"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
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS?
WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS?
"The Lord said to Samuel, “DO NOT" consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord "DOES NOT" look at the things man looks at, MAN LOOKS at the outward appearance, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.” (1 Samuel 16:7) NIV
Note: What a comforting and encouraging Scripture is 1 Samuel 16:7! How good it is to know that God doesn’t look at how we look, who we know, or what church we go to! The Lord looks and examines our hearts; He knows our true intentions towards Him and people.
I love what Jesus tells the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law, when they asked Jesus…
“Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with “ unclean hands? (Watch This... Don't Miss It!) He 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: 5-7)
Note: The Lord knows us very well and He knows our true motives towards HIM and towards our fellow man!
This is what our Savior says: “Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said. “ Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. "NOTHING" outside a man CAN MAKE HIM ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, "IT IS WHAT COMES OUT" of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’
"He went on: “ What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ (Watch This...Don't Miss It!) FOR from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ (Mark 7:14-16, 20-23)
The Lord doesn’t look to see if we belong to right church denomination. If we’re wearing a suit to church or if we’re wearing jeans and a t-shirt to church! If you have piercing or tattoos! None of these things God looks at! That’s what people see and care about! The Lord says, that the bad things we harbor in our hearts and the bad things that we do is what makes us ‘unclean’… NOT what we look like in the OUTSIDE!! GOD always looks at our hearts... So the question is: "What Are Your Intentions?" Jesus says: "SO IN EVERYTHING", DO to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
Jesus Says: “STOP JUDGING BY MERE APPEARANCES, AND MAKE A RIGHT JUDGMENT.” (JOHN 7:24)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
"The Lord said to Samuel, “DO NOT" consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord "DOES NOT" look at the things man looks at, MAN LOOKS at the outward appearance, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.” (1 Samuel 16:7) NIV
Note: What a comforting and encouraging Scripture is 1 Samuel 16:7! How good it is to know that God doesn’t look at how we look, who we know, or what church we go to! The Lord looks and examines our hearts; He knows our true intentions towards Him and people.
I love what Jesus tells the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law, when they asked Jesus…
“Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with “ unclean hands? (Watch This... Don't Miss It!) He 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: 5-7)
Note: The Lord knows us very well and He knows our true motives towards HIM and towards our fellow man!
This is what our Savior says: “Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said. “ Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. "NOTHING" outside a man CAN MAKE HIM ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, "IT IS WHAT COMES OUT" of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’
"He went on: “ What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ (Watch This...Don't Miss It!) FOR from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ (Mark 7:14-16, 20-23)
The Lord doesn’t look to see if we belong to right church denomination. If we’re wearing a suit to church or if we’re wearing jeans and a t-shirt to church! If you have piercing or tattoos! None of these things God looks at! That’s what people see and care about! The Lord says, that the bad things we harbor in our hearts and the bad things that we do is what makes us ‘unclean’… NOT what we look like in the OUTSIDE!! GOD always looks at our hearts... So the question is: "What Are Your Intentions?" Jesus says: "SO IN EVERYTHING", DO to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
Jesus Says: “STOP JUDGING BY MERE APPEARANCES, AND MAKE A RIGHT JUDGMENT.” (JOHN 7:24)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Thursday, May 27, 2010
DO NOT JUDGE
DO NOT JUDGE!!
Jesus says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned” (Luke 6:37)
We’ve all been there… When we say! "I will never do what he or she did"! "I will never put up with what they put up with"! And then, we find ourselves doing and putting up with the same things that we said “ I Will Never Do Or Put Up With” (That’s where the saying comes from… Never say, Never!) At times when we pass judgments on someone else and we don’t even know what’s going on in their lives or why they are going through that particular situation. This brings to mind an old saying, "Do not judge a man, unless you have walked a mile in his shoes"!
I also love this saying also! And one we should always apply to everyone... “NEVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYBODY UNLESS YOU’RE HELPING THEM UP!!”
What a different world this would be, if we instead of judging, criticizing, and talking behind people’s back … We would extent the love of Christ to them and instead of kicking people when they are down… We would pick them up, help them out, and give them encouragements from the word of God!! Do you know how many lives would be healed, saved, and transformed by the "LOVE" of the living Christ? All of this can happen by just doing what the Lord has taught us to do..."Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31)
Jesus says:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)
Note: We must be very careful on how we pass judgments on others and how we talk about people! Because according to the Lord’s own words… The judgments that we pass on to others will come right back on us!! Knowing that, we must think twice! Before rushing into passing judgments and criticizing others.
We just have to stop and think! If I were in that situation, what would I like to hear? What would I want someone to do for me? If it is encouragement, then encourage. If it’s a listening ear that you would need… Then be a listening ear for them too! Jesus says: "SO IN EVERYTHING, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul says:
“You, therefore, HAVE NO EXCUSE, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1)
Note: The Apostle Paul is telling us through the book of Romans that when we judge others… We are condemning ourselves! The Scriptures say, that we who judge others… Do the very same things that we just talked about, criticized, and judged another person on! This is called Hypocrisy, my friends! This is not what Jesus Christ has taught us to be like!
The Lord taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to treat people the way that we would like to be treated! (Mark 12:31- Matthew 7:12) This is what Jesus says: “ If you love me, you will obey what I command.” “ Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ” (John 14:15- Luke 6:46) So if we truly love the Lord like we say… THEN we will show it by obeying HIM!
The Lord was compassionate towards people when He was here on earth! Whenever Jesus saw a need… HE was there to help! Where there was sickness, He healed! The hungry, He feed! The Lost, He saved! Praise the Living God for His Compassion, Mercy, and Grace! Because He is good to all! … "He has compassion on all he has made!" (Psalms 145:9)
Let me give you a couple of examples from the Bible on how Jesus treated people…
Jesus met Zacchaeus at the sycamore-fig tree! And the Lord said to him… “ Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today ”… (Watch the crowd’s reaction to Jesus dinning in Zacchaeus house) “ All the people saw this and began to mutter (to complain or grumble), He (Jesus) has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’ (This is the miracle that happens when we love people like the Lord commands! Watch this don’t miss it...) “ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “ Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”(Wow, this is what happens when we love people instead of judging, criticizing, and looking down on them!!!
God’s ways are always THE best way to Go! Always!) Jesus said to him, “ Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. (Thank God for this part...) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)
The next example is found in the book of Mark…
“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “ I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “ But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “ How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “ Seven,” they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When He had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.”
Note: Mark tells us that Jesus fed about four thousand people with just seven loaves of bread and a few small fish…Wow! (What a miracle the Lord performed for that crowd) “For nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37) And the Holy Scriptures say: that the people ate and were satisfied. (Mark 8:1-9) What a loving and compassionate Savior we serve! And this, my friends, is how we should treat our fellow man with love and compassion!! And NOT with judgments and criticisms…
“WHOEVER CLAIMS TO LIVE IN HIM MUST WALK AS JESUS DID” (1 JOHN 2:6)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Jesus says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned” (Luke 6:37)
We’ve all been there… When we say! "I will never do what he or she did"! "I will never put up with what they put up with"! And then, we find ourselves doing and putting up with the same things that we said “ I Will Never Do Or Put Up With” (That’s where the saying comes from… Never say, Never!) At times when we pass judgments on someone else and we don’t even know what’s going on in their lives or why they are going through that particular situation. This brings to mind an old saying, "Do not judge a man, unless you have walked a mile in his shoes"!
I also love this saying also! And one we should always apply to everyone... “NEVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYBODY UNLESS YOU’RE HELPING THEM UP!!”
What a different world this would be, if we instead of judging, criticizing, and talking behind people’s back … We would extent the love of Christ to them and instead of kicking people when they are down… We would pick them up, help them out, and give them encouragements from the word of God!! Do you know how many lives would be healed, saved, and transformed by the "LOVE" of the living Christ? All of this can happen by just doing what the Lord has taught us to do..."Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31)
Jesus says:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)
Note: We must be very careful on how we pass judgments on others and how we talk about people! Because according to the Lord’s own words… The judgments that we pass on to others will come right back on us!! Knowing that, we must think twice! Before rushing into passing judgments and criticizing others.
We just have to stop and think! If I were in that situation, what would I like to hear? What would I want someone to do for me? If it is encouragement, then encourage. If it’s a listening ear that you would need… Then be a listening ear for them too! Jesus says: "SO IN EVERYTHING, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul says:
“You, therefore, HAVE NO EXCUSE, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1)
Note: The Apostle Paul is telling us through the book of Romans that when we judge others… We are condemning ourselves! The Scriptures say, that we who judge others… Do the very same things that we just talked about, criticized, and judged another person on! This is called Hypocrisy, my friends! This is not what Jesus Christ has taught us to be like!
The Lord taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to treat people the way that we would like to be treated! (Mark 12:31- Matthew 7:12) This is what Jesus says: “ If you love me, you will obey what I command.” “ Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ” (John 14:15- Luke 6:46) So if we truly love the Lord like we say… THEN we will show it by obeying HIM!
The Lord was compassionate towards people when He was here on earth! Whenever Jesus saw a need… HE was there to help! Where there was sickness, He healed! The hungry, He feed! The Lost, He saved! Praise the Living God for His Compassion, Mercy, and Grace! Because He is good to all! … "He has compassion on all he has made!" (Psalms 145:9)
Let me give you a couple of examples from the Bible on how Jesus treated people…
Jesus met Zacchaeus at the sycamore-fig tree! And the Lord said to him… “ Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today ”… (Watch the crowd’s reaction to Jesus dinning in Zacchaeus house) “ All the people saw this and began to mutter (to complain or grumble), He (Jesus) has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’ (This is the miracle that happens when we love people like the Lord commands! Watch this don’t miss it...) “ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “ Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”(Wow, this is what happens when we love people instead of judging, criticizing, and looking down on them!!!
God’s ways are always THE best way to Go! Always!) Jesus said to him, “ Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. (Thank God for this part...) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)
The next example is found in the book of Mark…
“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “ I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “ But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “ How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “ Seven,” they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When He had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.”
Note: Mark tells us that Jesus fed about four thousand people with just seven loaves of bread and a few small fish…Wow! (What a miracle the Lord performed for that crowd) “For nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37) And the Holy Scriptures say: that the people ate and were satisfied. (Mark 8:1-9) What a loving and compassionate Savior we serve! And this, my friends, is how we should treat our fellow man with love and compassion!! And NOT with judgments and criticisms…
“WHOEVER CLAIMS TO LIVE IN HIM MUST WALK AS JESUS DID” (1 JOHN 2:6)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Friday, April 30, 2010
OUR LOVING GOD
OUR LOVING GOD!
“The Lord is righteous in "ALL" his ways and loving towards all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalms 145:17-19)
Note: We will never have to wonder with God … Can I trust Him with my heart and life! The Holy Scriptures says: “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving towards all he has made” We can be certain that He’ll be there whenever we need Him. In times of sickness, heartaches, loneliness, despair, disappointments and pain… We can count on God to be there for us and rescue us from all our troubles!!! When you think to yourself… No one cares about me, or the things I’m going through, remember God cares about you and if you ask Him to… He’ll be there to help you too. His word is a comfort to our souls and the guiding light in this world.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all… (Psalms 34:17-19) Seek GOD daily, My friends!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
VICKY RIVERA
“The Lord is righteous in "ALL" his ways and loving towards all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalms 145:17-19)
Note: We will never have to wonder with God … Can I trust Him with my heart and life! The Holy Scriptures says: “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving towards all he has made” We can be certain that He’ll be there whenever we need Him. In times of sickness, heartaches, loneliness, despair, disappointments and pain… We can count on God to be there for us and rescue us from all our troubles!!! When you think to yourself… No one cares about me, or the things I’m going through, remember God cares about you and if you ask Him to… He’ll be there to help you too. His word is a comfort to our souls and the guiding light in this world.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all… (Psalms 34:17-19) Seek GOD daily, My friends!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
VICKY RIVERA
Friday, March 5, 2010
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE
The Bible says:
“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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.” Hallelujah! (1Thessalonians 4: 15-17) NIV
Note: Some of us have family members and friends that have fallen asleep (who have died) in the Lord. This is a wonderful and exciting promise that the Lord has given for all of us who believe in Him. We will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven someday... We won’t be separated from them ever again! What a glorious day that will be. To see Our Lord and Savior, face to face, our families and friends... I can't wait! I’m also looking forward to meeting some of you on that day face to face.
This is why we have to be obedient to Our Lord’s commands. We have our families and friends waiting for us. This is one of the many reasons, we cannot let anything or anyone derail us from the path that the Lord teaches us to stay on... "Fight the good fight of faith." (1 Timothy 6: 12)
The Bible says:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11)
The Lord is near, my friends. We must obey the Lord, study His word and "DO" what it says. (James 1:22)
This is what the Word of the Lord says:
"What good is it, my brothers; if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “ Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead."(James 2:14-17)
"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12:2)
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Note: We have all heard the phrase “ No Pain, No Gain” The Lord never said it was going to be easy. The Christian life is one of self-discipline and self-denial. As a matter of fact Jesus said as they treated me they would treat you. (John 15:18-21) "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) We live in this world but we are not of this world. Jesus said that he went to prepare a place for us and He also said that He would come back for us. (John 14:2-3) This world is not our home, in no shape or form should we submit to it. We should not set our minds in the things of this world but in heavenly things, our citizenship is in heaven. (Colossians 3:2, Philippians 3:20)
God has given us a gleam into the future… What will it be like on that glorious day. In the book of Revelation 21:1-7 it says:
“ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “ Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (I don’t know about you but that sounds like a pretty good deal to me… Sounds like an amazing place!!) He who was seated on the throne said, “ I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
Note: These are the rewards for all of those that lived a life here on earth following the Lord and obeying His commands BUT for those WHO DID NOT believed in Jesus Christ, WHO DID NOT follow or obeyed Him… Read what the word of the Lord says:
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” (Revelation 21:8)
“IF ANYYONE'S" name was NOT found written in the book of life, he was THROWN into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)
“NOTHING" impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7)
Note: Be faithful to the Lord, trust Him, follow Him, and obey Him. He’s coming soon!… "However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Keep your eyes on the prize, my friends. Don’t look to see who’s in front of you or who’s behind you… Keep your eyes on the finish line, which is Jesus Christ our Lord.. With Jesus by your side, you cannot lose!
Jesus says:
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11) Jesus says, Our crowns can be taken away… So lets make sure that "NO ONE" takes it from us…Be an overcomer in Jesus name!
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and would like to have a relationship with Him… All you have to do is believe in Him, invite Jesus into your heart, ask Him to forgive you of all your sins and He’ll take care of the rest. The Bible says: “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
Here is a sample prayer that you can say to invite Jesus into your life. As long as it comes from your heart and you mean it… That’s really all that matters:
“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Thank you for sacrificing Your life to save me, then rising to life again that I might live forever in Heaven with You. I turn from my sins and invite You into my life. Help me to live in a way that pleases You, for whatever time You give me here on earth”. Amen
If you just invited Jesus into your heart, God bless you and welcome to God’s family. The Holy Scriptures says... FOR, “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
The Bible says:
“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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.” Hallelujah! (1Thessalonians 4: 15-17) NIV
Note: Some of us have family members and friends that have fallen asleep (who have died) in the Lord. This is a wonderful and exciting promise that the Lord has given for all of us who believe in Him. We will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven someday... We won’t be separated from them ever again! What a glorious day that will be. To see Our Lord and Savior, face to face, our families and friends... I can't wait! I’m also looking forward to meeting some of you on that day face to face.
This is why we have to be obedient to Our Lord’s commands. We have our families and friends waiting for us. This is one of the many reasons, we cannot let anything or anyone derail us from the path that the Lord teaches us to stay on... "Fight the good fight of faith." (1 Timothy 6: 12)
The Bible says:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11)
The Lord is near, my friends. We must obey the Lord, study His word and "DO" what it says. (James 1:22)
This is what the Word of the Lord says:
"What good is it, my brothers; if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “ Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead."(James 2:14-17)
"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12:2)
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Note: We have all heard the phrase “ No Pain, No Gain” The Lord never said it was going to be easy. The Christian life is one of self-discipline and self-denial. As a matter of fact Jesus said as they treated me they would treat you. (John 15:18-21) "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) We live in this world but we are not of this world. Jesus said that he went to prepare a place for us and He also said that He would come back for us. (John 14:2-3) This world is not our home, in no shape or form should we submit to it. We should not set our minds in the things of this world but in heavenly things, our citizenship is in heaven. (Colossians 3:2, Philippians 3:20)
God has given us a gleam into the future… What will it be like on that glorious day. In the book of Revelation 21:1-7 it says:
“ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “ Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (I don’t know about you but that sounds like a pretty good deal to me… Sounds like an amazing place!!) He who was seated on the throne said, “ I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
Note: These are the rewards for all of those that lived a life here on earth following the Lord and obeying His commands BUT for those WHO DID NOT believed in Jesus Christ, WHO DID NOT follow or obeyed Him… Read what the word of the Lord says:
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” (Revelation 21:8)
“IF ANYYONE'S" name was NOT found written in the book of life, he was THROWN into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)
“NOTHING" impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7)
Note: Be faithful to the Lord, trust Him, follow Him, and obey Him. He’s coming soon!… "However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Keep your eyes on the prize, my friends. Don’t look to see who’s in front of you or who’s behind you… Keep your eyes on the finish line, which is Jesus Christ our Lord.. With Jesus by your side, you cannot lose!
Jesus says:
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11) Jesus says, Our crowns can be taken away… So lets make sure that "NO ONE" takes it from us…Be an overcomer in Jesus name!
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and would like to have a relationship with Him… All you have to do is believe in Him, invite Jesus into your heart, ask Him to forgive you of all your sins and He’ll take care of the rest. The Bible says: “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
Here is a sample prayer that you can say to invite Jesus into your life. As long as it comes from your heart and you mean it… That’s really all that matters:
“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Thank you for sacrificing Your life to save me, then rising to life again that I might live forever in Heaven with You. I turn from my sins and invite You into my life. Help me to live in a way that pleases You, for whatever time You give me here on earth”. Amen
If you just invited Jesus into your heart, God bless you and welcome to God’s family. The Holy Scriptures says... FOR, “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Monday, January 25, 2010
IS THERE A HELL?
IS THERE A HELL?
Some may say … I don’t believe that there’s a "HELL". Some may think that when a person dies they automatically go to heaven and there are still some that believe when we die… We just reincarnate or turn into some form of energy.
According to the Bible, "HELL" does exist and is a "REAL" place. It is an eternal place of torment, and unimaginable pain and suffering. Let us see what the Lord Jesus says about this dreadful place…
The Rich Man and Lazarus:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire’.
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, “ They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘ If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31)
Note: According to the Lord Jesus this place called "HELL" is a real place. A place assigned for the wicked and the unrighteous. This is a place that once you go there you won’t be let out for "Good Behavior"; you won’t be let out on an "Ankle Bracelet" and serve the rest of your time at home. Once you go there, you’re staying there! “ NO WAY OUT”! Hell is just the "Pre-Trial"; the "Lake Of Fire" is the "Eternal Sentence". The Bible says: "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 20:14-15)
The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to his father’s house and warned his brothers of that agonizing place called hell, where he was in terrible torment and this is what the rich man said… “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." (Luke 16:27, 30)
REALLY???… Their was "ONE" that rose from the dead and people till this day "DO NOT" believe in Him!! Question: Who is this who died and rose from the dead? Answer: The man they called "Jesus Christ"!! The Bible says: “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21)
In the book of Luke we read of this prophecy fulfilled… “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “ Why do you look for the living among the dead? (Watch what they tell the women…Don’t Miss It!!) HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “ The Son Of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” (Luke 24:1-7)
Note: Jesus has risen from the dead, just like He told his disciples that He would!! And still people do not believe in Him!!… So father Abraham is absolutely right, in saying… “If they "DO NOT" listen to Moses and the Prophets, they "WILL NOT" be convinced "EVEN" if someone "RISES" from the "DEAD." (Luke 16:31)
Some say, “Only God Can Judge Me"! That day will soon come when God will do just that..."I will deal with them according to their conduct, and "BY THEIR OWN STANDARDS" I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 7:27)
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; he has crossed OVER from "DEATH to LIFE". “ Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, (Watch This...Don't Miss It!) and those who have "DONE"evil will rise to be "CONDEMNED.” (John Ch.5:24, 28-29, Ezekiel 24:15)
Note: When a person dies according to what the Lord Jesus said, We can only be escorted to two places… "HEAVEN or HELL". If God chose to tell this story then we can be certain that there is a "Rich Man" in hell right now and that "Lazarus" is in heaven just as He said. God is warning all of us that if we don’t turn from our sins and we willfully reject "His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior"… We will have the same fate as the “Rich Man”. Only in accepting and inviting the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior can we escape this dreadful place called "HELL". According to the Bible… When people die, they will not automatically go to heaven, turn into another life form or just hang around us to watch over us. (The devil puts those thoughts in the minds of men to keep them from the plan of salvation, which is found in Jesus Christ alone!)
The Bible says:
Jesus answered, “ I am the way and the truth and the life. (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!!) "NO ONE"comes to the Father except "THROUGH ME". (John 14:6) Let me give you another Scripture … Jesus says: “ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved ” (John 10:9) Jesus is the only way to heaven; there is "NO OTHER WAY IN"!! He is the man at the door, if you don’t know the man at the door of heaven … You’re "NOT" getting in!
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turned from your sins… Living a devoted, dedicated, committed lifestyle to our Creator then Heaven is going to be your home. If you have lived as an "Enemy" of the cross and you have sneered at the gift that God has given to the world through "His Son Jesus Christ" then Hell will be your home. The life you lived here on this earth and the choices you made here on earth will either lead you to "Heaven" with God or separated from Him for all eternity in "Hell" and then to the "Lake Of Fire". The choice is always ours to make!
The Apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation word for word what He was told and shown. This is what John wrote:
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, "BUT ONLY" those whose names are written in the "Lamb’s Book Of Life” (Revelation 21:27) If your name is not in the Lamb’s book of life… You're not getting into Heaven.
If you want to change the direction in which your life is going, then, now is the time to do so, "DO NOT" wait, tomorrow may be too late! My friends, it is not God’s will to condemn us, He wants to save us. (Luke 19:10, John 3:16-17, 2 Peter 3:9) The Bible says: “That if you confess with your mouth “ Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “ Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Watch This … Don’t Miss It!) For, “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord "WILL BE SAVED.” (Romans 10:9-12 &13)
Note: "NOT" some will be saved, but “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord” is what The Holy Scriptures says! That’s God’s guarantee to all of us. The Bible says, that… “GOD IS NOT" a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill”? (Numbers 23:19) So we can rest assured that God will keep ALL His promises!
If Heaven is the place that someday you want to call your home, then Jesus is the "ONLY" way to get there. All you have to do is invite Him into your life, ask Him to forgive you of all your sins and He’ll gladly come in and transform your life from the inside out. (Revelation 3:20) This is why the Lord Jesus came to the world, to save us from our sins and to someday take us to where He is…
Jesus says:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 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. 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 14:1-3) JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR US! We have Jesus word on this promise. I know that, what Jesus has spoken "WILL HAPPEN" just as He said it will. (Matthew 24:35) If we obey and follow the Lord like He commands, then, this promise will be ours for sure. (John 14:15, Ch.15: 10)
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. ”
(Acts 4:12)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Some may say … I don’t believe that there’s a "HELL". Some may think that when a person dies they automatically go to heaven and there are still some that believe when we die… We just reincarnate or turn into some form of energy.
According to the Bible, "HELL" does exist and is a "REAL" place. It is an eternal place of torment, and unimaginable pain and suffering. Let us see what the Lord Jesus says about this dreadful place…
The Rich Man and Lazarus:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire’.
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, “ They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘ If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31)
Note: According to the Lord Jesus this place called "HELL" is a real place. A place assigned for the wicked and the unrighteous. This is a place that once you go there you won’t be let out for "Good Behavior"; you won’t be let out on an "Ankle Bracelet" and serve the rest of your time at home. Once you go there, you’re staying there! “ NO WAY OUT”! Hell is just the "Pre-Trial"; the "Lake Of Fire" is the "Eternal Sentence". The Bible says: "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 20:14-15)
The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to his father’s house and warned his brothers of that agonizing place called hell, where he was in terrible torment and this is what the rich man said… “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." (Luke 16:27, 30)
REALLY???… Their was "ONE" that rose from the dead and people till this day "DO NOT" believe in Him!! Question: Who is this who died and rose from the dead? Answer: The man they called "Jesus Christ"!! The Bible says: “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21)
In the book of Luke we read of this prophecy fulfilled… “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “ Why do you look for the living among the dead? (Watch what they tell the women…Don’t Miss It!!) HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “ The Son Of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” (Luke 24:1-7)
Note: Jesus has risen from the dead, just like He told his disciples that He would!! And still people do not believe in Him!!… So father Abraham is absolutely right, in saying… “If they "DO NOT" listen to Moses and the Prophets, they "WILL NOT" be convinced "EVEN" if someone "RISES" from the "DEAD." (Luke 16:31)
Some say, “Only God Can Judge Me"! That day will soon come when God will do just that..."I will deal with them according to their conduct, and "BY THEIR OWN STANDARDS" I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 7:27)
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; he has crossed OVER from "DEATH to LIFE". “ Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, (Watch This...Don't Miss It!) and those who have "DONE"evil will rise to be "CONDEMNED.” (John Ch.5:24, 28-29, Ezekiel 24:15)
Note: When a person dies according to what the Lord Jesus said, We can only be escorted to two places… "HEAVEN or HELL". If God chose to tell this story then we can be certain that there is a "Rich Man" in hell right now and that "Lazarus" is in heaven just as He said. God is warning all of us that if we don’t turn from our sins and we willfully reject "His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior"… We will have the same fate as the “Rich Man”. Only in accepting and inviting the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior can we escape this dreadful place called "HELL". According to the Bible… When people die, they will not automatically go to heaven, turn into another life form or just hang around us to watch over us. (The devil puts those thoughts in the minds of men to keep them from the plan of salvation, which is found in Jesus Christ alone!)
The Bible says:
Jesus answered, “ I am the way and the truth and the life. (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!!) "NO ONE"comes to the Father except "THROUGH ME". (John 14:6) Let me give you another Scripture … Jesus says: “ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved ” (John 10:9) Jesus is the only way to heaven; there is "NO OTHER WAY IN"!! He is the man at the door, if you don’t know the man at the door of heaven … You’re "NOT" getting in!
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turned from your sins… Living a devoted, dedicated, committed lifestyle to our Creator then Heaven is going to be your home. If you have lived as an "Enemy" of the cross and you have sneered at the gift that God has given to the world through "His Son Jesus Christ" then Hell will be your home. The life you lived here on this earth and the choices you made here on earth will either lead you to "Heaven" with God or separated from Him for all eternity in "Hell" and then to the "Lake Of Fire". The choice is always ours to make!
The Apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation word for word what He was told and shown. This is what John wrote:
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, "BUT ONLY" those whose names are written in the "Lamb’s Book Of Life” (Revelation 21:27) If your name is not in the Lamb’s book of life… You're not getting into Heaven.
If you want to change the direction in which your life is going, then, now is the time to do so, "DO NOT" wait, tomorrow may be too late! My friends, it is not God’s will to condemn us, He wants to save us. (Luke 19:10, John 3:16-17, 2 Peter 3:9) The Bible says: “That if you confess with your mouth “ Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “ Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Watch This … Don’t Miss It!) For, “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord "WILL BE SAVED.” (Romans 10:9-12 &13)
Note: "NOT" some will be saved, but “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord” is what The Holy Scriptures says! That’s God’s guarantee to all of us. The Bible says, that… “GOD IS NOT" a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill”? (Numbers 23:19) So we can rest assured that God will keep ALL His promises!
If Heaven is the place that someday you want to call your home, then Jesus is the "ONLY" way to get there. All you have to do is invite Him into your life, ask Him to forgive you of all your sins and He’ll gladly come in and transform your life from the inside out. (Revelation 3:20) This is why the Lord Jesus came to the world, to save us from our sins and to someday take us to where He is…
Jesus says:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 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. 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 14:1-3) JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR US! We have Jesus word on this promise. I know that, what Jesus has spoken "WILL HAPPEN" just as He said it will. (Matthew 24:35) If we obey and follow the Lord like He commands, then, this promise will be ours for sure. (John 14:15, Ch.15: 10)
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. ”
(Acts 4:12)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Saturday, October 10, 2009
HOW IS FORGIVENESS LINKED TO OUR SALVATION?
HOW IS FORGIVENESS LINKED TO OUR SALVATION?
It can be hard for us to forgive people who have hurt us more than words can express. Especially when those wounds have to do with a loved one that has been murdered. Or when we suffer sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, someone has stolen from us, or when people we trust have talked about us behind our backs, to name a few. All of these situations are difficult to forgive, forget and move on from. My friends, even though it is difficult … With God's help, we can all overcome the feelings of "Unforgiveness" and we can trust the Lord Jesus to take care of the rest.
In the book of Matthew the Lord addresses the topic of Forgiveness… In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “ I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents (that is, a million dollars) was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “The servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me’, he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii (That is, a few dollars). He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘ Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “ His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him. ‘ Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ “ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt."
"When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. “ Then the master called the servant in. ‘ You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘ I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (Watch why Jesus told this parable…don’t miss it) “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from the heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35)- NIV
Note: I imagine that this servant while in prison thought, ”Why didn’t I let that go… “ I just got my million-dollar debt canceled and the first thing I do is choke, hassle, and put my fellow brother in jail ... for just a few dollars.” This man who had his (fellow) brother thrown in jail was now in prison, being tortured by the jailers… Because he did not show the same mercy on his fellow man as the king had given to him. All of that for just a few bucks, that he just couldn’t let go of. It does not make any sense, does it? And it definitely wasn’t worth it, once you look at it in that way.
Just like this king who had canceled that servant’s million-dollar debt, God has also forgiven us for "ALL" our multitude of sins. When we ask the Lord to come into our lives and to forgive our sins… They are forgiven, NO question asked … You get a clean slate with God, A brand new beginning. Wow, that’s awesome news! In fact the Bible says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, (Watch this...Do not miss it!) NOT COUNTING MEN’S SINS AGAINST THEM." (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
How good it is to know, that our debts are canceled and our sins forgiven. God tells these parables, so we can reflect on them when we are dealing with forgiving another fellow human being. When someone hurts us, it is then that we must remember the lesson that the Lord has taught us in this parable and not be like the unmerciful, wicked servant. Let us offer love instead of hate, mercy instead revenge… “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13)
Note: In the Old Testament we read of one of the greatest acts of forgiveness and it is found in the Joseph Story.
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. (Genesis 37:27-28) Can you imagine how Joseph must have felt? … Betrayed by his own flesh and blood. He didn’t do anything wrong to deserve this from his brothers. It was out of jealousy that they sold Joseph to the Medianite merchants. Jealous of their father’s love towards Joseph and Joseph’s dreams is what drove his brothers to sell him into slavery.
The Medianites in turn sold Joseph in Egypt to a man named Potiphar. Joseph faced many trials in Egypt but through all the difficulties the Lord was with him and the Lord gave him success in whatever he did. God allowed these things to take place in Joseph’s life to propel him to his divine destiny. Joseph’s dreams came to pass and his brothers got to witness those dreams fulfilled. Joseph’s brothers didn’t realize it at first, neither did they recognized their brother Joseph when they came to Egypt to buy food. (They came to Egypt to buy food because of a famine in their land) Their little brother Joseph had become the second man in command in the whole land of Egypt. In the end Joseph forgave his brothers for their wrongdoings. What they meant for evil God turned it around for good. (Genesis Ch. 39-50)
The greatest act of forgiveness is found in the New Testament:
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Our Lord prayed this prayer for people who wanted him to be crucified, people who were mocking Him while He hung from the cross, and for people who were waiting around for Him to die. Jesus prayed this prayer while bruised and bleeding from all the beatings He endured, with his flesh hanging from his body; nails through his hands and feet, with a crown of thorns on his head. Jesus said, “ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-45) Jesus was praying for his enemies, He prayed for those who were persecuting Him. Our Lord didn’t just talk the talk but He walked the walk. Our Lord has not asked us to do anything that He himself didn’t do while He was living on this earth. We have the choice to obey or not… But remember, we’re the ones that have to live with that choice and the consequences of that choice. Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for all of the sins of mankind (Leviticus 17:11- 1 John 2:2), with His precious blood all our sins are wiped clean! We are forgiven! (Hebrews 9:22) The debt is paid in full!
Note: Let me stop here for a minute to say… If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior and would like to start a relationship with Him… All you have to do is ask Him to come into your life and He’ll gladly accept your invitation. I wrote for you a sample prayer to invite Jesus into your life… As long as it comes from the heart that’s all that counts! God bless you and Welcome to God’s family!
Salvation Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Thank you for sacrificing Your life to save me, then rising to life again that I might live forever in Heaven with You. I turn from my sins and invite You into my life. Help me to live in a way that pleases You, for whatever time you give me here on earth. Amen
Note: Jesus was the sinless, blameless Son of God… An innocent man paying for a debt He did not owe, He paid for sins, He did not commit. Question: Why did Jesus go through all of those horrific things? What’s the purpose? Answer: Love for you and me took our Lord to the cross. The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 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)
Joseph’s life would foreshadow what the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would suffer while on earth. They both were faced with betrayal from those who were closest to them, wrongly accused, misunderstood, and sold for money. But we can see in both of their stories their exemplary act of forgiveness to those who wronged them. The Bible says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Joseph’s divine purpose was to save the world from starvation. (Genesis 50:20) While Jesus’ divine purpose is to save the souls of mankind. (John 3:14-15) This is the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus Christ: Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) Everything in Heaven and on Earth has a divine purpose…We just need to trust in the God that is Omnipresent (God is everywhere at the same time), Omnipotent (all-powerful) and Omniscient (all knowing). This is an Awesome God we serve!! My friends. If this is the kind of God we serve then we should know that God is never caught off guard… He has a plan for all of us. We can rest assured that God is in total control. We just need to believe it and trust in Him.
The Bible says:
“DO NOT" repay anyone evil for evil.” ...“DO NOT" take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “ If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. "DO NOT" be overcome by evil, BUT overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17, 19-21)
Note: I’ve been through some rough times in my life. I didn’t think I was ever going to get over it, let alone move on from it. In those painful times, I’ve learned to run to the Lord in prayer and I spend time in His word. I know that the Lord has a solution in His Holy word for whatever situation, I’m facing in that particular moment. Jesus teaches me, how to deal with those difficult moments and especially to trust in Him. Without the Lord’s guidance, His comfort, and the hope I have in Him… My life would be an empty shell, a total mess. Every time I call on His name, He is always there to reassure me, that He is bigger than my problems and that With Him by my side… I cannot lose. “ If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) – NIV
Jesus hasn’t asked us to do something that is impossible for us to do. It’s a matter of choice and that… We can all do! It is not something out of our reach. The question is: Are we willing to obey and follow the Lord in ALL things? The choice is always ours to make. I pray that our choice will be to always follow, trust and obey the Lord in all things.
Jesus says: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
It can be hard for us to forgive people who have hurt us more than words can express. Especially when those wounds have to do with a loved one that has been murdered. Or when we suffer sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, someone has stolen from us, or when people we trust have talked about us behind our backs, to name a few. All of these situations are difficult to forgive, forget and move on from. My friends, even though it is difficult … With God's help, we can all overcome the feelings of "Unforgiveness" and we can trust the Lord Jesus to take care of the rest.
In the book of Matthew the Lord addresses the topic of Forgiveness… In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “ I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents (that is, a million dollars) was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “The servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me’, he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go."
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii (That is, a few dollars). He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘ Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “ His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him. ‘ Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ “ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt."
"When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. “ Then the master called the servant in. ‘ You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘ I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you? In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (Watch why Jesus told this parable…don’t miss it) “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from the heart.” (Matthew 18:21-35)- NIV
Note: I imagine that this servant while in prison thought, ”Why didn’t I let that go… “ I just got my million-dollar debt canceled and the first thing I do is choke, hassle, and put my fellow brother in jail ... for just a few dollars.” This man who had his (fellow) brother thrown in jail was now in prison, being tortured by the jailers… Because he did not show the same mercy on his fellow man as the king had given to him. All of that for just a few bucks, that he just couldn’t let go of. It does not make any sense, does it? And it definitely wasn’t worth it, once you look at it in that way.
Just like this king who had canceled that servant’s million-dollar debt, God has also forgiven us for "ALL" our multitude of sins. When we ask the Lord to come into our lives and to forgive our sins… They are forgiven, NO question asked … You get a clean slate with God, A brand new beginning. Wow, that’s awesome news! In fact the Bible says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, (Watch this...Do not miss it!) NOT COUNTING MEN’S SINS AGAINST THEM." (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
How good it is to know, that our debts are canceled and our sins forgiven. God tells these parables, so we can reflect on them when we are dealing with forgiving another fellow human being. When someone hurts us, it is then that we must remember the lesson that the Lord has taught us in this parable and not be like the unmerciful, wicked servant. Let us offer love instead of hate, mercy instead revenge… “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13)
Note: In the Old Testament we read of one of the greatest acts of forgiveness and it is found in the Joseph Story.
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. (Genesis 37:27-28) Can you imagine how Joseph must have felt? … Betrayed by his own flesh and blood. He didn’t do anything wrong to deserve this from his brothers. It was out of jealousy that they sold Joseph to the Medianite merchants. Jealous of their father’s love towards Joseph and Joseph’s dreams is what drove his brothers to sell him into slavery.
The Medianites in turn sold Joseph in Egypt to a man named Potiphar. Joseph faced many trials in Egypt but through all the difficulties the Lord was with him and the Lord gave him success in whatever he did. God allowed these things to take place in Joseph’s life to propel him to his divine destiny. Joseph’s dreams came to pass and his brothers got to witness those dreams fulfilled. Joseph’s brothers didn’t realize it at first, neither did they recognized their brother Joseph when they came to Egypt to buy food. (They came to Egypt to buy food because of a famine in their land) Their little brother Joseph had become the second man in command in the whole land of Egypt. In the end Joseph forgave his brothers for their wrongdoings. What they meant for evil God turned it around for good. (Genesis Ch. 39-50)
The greatest act of forgiveness is found in the New Testament:
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Our Lord prayed this prayer for people who wanted him to be crucified, people who were mocking Him while He hung from the cross, and for people who were waiting around for Him to die. Jesus prayed this prayer while bruised and bleeding from all the beatings He endured, with his flesh hanging from his body; nails through his hands and feet, with a crown of thorns on his head. Jesus said, “ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-45) Jesus was praying for his enemies, He prayed for those who were persecuting Him. Our Lord didn’t just talk the talk but He walked the walk. Our Lord has not asked us to do anything that He himself didn’t do while He was living on this earth. We have the choice to obey or not… But remember, we’re the ones that have to live with that choice and the consequences of that choice. Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for all of the sins of mankind (Leviticus 17:11- 1 John 2:2), with His precious blood all our sins are wiped clean! We are forgiven! (Hebrews 9:22) The debt is paid in full!
Note: Let me stop here for a minute to say… If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior and would like to start a relationship with Him… All you have to do is ask Him to come into your life and He’ll gladly accept your invitation. I wrote for you a sample prayer to invite Jesus into your life… As long as it comes from the heart that’s all that counts! God bless you and Welcome to God’s family!
Salvation Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Thank you for sacrificing Your life to save me, then rising to life again that I might live forever in Heaven with You. I turn from my sins and invite You into my life. Help me to live in a way that pleases You, for whatever time you give me here on earth. Amen
Note: Jesus was the sinless, blameless Son of God… An innocent man paying for a debt He did not owe, He paid for sins, He did not commit. Question: Why did Jesus go through all of those horrific things? What’s the purpose? Answer: Love for you and me took our Lord to the cross. The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 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)
Joseph’s life would foreshadow what the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would suffer while on earth. They both were faced with betrayal from those who were closest to them, wrongly accused, misunderstood, and sold for money. But we can see in both of their stories their exemplary act of forgiveness to those who wronged them. The Bible says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Joseph’s divine purpose was to save the world from starvation. (Genesis 50:20) While Jesus’ divine purpose is to save the souls of mankind. (John 3:14-15) This is the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Jesus Christ: Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) Everything in Heaven and on Earth has a divine purpose…We just need to trust in the God that is Omnipresent (God is everywhere at the same time), Omnipotent (all-powerful) and Omniscient (all knowing). This is an Awesome God we serve!! My friends. If this is the kind of God we serve then we should know that God is never caught off guard… He has a plan for all of us. We can rest assured that God is in total control. We just need to believe it and trust in Him.
The Bible says:
“DO NOT" repay anyone evil for evil.” ...“DO NOT" take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “ If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. "DO NOT" be overcome by evil, BUT overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17, 19-21)
Note: I’ve been through some rough times in my life. I didn’t think I was ever going to get over it, let alone move on from it. In those painful times, I’ve learned to run to the Lord in prayer and I spend time in His word. I know that the Lord has a solution in His Holy word for whatever situation, I’m facing in that particular moment. Jesus teaches me, how to deal with those difficult moments and especially to trust in Him. Without the Lord’s guidance, His comfort, and the hope I have in Him… My life would be an empty shell, a total mess. Every time I call on His name, He is always there to reassure me, that He is bigger than my problems and that With Him by my side… I cannot lose. “ If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) – NIV
Jesus hasn’t asked us to do something that is impossible for us to do. It’s a matter of choice and that… We can all do! It is not something out of our reach. The question is: Are we willing to obey and follow the Lord in ALL things? The choice is always ours to make. I pray that our choice will be to always follow, trust and obey the Lord in all things.
Jesus says: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)