There is much unrest in the world, there always has been and there always will be until God’s perfection comes.
We live in a fallen world overwhelmed with sin in its various forms, all of which displeases God. Sin is not normal.
We live in a wonderful time of history because we are Christians bringing the gospel message of hope and salvation from God’s coming judgment on sinners.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Every day is another day closer to heaven and we keep our eyes on the glorious cross of Jesus Christ praying for the saving grace of God to bring all the lost souls to Himself.
1st Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I and chief.
Sitting in church on Sunday with a 91-year-old man of God we spoke of the way things were, the way they are, and the way they will be worshiping God in heaven surrounded with His glory.
We were sure and positive that God rules the world and that His plans would come to pass in fullness. We believe by the grace of God in faith, that Jesus is our Lord Savior.
We believe in the accuracy and trustworthiness of the Bible and the presence of the Holy Spirit within our being. And we prayed thanking God for our privilege to tell others that Jesus saves .
1st Thessalonians 2:4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God tests our hearts.
This silver haired gentleman was wise with age and told me of his travels bringing the gospel message around the world. It is wonderful to see how God blesses His children.
We agreed that the current times were increasing with evil and that the true church of Jesus Christ would come under more severe attacks by the evil one.
Sinful people would try to creep into the church and cause divisions among true believers. (Matthew 13:24-30 The parable of the wheat and tares.)
1st Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be fractions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
We prayed for the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct the hearts and minds of true Christians in every church around the world for wisdom, humility and patience.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
Since Sunday I dwell often on the gracious work of the Holy Spirit who lives within every believer guiding them into God’s truth found in the Bible, sound preaching, teaching and Christian fellowship.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
This is surely a time to be strong and courageous, Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Thank God for His holy word and the Holy Spirit to illuminate true biblical doctrines and teachings which we believe as it arms us in the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
Verses 10 and 11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
By the grace of God we believe in faith that Jesus Christ is the infinite God who has come into the world and became finite to achieve the plan of God.
Jesus lived a perfect sinless life and became the only perfect sacrifice who took onto Himself the penalty of sin for those who believe in Him.
He rose from the dead and is now our advocate in heaven. Jesus will come in the clouds of rapture to take His own, those souls that believe in Him by faith, and bring us to the never ending joys of heaven.
Without accepting Christ into your life a person commits the greatest sin, offense, wrongdoing, evil and devilish act a person can do. Not to believe in faith that Jesus Christ is a gift from God is to sentence themselves to hell.
Hell will be full of people/souls with bodies to feel horrible pain. Those who did not believe Jesus is God.
Mark 13:35-36 “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Jack M.
September 10, 2014 at 11:11 amMike,
Your visit with the silver-haired gentleman was indeed a blessing. Thanks you for sharing. Isn’t it wonderful how the Holy Spirit comforts(strengthens, instructs, and advocates) us in our walk with the Lord. No wonder we pray earnestly for more of the lost in the world of lies to come to know our Lord and Savior, “the One True God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent”.
Jesus asks in Matthew 9,
37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
We do not know when the Master is coming, but we know for sure that He is coming. He tells us so in His revealed Word. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
We know that He will come in His perfect time, as all is being dome according to His sovereign will. He provided and continues to demonstrate for us, as believers with The way, the Truth, and the Life, as He is the source, the Force, and the Course for believers.
In our desire for more to join us in the strength and refuge of our Lord in these times of difficulty, we know there is salvation in Christ Jesus and we pray earnestly.
Jack M.
September 10, 2014 at 11:24 amMike,
Apologies for the typo in my first response to your most recent testimony, the word “dome” obviously should have been noticed and corrected to “done”.
Secondly,
I read this devotion and it brought me to think of a gentleman who I saw recently in my trip to Upstate New York. Like the silver haired man, he is such a blessing to me in my walk with Jesus.You know who he is and I pray that others, believers and non-believers alike, will have a similar blessing in their lives who point. he way to Jesus. Thanks Mike,
The Power of the Gospel
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
In this verse we are told that God’s power resides in the gospel—and indeed, that the purpose of this power is the salvation of both Jew and Greek. This passage is intended to incorporate spreading the gospel to all humanity, which is specifically commanded by the Lord Jesus: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Evidently, the event that takes place when one is twice-born is nothing less than a supernatural “creation” by the Creator Himself (Ephesians 4:24)! There is no need for salesmanship or psychology or finesse or technique; the dunamis (power) of the living God is transmitted, applied, and exercised as the gospel is spoken and a person listens.
Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
Romans 10:17: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
1 Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
To be successful (not to mention obedient) to the Lord’s command, we must most surely use the “power” of God that has been made available to us in the Scriptures!