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.
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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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Jesus, immediately after performing the miracle of feeding multitudes with five loaves and two fish, compelled His beloved disciples to launch out to sea to get their spiritual “sea legs.” We understand this nautical term as meaning the ability to walk on board a ship with steadiness especially in rough seas. Jesus knew their journey would be perilous and life threatening and, therefore, went off by Himself to pray and intercede for them. Perhaps it was calm when they departed, but when they were about 3-4 miles out to sea by themselves at 3-6 a.m. and darkness was all around, they encountered a violent and vicious storm with waves battering their boat. Jesus, knowing their perilous situation, came to them walking on the water intent on saving them all. Peter was so bold to ask, and then was granted permission by Jesus, to come to Him on the water. He was so full of confidence! Here I come, Jesus! His focus was on Jesus alone—not on the water. But at some point, he looked away from Jesus, down at the water, maybe thinking it was incredible that he was actually walking on it in this raging storm. This was when he lost his focus and began to sink. However, like you and me today, we know in our hearts and minds that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us, but too often we look to the storm, our faith lacking, and we begin to sink. We find ourselves under a “sea of circumstances” and not looking to Jesus who lifts us above these battering waves of fear and doubt. Perhaps our “sea legs” are in need of more training like Peter’s and the disciples with him. When Peter cried out to Jesus to save him, like we must do, Jesus reached out and took hold of him and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. See Matthew 14:13-33. All God’s people will also be sent out in our world today (the sea of life) to be trained and disciplined—to trust Him and have faith in Him in every circumstance we may encounter. R. W. Schambach, for more than five decades, boldly declared, “You don’t have any trouble—all you need is FAITH IN GOD.” 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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When Joshua came to the Jordan River on his way to conquer Canaan, he faced a big problem. The river was at its annual flood stage and the banks were overflowing. However, nothing is impossible with God! He ordered Joshua to send the priests into the Jordan carrying the Ark of the Covenant. When they stepped on the edge of the river, they suddenly stood on dry ground. God miraculously stopped the flow of the Jordan eighteen miles above at the City of Adam. After Israel crossed safely, God further instructed Joshua to have one man from each of the twelve tribes to go to the middle of the river, pick up a stone and carry it to their camp at Gilgal (their first camp in the Promised Land). These twelve stones were to be used as a memorial for future generations. Joshua said, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘what are these stones?’ then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21-24) This account in Joshua is not just about the memorial stones in themselves. It is about passing on the treasure of a godly memory to the next generation. Our memory is one of the most valuable uses of the mind. How limited and void our lives would be without it. Memory tends to fade with time. It is therefore of utmost importance for God’s people today, to be reminded like in Joshua’s generation, to keep afresh the word of God, the greatness of God, and the memory of God’s works and wonders—and to pass it on! 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. © http://www.creationswap.com/media/12486 In Psalm 31:1, David makes it very clear that he has taken refuge in God alone in whom he is not ashamed. Through his many times of afflictions and trials, he always managed to turn to God for deliverance and help in time of need. At this time in his life, he may have been pursued by Saul who was out to take his life, and He was experiencing terror on every side of his life (vs. 13). We too, as faithful followers of God through Jesus His Son, have and will experience tribulations of every kind. However, regardless of what each moment of time may bring into our lives, we need to unconditionally surrender ourselves into the mighty providential hands of God. David so profoundly said (vs. 15), “My times are in thy hands; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.” Can you truly say today with a greater confidence, hope and conviction than ever before that your times are in the hands of the Living God? (Originally recorded 03/10/13) 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. The angel of the Lord told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) A Savior was born for ALL THE PEOPLE, both Jews and Gentiles and every nation and soul upon the entire earth. However, Jesus, who was born into the world in Bethlehem, the house of bread, and placed in a manger, a feeding trough, made it very clear that He alone is God’s bread which came down out of heaven to give life to the world. He further said, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:33, 35) Jesus came to seek and save the lost, but the lost who walk in darkness must invite the Light of the World and the Bread of Life to save, rule, reign, and feed their hungry souls. (Message Originally Recorded 12/23/12) 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. Abraham faithfully arose early in the morning to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac. (Gen 22) His every step, heartbeat, and thought along the way was yielded to the living God when he was committed to and endeavored to serve. Fears, doubts and apprehensions must have pressed enormously on his mind and heart. But he was determined to allow God to give him strength and faith to accomplish His command; a faith that gives substance to things hoped for and evidence to things not seen. (Heb 11:1) This faith in him, and from God, was evident when he told the young men traveling with him and Isaac to stay behind and said to them, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder, and we will worship and return to you.” (Gen 22:5) Worship and return! How can this be when Isaac was to be offered? Because nothing is impossible with God, and the mind cannot tread where faith can venture. In the end, God spared Isaac and provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice. Romans 4:3 says that, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” May followers of Jesus everywhere have such a renewed and fresh stirring to contend earnestly for the faith such as we see here in Abraham. (Jude 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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