If asked what your “spiritual persuasion” was, what would you say? “I’m a Christian”, or "I go to church", or "I pray, I tithe, I volunteer", etc. Would you ever answer, “I’ve been boiled and hammered for Jesus”? When you come to Him, that’s exactly what has to happen in order to grow and remain in the presence of God. Exodus 25 is a HUGE word picture from way back in biblical times of what God is doing to us today. WE are the temple now. He is constructing us according to the same plan He used back then. As we cover a few things in Exodus 25—note that God required PURE GOLD for all the parts and pieces in the Temple. He requires this same “gold” from all of your parts and pieces, too! GOLD—to be pure, has to be boiled over and over again to get all the impurities out of it. It’s a heavy metal and sinks to the bottom as the impurities rise.
God led the Israelites to build the Tabernacle and the Mercy Seat:
It is the same for us today! Hang on…you’re going to get hammered! (Listen to entire sermon below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
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Paul walked in a very close and intimate relationship with Jesus, and he was mightily anointed by God’s Spirit to preach the gospel to all men. His journey of faith came with a price of suffering mentally, physically, and spiritually. He was tested by God and, like so many other followers of Jesus, he was proven to be faithful to the end. At one point in the scriptures, Paul elaborated on the specific accostings and brutal punishments he experienced by the enemies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul never would have survived such ordeals and trials if he didn’t believe that God’s grace and salvation were sufficient for such times in his life. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and, speaking from his own experiences of trusting God unconditionally for His salvation in the moment, he said, “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, 'at the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the Day of Salvation I helped you.' Behold now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation'”. He also spoke these encouraging words, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” After all, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. How about you? Are you experiencing God’s salvation through Jesus and depending on Him for your salvation in every moment of your life? The Psalmist wrote, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” References: 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Philippians 4:11-13; Psalm 46:1 (Hear the entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. A destiny awaits every soul that has been or ever will be born into this world. Thank God that He has given to all a free will to choose our fate. Every moment and every ounce of energy in a person’s life can be either spent running to God faithfully bound to Him through Christ Jesus bringing to pass eternal salvation— or running away from Him resulting in eternal death. Sadly, multitudes are myopic and near sighted, and choose to live in the moment to experience the temporal pleasures and enticements, and yield to the temptations that Satan, the god of this world, has to offer them. These souls have been deceived to believe a lie and are undiscerning as Satan disguises and transforms himself as an angel of light. Jesus explained that there are two ways of life, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” We have often heard the expression, “Run for your life,” and that’s exactly what the writer of Hebrews is saying, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance (patience) the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” One thing remains for sure—to prevaricate is not an option! To prevaricate means to stray from or evade the truth. The Latin root means to straddle. Doesn’t that sound familiar in today’s society? Simply put, run to live or run to die! 2 Corinthians 11:14; Hebrews 12:1, 2; Matthew 7:13, 14 (Hear the entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. In seeking God for a theme for this new year of 2014, I heard several times, “Stand By Me.” I asked God for the meaning and understanding of these words. I understood that it is a clarion call to diligently draw near to God, to listen and receive revelation and be built-up in Christ Jesus, because the enemy of God’s people, Satan, has greatly increased his evil and malicious assault on His glorious church. I also received further clarification and amplification that these words and message are calling God’s people to stand in Him, on Him, for Him, near Him, and to abide faithfully committed to obey His voice. The devil is a master at deception and we, as believers, are encouraged to not be deceived but to know the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. We have heard it said, “knowing what you stand for limits what you fall for.” There is a sense of caution and admonition in this year’s theme to draw near to God that He may draw near to us. Paul wrote the Philippians and encouraged them to “STAND FIRM IN ONE SPIRIT, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents – which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.” (Philippians 1:27,28) This is a time for renewal and commitment to prayer, devotion and communion to Jesus, the Great Shepherd of our souls. It is imperative that we, God’s children, exhibit spiritual discernment of good and evil, and allow the very power of the Holy Spirit to pierce the dark and deceptive assaults of Satan. May we stand by Jesus in the fullness of the meaning and implications thereof and see the salvation only He can impart in every moment of our lives. This year, let us declare along with David, “But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head.” (Psalm 3:3) (James 4:8; Philippians 1:27,28; Romans 12:1,2; Psalm 3:3) (Listen to entire sermon below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. In the Bible, the book of James concentrates on faith and works. Both subjects have often been misunderstood, but as we go through this series, God will surely enlighten our hearts. Right up front, though, we need to understand a few principles cited in James: faith without works is dead; dead faith is worse than no faith at all; faith must work, must produce and must be visible; and lastly, verbal and mental faith is not enough, it must inspire action. Faith is more than just “believing”. The original meaning of the word was closer to “binding” and that is what faith really is…being “bound” to Jesus Christ. Are you “bound” or just hanging around? In James 1, we are encouraged to consider it pure joy when various trials are encountered because God has a plan and there are definite purposes for your tribulations. Endurance, perfect results, wisdom and the crown of life are all the benefits of those trials. But we must do all this in faith, without doubting or double mindedness – tough row to hoe, but absolutely essential in clinching that “binding” to Jesus. Listen in to the sermon and get some more golden nuggets from the Lord. (Originally recorded 11/20/13.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. Peter insisted that he would never fall away nor deny the Lord, and that he was willing to die with Jesus. Peter’s devotion and zeal for Jesus seemed to be proven true when he cut off the right ear of Malchus, one of the servants of the high priest who came to arrest Jesus. However, when Jesus was arrested and taken away, Peter followed “at a distance” and when questioned about being a follower of Jesus, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus—three times before the rooster crowed. This account proves to all of us how vulnerable we are to the temptations of Satan to deny Christ in our daily lives in any given situation. Peter was greatly humbled through this experience, and from that time on he was never the same but was more ardent to receive and welcome the divine power of God in order to become a partaker of Jesus’ divine nature. Be encouraged like Peter, apply all diligence, and run with a godly passion the race before you in the strength, power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit of God. [Scripture References: Luke 22:31-34; Matthew 26:33-35; 2 Peter 1:1-11; I Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:8-16] Listen to entire sermon by audio below. If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. We have all had our share of poor and foolish decisions and choices in the past. All have miserably failed and sinned in the sight of God. However, Isaiah speaks of a glorious freedom and emancipation from our sins through the redemption in the blood of Jesus Christ. He says, “'Come now, and let us reason together,'” says the Lord, 'though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.'” Paul also said that he pressed on to lay hold of Christ, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Be encouraged to press onward in your daily redemption in Jesus, and don’t let the sins of the past (which could be only one minute ago) rob you of the love, joy, peace and salvation Jesus has given you this day! [Scripture References: Romans 3:23; Isaiah 1:18-20; Philippians 3:12-13; Romans 10:9] Listen to entire sermon by audio below. If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. This sermon is not about fighting or war, as we know it. I’m talking about the reality of the spiritual warfare for your soul. And even if Jesus already owns your soul, the spiritual battles still continue in order to confuse you, weaken you and, as God puts it, “rob, kill and destroy” you. Whew, that’s some enemy we are fighting. Satan is a “no holds barred”, evil and brutal enemy who is supernaturally determined to either own or destroy all that God has made…so you cannot take a knife to this gunfight! This spiritual war (that I fear our country is losing) cannot be fought with the weapons of this world but with the heavenly weapons of God that have divine power to demolish all strongholds. Trust God; let Him lead you in every thought, word and deed, for He has been leading this fight since the beginning. Onward Christian soldiers! John 14:27, Isaiah 30:15, 2 Corinthians 10:4 If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
© Carolyn Marshall, www.livinglifephoto.com
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) Through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part, we become Christians. Out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. We are each under construction by our God who creates masterpieces, and are a work in progress. Christ is day by day chiseling and building us. He is removing the unwanted and harmful things in our lives and rebuilding the internal workings of our heart and mind. Just like the roads we travel each day, the construction goes on and the traffic cones are deployed. We must steer around them just as we need to steer around the things that are still obstacles in us so we don’t fall into pot holes or drive where the road is no longer there. Please watch the video below prior to listening to Pastor Ted's message.If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
© www.sharefaith.com
There are so many things, causes and people to be devoted to in this world. Satan, the god of this world who comes as an angel of light, desires, covets and actively seeks ways and means to stealthily and deceitfully garner the affection and devotion of every soul on earth. His mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. After all, he is also known as, “the Grim Reaper.” However, he can’t just appear with his deadly scythe and carry souls off to hell unless they exercise their God-given free will to choose him for their master. God earnestly desires for man to choose life eternal through His Son Jesus, and forsake the scheming and devious ways of Satan. Affection does determine destiny—Heaven or hell. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (that is, deceitful riches, money, possessions or what is trusted in).” Paul said, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind (affections) on things above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Peter was enabled supernaturally to walk upon the stormy sea because he set his affection on Jesus alone. He began to sink because he looked to the threatening waves of fear, doubt and unbelief. But here is the good news—for those who continue in their affection and faithful devotion to Jesus, though they may stumble and fall, like Peter, He will pluck them up from the storms they encounter and carry them safely to their heavenly destiny to be with Him forever. Scripture References: Matthew 6:24 (Amplified); Colossians 3:1-3 If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. |
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