"Are You 'Dressed' For Eternity?" - (With Videos) - Inspirational Weekend

[Baby Makapu'u Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]

The title above for this article was inspired by Isaiah 61:10 which follows:

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

To be dressed for heaven and eternity, then, our apparel must be "the garments of salvation."  

Following is a quote from the "Biblical Illustrator Commentary."

"Garments are used as a covering.  Is a garment for the body more needed than one for the soul?  Which of us could stand in the presence of an angel without sinking to the ground in very shame?  I draw your attention to the glory of God's garments for salvation :  they completely cover all your iniquity and blot out all your sin.

"A garment is used to beautify, to adorn.  The garment of salvation is an adornment for it reveals God in you to your neighbors.  What can be more beautiful than a man or woman or child who tries to bless another - that is the life of the angels: the life of God - ministering unto others.

"Garments are used also as a sign of one's condition or occupation.  Monarchs, priests, judges, and officers of state wear robes to indicate their real or implied superiority.  Shakespeare says, "The apparel oft proclaims the man."  You can generally tell something about a man's character and calling from his clothing.   The world judges Christian people by the garments of their conduct.

"He {God/Jesus} hath clothed me'.  Where is salvation?  In Christ, and Christ is in and for us."

What a wonderful analogy!  

Obviously, the garments of salvation are from God through Jesus Christ, the Savior.  But we need to "put on" those "garments" by faith in the good Lord!

We cannot save ourselves!  It is all a gift from the love and grace found in and flowing from our Lord.

"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 is mindful of "the fruit of the spirit" found at Galatians 5:22-23 - Which fruit a true believer will have and possess because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit from above.  However, Isaiah 61:10 concerns itself with salvation being from the Lord:  The Giver of the garments of salvation; which is the same as saying "He has saved me."

Much more wonderful information on Isaiah 61:10 is found in the above "Biblical Illustrator Commentary".  Check it out online. 

But another note on the above commentary: 

The part where Isaiah 61:10 says: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God."     

The Biblical Illustrator Commentary has these encouraging words for us on the above :  

"Where there is a will there is generally a way, and sad though you may be, something is gained if you will resolve to rejoice.  It is always "in the Lord"  that we must rejoice.  Friends are dying, helps are failing, hopes are being blasted.  Rejoice in the Lord!"

  [Hong Kong Orchid Tree Blossoms] 

"And ye became followers of us, and of the LORD, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost."                -     1 Thessalonians 1:6

On another commentary, the above verse is expounded a bit....  "They received the Word with joy  - they realized the joy of conscious forgiveness and acceptance with God. The sinless angels, placed beyond the necessity of pardon, are incapable of experiencing this joy.  It belongs exclusively to the believing penitent."

[Hawaiian Moorhen, Oahu]

"The LORD takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness."   -  Psalm 145:20

"Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."   -  1 Peter 1:21

Following is an excellent 11 minute video concerning Jesus' imminent return for the Rapture of true believers .   It is titled "Be Ready For What Is Coming."

  Watch and Pray!

Concerning the fact that the Bible tells us that God's Holy Spirit dwells within us, the following 3 minute devotional is a must for you to listen to.  It is by Charles Stanley's InTouch ministries:

On another source, someone has said:  "Real faith grabs God's attention and will move Him to work in your behalf."

If you are not saved, not born again by believing in Jesus Christ as the Savior.... not believing that His shed blood at the Cross can wash you clean (since He died in our place and paid our sin debt in full)  then please repent before it is too late!  Pray for forgiveness, and believe with all your heart and soul - all of your very being - that Jesus is the Savior and the only way to heaven !

Following are some verses for those who are not yet believers:

"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

"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!  

Encouragement To Endure In A Chaotic World (Sermon by Pastor Chuck Smith)

Here it is Tuesday already and I am wondering what news will unfold this week -  especially if it is in fulfillment of Bible Prophecy.  I had originally intended to post a video here concerning the soon cryptocurrency that will be used instead of cash.  But I happened to accidentally run across a video which sparked my enthusiasm and which is more up-building and encouraging than more information on the "Bad" happening now or that will happen in the near future because of the New World Order and the people pushing for it.  But if you are interested, go to the Web and enter "Microsoft patent 060606 on cryptocurrency "  (Note the 666).  It seems "this cryptocurrency will measure body activity of the user in the form of body radiation, body fluid flow, a brain wave pulse rate, etc,; and then will award cryptocurrency in exchange for the appropriate body activity"  (quoting part of www.reddit.com).  I kid you not!!  Absolutely unbelievable!

To begin with words of encouragement, following is a video narrated by Pastor Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel churches.  The message in this 14 minute sermon clip is based on Nahum 1:7.  The sermon stresses putting God first in our lives, and then everything else will fall into its proper place. 

The writing above on the video is partly obscured and is worth taking to heart!  It says:

"When you pray - God listens.

When you listen - God talks

When you believe - God works."

Nahum 1:7 encourages us:  "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him."

We are certainly living in troublesome times right now, no doubt about it!  Following are some Christian quotes and Bible verses that deal with faith.  Faith can see you through all trials and is closely related to trust in God and Jesus.

This quote by Martin Lloyd-Jones is quite to the point and applies always:  "Faith is a refusal to panic."

"Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake."    - Martin Luther

"Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist."  -  Peter Kreeft

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Nahum 1:7 has this to say: "He is a God of infinite mercy; and in the midst of all this wrath mercy is remembered."

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the ONE Who is leading."  -  Oswald Chambers

The following Scripture (1 Samuel 12:24) is very meaningful to me, or I should say personal in a very real sense.  I was so lost and sinful when I was younger, and the good Lord rescued me from all that darkness and brought me into His saving light and led me to a living faith in the Savior, Jesus.  I am filled with gratitude for how He has renewed my mind and transformed my heart.  No believer in Jesus is perfect, of course, and we will not be so until we are with the Lord in glory.  The main thing is that once we are truly born again (a spiritual rebirth) we do not deliberately and willfully sin -  which is outright rebellion against God. We make mistakes, we sin accidentally and in ways like anger or resentment, but we take it to the Lord and pray for forgiveness and He will help us to overcome it.  

"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

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."  -   Galatians 2:20

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  -   Hebrews 11:6

The above verse is so very important !  You must have faith in order to please God !!  Most Christians realize this, but some new to the Gospel may not understand the importance of faith and total surrender to the good Lord.

This world has gone mad, so to speak!  We need to have faith in order to endure what lies ahead as well as to endure what is happening at the present time.

This is where faith and strong trust and confidence in the Lord  comes in!  

We believers have a blessed hope!  Jesus will soon take us to be with Him when the Rapture of the Church occurs.  Keep looking up!

Titus 2:13 tells us :"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

Concerning the signs of the end times we are now experiencing, Jesus said at Luke 21:28 :  "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up , and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

"When The Rapture Occurs, What Will Jesus Find You Doing?" (Two Important Videos)

[Laniakea Beach (Turtle Beach) - Oahu, Hawaii]

The title of this post, "When the Rapture Occurs, What Will Jesus Find You Doing?" is almost a direct quote from one of the videos in this article today.  Here is praying that you take the time to watch both videos shown.

Also, for recent important information on the pandemic, scroll down one post to my previous article on the coronavirus which has also included in it many comforting Scriptures to help us to endure.

On account of the recent advice to stay home as much as possible (and in some countries it is mandatory quarantine) because of the coronavirus pandemic, that may be where Jesus will find you when He comes to take His Bride (the Church, true believers) to be with Him in heaven.  But the main idea is, hopefully, that Jesus will find you sharing the Gospel and living as holy a life as you possibly can in this imperfect world.  ( I am not saying that Jesus will return right now, although it is possible.  Only the Heavenly Father knows the day and the hour of Jesus' return.  (Matthew 24:36)  It would be a good idea if you took the time to read all of Matthew 24)

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:"   -   Ephesians 1:4

"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

Following is an excellent 8 minute sermon clip titled "Jesus is Coming".  In this sermon, Pastor David Wilkerson tells us why Jesus has not come yet.  There are many gems spoken in this wonderful sermon clip !

One subject in the above video asks the question, "Where is your security?"  Hopefully it is in Christ alone !

The other video features Pastor Billy Crone in an interview with Gary Stearman at prophecywatchers.com.  In only about 29 minutes they discuss many topics concerning modern technology and also the technology possibly used by the antichrist during the 7 year Tribulation.  I found it fascinating to watch this video, and it makes it clear that the Rapture of the true believers must be very, very soon!

Are you Rapture ready?

Have you given your life and heart to the good Lord?

Have you repented of your sins and come to Him with a belief that He is the Savior, and the only way to the Father and heaven?

We are not talking here about intellectual knowledge concerning Jesus.  Many unbelievers have a head knowledge that Jesus is the Savior and that He is the Son of God, yet they do not put their faith in Him, as many of them have "pet sins" which they are unwilling to give up and therefore want no part of Jesus, as it would interfere with their wicked lifestyles. We, who turn to Jesus, are to believe that His death on the Cross paid our sin debt in full, and we are forgiven if we surrender our lives to Him.   This is a strong, heartfelt belief -  a belief with all of your very being - that Jesus alone can save us, and that by our faith and trust in Him, by believing that His death at Calvary, and His shed blood there on our behalf, can wash away our sins.... all of them, past, present, and future.  The slate is wiped clean; we are pure in God's sight through Jesus' redemptive work at the Cross.  He took on all the sins of the world at His crucifixion.   What Love!!

[Beach at Ko Olina Resort, Oahu, Hawaii]

Repent and turn to Jesus in faith and love and gratitude to Him for all He has done for you.

Time is running out!

"(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."

"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

Jesus is waiting to hear from you!

He will welcome you into the family of God with love and forgiveness !

He will embrace you with comfort and peace!