From Death To Life

John 2:1-11 (NKJV)
¹ On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
² Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
³ And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
⁴ Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
⁶ Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.
⁷ Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim.
⁸ And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it.
⁹ When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
¹⁰ And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
¹¹ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

This is the first miracle or sign of seven John would record. Jesus used this wedding to reveal His glory which was His power over nature, death, sin, and who He was, the promised Messiah. His mission, to change old spiritually dead men into new born again saints. By this miracle Jesus would demonstrate He was the "Messenger of the Covenant" that Malachi 3:1 speaks of. Jesus Christ was sent from God for the purpose of saving mankind.

I. This wedding reminds us of our relationship with Jesus. When we were saved, We became betrothed to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NKJV) For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Romans 7:4 (NKJV) Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. We are spiritually united as one with Christ.

II. The wedding reminds us of the bride price Jesus paid for us to be His bride. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed, [payed for, bought back from satan], with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

III. The marriage celebration reminds us of our celebration to come at the marriage of the Lamb when our marriage to Jesus will be consummated or finalized there in Heaven. Revelation 19:7 (NKJV) Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 

IV. The 6 water pots symbolized the O.T. Covenant of law and works. Man's attempts to work his way to God through the keeping of the10 commandments. Which covenant they could not keep. The water pots were for Ceremonial cleansing and remind us of man's attempt to please God from outward cleansing and appearance. The 10 commandments were given to show all mankind the impossibility of their efforts to please God. There must be a heart change to please God and the turning of water into wine symbolizes that change that can only be brought about by the power of Jesus Christ at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The new wine symbolizes the joy salvation brings and the new wine symbolizes the blood which Jesus shed to purchase the new covenant. Just as Jesus changed the elements of water to wine, Jesus changes a mans spirit from lost to saved, from the old man dead in sin to a new man alive in the spirit. It changes a man's spirit form fleshly, worldly thinking to spiritual and heavenly thinking. Jesus changes mankind’s direction from hell to heaven. As the new wine brought joy, Jesus brings joy to our spirit and soul. Just as wine was used to affirm marriage covenant between husband and wife, it also affirms the covenant between Jesus and us. We celebrate and affirm that covenant each time we participate in Lord's Supper.
V. In verse 10 the new wine Jesus made was better than the old aged wine. God saved the best for last and we are recipients of that new covenant which we celebrate through the ordinance of the "Lord's Supper".
VI. The new covenant of grace we have with God through the blood of Jesus, is much better than the old covenant of law which no one could keep and was broken time and time again by the Jews. God gave the old covenant first to show mankind they could not please Him by their efforts to keep His laws and to turn them to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. God promised to change that old covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NKJV)
³¹ "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- ³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
VII. In performing this miracle of changing water into wine, Jesus was saying that He was the One through which the new covenant would come. By His Holy Spirit that comes in at rebirth, God would put His law in their minds and hearts. His Spirit would speak directly to our minds and hearts. This miracle was the beginning of many more that Jesus would perform while on this earth.

Many have wondered why Jesus would “waste” his powers on performing a miracle of providing wine for a wedding feast, a party. But all of Jesus’ miracles had a purpose beyond alleviating suffering; they were a display of his glory. The miracles recorded in John’s Gospel (and indeed all the miracles recorded by the other Gospel writers) demonstrated God’s great love for people and his concern for their individual needs. But on a deeper level, Jesus’ unique, divine nature was portrayed in such a way as to claim our loyalty and reverence. The sign of turning water into wine was a partial unveiling of Jesus’ full identity. His power over nature, death, sin, and evil revealed him to be the promised Messiah.

The One who would bring mankind forgiveness of their sins and change mankind from an old sinner to a new saint.

INVITATION: John says that when the disciples saw the miracle, they believed in him. God may confront us in any number of ways with our need to believe in his Son. We will be held accountable for whether or not we have believed. Have you believed what God says about His Son? Have you asked Jesus to forgive you and have you invited Him into your heart to take charge of your life? If not, now is the time. Today is the day of salvation to all who will believe.

Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?

Matt. 16:13-17 & John 1:1-18

There are many who teach that Jesus was just a good man, He was a prophet like Mohammed. He was a wonderful Teacher. He was a revolutionist. A man who worked miracles like some of the prophets. But Jesus asks each one of us the question, “whom do you say I am?” Each person must answer this question and our eternal destination depends on us getting the right answer. Jesus asked His disciples this same question.

 Matthew 16:13-18 (NKJV) 

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
¹⁴ So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
¹⁵ He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

  The foundation of the church is this confession by Peter of who Jesus is.

How much error is being taught today among different religious groups? How many teach there are many different ways to reach God and heaven?

If a religion doesn't believe that Jesus is the “Son of God” then everything else it teaches is based on error. Any religion that is in opposition to this truth is false and will lead you to hell.

What do your family and friends believe about Jesus? We must know what others believe about Jesus, who He is. What people believe about Jesus determines their eternal destiny.

Determines how we reach them. Determines how they react to us as we witness.

What people believe about Jesus determines the morality and justice of a society.

The book of John 1:1-14 tells us who Jesus is, what He has done and why He did it.           Please get your bible and follow along as you read this article. 

V:1&2 He is the living Word of God. He was with God in the beginning of creation as we know it. He was God from eternity past.

V:3 Jesus is the creator of all things that exist. Nothing was made without Him,

V:4 & 5 Jesus is life and light of men. Mankind lives and breathes because of Jesus. He is the reveal-er of all spiritual truth. Jesus' spiritual light shines in the darkness but darkness doesn't comprehend.

V:9 Jesus is the true Light in comparison to those who claim to be bearers of light. He penetrates, exposes and chases away darkness. He reveals pure light,[spiritual light]. Jesus guides the right way and routes chaos. He warns of error and protects His own.

V:10 &11 Jesus came into this world He created and was not known. Jesus came as a Jew to save the Jewish people and the gentiles from their sins but many did not know Him. They turned from Him because their deeds were evil. [John 3:19]

V:12 Jesus gives the right or power to As many as will receive Him as Savior and Lord, to become the “children of God.” Those that believe on His name as their Savior and Lord.

V:13 Jesus gives new spiritual birth to those who believe on Him as their Savior and Lord.

V:14 Jesus came to earth in a fleshly body and lived among us. He was born of the Virgin Mary. Laid in a manger. Those who lived in His earthly days beheld or looked upon Him in His fleshly body. Jesus was full of God's glory as the Only Begotten Son of the Father.

Glory, means to possess and to be full of perfect light; to dwell in perfect light, brilliance, splendor, brightness, luster, and magnificence with God. The "glory" of God means all the excellence of God; all that He is in His might and power, love and grace, compassion and mercy. It means all His attributes: His omnipotence (all power), omniscience (all knowing), omnipresence (being everywhere), and sovereignty. Jesus paid a sin debt we could not pay because we have all sinned before God.

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
¹¹ For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 

John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus made it plain in this scripture He is the only way, the only truth, and the only real eternal life. We can not be tolerant toward other beliefs. Our God has told us the truth about salvation through Christ alone. There is no other way. Do not be afraid to stand for the truth as given in God's word. Help share it with others as you get the opportunity. Don't stand by and be silent anymore. We have the truth, let's share with those around us.

INVITATION: It's time for you to make your decision if you've never done that. Confess your sins against God, Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Jesus into your life to live in you.

Christian, surrender your life to Jesus now. Invite Him to fill you with His Spirit. [Eph. 5:18]

As a Man Thinks

Christianity and living the Christian life is a war that goes on in you mind. And it is a matter of our thought life more than it is a matter of the devil and demons and what they do. We have to remember that our flesh is fallen; the will of the flesh is in unity with sin and therefore Satan. That is why it is called the sin nature. It is our nature to sin. You don’t have to train a child to sin, you have to train them not to sin, not to take what isn't theirs until it’s paid for and so much more. Scripture tells us and we know from our own lives, that a man acts and does in accordance with how he thinks. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he:” Proverbs 23:7.

That is why the battle is in the mind and the devil has worked through the world to influence us to think according to a mindset that is contrary to God and the Bible. We call it a person’s worldview. That is why wicked men hate God and don’t want to admit there is a God, because they don’t want to be accountable for their actions and lifestyle. To justify themselves they work extremely hard to train the younger generation to think their way, amoral, immoral, anti-god and try to convince them there is no God and that they descended from monkeys. Heaven forbid that our children should think that there is a God and that He will hold them accountable for their sins. After all, that might affect their behavior. Of course it would and that is why the younger generation has no conscience or morals. It has been destroyed by indoctrination and brain-washing.

2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” The Bible doesn’t say “take every demon captive” but “take every thought captive. If you are born again by the spirit of God, then you do not belong to Satan. You might have old ways of behaving due to your ways and system of thinking you were trained to have by the world before you got saved. You need to destroy that system of thinking and have your mind renewed by the truth of God’s Word so that you will then act and behave in a different manner, in a way that is godly and acceptable to God. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) 
² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

We have to know that we cannot change our lives by changing our behavior. Dealing with behavior will not change your life. For “As a man thinks…” You have to change your way of thinking and your thought patterns if you are going to change your behavior.  You change your life by changing what you think. Then when your thinking is lined up with God’s thinking, God’s Word, then that seals Satan out and he has no entrance into your life. He will come and try to get you to think as you used to. He will throw accusations at you to try and penetrate your mind and thinking because that is how he gets power in a person’s life. If he can get you to think evil thoughts, angry thoughts, hateful thoughts, vengeful thoughts, lustful thoughts, any thoughts contrary to God’s Word, that is how he gets you to act sinfully. You don’t go out and do sinful acts if you didn't first think and meditate upon them. You don’t go to see a porno movie without desiring it in your mind. You don’t take a gun and go shoot someone unless there are murderous thoughts in your mind.

You must replace sinful, wrong, and negative thoughts with God's word. Read God's word every day and your thoughts will change. You think about what you saturate your mind with.

If you have on the armor of God, and you have on the breastplate of righteousness and your shield of faith up (which is faith in the Word of God) and your mind filled with the preparation of the Gospel, and you have on the helmet of salvation, then he can’t get you to do his bidding and dirty work. If the devil can’t penetrate your mind because of the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, then your mind is sharp and ready and the enemy can’t penetrate your mind and get you to follow his system and way of doing things. The key to the armor of God and putting it on and having it in force in your life is the Word of God, daily renewing your mind to truth, filling your mind with truth and building your faith up with the truth. That is what arms and defends the attacks of the enemy against your mind and gives you power to attack him on his own turf. Of course that means that you are obeying that truth that you know, walking in obedience to the Word in your daily life for that is how the Word has power in your life.

The devil will try you to see if you really believe God's word just like he did Eve in the garden. He got Eve to doubt God's word. 

Why is it that some who have “come to Christ” are still doing wrong things and have bad habits? It’s because if they are saved, that doesn't renew their mindset and way of thinking and pattern of thinking. That can only be done by the washing of the water of the word. Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,” and by the sanctification of the Spirit as He speaks to them and corrects them, Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Saved people still have an attitude and spirit that was built by a old system of thinking. We have to allow the Lord and His Word and His Spirit to then cleanse us by changing our thinking and renewing our minds and correcting us in our daily walk. We have to ask the Lord to teach us “His ways” and show us “His paths” for us to walk in.

It’s like this. You can come and ask for healing and deliverance from cancer. But even if you are healed of that cancer and it was caused by smoking and you refuse to give up the smoking, you can’t blame God if the cancer comes back because you are giving it a place in your life and access to come back by your continued sin against your body. In like manner, you can cast a devil out of your life, and bind the devils operating in our life, but unless you change your system of thinking, then Satan will soon have the same access back into your life that he had to begin with. When you were a sinner, Satan owned you and he infiltrated your mind and thinking through worldly means and he filled your mind with things that were meant to produce destruction in your life. Once you are born again, his authority and place in your life is removed, but your old system of thinking is still inside your mind and that has to be broken down and replaced until you renew your mind and have a new way of thinking so that you no longer give access to the devil in your life. James 4:7-10 (NKJV) 
⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

 You have to be disciplined by the Word and the Spirit to stop the old way of thinking and doing the things you did before.                                                                                                           INVITATION: What do you think about Jesus, God's Son? The bible says that only through Him can you be saved and have a relationship with God. He alone can give you the power to think the right thoughts and live the right kind of life.  He will also give you an eternal home in Heaven. Ask Jesus to save you and then invite Him into your life to take charge of you. Then and only will you begin to think right thoughts and live the victorious life style.

I SHALL NOT WANT

God has given us so many promises in His word. Whatever you are going through take time to read these promises from His word. Meditate on them and your problems and worries will seem to disappear. You will find strength for every occasion, every situation in life. Be blessed as you read His word.

I shall not want for health, for "With His stripes we are healed."
(Is. 53:3), and Jesus "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sickness." (Mat.8:17).

I shall not want for prosperity, for "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19).

I shall not want for security, for "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (II Timothy 1:7).

I shall not want for faith, for "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3).

I shall not want for peace, for "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee."
(Isaiah 26:3).

I shall not want for victory, because "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37).

I shall not want for victory over sin because, "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom.8:2).

I shall not want for victory over confusion because, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." (! Corinthians 14:33).

I shall not want for companionship because Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20).

I shall not want for contentment, "For I have learned in whatsoever
state (or circumstance) I am therewith to be content."
(Philippians 4:11).

I shall not want for victory over the cares of this life, for I am casting all my care upon Him who cares for me. (I Peter 5:7).

I shall not want for victory in prayer, for if we ask anything in Jesus' name we shall have it. (John 14:14).

I shall not want for strength, for "The Lord is the strength of my life." (Psalms 27:1).

I shall not want for power, for "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." (Acts 1:8)

I shall not want as to be an overcomer because Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33).

I shall not want for victory over persecution, for "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).

I shall not want for righteousness because, "He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (1 Corinthians 5:21).

I shall not want for victory over condemnation, for "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."
(Romans 8:1).

 Those that are God's people will never want for these things.We can claim these promises of God as Christian people. He can not lie, He will keep His word! If you don't know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord you lack all these things and you will not make it to heaven. But you can ask Jesus to for give your sins against God and invite Him into your life to take charge of you. Then as the above scripture says, you will not be condemned by God the Father if you are in His Son. You will have eternal life!

The Next Great Event

As people look around today at the events that are happening all over the world, there is a concern about what the future holds for mankind. People read their horoscopes and go to fortune tellers, physics, and palm readers to try to find out the future and what it holds for them. We that are believers in Christ look to God's word. Our future is already determined by the Heavenly Father. God wants us to know and understand His plan for us. God's plan for us Christians follows the example of a Jewish betrothal and wedding ceremony. First, The Father would choose the bride for His son. God chose us.                                                                                   1 Corinthians 1:9
⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The groom would come to the home of the bride with a legal covenant giving the terms of the marriage and the price He would pay to marry the bride. This is the terms for marriage to Christ. Romans 10:9-11 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.¹¹ For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Then the groom would pay the price for the bride. It was a costly price. It proved how much he loved her. Jesus paid the price of all He had. He left the glories of heaven and gave Himself on the cross to save us from the penalty of our sins which would lead us to Hell. His blood He shed on the cross paid the enormous price for our sins to be forgiven and gives a home in Heaven to all whosoever would believe in Him.                                                                                                       Luke 23:33-34 (NKJV)
³³ And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. ³⁴ Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."                            Lk. 23:46 (NKJV) ⁴⁶ And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "It is finished!" "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.

After the price was paid, The bride would then agree to the terms of the covenant. After the covenant was made, they were betrothed [engaged promised] to each other until groom returns for her. 2 Corinthians 11:2 For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. The couple would seal & celebrate the covenant between each other with a cup of wine shared together.

The Lord's Supper seals and celebrates our covenant with Him. Luke 22:19-20 (NKJV) ¹⁹ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." ²⁰ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Then the groom would leave saying “I go to prepare a place for you and when it's ready, I will return for you. Then the groom would go and add a bridal chamber to his father's house to be used for the honeymoon. Jesus made us a promise that He would prepare us a place and then return for us.

John 14:1-3 (NKJV)
¹ "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Jesus said the way to the Father's house comes through our marriage covenant with Him.                                                               John 14:6 (NKJV) 
⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 There are two times when Jesus receives the believer unto Himself.

1.  There is death or the passing of the believer into heaven. Death is a private escort or a private entrance into the presence of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).

 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 

2. Then there is the return of Jesus Himself to gather all His true followers unto Himself. It is this return of which Jesus is referring in to in this passage of John 14:1-3. While the groom was away building the bridal chamber, The bride was to prepare herself during this time making herself as attractive as possible. Revelation 19:8 (NKJV) And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

While we wait for our Groom Jesus, we are to be making ourselves attractive by doing righteous acts.

Many people ask, When will Jesus return for us to take us to the Father's house? Here's a very interesting fact about Jewish wedding tradition: While the groom was building the bridal chamber and someone asked, “When will the wedding take place?” The groom would say “Only my Father knows.” The groom's father determined when the bridal chamber was ready and when the wedding would take place.

When the father determined the chamber was ready, he would give the command for the groom to go get his bride and bring her back to the Father's house.

When the groom came for the bride He was accompanied by His “best man” who would blow the [shofar] ram's horn and announce the groom's coming for His bride. The bride must have her things ready to go with groom!                                Matthew 25:6 (NKJV)
⁶ And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'

This is where we are in God's plan for mankind. This is the next great event in God's plan for His people.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV) ¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.
 Believers are to be glorified in the Father when Jesus returns with the souls of those who have died in Him. There will be a shout and a trumpet blast. The dead bodies will come out of their resting places and be reunited with their souls first and then we who are alive at that time will be caught up in the clouds to be with them and the Lord Jesus forever more. We are to comfort one another with these scriptures.

INVITATION: The time is drawing ever so near for Jesus' return and the catching up of God's saints will be the next great event in the history of mankind. God always lets His people know what He is going to do before He takes action. Paul wanted the believers in Thessalonica to know the truth about Jesus' return and what would happen to those who have already died. God let them and all Christians know thru His word what He is preparing to do next in His plan for mankind. Jesus will return soon! Are you ready for Jesus to return right now? Don't be left behind. You can be ready by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you and inviting Him into your life. Then be baptized and live for Jesus to prove your salvation is real. Faith without works is dead. Saints, are your looking for His return or are you more concerned about the things of this world. We Christians are to be preparing ourselves as Jesus' bride by doing righteous acts, expecting His return for us soon. Remember, everything here is temporary. It will soon fade away. Only what you have stored up in heaven will count.

Powerful Prayer

Intro: We see so much wrong in this world and we wonder why. The bible tells us the cause of all wrong and what you and I can do about it. We can move the hand of God to help us.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Each day we must make a choice. Will I believe God's word and His invitation to come to Him? We can go on in misery or we can take everything, small or great, to God in prayer as He has asked us to. He promised in this scripture to help us in our time of need.

James 4:1-3 (NLT)
¹ What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? ² You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.³ And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. Here is given the reason for all our troubles. In stead of mankind choosing to ask God for what they need, they allow the evil desires within to dictate their course of action. Man's heart will always choose the wrong unless they have been saved by Jesus Christ. Then mankind still has to choose to surrender to God's Spirit within. God in these verses promises to give us what we need when we ask Him for the right reason, not out of our greed. No good thing will He withhold from them who walk (live) upright.

In the book of Jeremiah we have these words. Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NKJV)
² "Thus says the Lord who made it, [the earth] the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name):³ 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

In this passage we are invited to call on the Lord who made and formed the earth. The God of all creation invites us to pray to him. Then He promises that He will answer. Not maybe, not hope so. Another promise God makes is to show us great and mighty things which we do not know. Is your heart full of unanswered questions, then pray unto the Lord and He will answer you. He will show you great and mighty things which you don't know.

1 Chronicles 16:8-12 (NKJV)
⁸ Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
¹⁰ Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
¹¹ Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
¹² Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

We should always remember to give God thanks for all things. We must make known to others the deeds God has done among us. We are to give glory (very great praise and honor) to God's holy name. In verse 11 above God invites us to seek Him and His strength. We are to seek Him evermore for the rest of our lives. We are to be sure and remember His marvelous works, wonders, and judgments which He has done.

Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV) ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--

Instead of complaining and griping, we are to pray to God always. With all kinds of prayer and earnest request being watchful with perseverance for all the saints.

Effective prayer is that done in the Spirit. With the Holy Spirit prompting us in our prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In the scripture above we have God's solution to all our problems no matter what they are. Don't be anxious about anything, but take it all to God thanking Him for the answer even before it comes and when we do, God's promise is peace you can't believe with your human mind.

1 Peter 4:7 (NKJV) ⁷ But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 

Invitation: Do you need salvation? If you do, admit your sins against God and ask Jesus to forgive you and then invite Him into your heart. Then tell someone and be baptized. You will have peace with God and the peace of God in your heart forever. What do you need in your life right now? The answer to a problem you are going through. Would you pray and seek God now for the answer? Remember, we have not because we ask not.

Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NKJV)
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
 Love, the bible says, will not fail. Failure is not an option when you live in love. Everything else will fail and cease, but love remains. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV) ¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. When you and I begin to walk in love, we can not fail. It's when we let the flesh (our desires-pride) get in the way. When we love, we are acting like our Father. 1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV) 
⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
We might say, "well, I can't love like God." God says not only you can, but He commands us to love. Jesus said that people will know we are Christians by our love one another. John 13:35 (NKJV) ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." The love Jesus was speaking of was not feelings and emotions, but a determination of the will. Sometimes people hurt us and we can't get our feelings into forgiveness and love, but with the help of the Holy Spirit who indwells us as Christians,  we can make a determination of our wills to love and forgive. When we do, we are being like our Lord Jesus and the Father God. And remember the scripture I started out with "Love never fails." When God says something, He is telling us the truth because He can not lie. When we choose to love instead of being angry and striking back, we become the recipients of God's special love. God always loves us, but this is a special closeness and intimacy we have with Him when we are obedient and we act like Him. You will never be closer to God than when you show love toward someone else. Especially when they don't deserve it. You will never be more like God than then when you choose to love someone else. When we love because we want to instead of we have to, then we receive the blessings of God's special love on our lives. The bible says in Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) ⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
If we sow anger, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, and we fail to love, then that's what we will get in return. But if we react in love, love will be what we reap back in our lives. The scripture I used at the beginning of this article says that tongues, prophecy, and knowledge will fade into the pages of history, they will fail the test of time, but the  amazing, indescribable, eternal love of God will last forever. That means our love for Him and each other, and God's love for us will stand forever bringing to pass His word "Love never fails."
When we live our lives with God's love being expressed in us and we begin to have love for each other, then we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that "failure is not an option" and that's a fact. Begin to pray for God to strengthen you so that you can express His love in you toward others so that you will not be a failure.  And then this passage of scripture will come to pass in your life.  1 John 4:12 (NKJV) ¹² No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. We may not have seen God at any time, but if we love one another, God abides or lives in us, and His love has been perfected in us. May this be true of us all in Jesus' name.
INVITATION: You can not love like this until you have asked the "Prince of love" to forgive your sins against God and then invited Him into your life. Realize that God's word says that we have "all sinned and fallen short of His glory." [Romans 3:23]. Ask Jesus to forgive you. Then say "Jesus, I invite You into my life to live through me and guide me and direct me each day. I freely give you my life." When you do, you will become the recipient of His Divine love and you will be able to share it with others.
I pray a special prayer for all who read this article. My prayer for you is that God will open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing so that you will be able to live for Him and love others. Then that which you have sown in others will be returned to you in Jesus' Holy name. Amen!

Why Trials and Tests?

 Most people think that when trials and tests come, God is either angry at them for something they have done and they think God is not near to them and has withdrawn from them. Nothing could be further from the truth. James 1:2-5 (NKJV) ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 
³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  These scriptures tell us that God is perfecting us so we will lack nothing. When we go through trials or tests, it doesn't mean God is angry with or that He is not with us. He promised in               Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) ⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." God was with Joseph before his brothers sold him into slavery. God was with him when his brothers sold him as a slave in Egypt.  Genesis 39:2-3 (NKJV) ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³ And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.  God was with him when Pharaohs' wife tried to seduce him and then when he wouldn't yield to her seduction she lied about him and falsely accused him of rape. God was with Joseph when Pharaoh had him thrown in prison because of his wife's false accusations against him.  Genesis 39:21-23 (NKJV)  ²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 

²³ The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.   The bible says in spite of all the things that had come against Joseph, he grew in God's blessings and favor. It also says that whatever Joseph did, God made him to prosper.                                                                                                                                                   

All Joseph's trials and tests were to prepare him for what God had in store for him. While Joseph was in prison, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. Pharaoh was told that Joseph would be able to interpret his dream, so Pharaoh sent for Joseph and Joseph told Pharaoh what his dream meant. There would be seven years of plenty and seven years of leanness. Joseph told Pharaoh how to make it through the seven years of leanness by storing up all they could during the seven good years. When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream and then gave him the solution to his problem, Pharaoh exalted him to the position next to Pharaoh himself. Genesis 41:41-44 (NKJV) ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." ⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
⁴³ And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." 

Then when the seven years of leanness hit the land of Egypt, the land of Israel was also in much leanness. Joseph's father Jacob heard of the grain that was in Egypt, he sent his son's to buy some grain. Genesis 42:1-3 (NKJV) ¹ When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?" ² And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die." ³ So Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. Joseph became instrumental in preserving the nation of Israel that would in time produce the Messiah Jesus Christ. All Joseph went through was not an absence of God's presence,but it was God working in and through all the bad that happened to Joseph to accomplish His will. Genesis 45:4-8 (NKJV)
 ⁴ And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸ So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 

Are you willing to allow God to work in your bad situation to turn it to good? Instead of blaming God  for your problems, see them as a tool God is using to get you to the place He wants you to be. Will you be faithful to God as Joseph was when you can't understand what God is doing? God has promised us a hope and a future of His blessings and peace. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Know that there will be times of difficulties, but God is working to make you and I more like His Son Jesus. Romans 8:29 (NKJV) ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
True success and victory requires forsaking our expectations of what God should do and be so we can live with adoration and trust in God through all we are allowed to face. Remember what King David said about God said in Psalms 23:4 (NKJV) ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. You are promised the victory over our enemies in verse 5. In verse 6 God promises that goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of our life and you will dwell (live) in God's house forever. We are more than conquers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV)
³⁷ Yet in all these things, (that we go through on this earth), we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hallelujah! Thank You God!

If you have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins against God and if you have never invited Him into your life, now is the perfect time to do that. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) ² For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Then all God promised in His word will be yours. As that scripture says, you will never be separated from God's love for you which you have in Jesus Christ. You will be the victor in this life and the life to come. God will keep you till you go to be with Him in heaven. I pray God's blessings on all who have taken the time to read this article. May He bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and bring you peace in Jesus' name. Amen! So be it!