WHO’S SEDUCING YOU?
In this world we are surrounded by a lot of corruption and every imaginable sin surrounds us daily. If we are not careful as Christians/believers we can be enticed by the world and let it ruined our walk with the Savior. When we gave our lives to Christ, (At that very moment) we surrendered ourselves completely to Jesus. Paul said it in this way, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN; YOU were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) This blog deals with the question to all believers… Are you living by the TRUTH of “The Word of GOD” or are you living by the world and the worldly standards (views)?
In the book of 1 Corinthians Paul confronts the “Corinthian” church for conforming to their surroundings and letting those sins creep into the church and into their lives! Paul then brings their attention to their sins (Quarrels and jealousy between believers, lawsuits, sexual immorality, marriage, etc.) And their need to take corrective actions and revitalize their commitment to Jesus Christ. This is Paul’s Christianity 101 course for the Corinthian church and for all the followers of Christ.
Paul reminds the Corinthian Church of the life God saved them from and as “New Creations” in Christ Jesus… That past life has NO place in a Christian life any longer! Let’s see how Paul explains this to them….
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (Watch This… Don’t miss it!) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) We already read that once you become a Christian your body/life is not your own… We live our lives for the Lord! As it is written, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
The Bible Says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are a “New Creation” in Christ! We must bury that old life once and for all and let the new you shine... So that everyone can see the living Christ in you!
Note: This verse helped me a lot when I first got saved 13 years ago… I can reassure you that the change didn’t happen right away (it is a process) but I definitely wanted to change and live for Jesus! I was in so much condemnation from my past life! There was so much about that life that I did not know was wrong. Reading the word of God was like looking through a reflecting mirror… A mirror looking right into my soul! This verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17 reassured me that “the old me” was gone and that in Christ “All” my sins were forgiven! Never to be brought against me again, ever! (Isaiah 1:18, 44:22, Jeremiah 31:34, Hebrews 8:12, 10:17) I had no clue that the life I was living would lead me straight to hell… I didn’t want to go there!
This is the reason why I write these blogs. I want to let others know, that might be where I was years ago, that living an immoral life is like having a “VIP ticket” straight to hell! You can never get into Heaven living like that! Some people really want to change and they don’t know how to go about it or where to start. The first step of anyone who wants to be saved and is looking for a true change in their life is to step towards Jesus Christ! Jesus is the only way to Heaven and in Him ALL our sins forgiven! Only in Jesus are we made into a new creation/person! AMEN!!! (Matthew 1:20, John 1:29, John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-13, Psalm 103:12, Isaiah 1:18, Acts 16:30-31, 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Back to the Corinthian church…This is another sin Paul had to address to the Corinthian Church. Paul says:
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2) And then he tells them this also… “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. (Watch This… Don’t miss it!) “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. (Watch This… Don’t miss it!) What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
Note: How many churches have we attended/been to and we have witnessed the same kind of sins Paul rebuked the Corinthians church for! Now a day we see these things happening right in front of our faces and we turn a blind eye to it… We stick our head in the sand and pretend it’s not happening! Some may say, “That’s not my problem… Is not my business! That’s between them in God.” That’s true to some extent… God will judge the sinner for their sins but if you know that they are sinning against God and you say nothing… You’re also part to blame and God will hold you responsible also! Paul already said in not so many words, that the church and the person, who claims to be a Christian, are his business and his responsibility…What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)
Let me show what GOD tells the Prophet Ezekiel:
"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.” (Ezekiel 3:16-17)
Note: You don’t have to make it into an argument or get mad just to tell someone, that you see, is clearly sinning against God… That what they are doing is wrong! All it takes according to the “Holy Scriptures” is giving them a warning from God and if that person persists in their sin then… That person is truly in God’s hand and in big trouble with GOD! And we would have saved ourselves because we did what God asked us to do… “But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 3:19)
Paul also teaches the Corinthian Church on marriage...
“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) “A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11,39)
Note: This sin is very common in today’s churches also… Many of you may not like what the word of God says about this but I come in the “Truth Of The Word GOD” How can you argue with God? It’s in the book… And I’m just the messenger… “Come back to your senses as you ought, and “STOP SINNING”; for there are some who are ignorant of GOD--I say this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:34)
What do we see people doing instead of obeying the Holy Spirit? They go and divorce their spouses and then they marry someone new… Instead of reconciling with their spouse like the Bible tells us to do! The only time we can remarry, is if our spouse dies! That’s the only time we have permission from God to marry someone new! And If the marriage was a bad one (There was cheating or abuse) let’s say! According to the word of God you can separate from that person but you still have to remain single. God says, “A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried…” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11) You’re supposed to stay single according to GOD. Paul said that this rule of marriage does not come from him (It does NOT come from me either!) but from THE LORD…. “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord) (1 Corinthians 7:10)! This is the part of the marriage rule that No One likes to hear but it’s in the Holy Scriptures. And we all know, “All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Paul is just teaching the Corinthian church and to all of us, what Jesus taught all His disciples to teach on. Let’s see what Jesus says on marriage…
“Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" "Haven't you read," he (Jesus) replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) “Therefore What GOD Has Joined Together, Let Man NOT Separate.’ "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Matthew 19:3-9)
In the book of Mark Jesus said it again…
“When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (Mark 10:10-12) Paul warns us that “the adulterer” WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of GOD…. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Note: The marriage rule comes from the Creator and the Creator ALONE… Jesus says, NO to divorce and NO to marrying a divorced person. This was our Lord’s reply to the Pharisees on the marriage question. Friends, Jesus is either Lord of our lives or He’s not Lord at ALL! When a believer fails to recognize Jesus as Lord in their life and they live their life how they want and not according to the Word of God… It sets us up for failures and lots of disappointments. There are no rewards from the Lord for the disobedient..."But only a FEARFUL expectation of judgment and of RAGING FIRE that will consume the enemies of God." (Hebrews 10:26-27)
The Bible is our blueprint; it shows us how to live a godly and holy life in this world! That’s why we need to stay in the Word of GOD daily. This is what the Bible says about people who don’t listen to God and let Jesus teachings go in one ear and out the other… Without putting them into practice/actions, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:26-27) Not listening to the Lord and not applying His teachings to our lives will only cause us to fall with a great crash in life! So the question is: Are you being seduce by the Savior and living your life committed/devoted to Him? Or Is the world seducing you? Are you’re living your life for the world and the world’s views? Who's seducing YOU? Friends, we must obey the Lord in all things… If we truly love HIM! (John 14:15)
Remember what the Lord said in the book of Matthew:
“NOT EVERYONE who says to me, 'LORD, LORD,' WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) BUT ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23)
What does the Father say about what Jesus is teaching us? This is what HE says… “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. LISTEN TO HIM!" (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35)
Note: If we fail to obey the Lord’s teachings … And NOT follow/apply the moral guide lines Jesus gave us to live by on “the sermon on the mount”, Then Jesus will also tells us… 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:23) Study “The Beatitudes” in Matthew chapters 5-7. Spend time with GOD daily and He will change all those things in you that are NOT of HIM. GOD does this for me daily and HE will do the same for you… If you do your part and surrender yourself completely to HIM!
“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW & ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!
IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP!
The Bible warns everyone of an impending “End Of Days”! This is not a make believe statement, it is a TRUE fact! Those who do not heed the warnings of GOD will sadly be left behind with nothing but anguish and lots of regrets.
Jesus says: “NO ONE knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but ONLY the Father.” But we are told as Christ’s followers to follow the signs… Because they tell of Christ return back to the earth… Jesus says, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. (Watch This Verse … Don’t Miss It!) Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” (Matthew 24:32, 36)
Note: The disciples asked Jesus, what would be the sign of His return and the sign of the end of the age? Jesus answered His disciples… There will be some that will claim that they are the Christ and many would be deceived by these false Christ (Jesus warns all of us not to believe/follow them! Luke 21:8) Jesus already said, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”). Our Lord will come in the clouds and from the sky! (Matthew 24:27, Luke 21:5-36) Amen!
Jesus also told them that there will be rumors of war; nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom… Jesus talked about famines and earthquakes in various places, etc. He described all these terrible events as “The beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:3-35, Mark 13:1:36)
Note: Anyone who has given birth can understand what the Holy Spirit is saying about “Birth Pains”, I remember when it was time for me to deliver my children… The closer it got for me to give birth to them… My contractions and pains intensified immensely! My contractions came one after another until I gave birth. In the same way, my friends, the earth will also be in terrible “Birth Pains”, the closer it gets to Christ return back to the earth… False Christ’s will appear, wars will intensify, famines and all natural disasters will happen one after another and intensify in magnitude... Until Jesus Christ appears in the sky! Jesus says, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28) What Jesus said, that will happen and the signs that will follow… Will happen just like HE said it will! Make NO mistake about it… HE is not a man that HE should lie! (Numbers 23:19)
The Bible Says: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away… (Watch This Last Verse… Don’t Miss It!). That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37-39)
Note: By the time the people in Noah’s time realized… What Noah was warning them about for years was true… It was too late and God had already closed the door of the Ark and NO ONE was getting in or out of the Ark! Don’t let this happen to you! If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior then the time is now to get your life right with God! Tomorrow might be too late! (Genesis 7:1, 16, 23, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5) “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)
Let me show you how God saw mankind in Noah’s generation…
“The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." (Genesis 6:5-7)
Note: This is what the Holy Scriptures says… “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for ALL the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” (Genesis 6:11-12) Some may want you to believe that everything in the world today is Ok and that things are going to get better… But if you are following Bible prophecy’s/signs, then you will know that everything that’s going on in this world is pointing to the soon return of Christ back to the earth.
Jesus has already said that the generation that will see His return to the earth will be like the generation of Noah. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37) And, my friends, I believe we are that generation that will witness the soon return of Jesus Christ! Our generation has also become corrupt and has hardened their hearts towards GOD! We as a nation have kicked God out of our schools, we took down HIS “Ten Commandments” from our city’s court houses, we have made many gods for ourselves… We have turned our backs on the ONE True GOD! And live how we want and then we wonder… Why are all these things happening in this world? Why are these things happening in my life?
Friends, Happiness/Success is found in a relationship with the Savior and in obedience to HIM! (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, John 14:15, 21) A nation, a person who does not follow or obey GOD, brings curses and calamity into their lives! (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) God tell us these things for our own good… Nothing good comes from disobeying the Lord, NOTHING! It’s Time To Wake Up! Don’t let what happen to the people of Noah’s day… Happen to you! We’re supposed to learn from history and from our own mistakes… And not continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. (1 Corinthians 10:6,11)
Jesus says, “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3) Jesus IS coming back soon and WE must BE ready… IF we want to go to Heaven with HIM!
“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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
The Bible warns everyone of an impending “End Of Days”! This is not a make believe statement, it is a TRUE fact! Those who do not heed the warnings of GOD will sadly be left behind with nothing but anguish and lots of regrets.
Jesus says: “NO ONE knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but ONLY the Father.” But we are told as Christ’s followers to follow the signs… Because they tell of Christ return back to the earth… Jesus says, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. (Watch This Verse … Don’t Miss It!) Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” (Matthew 24:32, 36)
Note: The disciples asked Jesus, what would be the sign of His return and the sign of the end of the age? Jesus answered His disciples… There will be some that will claim that they are the Christ and many would be deceived by these false Christ (Jesus warns all of us not to believe/follow them! Luke 21:8) Jesus already said, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”). Our Lord will come in the clouds and from the sky! (Matthew 24:27, Luke 21:5-36) Amen!
Jesus also told them that there will be rumors of war; nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom… Jesus talked about famines and earthquakes in various places, etc. He described all these terrible events as “The beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:3-35, Mark 13:1:36)
Note: Anyone who has given birth can understand what the Holy Spirit is saying about “Birth Pains”, I remember when it was time for me to deliver my children… The closer it got for me to give birth to them… My contractions and pains intensified immensely! My contractions came one after another until I gave birth. In the same way, my friends, the earth will also be in terrible “Birth Pains”, the closer it gets to Christ return back to the earth… False Christ’s will appear, wars will intensify, famines and all natural disasters will happen one after another and intensify in magnitude... Until Jesus Christ appears in the sky! Jesus says, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28) What Jesus said, that will happen and the signs that will follow… Will happen just like HE said it will! Make NO mistake about it… HE is not a man that HE should lie! (Numbers 23:19)
The Bible Says: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away… (Watch This Last Verse… Don’t Miss It!). That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37-39)
Note: By the time the people in Noah’s time realized… What Noah was warning them about for years was true… It was too late and God had already closed the door of the Ark and NO ONE was getting in or out of the Ark! Don’t let this happen to you! If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior then the time is now to get your life right with God! Tomorrow might be too late! (Genesis 7:1, 16, 23, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5) “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)
Let me show you how God saw mankind in Noah’s generation…
“The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." (Genesis 6:5-7)
Note: This is what the Holy Scriptures says… “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for ALL the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” (Genesis 6:11-12) Some may want you to believe that everything in the world today is Ok and that things are going to get better… But if you are following Bible prophecy’s/signs, then you will know that everything that’s going on in this world is pointing to the soon return of Christ back to the earth.
Jesus has already said that the generation that will see His return to the earth will be like the generation of Noah. “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37) And, my friends, I believe we are that generation that will witness the soon return of Jesus Christ! Our generation has also become corrupt and has hardened their hearts towards GOD! We as a nation have kicked God out of our schools, we took down HIS “Ten Commandments” from our city’s court houses, we have made many gods for ourselves… We have turned our backs on the ONE True GOD! And live how we want and then we wonder… Why are all these things happening in this world? Why are these things happening in my life?
Friends, Happiness/Success is found in a relationship with the Savior and in obedience to HIM! (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, John 14:15, 21) A nation, a person who does not follow or obey GOD, brings curses and calamity into their lives! (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) God tell us these things for our own good… Nothing good comes from disobeying the Lord, NOTHING! It’s Time To Wake Up! Don’t let what happen to the people of Noah’s day… Happen to you! We’re supposed to learn from history and from our own mistakes… And not continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. (1 Corinthians 10:6,11)
Jesus says, “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3) Jesus IS coming back soon and WE must BE ready… IF we want to go to Heaven with HIM!
“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. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Monday, September 12, 2011
WHAT KIND OF ANSWER WILL YOU GIVE?
WHAT KIND OF ANSWER WILL YOU GIVE?
Most of us don’t like going to court and the thought of going and standing in front of a “Judge” is nerve racking for us! It makes us feel at times nervous and anxious… It’s even worse for those that have to do time in prison and the thought that their freedom will be taking away from them for some time is really devastating for them. The feeling of the unknown it’s very troubling and scary for many of us. In court, your own words can either convict you or acquit you! This blog deals with what the Bible says, about the “Judge” of all mankind and how we must all stand before Him one day… And, how you answer GOD will either acquit you or condemned you!
The Bible gives all mankind the moral compass for us to live by and to follow… Let me start with “The Ten Commandments”
1- “You shall have no other gods before me.”
2- “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”
3- “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
4- “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”
5- “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
6- “You shall not murder”
7- “You shall not commit adultery”
8- “You shall not steal.”
9- “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
10-“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife… Or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:3-17)
Note: The first four commandments deal with loving God and the last six deals with loving people… If we truly love GOD we will show it by our actions… The same goes for if we truly love people! We wouldn’t purposely hurt anyone that we truly love… Right? Most of us will go all out for the ones we love and cherish. So, shouldn’t we also love and be good to "GOD" and “Everyone” else also?! Jesus says: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) for this sums up the Law (The Commandments) and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12) Friends, “Actions speak louder than words”!
These Commandments were given to us by the “Judge” of all the earth to follow and abide by. When God judges us according to the Commandments and examines how we live and conduct ourselves here on Earth… Not one of us would have a chance in the world, in GOD’s courtroom. We have all broken His Commandments and Laws…God already knew this would be the case for all of us, which is why he sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and to redeem all mankind from death and hell… Jesus Christ is the “ONLY” one that can do this … And “No One Else” can do it!
The Bible says: “For GOD so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For GOD did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) Jesus is the SAVIOR” of the world!
Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) He has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24) What is Jesus word/message to us you may ask? This is what Jesus says of “Himself”, “I am the way and the truth and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father expect through me.” (John 14:6)
Paul and Silas were asked by a jailer in the book of Acts… “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” (Acts 16:29-31) Only Jesus can save us according to the Holy Scriptures!
Paul is addressing the 1st and 2nd Commandments to the Athenians in the New Testament… This is what he says:
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Watch this…Don’t miss it!) For he (GOD) has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man (Jesus Christ) he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)
Note: Paul tells the Athenians, that God will judge the world for their sins… We already established through the Holy Scriptures that Jesus is the “ONLY” way to Heaven and the “Only” one that can save us from our sins! And after this truth has been told to us and we willing and knowingly reject God’s plan of salvation which is in Christ ALONE! What then? Rejecting Christ will be our biggest downfall in the courtroom of the “All Mighty God”!
What will we do or say when God asks you, why didn’t you believe in my Son Jesus Christ? Why didn’t you accept my plan of salvation? What kind of answer will you give? At that time it will be too late to turn back the clock… Time is up! Now what? What’s done is done and without Jesus you will be condemned for "ALL" your sins. According to Jesus own words… “Whoever believes in him is "NOT" condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (Jesus Christ).”(John 3:18) Only Jesus blood can wipe "ALL" our sins whiter than snow and only through Him, we are made into a brand new person. (1 John 2:2, Isaiah 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19) God will show the people who refused to repent and who were not willing to believe the good news of the Gospel...What they said NO to. What a devastating day it will be for the "MANY" that rejected the love of the living Christ!
Some people here on earth get cocky with God and they say “I only answer to myself and if I’m happy living without God so be it!” And they find many others that would agree with them and cheer them on; but GOD will not be amused on judgment day … He will not be persuaded by what others think or say! He will not be playing games. God won’t care how many of your friends say things like this … “Live it up”… “Live how you want”… “Do what makes you happy even if it is against God’s law”! God will judge us according to His written word and in that ALONE… Not anybody else’s opinions or sayings will matter to Him on judgment day!
We Christians are saved by Grace but this doesn’t mean that we continue to sin! (Ephesians 2:8-9) Let me show you what The Book of Hebrews says:
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left (Watch this… Don’t miss this!), but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”… “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands “of the living GOD.” (Hebrews 10:26-27, 30-31)
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:9-10)
Through out the New Testament we read of "The Ten Commandments" mentioned time and time again and these two verses in 1 John summarized them also… God hasn’t changed his mind about the Commandments and how we should all live and conduct ourselves while living here on earth! The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
The Book of Revelation is describing the Courtroom of GOD and what we should expect to see in it…
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small (The Rich and the Poor), standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (Watch This… Don’t miss it!) If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
If you didn’t accept Jesus as Lord and Savior while you lived here on earth… You can be certain that your name won’t be in the book of “Life” and that all your sins still remained on you. And you will have to pay for all the sins that you committed while living in this world. There’s no other way around this! What GOD says in His “Word”… HE really means!
Note: The doors of salvation are still open… Come to the Lord Jesus while there’s still time to do so! The Bible says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, (Watch this…Don’t miss it!) But everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Only Jesus can wipe all our sins away… Once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and we live our life, on earth like Jesus commands (1 John 2:5-6 and 2 John 1:9), then our names will be written in the book of “Life”!
Jesus says, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”… “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) I WILL NEVER BLOT OUT HIS NAME FROM “THE BOOK OF LIFE”, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:3,5) God will always be faithful to all his promises! (Numbers 23:19) Whatever the Bible says is going to happen, will happen just as God says it will! The time is now to turn from our sins and repent! Don’t wait another minute… Tomorrow might be too late! The book of Hebrews says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7)
For those who choose not to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior …. According to the Holy Scriptures will not enter Heaven. GOD will have to judge them for all the sins they have committed here on Earth and the sentence will be an eternal separation from God and their place according to Scripture will be in the “Lake of Fire” (Revelation 21:27 and Chapter 20:15)
The Lord our God is very merciful and He is always ready to give us second chances… Please, don’t ignore His calling! God loves us very much and this is why He’s extending His arms wide to you… Is your choice to accept Him or reject Him! GOD won’t force anyone to love Him or accept His plan of salvation! But rejecting Jesus Christ will be the biggest mistake that we will ever make… It has an eternal consequence of which there’s no escape! (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Luke 16:19-26, Revelation 20:10)
Jesus says, “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, BUT TO SAVE IT. There is a “Judge” for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” (John 12:47-48)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Most of us don’t like going to court and the thought of going and standing in front of a “Judge” is nerve racking for us! It makes us feel at times nervous and anxious… It’s even worse for those that have to do time in prison and the thought that their freedom will be taking away from them for some time is really devastating for them. The feeling of the unknown it’s very troubling and scary for many of us. In court, your own words can either convict you or acquit you! This blog deals with what the Bible says, about the “Judge” of all mankind and how we must all stand before Him one day… And, how you answer GOD will either acquit you or condemned you!
The Bible gives all mankind the moral compass for us to live by and to follow… Let me start with “The Ten Commandments”
1- “You shall have no other gods before me.”
2- “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”
3- “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
4- “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”
5- “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
6- “You shall not murder”
7- “You shall not commit adultery”
8- “You shall not steal.”
9- “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
10-“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife… Or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:3-17)
Note: The first four commandments deal with loving God and the last six deals with loving people… If we truly love GOD we will show it by our actions… The same goes for if we truly love people! We wouldn’t purposely hurt anyone that we truly love… Right? Most of us will go all out for the ones we love and cherish. So, shouldn’t we also love and be good to "GOD" and “Everyone” else also?! Jesus says: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) for this sums up the Law (The Commandments) and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12) Friends, “Actions speak louder than words”!
These Commandments were given to us by the “Judge” of all the earth to follow and abide by. When God judges us according to the Commandments and examines how we live and conduct ourselves here on Earth… Not one of us would have a chance in the world, in GOD’s courtroom. We have all broken His Commandments and Laws…God already knew this would be the case for all of us, which is why he sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and to redeem all mankind from death and hell… Jesus Christ is the “ONLY” one that can do this … And “No One Else” can do it!
The Bible says: “For GOD so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For GOD did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) Jesus is the SAVIOR” of the world!
Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) He has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24) What is Jesus word/message to us you may ask? This is what Jesus says of “Himself”, “I am the way and the truth and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father expect through me.” (John 14:6)
Paul and Silas were asked by a jailer in the book of Acts… “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” (Acts 16:29-31) Only Jesus can save us according to the Holy Scriptures!
Paul is addressing the 1st and 2nd Commandments to the Athenians in the New Testament… This is what he says:
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Watch this…Don’t miss it!) For he (GOD) has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man (Jesus Christ) he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)
Note: Paul tells the Athenians, that God will judge the world for their sins… We already established through the Holy Scriptures that Jesus is the “ONLY” way to Heaven and the “Only” one that can save us from our sins! And after this truth has been told to us and we willing and knowingly reject God’s plan of salvation which is in Christ ALONE! What then? Rejecting Christ will be our biggest downfall in the courtroom of the “All Mighty God”!
What will we do or say when God asks you, why didn’t you believe in my Son Jesus Christ? Why didn’t you accept my plan of salvation? What kind of answer will you give? At that time it will be too late to turn back the clock… Time is up! Now what? What’s done is done and without Jesus you will be condemned for "ALL" your sins. According to Jesus own words… “Whoever believes in him is "NOT" condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (Jesus Christ).”(John 3:18) Only Jesus blood can wipe "ALL" our sins whiter than snow and only through Him, we are made into a brand new person. (1 John 2:2, Isaiah 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19) God will show the people who refused to repent and who were not willing to believe the good news of the Gospel...What they said NO to. What a devastating day it will be for the "MANY" that rejected the love of the living Christ!
Some people here on earth get cocky with God and they say “I only answer to myself and if I’m happy living without God so be it!” And they find many others that would agree with them and cheer them on; but GOD will not be amused on judgment day … He will not be persuaded by what others think or say! He will not be playing games. God won’t care how many of your friends say things like this … “Live it up”… “Live how you want”… “Do what makes you happy even if it is against God’s law”! God will judge us according to His written word and in that ALONE… Not anybody else’s opinions or sayings will matter to Him on judgment day!
We Christians are saved by Grace but this doesn’t mean that we continue to sin! (Ephesians 2:8-9) Let me show you what The Book of Hebrews says:
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left (Watch this… Don’t miss this!), but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”… “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands “of the living GOD.” (Hebrews 10:26-27, 30-31)
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:9-10)
Through out the New Testament we read of "The Ten Commandments" mentioned time and time again and these two verses in 1 John summarized them also… God hasn’t changed his mind about the Commandments and how we should all live and conduct ourselves while living here on earth! The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
The Book of Revelation is describing the Courtroom of GOD and what we should expect to see in it…
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small (The Rich and the Poor), standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (Watch This… Don’t miss it!) If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)
If you didn’t accept Jesus as Lord and Savior while you lived here on earth… You can be certain that your name won’t be in the book of “Life” and that all your sins still remained on you. And you will have to pay for all the sins that you committed while living in this world. There’s no other way around this! What GOD says in His “Word”… HE really means!
Note: The doors of salvation are still open… Come to the Lord Jesus while there’s still time to do so! The Bible says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, (Watch this…Don’t miss it!) But everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Only Jesus can wipe all our sins away… Once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and we live our life, on earth like Jesus commands (1 John 2:5-6 and 2 John 1:9), then our names will be written in the book of “Life”!
Jesus says, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”… “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) I WILL NEVER BLOT OUT HIS NAME FROM “THE BOOK OF LIFE”, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:3,5) God will always be faithful to all his promises! (Numbers 23:19) Whatever the Bible says is going to happen, will happen just as God says it will! The time is now to turn from our sins and repent! Don’t wait another minute… Tomorrow might be too late! The book of Hebrews says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7)
For those who choose not to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior …. According to the Holy Scriptures will not enter Heaven. GOD will have to judge them for all the sins they have committed here on Earth and the sentence will be an eternal separation from God and their place according to Scripture will be in the “Lake of Fire” (Revelation 21:27 and Chapter 20:15)
The Lord our God is very merciful and He is always ready to give us second chances… Please, don’t ignore His calling! God loves us very much and this is why He’s extending His arms wide to you… Is your choice to accept Him or reject Him! GOD won’t force anyone to love Him or accept His plan of salvation! But rejecting Jesus Christ will be the biggest mistake that we will ever make… It has an eternal consequence of which there’s no escape! (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Luke 16:19-26, Revelation 20:10)
Jesus says, “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, BUT TO SAVE IT. There is a “Judge” for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” (John 12:47-48)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Monday, August 29, 2011
WHAT IS LOVE!
WHAT IS LOVE?
There is a deep longing inside of all us to love and be loved… We all want to have that special someone to share the rest of our lives with. Who wouldn’t want that kind of love? Are you looking for LOVE? The kind of love that last for ever, love that you can always depend on, LOVE that will never fail you. There is someone that can give us this kind of love… His name is Jesus Christ! His love will never fail you and Jesus will never leave or abandon you. Jesus love can mend broken hearts; He heals old scars, painful memories… NO human can do for you what only GOD can do!
We all have been guilty of looking for love in all the wrong places and sometimes we fall in love with people who don’t love us in return. Have you ever asked yourself… Is this love thing for me? Am I meant to be happy?
The answer to that question is: YES! We are all meant to be happy but true happiness starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ first… Success starts and ends with Jesus being the center of our lives. If we go about it without Jesus we will be susceptible to only temporary solutions, temporary relationships, and lots of disappointments… Nothing that will stick around for the long hall, that’s for sure!
The Bible Says:
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an anointing sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But GOD demonstrates his own love for us in this: (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!) While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)
Note: Amazing LOVE… Amazing GRACE! How GOD loves the human race so! This is the kind of love that captured my soul…never do I want to be away from my Savior! “Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD… (Psalms 34:8) Some say; the proof is in the pudding… Come and taste! See for yourself… how good Jesus love is! There is nothing like it… NOTHING!!
Many people live as enemies of the cross… they don’t believe God exist and most people think that all Christians are brain washed anyway! But I know that if they really gave God a chance they will know… without a shadow of a doubt that He is very real and that God’s love is truly genuine. God loves mankind … especially those that don’t believe in Him or love Him in return. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus will never give up on us. Jesus is still waiting for you to invite Him into your heart… He can fill you with His amazing love and give you a peace like you’ve never known or ever felt. (Phil. 3:18/ Revelation 3:20/ Phil. 4:7)
The Bible Says:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (Watch This Don’t Miss It) LOVE NEVER FAILS.” This is how God loves us every day…Real LOVE! (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) We MUST also learn to love everyone in this way...Loving people as GOD loves us. (Matthew 7:12, Mark 12:33, 1 John 3: 10, 23)
Note: Some of you may say… “It’s easy for my pastor or for that person to say what they say about “Love”… They have a wonderful marriage, home, children, etc and everything is going good for them and they seem to be happy too… Of course they can say that”! Well, did it ever occur to you that perhaps they put GOD first because truly happy is the person that does!
The BIBLE Says: “GOD IS LOVE” (John 4:16)
GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
There is a deep longing inside of all us to love and be loved… We all want to have that special someone to share the rest of our lives with. Who wouldn’t want that kind of love? Are you looking for LOVE? The kind of love that last for ever, love that you can always depend on, LOVE that will never fail you. There is someone that can give us this kind of love… His name is Jesus Christ! His love will never fail you and Jesus will never leave or abandon you. Jesus love can mend broken hearts; He heals old scars, painful memories… NO human can do for you what only GOD can do!
We all have been guilty of looking for love in all the wrong places and sometimes we fall in love with people who don’t love us in return. Have you ever asked yourself… Is this love thing for me? Am I meant to be happy?
The answer to that question is: YES! We are all meant to be happy but true happiness starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ first… Success starts and ends with Jesus being the center of our lives. If we go about it without Jesus we will be susceptible to only temporary solutions, temporary relationships, and lots of disappointments… Nothing that will stick around for the long hall, that’s for sure!
The Bible Says:
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an anointing sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But GOD demonstrates his own love for us in this: (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!) While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)
Note: Amazing LOVE… Amazing GRACE! How GOD loves the human race so! This is the kind of love that captured my soul…never do I want to be away from my Savior! “Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD… (Psalms 34:8) Some say; the proof is in the pudding… Come and taste! See for yourself… how good Jesus love is! There is nothing like it… NOTHING!!
Many people live as enemies of the cross… they don’t believe God exist and most people think that all Christians are brain washed anyway! But I know that if they really gave God a chance they will know… without a shadow of a doubt that He is very real and that God’s love is truly genuine. God loves mankind … especially those that don’t believe in Him or love Him in return. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus will never give up on us. Jesus is still waiting for you to invite Him into your heart… He can fill you with His amazing love and give you a peace like you’ve never known or ever felt. (Phil. 3:18/ Revelation 3:20/ Phil. 4:7)
The Bible Says:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (Watch This Don’t Miss It) LOVE NEVER FAILS.” This is how God loves us every day…Real LOVE! (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) We MUST also learn to love everyone in this way...Loving people as GOD loves us. (Matthew 7:12, Mark 12:33, 1 John 3: 10, 23)
Note: Some of you may say… “It’s easy for my pastor or for that person to say what they say about “Love”… They have a wonderful marriage, home, children, etc and everything is going good for them and they seem to be happy too… Of course they can say that”! Well, did it ever occur to you that perhaps they put GOD first because truly happy is the person that does!
The BIBLE Says: “GOD IS LOVE” (John 4:16)
GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
SORRY, JESUS GOT TO ME FIRST!
SORRY, JESUS GOT TO ME FIRST!
The Holy Scriptures say: “John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.”(Mark 1:6)- NIV
Note: John the Baptist lived in the dessert, his church was in the wilderness and he baptized all his followers in the Jordan River. John the Baptist was misunderstood by many in his time and if he was misunderstood in his day… What would he face in today’s churches? By today’s church standards John wouldn’t be let in through some church doors.
John the Baptist was ordained by God to be the Lord’s forerunner; he was set apart to GOD, a “Nazirite” (Luke 1:15-17, Isaiah 40:3/ Judges 13:7)
Note: The Bible says, John the Baptist was a “Nazirite” and as such he could not cut his beard or his long dread lock hair. Certain foods and wine he could not eat/drink. John wore clothing made of camel hair, he ate locusts and honey. The churches of today will probably say of John… I don’t know about this John the Baptist, He is not a member of any church, He's not properly dressed either, and he eats bugs… I think he is a total nut job. He can't possibly be a man of God!
How many blessings and opportunities we have missed in life for judging people in the wrong way… When GOD already says, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.” (1Samuel 16:7)
It’s not what people think or say about you that counts. It’s what the Lord says, that DOES! The Holy Scriptures says of John: “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins…” (Luke 1:76-77)
People said of John… “He has a demon” (Matthew 11:18) Jesus says of John, “I tell you, among those born of women there is NO ONE greater than John… (Luke 7:28)
Note: God is not looking at how you dress, if you wear earrings or not, if you’re wearing make-up or not, if you shave your legs or not, if your hair color is blue, green, orange, etc. Or if cut your hair or leave it long or if you’re wearing a suit to church or a pair of jeans. God does not care how big your house or bank account is, or what job or car you have… That’s not what is important to God! STOP this madness…Remember, God ONLY looks at the HEART! All these things are legalistic teachings and Jesus has nailed to the cross legalism and religion! (Colossians 2:14-15, 20-23)
If ANY church tries to tell you that you have to look a certain way or have certain things in order to get into Heaven… GET away from them as quick as possible! The Bible says: “FOR it is by GRACE you have been SAVED, through FAITH- AND this NOT from YOURSELVES (Watch This Don’t Miss It! --> ), It is the GIFT of GOD-NOT by works, so that NO ONE can boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9) Study the word of God … So that you can recognize false teachings.
Note: Salvation is a FREE gift from GOD…. There is nothing you can do to get it….It’s FREE! And Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven! “SALVATION is found in NO ONE else, FOR there is NO other name (Jesus Christ) under heaven GIVEN to men by which WE must be SAVED." (Acts 4:12)
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees in Jesus day wore beautiful holy garments… You couldn’t look more holy than these men but watch what Jesus says of these men…. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15) Jesus also said of them… “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44)
Note: It’s not how we look on the outside that COUNTS or WHAT makes us holy… It’s what’s in our HEARTS that DOES! Jesus knew that there was nothing good inside the teachers of the law and the Pharisees hearts! Jesus knew these men were not men of God… That’s why Jesus said this to them: “He (Jesus) replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; THEIR teachings are but RULES taught by men.”(Mark 7: 6-7)
Jesus says: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’... (Matthew 15:19-20) These acts are the things that will keep us from the Kingdom of GOD; and NOT how we look on the outside!
Jesus in the other hand wasn’t restricted from drinking wine or eating certain foods like John had been, because John was a “Nazirite”. Just like John, Jesus was also misunderstood, for the Bible says: “The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) came eating and drinking, and they say, (People said of HIM) 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." (Matthew 11:19)
But the Holy Scriptures says of Jesus: “… And HE (Jesus Christ) will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Note: Jesus drank wine and of course He ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners that’s WHO HE CAME TO SAVE! “For the Son of Man came TO SEEK and TO SAVE what was LOST." (Luke 19:10) Jesus was God in the flesh...“The Word (Jesus Christ) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) But people said of Him that He was a drunkard, a glutton, hanging around sinners, demon possessed and still others thought He was out of His mind! But thank God that Jesus wasn’t influence by what people, his family and the devil thought of Him! Jesus wasn’t going to lose His focus… Jesus knew where He came from; He knew who He was and what He needed to do to save humanity! (John 8:14, John 7:20, Mark 3:21, Matthew 4:3-11, Luke 4:43, John 3:16-18)-Amen!
We need to stay in the WORD of God and be lead by the Holy Spirit, so that we can tell the REAL from the FAKE… Truth from lies! Jesus came to set us free and if we focus on the outer appearance of each other… We will be putting ourselves in the same bondage that the Lord Jesus freed us from!
The Bible says: “This righteousness from God comes through FAITH in Jesus Christ to ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE, FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE through the "REDEMPTION" that came BY Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24)
Sorry, Jesus Got To Me First…You’re not going to put me in the bondage that Jesus died and freed me from! There is nothing humanly possible that I could do to make myself righteous before GOD! The Holy Scriptures says: “As it is written: "THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE." (Romans 3:10) My righteousness, my hope and my faith comes from Christ and in Christ ALONE it is! (Romans 5:17) I am dead to sin but ALIVE in Christ Jesus! I DO NOT live under law but under GRACE! (Romans 6:11, 14/ Romans 11:5-6). And I definitely DO NOT take advantage of God's amazing grace either...My life I live for Jesus! (Hebrews 10:29-31, Jude 1:4, Colossians 3:3, Galatians 2:20) Legalism and Religion DOES NOT interest me and it’s definitely not of GOD either! “FOR THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Romans 1:17/ Galatians 3:11)
“So if the Son (Jesus Christ) sets you FREE, you WILL be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
The Holy Scriptures say: “John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.”(Mark 1:6)- NIV
Note: John the Baptist lived in the dessert, his church was in the wilderness and he baptized all his followers in the Jordan River. John the Baptist was misunderstood by many in his time and if he was misunderstood in his day… What would he face in today’s churches? By today’s church standards John wouldn’t be let in through some church doors.
John the Baptist was ordained by God to be the Lord’s forerunner; he was set apart to GOD, a “Nazirite” (Luke 1:15-17, Isaiah 40:3/ Judges 13:7)
Note: The Bible says, John the Baptist was a “Nazirite” and as such he could not cut his beard or his long dread lock hair. Certain foods and wine he could not eat/drink. John wore clothing made of camel hair, he ate locusts and honey. The churches of today will probably say of John… I don’t know about this John the Baptist, He is not a member of any church, He's not properly dressed either, and he eats bugs… I think he is a total nut job. He can't possibly be a man of God!
How many blessings and opportunities we have missed in life for judging people in the wrong way… When GOD already says, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.” (1Samuel 16:7)
It’s not what people think or say about you that counts. It’s what the Lord says, that DOES! The Holy Scriptures says of John: “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins…” (Luke 1:76-77)
People said of John… “He has a demon” (Matthew 11:18) Jesus says of John, “I tell you, among those born of women there is NO ONE greater than John… (Luke 7:28)
Note: God is not looking at how you dress, if you wear earrings or not, if you’re wearing make-up or not, if you shave your legs or not, if your hair color is blue, green, orange, etc. Or if cut your hair or leave it long or if you’re wearing a suit to church or a pair of jeans. God does not care how big your house or bank account is, or what job or car you have… That’s not what is important to God! STOP this madness…Remember, God ONLY looks at the HEART! All these things are legalistic teachings and Jesus has nailed to the cross legalism and religion! (Colossians 2:14-15, 20-23)
If ANY church tries to tell you that you have to look a certain way or have certain things in order to get into Heaven… GET away from them as quick as possible! The Bible says: “FOR it is by GRACE you have been SAVED, through FAITH- AND this NOT from YOURSELVES (Watch This Don’t Miss It! --> ), It is the GIFT of GOD-NOT by works, so that NO ONE can boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9) Study the word of God … So that you can recognize false teachings.
Note: Salvation is a FREE gift from GOD…. There is nothing you can do to get it….It’s FREE! And Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven! “SALVATION is found in NO ONE else, FOR there is NO other name (Jesus Christ) under heaven GIVEN to men by which WE must be SAVED." (Acts 4:12)
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees in Jesus day wore beautiful holy garments… You couldn’t look more holy than these men but watch what Jesus says of these men…. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15) Jesus also said of them… “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44)
Note: It’s not how we look on the outside that COUNTS or WHAT makes us holy… It’s what’s in our HEARTS that DOES! Jesus knew that there was nothing good inside the teachers of the law and the Pharisees hearts! Jesus knew these men were not men of God… That’s why Jesus said this to them: “He (Jesus) replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; THEIR teachings are but RULES taught by men.”(Mark 7: 6-7)
Jesus says: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’... (Matthew 15:19-20) These acts are the things that will keep us from the Kingdom of GOD; and NOT how we look on the outside!
Jesus in the other hand wasn’t restricted from drinking wine or eating certain foods like John had been, because John was a “Nazirite”. Just like John, Jesus was also misunderstood, for the Bible says: “The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) came eating and drinking, and they say, (People said of HIM) 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." (Matthew 11:19)
But the Holy Scriptures says of Jesus: “… And HE (Jesus Christ) will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Note: Jesus drank wine and of course He ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners that’s WHO HE CAME TO SAVE! “For the Son of Man came TO SEEK and TO SAVE what was LOST." (Luke 19:10) Jesus was God in the flesh...“The Word (Jesus Christ) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) But people said of Him that He was a drunkard, a glutton, hanging around sinners, demon possessed and still others thought He was out of His mind! But thank God that Jesus wasn’t influence by what people, his family and the devil thought of Him! Jesus wasn’t going to lose His focus… Jesus knew where He came from; He knew who He was and what He needed to do to save humanity! (John 8:14, John 7:20, Mark 3:21, Matthew 4:3-11, Luke 4:43, John 3:16-18)-Amen!
We need to stay in the WORD of God and be lead by the Holy Spirit, so that we can tell the REAL from the FAKE… Truth from lies! Jesus came to set us free and if we focus on the outer appearance of each other… We will be putting ourselves in the same bondage that the Lord Jesus freed us from!
The Bible says: “This righteousness from God comes through FAITH in Jesus Christ to ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE, FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT of the glory of God, and are JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE through the "REDEMPTION" that came BY Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24)
Sorry, Jesus Got To Me First…You’re not going to put me in the bondage that Jesus died and freed me from! There is nothing humanly possible that I could do to make myself righteous before GOD! The Holy Scriptures says: “As it is written: "THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE." (Romans 3:10) My righteousness, my hope and my faith comes from Christ and in Christ ALONE it is! (Romans 5:17) I am dead to sin but ALIVE in Christ Jesus! I DO NOT live under law but under GRACE! (Romans 6:11, 14/ Romans 11:5-6). And I definitely DO NOT take advantage of God's amazing grace either...My life I live for Jesus! (Hebrews 10:29-31, Jude 1:4, Colossians 3:3, Galatians 2:20) Legalism and Religion DOES NOT interest me and it’s definitely not of GOD either! “FOR THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Romans 1:17/ Galatians 3:11)
“So if the Son (Jesus Christ) sets you FREE, you WILL be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Sunday, May 29, 2011
YOU AND GOD...
YOU AND GOD…
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN UNREASONABLE, IRRATIONAL, AND SELF- CENTERED; FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
IF YOU ARE KIND, PEOPLE MAY ACCUSE YOU OF SELFISH, ULTERIOR MOTIVES; BE KIND ANYWAY.
IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL WIN SOME UNFAITHFUL FRIENDS AND SOME GENUINE ENEMIES; SUCCEED ANYWAY.
IF YOU ARE HONEST AND SINCERE PEOPLE MAY DECEIVE YOU; BE HONEST AND SINCERE ANYWAY.
WHAT YOU SPEND YEARS CREATING OTHERS COULD DESTROY OVERNIGHT; CREATE ANYWAY.
IF YOU FIND SERENITY AND HAPPINESS, SOME MAY BE JEALOUS; BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY, WILL OFTEN BE FORGOTTEN. DO GOOD ANYWAY.
GIVE THE BEST YOU HAVE, AND IT MAY NEVER BE ENOUGH; GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD; IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.
-UNKNOWN AUTHOR
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN UNREASONABLE, IRRATIONAL, AND SELF- CENTERED; FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
IF YOU ARE KIND, PEOPLE MAY ACCUSE YOU OF SELFISH, ULTERIOR MOTIVES; BE KIND ANYWAY.
IF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, YOU WILL WIN SOME UNFAITHFUL FRIENDS AND SOME GENUINE ENEMIES; SUCCEED ANYWAY.
IF YOU ARE HONEST AND SINCERE PEOPLE MAY DECEIVE YOU; BE HONEST AND SINCERE ANYWAY.
WHAT YOU SPEND YEARS CREATING OTHERS COULD DESTROY OVERNIGHT; CREATE ANYWAY.
IF YOU FIND SERENITY AND HAPPINESS, SOME MAY BE JEALOUS; BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY, WILL OFTEN BE FORGOTTEN. DO GOOD ANYWAY.
GIVE THE BEST YOU HAVE, AND IT MAY NEVER BE ENOUGH; GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD; IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.
-UNKNOWN AUTHOR
Monday, January 31, 2011
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!
Have you ever asked yourself when a bad thing happens… Why did this happen to me? What have I done to deserve this? No matter what you did to make that situation better, it didn’t turn out like you thought it would? Sometimes things happen to us because of the bad choices we make. And other times we make all right choices and live right and still we are faced with terrible heartaches. Why?
Let me tell you what the Bible says about this…
First we’ll examine what takes place when we knowingly and willingly sin against GOD, then we will examine when calamity comes upon us for no cause of our own.
King David was a man after God’s own heart.(1 Samuel 13:14) But one night he made a bad choice, which he paid with very painful consequences. The Bible says, that in the spring, when Kings are supposed to go to war, King David did not go and stood at his palace…
“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite”? Then David sent messengers to get her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.” (2 Samuel 11:2-4)
Note: Knowing that Bathsheba was married to Uriah didn’t stop King David from wanting a married woman. The Bible says that once he slept with Bathsheba he sent her back home. David probably thought, that’s the end of that night… Little did he know, Bathsheba became pregnant from that one nightstand. Something, I’m sure David wasn’t counting on! (2 Samuel 11:5)
We can sometimes make an already bad situation, WORST! King David thought… I know what I’ll do… I’ll call her husband who’s fighting in my army… Have him sleep with her and Uriah will think that the baby is his. David’s plan didn’t turn out like he thought. Uriah instead slept at the entrance to the palace and didn’t want to go home. So, David came up with plan B… The first plan didn’t work! So He thought to himself, I’ll send him back to the battle and I will make sure Uriah dies in battle the field. (2 Samuel 11:6-15) Talk about, “ Out of the fire and into the frying pan”
David rebuked for his sins…
Just when we think… No one is going to know what I have done. God always KNOWS! God sends the prophet Nathan to rebuke King David for the sins he had committed.
Nathan started by telling king David about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had everything he wanted and needed but this poor man had nothing but this ewe lamb… As the story goes the rich man had a traveling visitor and instead of feeding his guest from his own flocks, he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and served it as dinner for his guest. The Bible says, that David was furious at this rich man for what he did to the poor man… David even said that the rich man deserves death for what he did. Then Nathan drops the bomb on King David and says this to him...“You are that man”! (2 Samuel 12:7) Now David knows the severity of what he had done. David was the rich man and Uriah was the poor man. David took what mattered most to Uriah … His wife.
God said to David…
“Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.”
“This is what the Lord says: Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.” …. “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:9-12,14)
Note: David had his own wives and concubines… He could have been with any of them that night. Instead he wanted someone else’s wife and for this, God punished him. We want to be able to do what we want, when we want and not get paid back for any of our wrong doings. We definitely don’t like it when it is being done back to us either! David’s punishment was a very heart-breaking one… Strife was always going to be in his family, someone close to him was going to sleep with all his wives and the son that him and Bathsheba conceived was going to die. That one nightstand with Bathsheba, the killing of Uriah (her husband) cost David more than what he bargained for. This story if it teaches us anything, it teaches us to always… "LOOK, BEFORE WE LEAP!"
Sometimes we get the chance to back up from a situation… From a conversation and we know we shouldn’t go through with it… We say, “ I shouldn’t be here”! We push all those warnings out of our minds and do it anyway. Not realizing at that time, that painful consequences will soon follow and we will have to pay for what we have done! As I said in one of my previous blogs… No one gets away with anything! (Galatians 6:7-8) God will forgive our offences/sins but we’ll still have to pay for the consequences of our bad decisions nonetheless. (2 Samuel 12:13/ Isaiah 1:18) God says: “Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!" (Jeremiah 4:18) ~ In other words we bring this upon ourselves when we sin! David suffered the consequences of his sin, and so will we. There is no way around this one, my friends. (2 Samuel 12:10-12)
Note: As Christians… We have all been transform into a new creation in Christ Jesus our Lord and should not be sinning. But when we do sin … We have an advocate… Our High Priest (Jesus Christ) who is ready to stand in our behalf before the Father and says… My blood covers their sins! Hallelujah! (2 Corinthians 5:17/1 John 2:1-2/Hebrews 2:18-19) “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” We can have total confidence that “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” ( 1 John 1:8-9) According to the Bible we can come and ask God for forgiveness … And we will be forgiven! Wow… What a Loving and Merciful God we have!!!
You may say… I understand what happen to David and that what happen to him was a direct result of the bad choices he made. But what about a person like me? I haven’t sinned against God or my neighbor! And I’m facing some terrible times…
Note: Take for instance Job… What did Job do to bring all those calamities that came upon him? The Bible says: “Job was blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”(Job 1:8) A man that sought the face of the Lord daily and he still faced some terrible and painful calamities. WHY? Job didn’t know it at the time… But God was showing off about his servant Job to the devil. Satan said to God … “Does Job fear God for nothing? ” In other words, the devil was saying to God… Job only loves you because of all the good things you do for him. But here comes the test… Then Satan said “But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 1:11)
The devil challenged Job’s faithfulness to God… But the Lord knows our hearts and God definitely knew his servant Job’s heart. God knew that Job loved Him in spite of the material things. Job truly loved GOD and nothing could have ever changed that, not even all the devil’s schemes. After Job’s testing was over... The Bible says: “ The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (Job 42:12) Job got double blessings for all his troubles … What a loving and faithful GOD we serve! So if you are facing a difficult time in your life right now and you’ve been faithful to God. I want to say to you hang on, hold on… God is not done with you yet. What God did for Job, He can do for you!! Be encouraged my sister/brother in Christ, Trust GOD! He will never let anyone down, who puts his or her trust in HIM!!!
The Bible Says:
“A righteous man may have many troubles, (Watch This, Don’t Miss This) But the Lord delivers him from them all…” (Psalms 34:19)
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “ I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalms 91:14-15)
Note: The Lord has already warned us in advance…
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) So trouble comes to us all…But remember that God promises to deliver us from all our troubles. God is in total control… All we have to do is believe what God says in his Word. Instead of worrying… Spend time in God’s word and speaks His promises out loud to yourself every day… And watch God blow your mind… “EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
If we walk closely to the Lord and we seek Him in daily prayer and we study His word… We will minimize a lot of our mistakes and we will definitely have fewer regrets in life. We have to make GOD the center of our lives… If we want to be "Victorious Christians". Jesus already showed us what to do, so that we don’t fall into temptation… “ Watch and Pray” (Matthew 26:41). This is the key to have a successful Christian life. Spend time with God daily.
“ANYONE WHO DOES WRONG WILL BE REPAID FOR HIS WRONG, AND THERE IS NO FAVORITISM” (Colossians 3:25)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Have you ever asked yourself when a bad thing happens… Why did this happen to me? What have I done to deserve this? No matter what you did to make that situation better, it didn’t turn out like you thought it would? Sometimes things happen to us because of the bad choices we make. And other times we make all right choices and live right and still we are faced with terrible heartaches. Why?
Let me tell you what the Bible says about this…
First we’ll examine what takes place when we knowingly and willingly sin against GOD, then we will examine when calamity comes upon us for no cause of our own.
King David was a man after God’s own heart.(1 Samuel 13:14) But one night he made a bad choice, which he paid with very painful consequences. The Bible says, that in the spring, when Kings are supposed to go to war, King David did not go and stood at his palace…
“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite”? Then David sent messengers to get her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.” (2 Samuel 11:2-4)
Note: Knowing that Bathsheba was married to Uriah didn’t stop King David from wanting a married woman. The Bible says that once he slept with Bathsheba he sent her back home. David probably thought, that’s the end of that night… Little did he know, Bathsheba became pregnant from that one nightstand. Something, I’m sure David wasn’t counting on! (2 Samuel 11:5)
We can sometimes make an already bad situation, WORST! King David thought… I know what I’ll do… I’ll call her husband who’s fighting in my army… Have him sleep with her and Uriah will think that the baby is his. David’s plan didn’t turn out like he thought. Uriah instead slept at the entrance to the palace and didn’t want to go home. So, David came up with plan B… The first plan didn’t work! So He thought to himself, I’ll send him back to the battle and I will make sure Uriah dies in battle the field. (2 Samuel 11:6-15) Talk about, “ Out of the fire and into the frying pan”
David rebuked for his sins…
Just when we think… No one is going to know what I have done. God always KNOWS! God sends the prophet Nathan to rebuke King David for the sins he had committed.
Nathan started by telling king David about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had everything he wanted and needed but this poor man had nothing but this ewe lamb… As the story goes the rich man had a traveling visitor and instead of feeding his guest from his own flocks, he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and served it as dinner for his guest. The Bible says, that David was furious at this rich man for what he did to the poor man… David even said that the rich man deserves death for what he did. Then Nathan drops the bomb on King David and says this to him...“You are that man”! (2 Samuel 12:7) Now David knows the severity of what he had done. David was the rich man and Uriah was the poor man. David took what mattered most to Uriah … His wife.
God said to David…
“Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.”
“This is what the Lord says: Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.” …. “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:9-12,14)
Note: David had his own wives and concubines… He could have been with any of them that night. Instead he wanted someone else’s wife and for this, God punished him. We want to be able to do what we want, when we want and not get paid back for any of our wrong doings. We definitely don’t like it when it is being done back to us either! David’s punishment was a very heart-breaking one… Strife was always going to be in his family, someone close to him was going to sleep with all his wives and the son that him and Bathsheba conceived was going to die. That one nightstand with Bathsheba, the killing of Uriah (her husband) cost David more than what he bargained for. This story if it teaches us anything, it teaches us to always… "LOOK, BEFORE WE LEAP!"
Sometimes we get the chance to back up from a situation… From a conversation and we know we shouldn’t go through with it… We say, “ I shouldn’t be here”! We push all those warnings out of our minds and do it anyway. Not realizing at that time, that painful consequences will soon follow and we will have to pay for what we have done! As I said in one of my previous blogs… No one gets away with anything! (Galatians 6:7-8) God will forgive our offences/sins but we’ll still have to pay for the consequences of our bad decisions nonetheless. (2 Samuel 12:13/ Isaiah 1:18) God says: “Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!" (Jeremiah 4:18) ~ In other words we bring this upon ourselves when we sin! David suffered the consequences of his sin, and so will we. There is no way around this one, my friends. (2 Samuel 12:10-12)
Note: As Christians… We have all been transform into a new creation in Christ Jesus our Lord and should not be sinning. But when we do sin … We have an advocate… Our High Priest (Jesus Christ) who is ready to stand in our behalf before the Father and says… My blood covers their sins! Hallelujah! (2 Corinthians 5:17/1 John 2:1-2/Hebrews 2:18-19) “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” We can have total confidence that “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” ( 1 John 1:8-9) According to the Bible we can come and ask God for forgiveness … And we will be forgiven! Wow… What a Loving and Merciful God we have!!!
You may say… I understand what happen to David and that what happen to him was a direct result of the bad choices he made. But what about a person like me? I haven’t sinned against God or my neighbor! And I’m facing some terrible times…
Note: Take for instance Job… What did Job do to bring all those calamities that came upon him? The Bible says: “Job was blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”(Job 1:8) A man that sought the face of the Lord daily and he still faced some terrible and painful calamities. WHY? Job didn’t know it at the time… But God was showing off about his servant Job to the devil. Satan said to God … “Does Job fear God for nothing? ” In other words, the devil was saying to God… Job only loves you because of all the good things you do for him. But here comes the test… Then Satan said “But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 1:11)
The devil challenged Job’s faithfulness to God… But the Lord knows our hearts and God definitely knew his servant Job’s heart. God knew that Job loved Him in spite of the material things. Job truly loved GOD and nothing could have ever changed that, not even all the devil’s schemes. After Job’s testing was over... The Bible says: “ The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (Job 42:12) Job got double blessings for all his troubles … What a loving and faithful GOD we serve! So if you are facing a difficult time in your life right now and you’ve been faithful to God. I want to say to you hang on, hold on… God is not done with you yet. What God did for Job, He can do for you!! Be encouraged my sister/brother in Christ, Trust GOD! He will never let anyone down, who puts his or her trust in HIM!!!
The Bible Says:
“A righteous man may have many troubles, (Watch This, Don’t Miss This) But the Lord delivers him from them all…” (Psalms 34:19)
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “ I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalms 91:14-15)
Note: The Lord has already warned us in advance…
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) So trouble comes to us all…But remember that God promises to deliver us from all our troubles. God is in total control… All we have to do is believe what God says in his Word. Instead of worrying… Spend time in God’s word and speaks His promises out loud to yourself every day… And watch God blow your mind… “EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
If we walk closely to the Lord and we seek Him in daily prayer and we study His word… We will minimize a lot of our mistakes and we will definitely have fewer regrets in life. We have to make GOD the center of our lives… If we want to be "Victorious Christians". Jesus already showed us what to do, so that we don’t fall into temptation… “ Watch and Pray” (Matthew 26:41). This is the key to have a successful Christian life. Spend time with God daily.
“ANYONE WHO DOES WRONG WILL BE REPAID FOR HIS WRONG, AND THERE IS NO FAVORITISM” (Colossians 3:25)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
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