Saturday 10 December 2016

WHERE WILL YOU SPEND YOUR ETERNITY?

There is the story of a professor who went for a walk in the countryside and lost his way. He came to a crossroads where he met a little boy walking with his dog. “Son, where does that road lead to?” he asked. “I don’t know.” “Where does this road go?” “I don’t know.” “And that one?” “I don’t know.” “And this?” “I don’t know.” “You stupid boy, you don’t know anything!” exclaimed the man. “Well,” said the boy, “One thing I know. I’m not lost like you are!”

Friend, there’s an eternity kept before you. You are heading for eternal life or eternal damnation one or the other. “The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His (Jesus’) voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation,” says the Bible (John 5:28,29). Do you know where you are going? Do you know where you are going to spend your eternity? Like that professor, you may know many things in this life, you may know many things about this life; but all the same, you may not know where you are heading for in the life after death.

We cannot evade the after-life; but we can choose the place we will go to there. The Lord says, “I have set before you life and death… therefore CHOOSE LIFE” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Now, here’s how you can find your location, and your direction in case you want to change your destination.

One of the two main regions in the world beyond the grave is Heaven or the Kingdom of God. It’s a land of light and beauty, a land of perfect peace and joy. It’s a life of living in the presence of the Lord and enjoying all the delights He has for us. The common man cannot know all about it, for, the Bible says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God bath prepared for them that love Him” (I Corinthians 2:9). Who then can know the secrets of God’s Kingdom? “Lord of heaven and earth…Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes,” says God’s Word (Matthew 11:25). And it’s these “babes” who can enter into the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3). So dear friend, if you will come down from your high and mighty disposition and humbly turn to the Lord Jesus, you shall see what great things are kept for you in Eternity; the Lord will also show you the way to that place.

The other place in Eternity is Hell. It’s a place of darkness and sorrow where those who reject the Lord Jesus will be tormented for ever and ever. This place was prepared for the devil and his angels by their own character; their wickedness is what makes up “hell-fire” (Matthew 25:41). Man too ends up there with the devil, when he chooses to follow the devil, when he walks “according to the prince of the power of the air… fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Ephesians 2:2, 3). “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins” (Proverbs 5:22). Hell is also known as “Death” (Revelation 21:8) it is the “wages” which sin pays you (Romans 6:23). Being carnally minded is “death” (Romans 8:6); living in sinful pleasures is “death” (I Timothy 5:6) you are being, little by little, swallowed up by Death!

The Lord Jesus came down and shed His blood for us so that those who believe in Him and accept Him may escape this place of eternal agony, and have eternal life. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). “He that believeth on the Son (Jesus) 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).

Dear reader, do stop in your tracks. Ask yourself: “Where am I going? Which place will I reach after death?” Make sure today you are travelling in the right direction.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart. Wash away all my sins and make me worthy of Heaven (Eternal Life). Amen.

A SPECIAL NOTE: There are many regions in the Eternal Kingdom of God differing in glory and in beauty.

You have to choose Heaven or hell

Which will you choose? Where will you spend your eternity?

Before making your decision, please consider the following truths:

Every person has an appointment with death and with God. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27
Every person is born a sinner, born in sin, inherited from the first man, Adam, who sinned against God. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:5

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12

Therefore, man is a SLAVE of the devil because of his sins. “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” John 8:34,44
NO MAN CAN ESCAPE by using good works, oaths, promises, or using philosophies or religions of the world made by man. He is a slave, and cannot redeem himself. “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. For the redemption of their soul is precious.” Psalm 49:7,8
The final judgment of God will be ETERNAL PUNISHMENT for all sinners in the lake of fire: because God is holy and nobody and nothing unclean can abide in His presence. “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

Although all people are sinners and slaves of the devil, God in His incomparable love has made an escape for all that choose to believe and trust in the following way:

Realize that you are a sinner and REPENT leaving your sins and confessing them to Jesus. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Believe in the Gospel for your salvation calling on the name of Jesus Christ.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Be baptized in water, because although all your sins are forgiven when you believe, still the NATURE of SIN the “old man” has to die and be buried so that you live A COMPLETELY NEW LIFE. “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death.” Romans 6:4
After that, you can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit (with evidence of speaking in new tongues). As you were strengthened by the devil to serve him in sin, so God will strengthen you through the Holy Spirit to serve Him in righteousness and holiness.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…” Acts 1:8

The decision is yours

HELL:

I choose to continue serving the devil in my sins

I reject the love of God and the redemption that He has provided for me.

I have determined, therefore, to stay for all eternity in hell without escape

“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” Matthew 25:41

HEAVEN:

I choose to escape the devil’s slavery and the devil, believing in the redemption that God has provided for me which is only in the Lord Jesus Christ

I want to obey and serve a holy God in righteousness.

I have determined, according to God’s promise, to stay for all eternity with God in His holy city.

“Well done, good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:23

- See more at: http://eevangelize.com/heaven-or-hell/#sthash.FPlCZVox.dpuf

Parable of the kingdom

“.., The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.

When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “…” … Matthew 13: 47-51

“WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?” Acts 16: 30

REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1: 15

BELIEVE IN JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1: 12

CONFESS YOUR SINS TO JESUS

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 9

RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF WATER AND HOLY SPIRIT

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2 : 38

LIVE THE GOSPEL

Keep my commands and you will live; … Proverbs 7: 2

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!

“That is your sentence..” “..You have pronounced it yourself.” 1 Kings 20: 40

Wednesday 30 November 2016

Sin & Sacrifices Part 1

Tuesday 29 November 2016

Humility of Repentance

Friday 25 November 2016

Kneel Before Our God

Wednesday 23 November 2016

You Are Important To GOD

Tuesday 22 November 2016

Male & Female - What's the difference?

People

Truth has some attractive qualities; it will eventually win, and it will always remain. Because Christ is The Truth, and because the true church is the Bride of Christ, the church shares in these qualities. There will be no divorce. That is one reason why some people are so concerned to promote right thinking about the church. Not everything that is called the church is the church – unfortunately. Some people “get it,” and because they are not primarily part of any denomination or “movement,” it is impossible to count them. But it is not difficult to recognize them. They can be found in every part of the world, even buried deeply in all sorts of human institutions. But at least in principle, they get it, and sooner or later, they will break free from whatever is not permanent; they will break free in this life or the next. Things that are not and can never be part of the true church, the Bride, cannot see the kingdom of God, so must be left behind. Actually, the sooner the better.

But, by God’s grace working with imperfect people, they produce fruit. All kinds of fruit. Always it has to do with nourishing and cleansing the Bride in preparation for the coming of the Bridegroom. We can never list nor even discover all the different sorts of fruit they produce, but by their fruits we can know them. This area is one small place where people who work hard to “build, bind, and beautify” the bride, as one missionary statesman put it, can be noted. Not that they seek recognition. They don’t. But people who hunger for the truth about the church can be helped and encouraged by knowing them, watching them, and listening to them. It’s something we can do.

I Am a Good Person

Relatively good? or Absolutely good?

If you mean relatively good, then no matter how evil any person is, we can always find someone who is worse.

But who sets the standard?

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness”Prov. 20:6

Jesus once said “There is none good but one, that is God” Mark 10:18

Paul wrote “there is none that doeth good, no not one” Romans 3:12

If we will hear God’s thoughts about the matter, it is written as follows:

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

Can you say that you have never broken one law during your life?

One of the prophets wrote these words “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

And so the conclusion from God’s point of view is settled:

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Now here is the great thing:

God tells us the truth about our condition so that we might come to Him for His gift! What Gift? The gift of forgiveness and Life

Grapes of Fellowship

The first has to do with the “appointing of elders,” and the second has to do with the “recognizing of elders.” Let’s think carefully about each. This is important because many churches have come to the conclusion, based on a careful study of Scripture, that there is no support in the Bible for the conventional one man Pastor type of church government. Moving toward a plural leadership of elders, they can become entangled in other problems and in some cases, the second error is worse than the first.

Communion Bread

Unleavened Bread and the Lord’s Supper

The question is sometimes asked as to why certain churches use unleavened bread for the Lord’s Supper while others use regular bread. All agree that no passage in the New Testament requires the use of either one or the other; thus the decision must be based on other considerations. The reasoning in favor of using unleavened bread is that since leaven is a picture of evil in the Bible, and the Supper was instituted at the time of the Jewish Passover making it likely that this was what the Lord used; we ought to do the same today. Sounds reasonable on the surface, but let’s take a look.

1) In the first place, NT Greek (the language of our NT) has a perfectly good word to specify “unleavened bread” but this word is never used in connection with the bread used at the Lord’s Supper. Uniformly, the gospel record is that Jesus “took bread.” The following quote is helpful:

“In all three Gospels what Jesus gave the disciples is “artos,” meaning simply “bread.” It is striking that He is not said to have given them “azumos” or “azuma” which are the proper words for unleavened bread,” AND which are clearly available since they are used in each of the Gospels in the context to refer to the Passover. In other words, the use of “artos” by Matthew, Mark and Luke to tell us what Jesus gave the disciples makes the fact that this may have been unleavened bread of NO importance. At the same time we also must recognize that because the Scripture NOWHERE calls it “unleavened bread,” we cannot at all be sure that it was (throughout the NT “artos” is used for common or leavened bread). We simply may not base our teaching on the silence of Scripture because then we are really basing our teaching on a human conjecture. So, the argument, “Jesus used unleavened bread, therefore we should too,” is in fundamental error.” Grossman.

To command what Scripture does not command is legalism, a serious matter, and a term which is to be distinguished from obedience, i.e., doing what is commanded in the Scriptures. This point alone is compelling. The apostles had every chance to specify that the bread of the communion be unleavened, and they did not do so.

2) Once obedience must extend beyond what was commanded to what was practiced, consistency demands that many other items be included; e.g., the supper must be at night, meetings must be conducted in an upper room, there must be a fellowship meal as part of the proceedings, after the supper, a hymn must be sung and then all in attendance must leave the building. Various groups have required communal living because “they had all things common.” (Acts 2:44). Once begun, this reasoning has no end.

3) Regular bread once baked in the oven is in fact unleavened as leaven is destroyed by fire. So the real question is then reduced to whether the bread had ever contained leaven in the past. In the same vein, it is interesting that only through the action of yeast (leaven) can wine be made, and all agree that wine was used in the Passover. Debates about the use of wine or grape juice often overlook the corresponding truth that neither term is ever used for the communion but only “the cup” and “the fruit of the vine.” Think of it! Inspiration carefully avoids the words for “unleavened bread”(azumos) and “wine”(oinos) in connection with the Lord’s Supper, even though both words are found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Instead, we read in every case of “the cup,” “the fruit of the vine,” and “bread”(artos). Could it be clearer that the intent was that the emblems be of things commonly available in whatever place the Lord was to be remembered?

4) It is interesting to trace this question in church history. Note the following:

“The same baking method and ovens were used by the Christians for both their daily bread and that which was to be used in worship. It must be made clear that (contrary to practices today in the West) in the Early Christian centuries and in all eastern rites through the ages, except in the Armenian church, the bread used for the Church did not differ from ordinary bread in substance. From the beginning leavened bread was used……. The Latin Vulgate and unleavened bread prepared the way for the mass or transubstantiation.” (www.reformation.org)

Evangelical Christians have always withstood the teaching of the Roman Catholic church that the communion bread is (or becomes) much more than a symbol. Rather, we insist that ordinary bread and the fruit of the vine are fitting symbols for the Savior’s body and blood, and symbols only. It is a step backward when the church begins to prefer a certain form of “bread” not found in ordinary homes.

5) The Scriptures describe the church as the “body of Christ.” It is interesting to note the truth reflected in the teaching of Lev. 23 in which the two loaves of bread for the feast of Pentecost (picturing the Jew and Gentile brought together in the church) must be “baked with leaven.”(Lev. 23:17).

6) The bread of communion is applied in Scripture not only to the body of the Lord Jesus (I Cor. 11) but also to the believers who become “one bread and one body” in Christ.(I Cor. 10:17). Bread which formerly contained leaven that was then removed by fire is a beautiful picture of those whose sins have been removed at the cross, not to mention the Lord Himself, Who although personally sinless, became sin for us on the cross. Paul wrote of those who were not “discerning the Lord’s body.”(I Cor. 11:29). Is it not part of godly discernment to see in the communion loaf not only the body of Christ (the Head), but also the body of Christ (the one body)? After all, the particular sin about which Paul was writing involved ill treatment of fellow believers in connection with the breaking of bread (vss. 21,22).

7) Much harm has been done to the church by attempts to Judaize it .i.e., require it to return to the rituals and practices of the OT Jewish law, a tendency which is growing today throughout the world. Paul warns about this in Col. 2:16,17 saying that these things were “a shadow …. but the body is of Christ.” We are rather exhorted to “Stand fast, therefore in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1)

8) Leavened bread is universally obtainable, even on the spur of the moment when needed; unleavened bread would not be found in most homes today. Years ago brother AP Gibbs wrote an article to protest the teaching of some that the Lord’s Supper is only a “church act,” holding rather that believers might freely remember the Lord at any time and in any place. Some assemblies actually began when the believers saw (suddenly, for the first time) the truth of the Lord’s Supper and ordinary elements were brought from the kitchen and the assembly begun. Such would have been impossible if special bread were required.

9) In many countries of the world, “bread” does not consist of wheat flour which is capable of rising by the action of yeast, so the universal practice on the mission field has been to employ what is known to all as simply “bread.” This writer remembers the joy of breaking bread in the Amazon jungle of Venezuela with believers for whom ordinary bread was “cassava bread” made from a root of the ground.

10) Churches that use unleavened bread usually break up the hard cracker-like material before passing it. This is not only distracting as loud cracking and crunching comes from the front of the church, and unhealthy as those passing the elements use their hands to break every section into small pieces themselves, but also destroys the picture of each believer breaking the bread personally; i.e., having a share in what the Lord passed through. The loaf on the table has always provided a visible reminder of

a body about to be broken; flat wafers and crackers offer no such picture.

In conclusion, because the Scriptures do not require either “leavened bread” or “unleavened bread,” churches that prefer to use unleavened bread in the communion are free to do so. However, they ought to refrain from implying that this practice is somehow more pleasing to God. As shown above, there are some very good reasons to use ordinary bread at the Supper.