consecration.  It is an encouraging discourse.  

And below is another reading of one of Andrew Murray's books on the subject of prayer.   It is a short 21 minute reading .  I pray you listen to it.  

"The first great end of consecration is holiness of heart and of life.  It is to glorify God, and this can be done in no more effectual way than by a holy life flowing from a heart cleansed from all sin."                -  E.M. Bounds

"But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."  -  1 Peter 1:15-16

"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;"  -  Colossians 4:2

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  -  Philippians 4:6