Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts

Saturday, July 27, 2013

WHO ARE YOU BEHAVING LIKE?

                                          WHO ARE YOU BEHAVING LIKE?



As born again believers/followers of Christ, We CANNOT conform to the way the world lives and acts. We are shown through "The Holy Scriptures" That We MUST UNLEARN The bad behavior that we picked up while living in this world WITHOUT Christ in our lives. WE MUST be like Christ in ALL that we do and NOT be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good, As GOD tells us to do! (Romans 12:1-21, 1 Peter 1:14, Isaiah 1:16-17, John 5:14, John 8:11, 1 Peter 3:9, Colossians 3:7-17, 23-25, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Galatians 5:14-26)
 

Note: As followers of Christ it MUST BE DEEPLY EMBEDDED in our being that "TWO WRONGS WILL NEVER MAKE A RIGHT TO A HOLY GOD!"...We're living for Christ and NOT for ourselves. (Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15-16)

"DO YOU NOT KNOW that your bodies are temples 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 bodies." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

BE DOERS OF THE WORD OF GOD AND ALWAYS WALK IN LOVE! DO THINGS GOD'S WAY BECAUSE REAL LOVE... DOES CHANGE PEOPLE! (James 1:22, 1 John 4:7-12, John 8:31, 13:35)

The BIBLE Says: "If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I GAIN NOTHING.  LOVE is patient, love is kind. It DOES NOT envy, it DOES NOT boast, it is NOT proud.  It DOES NOT dishonor others, 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. LOVE NEVER  FAILS." (1 Corinthians 13:3-8)

The Bible also teaches us to: "Bless those who persecute you; BLESS and DO NOT CURSE..."(Romans 12:14) "DO NOT REPAY EVIL WITH EVIL OR INSULT FOR INSULT..." (1 Peter 3:9)


Friends, spend time with God daily, the closer we get to Jesus, the more we WILL BE and ACT like Him. (1 John 2:6) Jesus is returning soon and we must be His faithful "stuarts"/ A ready bride at ALL times... Jesus says: "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.... "It will be GOOD for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns." (Matthew 24:44, 46, Luke 12:40, 43)

"FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE, AS I FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST." (1 Corinthians 11:1)


GOD BLESS YOU ALL 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

Sunday, July 11, 2010

"IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL OBEY WHAT I COMMAND"!

"IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL OBEY WHAT I COMMAND"!


Jesus Says: "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15)

Question: Do we really love the Lord? Or do we just say that we do and not really mean it?

Note: If you truly love someone … You will never intentionally hurt him or her! Right? If your mate tells you "I love you" … You expect them to show you-- that what they are telling you...It's completely true and real. And the statement is definitely heard a lot louder when it’s followed by their actions! How would you feel if they told you “I LOVE YOU” but they are seeing other people behind your back, coming home at all late hours of the night, never spending any quality time with you? You will probably think to yourself this person does not love me at all...Because if they did? their actions would be completely different from what they are now doing.

So if we expect the people who claim to love us, to show it... Then why don’t we love GOD  in the same way? Again Jesus says: If you love me, you will obey what I command   The Lord tells us if we truly love him, like we say we do...We will NOT judge others! (Matthew 7:1), we would treat people the way that we would like to be treated! (Matthew 7:12), we would love and pray for our enemies and we would pray for those who persecute us! (Matthew 5:43-44), We would spend time in talking to Him (Quality Time) in prayer! (Matthew 6:6) And there are many more Scriptures in the Bible that teaches us that if we truly love the Lord, we would show it by our actions! Remember friends, “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”!!!

The Apostle John says it best… “We know that we have come to know him "IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS." The man who says, “ I know him”, but "DOES NOT" do what he commands is a liar, and THE TRUTH is NOT in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.(Watch this…Don’t miss it!!) This is how we know we are in him: "WHOEVER" claims to live in him MUST walk as Jesus did!" (1 John 2:3-6)

Friend, if we claim to love Jesus and we call ourselves "Christians"(Followers Of Christ) then lets prove it by our actions! If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 1 Corinthians 7:19, 1 John 5:3)


JESUS SAID: “IF YOU HOLD TO MY TEACHING, YOU ARE REALLY MY DISCIPLES." (John 8:31, 12:47-50) AMEN! FRIENDS, OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST LEADS TO HEAVEN!




GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

IS HE COMING FOR YOU?

IS HE COMING FOR YOU?

The Bible Says:

"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “ why do you stand here looking into the sky? This "SAME" Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, "WILL" come back "IN THE SAME WAY" you have seen him "GO INTO HEAVEN.” (Acts 1:10-11)~NIV

Angels announced His birth (Jesus Christ's birth in Luke 1:26-38 – Ch.2: 8-20) and Angels tell of His return to the disciples in the book of Acts. This event will take place in God’s time… The question should "NOT" be: "WHEN IS JESUS COMING?" The question should be: "Is HE coming for you?" Can you honestly say that if Jesus came today you would be lifted up to heaven to meet HIM? No one knows when they will die… If today was your last day here on earth, will the Lord welcome you into His kingdom?

Let me show you what the Lord says in the Bible:

"EVERY" tree that does not bear good fruit is "CUT DOWN" and "THROWN" into the "FIRE". Thus, BY their fruit you will recognize them. “NOT everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, 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 7:19-23)

Note: The tree here represents people (Jeremiah 11:18-19). People that claim to know Him (Jesus Christ) And Obedience to GOD will always produce good fruits.

Jesus has set the laws and standards for those who wish to enter the kingdom of heaven. Accepting Him as Lord and Savior is our first step and after, that, the rest of our life here on earth should mirror His. (1 John 2:3-6)

Read the Lord’s Laws and Standards:

In the book of Matthew Chapters 5-7

In these chapters the Lord delivers the Sermon on the Mt. also known as the Beatitudes. Read it, Study it and make all the necessary changes in your life nowWhile there’s still time to do so. Those that live their lives here on earth this way are the one’s … According to the Lord’s own words will inherit the kingdom of God. "If you love me, you will "OBEY" what I command." (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, John 8:31, 51, 1 John 2:3-6, 2 Peter 1:3-11)

Spend time in His word… Follow Him… Obey Him… Jesus is the "ONLY" way to Heaven. You can’t get to heaven just because you think you should. Going to Church "DOES NOT GUARANTEE" your entry either. Obeying the Lord Jesus "WILL". "NOTHING" in this world is worth you losing your place in Heaven. What good will it be for a man "IF HE GAINS" the whole world, yet "FORFEITS HIS SOUL"?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)


In the book of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says:

"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. "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."


Jesus says in the book of Revelation 22:12-15

Behold, " I AM COMING SOON! My reward is with me, and I "WILL GIVE" to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. "OUTSIDE" are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters "AND EVERYONE" who loves and practices falsehood.”  


REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR
(Matthew 3:1) The Holy Scriptures Say..."WITHOUT HOLINESS "NO ONE" WILL SEE THE LORD." (Hebrews 12:14)


READY OR NOT… JESUS IS COMING!  "IS HE COMING FOR YOU?"



GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA