IT IS GOD WHO CHANGES US

*  Job 14:14 (SLV) - If a man dies, shall he live again?   All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

*  1 Corinthians 15:42-54 (SLV) - The resurrection of the dead:   It is sown in corruption; it is changed to incorruption:  It is sown in dishonor; it is changed into glory:  it is sown in weakness; it is changed into  power:  It is sown a natural body; it is changed into a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  And so it is written, Adam was made a living soul; Jesus was made a life-giving Spirit.  Howbeit Adam was not spiritual, but was natural; but Jesus is spiritual.  The first man was of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy:  and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall be changed into the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must be changed into incorruption, and this mortal must be changed into immortality.  So when this corruptible shall be changed into incorruption, and this mortal shall be changed into immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

*  2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (SLV) - Now the Lord is Spirit:  and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

*  Philippians 3:20-21 (SLV) - For our citizenship is in heaven; from where we also look for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to His divine power by which He is able to subdue all things unto Himself.

*  1 John 3:1-2 (SLV) - Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be changed into His likeness; for we shall see Him as He is. 

*  Philippians 1:6 (SLV) - I am confident of this very thing, that it is God Who has begun this change in you, and He will complete it in the day of Jesus Christ.

 

(SLV) = My understanding of these texts (Skip's Lighthouse Version).

SO YOU SAY YOU KNOW WHO THE ANTICHRIST IS?

THE KEY TO RECOGNIZING THE ANTICHRIST

*  Matthew 24:14-16 - And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  Therefore, when you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whosoever reads this, let him understand):  then let those who are in Judaea flee into the mountains.
*  Mark 13:14 - But when you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that reads understand), then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains.
*  Daniel 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
*  Daniel 11:31 - And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.
*  Daniel 12:11 -  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

 

THE ABOMINATION DEFINED - THE MID-POINT OF THE TRIBULATION

*  Revelation 13:1-6 - And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed:  and all the world wondered after the beast.  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?  Who is able to make war with him?  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
*  Revelation 13:11-15 - And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.  And he exercised all the power of the first beast before him, and caused the earth and those who dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  And he did great wonders, so that he made fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,  And deceived those who dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

 

BECAUSE BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WOULD KNOW HIS IDENTITY BY THE CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT, WE  WILL BE REMOVED PRIOR TO THE TRIBULATION, VIA THE RAPTURE (JN. 14:1-3; 1 COR. 15:50-54; 1 TH. 4:16-17; ETC.), THE ANTICHRIST'S IDENTITY WILL NOT BE REVEALED UNTIL THE MID-POINT OF THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

THE FEAST OF WEEKS - THE FEAST OF WAVE LOAVES - THE FEAST OF PENTECOST

*  Leviticus 23:15-17, 20-21 - And you shall count from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:  even unto the day after the seventh Sabbath (the first day of the week), you shall number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.  You shall bring out of your homes two wave loaves of two tenths (two tithes-worth):  they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven; they are the first-fruits unto the LORD.  And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs:  they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.  And you shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be a sacred assembly unto you:  you shall do no servile work therein:  it shall be a statute forever in all your homes throughout your generations.

 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

*  Matthew 28:1 - At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
*  Mark 16:2, 9 - And very early on the morning of the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.
*  Luke 24:1 - Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others were with them.
*  John 20:1, 19 - Early on the first day of the week, when it was yet dark, Mary Magdalene went unto the sepulchre, and she saw the stone was taken away from the sepulcher.  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples has assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.

 

THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH AND THE WEEKLY ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS

*  Acts 2:1, 47 - And when the Feast of Pentecost was fully come (the first day of the week following the seven Sabbaths), they were all with one accord in one place.  Praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the Church daily those whom He had saved.
*  Acts 20:7 - And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, he being ready to depart the next day; and he continued his speech until midnight.
*  1 Corinthians 16:2 - Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you bring your offering, as God has prospered you, so that there be no need for a collection when I come.

SOME OF THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS ORDAINED

*  Mark 3:13-14 - And Jesus went up into a mountain, and called unto Himself, those whom He chose: and they came unto Him.  And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach.

*  John 15:16 - You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:  that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.

*  Acts 10:42 - And Jesus commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He Who was ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.

*  Acts 13:48 - And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.

*  Acts 14:23 - And when they had ordained elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on Whom they believed.

*  Acts 16:4 - And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees that they should keep, those that were ordained of the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

*  Acts 17:30-31 - And the times of this ignorance God tolerated; but now, He commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He ordained; whereof He has given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead.

*  Romans 13:1 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power other than those powers which are ordained of God.

*  1 Corinthians 2:7-8 - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

*  Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God had before ordained that we should go about doing them.

*  1 Timothy 2:1-7 - I, Paul, therefore instruct you, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who desires that all men be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is but one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be verified in due time.  For this reason, I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

 

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, GOD ORDAINED THAT YOU KNOW THESE THINGS!

WE MUST YIELD OURSELVES TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

When we as born again believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, two things are certain: 
     1) We will produce evidence of being filled.  Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
     2) We will "leak!"  This can be shown by Paul's admonition to become filled once again; he wrote in Ephesians 5:18:  "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."  "Be filled" here is a phrase that is present tense, passive voice, and imperative mood!  In other words, the Lord wants believers to continually yield themselves to the filling of the Holy Spirit.  The only exception to these two "rules," was Jesus Himself; John 3:34 says, "For He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God:  for God does not give the Spirit by measure unto Him."

This can also be seen in the fact that both Peter and Paul were filled on more than one occasion; here are all the verses which include the phrase:

*  Luke 1:15 - John the Baptizer was filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
*  Luke 1:41 - John's mother, Elisabeth, was filled with the Holy Ghost, when she heard Mary's voice.
*  Luke 1:67 - At John's circumcision, his father, Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and he began to prophesy.
*  Luke 4:1-2 - Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil for forty days.
*  Acts 2:4 - On the Day of Pentecost, all of Christ's followers were in the house, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.
*  Acts 4:8 - Peter, when speaking to the rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, was again filled with the Holy Ghost.
*  Acts 4:31 - Again, Peter and John prayed, and the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.
*  Acts 9:17 - When Ananias prayed for Saul of Tarsus, he received his sight, and was filled with the Holy Ghost.
*  Acts 13:9  - Saul, who was also called Paul, was again filled with the Holy Ghost, when Elymas the sorcerer attempted to interfere with Paul's sharing of the Gospel.

 

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS ARE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT BUT NOT NECESSARILY FILLED BY HIM!  AS A BELIEVER, ARE YOU SUBMITTING YOURSELF TO THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT?

FEAR, FEAR NOT, AND FEARFUL

The phrase "fear the LORD" appears in thirty-two verses in the Bible; all are in the Old Testament.  Here are a few examples:
*  Deuteronomy 6:1-2 - "Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you go to possess it:  that you might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command you, both you and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged."
*  Joshua 4:23-24 - "For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until you were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which He dried up from before us, until we were gone over:  that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty:  that you might fear the LORD your God forever."
*  1 Samuel 12:24 - "Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart:  for consider what  great things He has done for you."
*  Psalm 22:23 - "You who fear the LORD, praise Him; all you who are the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and fear Him, all you who are the seed of Israel."
*  Psalm 33:8 - "Let all the earth fear the LORD:  let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him."
*  Proverbs 3:7 - "Be not wise in your own eyes:  fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
*  Jonah 1:9 - "And he said to them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, Who made the sea and the dry land.

The phrase "fear not," is found in the Bible sixty-three times, with forty-eight of them being in the Old Testament, and fifteen in the New Testament.  When it appears in the Old Testament, it is telling believers to fear only the LORD; they were not to fear any other thing:  God was saying, "I've got your back!"  The New Testament, because Jesus came to reconcile men unto His Father, emphasizes God's love and grace!  Here are a few examples:
*  Matthew 10:28 - "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
*  Luke 5:10 - "And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not; from today on, you shall catch men."
*  Luke 12:32 - "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
*  John 12:15 - "Fear not, daughter of Zion:  behold, your King comes, sitting on the colt of an ass."
*  Acts 27:24 - "Saying, Fear not, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar:  and, lo, God has given you all them who sail with you!"
*  Hebrews 14:3 - "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
*  Revelation 1:17-18 - "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.  And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I Am the first and the last:  I Am He Who lives, and was dead; and, behold, I Am alive forevermore, Amen...."

That being said, what do you think God means when His Word says:
"He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone:  which is the second death" (Rev. 21:7-8)?

HIS FATHER HAS BECOME OUR FATHER

JESUS REPEATEDLY SPOKE OF ALMIGHTY GOD AS HIS FATHER 

*  Matthew 10:32-33 - "Whosoever therefore shall confess (having faith in) Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father Who is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny (having faith in) Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in heaven."

*  Matthew 16:16-17 - "And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, You are blessed, Simon Barjona:  for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but My Father Who is in heaven."

*  Luke 2:49 - "And He said to them, How is it that you sought Me?  Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

*  John 5:43 - "I am come in My Father's name, and you reject Me:  if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him."

*  John 10:30 - "I and My Father are one."

*  John 15:8 - "In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples."

*  John 20:21 - "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:  as My Father has sent Me, even so send I you."

BECAUSE WE HAVE FAITH IN HIS SON, GOD HAS BECOME OUR FATHER

*  Matthew 6:9 - "When you pray, pray like this:  Our Father Who is in heaven, Holy is Your name."

*  Luke 12:32 - "Fear not, little flock; for it is Your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

*  John 20:17 - "Jesus said to her, Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father:  but go to My brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto My Father, and Your Father; and to My God, and your God.

*  Romans 1:7 - "To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:  Grace to you and peace from God Our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."

*  Romans 8:15 - "For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

*  Galatians 1:3-4 - "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and Our Father."

*  Galatians 4:6 - "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

 

IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR,

THEN SATAN IS YOUR FATHER (MT. 13:38; JN. 8:44)!

TRUE REPENTANCE IS THE RESULT OF GRATITUDE

Just moments before Jesus ascended into heaven, He instructed His disciples saying, "...that repentance AND remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Lk. 24:47). 

REMISSION

Remission, in the biblical sense, refers to "the forgiveness or pardon of sins."  Because sin always results in a death sentence (Rom. 6:23), Jesus, motivated by His love for mankind, took our place by dying on the cross for us!

*  Matthew 26:28 - "For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
*  Acts 10:43 - "To him give all the prophets witness, that through His name, whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins."
*  Romans 3:25 - "Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation (the full payment or satisfaction of the sin debt) through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins...."
*  Hebrews 9:22 - "...without the shedding of blood, there is no remission."

REPENTANCE

Repentance is to have a change of heart; to turn from doing one's own will, and to seek to do God's will.  Repentance is seen in those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord (Rom. 10:9-10), and in a life lived in which one's gratitude to God is evidenced by obedience to His will (Mt. 3:8; Acts 26:20; Rom. 2:4).

*  Matthew 9:13 - "But go and learn what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
*  Mark 2:17 - "When Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those who are whole have no need of the physician, but those who are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
*  Luke 5:32 - "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
*  Acts 5:31 - "Him has God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
*  Acts 11:18 - "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
*  Acts 20:21 - "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Gentiles, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  2 Corinthians 7:9-10 - "Now I rejoice not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of:  but the sorrow of the world works death."
*  Hebrews 6:1 - "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God."
*  2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

JESUS IS THE LORD, THE SON OF GOD!

*  Daniel 3:24-25 - "Then Nebuchadnezzar....said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like The Son of God."

*  Matthew 8:28-29 - "And when (Jesus) was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.  And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God?  Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

*  Matthew 14:23 - "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Jesus, saying, Of a truth Thou art The Son of God."

*  Matthew 27:54 - "Now when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was The Son of God."

*  Mark 1:1 - "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Son of God."

*  Luke 1:35 - "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that (Holy Child) which shall be born of thee shall be called The Son of God."

*  Luke 4:41 - "And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ The Son of God.  And He, rebuking them, suffered them not to speak:  for they knew that He was Christ."

*  John 1:34, 49 - "And I saw, and bare record that (Jesus) is The Son of God....Nathanael answered and said unto Him, Rabbi, Thou art The Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel."

*  John 11:25-27 - "Jesus said unto her, I am The Resurrection, and The Life:  he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  (Do you believe) this?  She said unto Him, Yes, Lord:  I believe that Thou art the Christ, The Son of God, which should come into the world."

*  John 20:28-31 - "And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed:  blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:  but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, The Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."

 

TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, TODAY - TIME IS SHORT!

FROM SACRIFICAL LAMB TO SOVEREIGN KING

CHRIST'S FIRST COMING WAS AS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB

*  John 1:29 - "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said, Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world."

*  Acts 8:32 - "The place of the Scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before His shearer, so opened He not His mouth."

*  1 Corinthians 5:7 - "...For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."

*  1 Peter 1:18-19 - "For as much as you know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

*  Revelation 12:10-11 - "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

 

CHRIST'S SECOND COMING WILL BE AS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

*  Revelation 5:1-5 - "And I saw in the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne, a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

*  Revelation 19:11-16 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He Who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth went a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations:  and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treaded the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He had on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

HOW TO HAVE A RIGHT STANDING WITH ALMIGHTY GOD

*  Matthew 5:6 - "Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled."

*  Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

*  Romans 1:17 - "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

*  Romans 3:21-22, 26 - "But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all those who believe....To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus."

*  Romans 4:3-5 - "For what does the Scripture say?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him who works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that does not work, but believes on Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

 

*  Romans 5:17-18 - "For if by one man's offence death reigned, much more, they who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

 

*  Romans 10:3, 10 - "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God....For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

 

*  2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

 

*  Galatians 2:21 - "I do not frustrate the grace of God:  for if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain!"

 

*  Philippians 3:9 - "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

 

*  Titus 3:5 - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit."

 

*  Hebrews 11:7 - "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."

 

*  Revelation 19:7-8 - "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

 

 

 

THE CHOICE IS UP TO YOU!

BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST IS REWARDED BY EVERLASTING LIFE!

*  John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

*  John 5:24 - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My Word, and believes on Him Who sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

*  John 6:40, 47 - "And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day....Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me has everlasting life."

*  Romans 6:22-23 - "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

FAILING TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST RESULTS IN FACING THE WRATH OF GOD!

*  John 3:36 - "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life:  and he that does not believe on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him."

*  Romans 1:18-19 - "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them."

*  Ephesians 5:5-6 - "For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no man deceive you with vain words:  for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

*  Colossians 3:5-6 - "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience."

*  Revelation 14:9-11 - "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  and the smoke of their torment shall ascend up forever and ever: and they shall have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name."

*  Revelation 15:1, 7 - "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God....And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever."

*  Revelation 16:1 - "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth."

 

ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS WILL LIVE FOREVER!

ALL WHO REJECT JESUS SHALL BE TORMENTED FOREVER!

TRUST AND OBEY

Jesus said that the Gospel, the life changing message His disciples were to preach, was to include two points:  Repentance and Remission (Lk. 24:47)!  Genuine born again believers have turned from lives defined by sin (Repentance), and strive to live their lives in gratitude to the One Who paid for their sins (Remission)!  Today, few "Gospel sermons" include the need to turn from sin and acknowledge Jesus as Lord.  That is odd, because Romans 10:9 states:  "That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."  Having accepted Jesus as my Lord, my life is focused upon obeying Him!  [Note:  All Scripture is from Skip's Lighthouse Version]

*  Matthew 8:27 - "But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!"

*  Mark 1:27 - "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this?  What new doctrine is this?   For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him."

*  Acts 5:29-32 - "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom you slew and hanged on a tree.  Now God has exalted Him with His right hand, to be a Prince and a Savior, giving repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to those who obey Him."

*  Romans 6:16-17 - "Do you not know, that to whom you yield yourselves as servants to obey, his servants you are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have now obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you."

 

*  Romans 10:16 - "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel.  For Isaiah said, Lord, who has believed our report?"

 

*  Galatians 5:7 - "...who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?"

 

*  2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 - "And to you who are troubled, rest with us; the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who refused to acknowledge God, and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

*  2 Thessalonians 3:14 - "And if any man refuses to obey our instructions in this letter, take note of that man, and have no fellowship with him, that he may be ashamed."

 

*  Hebrews 5:9 - "And Jesus, being perfect, became the author of eternal salvation unto all those who obey him."

 

*  1 Peter 4:17 - "For the time is come that judgment must begin with the house of God:  and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?"

 

 

THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST, KNOW HIM AS LORD!

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE STILL NEEDS TO BE PROCLAIMED

CHRIST'S FINAL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE HIS ASCENSION

*  Matthew 28:18-20 (SLV) - And Jesus said unto them, All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth.  Go, therefore, and proclaim the Gospel unto all nations, baptizing those who believe you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  then teach them to observe those things which I have taught you: and remember, I am with you always, even unto the end of the Age.  Amen.
*  Mark 16:15 (SLV) - And Jesus said to them, Go into all the world, and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
*  Luke 24:46-48 (SLV) - And Jesus said unto them, it was written that Christ would suffer death, and He would be raised from the dead the third day:  therefore, repentance and remission of sins should be proclaimed in My name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  And you are witnesses of these things.
*  Acts 1:4, 8 (SLV) - And, being assembled together with His disciples, Jesus told them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait there for the promise of the Father, for I told you that you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you:  and you shall be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and unto the ends of the earth.

THE LORD'S GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT MUST BE PROCLAIMED

The Gospel defined:  "Gospel" comes from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euaggelion), which is the good news that, because of God's love for humanity, He willingly gave His Son's life as a sacrificial payment for the sins of the world (Mk. 1:1; Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 2:2; etc.).  The Word of God has this to say about the Gospel:

*  Romans 1:16 (SLV) - For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to whosoever believes it; to the Jews first, and also to the Gentiles.  [Note:  Also see John 1:11-12 (SLV)].

*  1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 (SLV) - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you....For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

*  Hebrews 4:2 (SLV) - For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them, they did not believe it when they heard it.

 

DO YOU BELIEVE THE GOSPEL?  THEN GO TELL SOMEBODY! 

JESUS DIED FOR GENTILES TOO!

*  Acts 11:11-18 (SLV) - After Peter has seen the vision, "...behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.  And the Spirit led me to go with them in boldness.  Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:  and he told us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell you how you and all those dwelling in your house shall be saved.  And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, like He did on us at the beginning.  Then I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He had said, John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Forasmuch then as God gave them the same gift as He did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that I could withstand God?  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted repentance unto life to the Gentiles."

*  Acts 26:12-20 (SLV) - The Apostle Paul wrote:  "...as I was traveling to Damascus under the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the brightness of the sun, surrounding me and those who journeyed with me.  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?  And I said, Who are You, Lord?  And He said, I am Jesus Whom you persecute.  Arise and stand upon your feet:  for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in the which I will reveal unto you; delivering you from the your people and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by their faith that is in Me.  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
but I first preached to those in Damascus, and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and to live their lives as evidence of their repentance."

*  Romans 15:13-16 (SLV) - "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  And I am convinced of this, my brethren, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.  Nevertheless, brethren, I have boldly written unto you to remind you, that because of the grace God has given me, I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the salvation of the Gentiles might be acceptable to God, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit."

JESUS CAME TO DIE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD!

JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD TO RULE THE WHOLE WORLD!

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

JESUS CHRIST IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD

Matthew 16:16-17, 20 - "And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, you are blessed, Simon Barjona:  for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father Who is in heaven....Then He charged His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ."

Matthew 26:63-64 - "But Jesus held His peace.  And the high priest answered and said unto Him, I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You be the Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus said unto him, you have said (it)...."

Mark 14:61-62 - "But He held His peace, and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked Him, and said unto Him, Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  And Jesus said, I AM: and you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Luke 22:70-71 - "Then said they all, Are You then the Son of God?  And He said unto them, Ye say that I AM.  And they said, What need we any further witness?  For we ourselves have heard of His own mouth."

John 1:41 - "He first found his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ."

John 4:40-42 - "So when the Samaritans were come unto Him, they besought Him that He would tarry with them:  and He abode there two days.  And many more believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

John 10:24-25 - "Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long do You make us to doubt?  If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.  Jesus answered them, I told you, and you did not believe Me:  the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me."

John 11:27 - "She said unto Him, Yes, Lord:  I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who should come into the world."

John 20:30-31 - "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:  but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you shall have life through His name."

1 John 2:22 - "Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son."

1 John 5:1 - "Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God: and everyone that loves Him Who begat loves Him also Who is begotten of Him."

 

SALVATION TAKES PLACE WHEN ONE BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST,

THE SON OF GOD, AND ACCEPTS HIM AS BOTH LORD AND SAVIOR!

GOOD NEWS IN A DAY OF BAD NEWS

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. ¹⁷ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

¹⁸ But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. ¹⁹ They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

²¹ Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. ²³ And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, Who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. ²⁶ That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. ²⁷ And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
²⁸ Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. ²⁹ Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. ³⁰ They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. ³¹ They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. ³² They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

 

[Based upon Romans 1:16-32 from the New Living Translation]

THE SHADOW OF DEATH

"The Shadow of Death" is translated from the Hebrew צַלְמָוֶת (tsalmaveth), and from the Greek σκιά (skia) in combination with θάνατος (thanatos). The definition of both the Hebrew and Greek is:  "shade caused by the interception of light, or an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object."  Notice two things about shadows:  1) they are not a part of the actual object from which they are cast; and 2)  the object casting the shadow does so by coming between the light source and the object upon which the shadow is cast!   

 

Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the world:  he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life" (Jn. 8:12).  Ironically, the "person" who blocks God's light from reaching man is the fallen angel who once was called Lucifer [the Hebrew הֵילֵל (heylel)], which means "light bearer"; it is the devil (Mt. 13;19; Eph. 6:12; Heb. 2:14)!  In John 11:25-26, Jesus makes an incredible statement:  "Jesus said unto her, I AM the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."  Of course, He was referring to the "second death" (Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8)!

Here are ten of the twenty times the "shadow of death" is found in God's Word:

1.   Job 12:9, 22 - "...the LORD...discovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death."
2.  Job 34:22 - "There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves."
3.  Psalm 23:4 - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me."
4.  Psalm 107:8-10 - "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron."
5.  Isaiah 9:1-2 - "...in Galilee of the nations....The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:  they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined."
6.  Jeremiah 2:6 - "Neither said they, Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?"
7.  Jeremiah 13:16 - "Give glory to the LORD your God, before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness."
8.  Amos 5:8 - "Seek Him Who makes the seven stars and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night:  Who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the face of the earth:  The LORD is His name."
9.  Matthew 4:16 - "The people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up."
10.  Luke 1:79 - "To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

 

FOR THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST, DEATH IS BUT A SHADOW!

JEHOVAH

The name "Jehovah" appears only seven times in the King James Version of the Bible.  One wonders why it appears at all since the translators went out of their way to substitute the word "LORD" for the Hebrew word יְהֹוָה (Yĕhovah) 6510 times!   These are the seven exceptions:

1.  Genesis 22:14 - "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh:  as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen."

[Note:  "Jehovah-jireh" is from the Hebrew יְהֹוָה  יִרְאֵה (Yĕhovah yireh), meaning "Jehovah sees and provides"].  

2.  Exodus 6:3 - "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by My name JEHOVAH was I not known to them."
 
[Note:  "JEHOVAH" is from the Hebrew יְהֹוָה (Yĕhovah), which means "the existing One - "the I AM" of Ex. 3:14].

3.  Exodus 17:15 - "And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi."

[Note: "Jehovah-nissi" is from the Hebrew יְהֹוָה  נִסִּי (Yĕhovah nicciy), meaning "Jehovah is my banner"].

4.  Judges 6:24 - "Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom:  unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites."

[Note:  "Jehovah-shalom" is from the Hebrew יְהֹוָה  שָׁלוֹם (Yĕhavah shalowm), which means "Jehovah is peace"].

5.  Psalm 83:18 - "That men may know that Thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."

[Note:  "JEHOVAH" (see Exod. 6:3 note above].

6.  Isaiah 12:2 - "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation."

[Note:  "LORD JEHOVAH" (see Gen. 22:14 and Exod. 6:3 notes above].

7.  Isaiah 26:4 - "Trust ye in the LORD forever:  for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."

[Note:  "LORD JEHOVAH" (see Gen. 22:14 and Exod. 6:3 notes above)].

 

JEHOVAH IS THE GREAT "I AM" OF SCRIPTURE. 

JESUS SAID, "BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM!"

TRUST IN HIM WHO IS LORD FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION! 

CALL AND CONFESS

CALL

*  Genesis 4:26 - "And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos:  then began men to call upon the name of the LORD."
*  Deuteronomy 4:7 - "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon Him for?"
*  1 Chronicles 16:8 - "Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people."
*  Psalm 18:3 - "I will call upon the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised:  so shall I be saved from mine enemies."
*  Psalm 50:15 - "And call upon Me in the day of trouble:  I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."
*  Psalm 55:16 - "As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me."
*  Psalm 86:5, 7 - "For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee....In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee:  for Thou wilt answer me."
*  Psalm 105:1 - "O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name:  make known His deeds among the people."
*  Psalm 116:2 - "Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live."
*  Psalm 145:18 - "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth."
*  Isaiah 12:4 - "And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted."
*  Jeremiah 29:12 - "Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you."
*  Joel 2:32 - "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."
*  Acts 2:21 - "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
*  Romans 10:12-13 -  "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
*  1 Corinthians 1:2 - "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours."

 CONFESS

*  Matthew 10:32 - "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."
*  Romans 10:9-11 - "That IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed."
*  Philippians 2:11 - "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
*  1 John 4:15 - "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in Him, and he in God."

GOD'S MERCY MAKES HIS GRACE POSSIBLE

ALL OF US ARE ON "DEATH ROW!"

The Bible says that you and I are sinners (Rom. 3:23; 5:12)!   It says that the penalty for sin is death (Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23)!  And, it says that because we all sin, we all have an appointment with death (Heb. 9:27)!
*  Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God!"
*  Romans 5:12 - "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned!"
*  Ezekiel 18:20 - "The soul that sinneth, it shall die!"
*  Romans 6:23 - "The wages of sin is death!"
*  Hebrews 9:27 - "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment!"

 

THE BEST WE CAN DO IS TO "BEG FOR MERCY!"

Mercy has been defined as a person "not getting what he deserves."  It includes clemency, or the pardoning of one found guilty (Ps. 51:1).  Because God loves us, He wants to show mercy toward us (Hos. 6:6; Mt. 9:13; 12:7)!  His mercy toward sinners was manifest in Him sending His only begotten Son to die in our place (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4: 1 Jn. 2:2)!
*  Psalm 51:1 - "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."
*  Hosea 6:6 - "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
*  Matthew 9:13 - "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
*  Matthew 12:7 - "But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless."
*  John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."
*  1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."
*  1 John 2:2 - "And He is the propitiation (satisfaction of a debt; "paid in full") for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

 

IT IS ONLY AFTER WE ACCEPT GOD'S MERCY, THAT WE RECEIVE HIS GRACE!

Grace has been defined as a person "getting something they do not deserve."  Grace is a free gift; our salvation cannot be earned by religious works (Rom. 10:9-10; Eph. 2:8-9).

*  Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
*  Ephesians 2:8-9 - " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast."

 

GOD OFFER HIS SON TO DIE IN OUR PLACE!

JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO BE LORD OVER THOSE WHO BELIEVE!  

WHAT DID CHRIST'S HUMANITY COST HIM?

Yesterday, I wrote down several verses that spoke of Jesus being the great I AM, and to add to that understanding, I would remind "both of my readers," that Jesus didn't just become the I AM in Exodus 3:14, He was the Creator of all there is; He was the God of Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; and Hebrews 1:1-2!!! 

Of course, most believers are aware of Philippians 2:5-8, which reads:  "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." 

And, unlike His status as the Son of God, Jesus as the Son of man:
*  Was physically born - Luke 2:16-21.
*  Submitted to Joseph and Mary - Luke 2:51.
*  Grew in wisdom and stature - Luke 2:52.
*  Hungered - Matthew 4:2.
*  Thirsted - John 19:28.
*  Was tired - Matthew 8:24.
*  Was sorrowful - John 11:35.
*  Had limited knowledge - Mark 13:32.
*  Questioned His Father's love - Matthew 27:46.
*  Died - John 19:33.

Yes, Jesus chose to come into His own created Universe knowing exactly what it would cost Him.  The writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote of this in verse 4:6 - "For for this cause was the Gospel preached...."  The Gospel. "in a nut-shell," states:  "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel...how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4).  Even though Jesus never personally sinned, the Word states that His Father "...made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21; see also Heb. 4:15).

 

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE PRICE THE LORD JESUS PAID FOR YOU?

IF SO, THEN YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE LIVED ACCORDING TO HIS WILL! 

WHO DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE?

*  Matthew 16:15-16 - "Jesus said unto them, But Whom do you say that I AM?  And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!"
*  Matthew 27:43 - "He trusted in God; let God deliver Him now, if God will have Him: for He said, I AM The Son of God."
*  Mark 14:60-62 - "And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Do you not answer?  With what do these witnesses accuse You?  But He remained silent.  Again the high priest asked Him, Are You The Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  And Jesus said, I AM: and you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
*  Luke 22:70 - "Then said they all, Are You then The Son of God?  And He said unto them, You say that I AM."
*  John 6:48 - "I AM The Bread of life."
*  John 8:12 - "...I AM The Light of the world...."
*  John 8:23 - "...I AM from above:  you are of this world; I AM not of this world."
*  John 8:58 - "Jesus said unto them...Before Abraham was, I AM."
*  John 10:7 - "Then said Jesus unto them again...I AM The Door of the sheep."
*  John 10:11 - "I AM the Good Shepherd:  the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
*  John 10:36 - "Do you say of Him Whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I AM The Son of God?"
*  John 11:25 - "Jesus said unto her, I AM The Resurrection, and The Life:  he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
*  John 13:13 - "You call Me Master and Lord:  and you say well; for so I AM."
*  John 14:6 - "Jesus said unto him, I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life:  no man comes unto the Father, but by Me."
*  John 15:5 - "I AM The Vine, you are the branches:  He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same shall bring forth much fruit:  for without Me you can do nothing."
*  John 18:4-5 - "Jesus...said unto them, Whom do you seek?  They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus said unto them, I AM."
*  John 18:37 - "Pilate therefore said unto Him, Are You a king then?  Jesus answered, You say that I AM a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world...."
*  John 19:21 - "Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I AM King of the Jews."
*  Revelation 1:17-18 - "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I AM The First and The Last:  I AM He Who lives, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, Amen...."

 

"I AM" IS THE NAME OF JEHOVAH, GOD'S SACRED NAME; EXODUS 3:14 SAYS, "AND GOD SAIS UNTO MOSES, I AM THAT I AM:  AND HE SAID, THUS SHALL YOU SAY UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, I AM HAS SENT ME UNTO YOU."

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER: FOUR HEARTS

THE STORY OF THE SOWER, THE SEED, AND THE SOIL

*  Matthew 13:1-8 (SLV) - "Later that day, Jesus went out of the house, and He sat down at the edge of the sea.  And a great multitude was gathered together to hear Him; so He got into a boat, and sat down; and the whole multitude stood listening on the shore.  And He began to speak to them in parables, saying:
Behold, a sower of seed went forth to sow; and as he sowed, some of the seed fell on the pathway, and the fowls came and devoured them:  some fell upon rocky ground where they had very little soil:  and when the plants began to grow, because they could not take root, when the sun bore down on them, they were scorched, and they withered away.  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns took over and choked them:  but other seed fell into prepared soil, and the plants grew strong and became fruitful; some produced a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, and some thirty-fold."

 

JESUS REVEALED WHY HE TAUGHT IN PARABLES

*  Matthew 13:10-17 (SLV) - "And His disciples came and asked Him, Why do You speak to them in parables?  Jesus answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given.  For whosoever has faith, to him more truth shall be given, and he shall have his faith increased:  but whosoever has no faith, even the knowledge of the truth he has, shall be overcome by doubt.  Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they refuse to see; and they refuse to hear, and as a result, they do not understand.  And they fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing, you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing, you shall see, and shall not perceive:  for their hearts have been hardened, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; so they refuse to see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and to understand with their heart, so that they can be converted, and I should heal them.  But your eyes are blessed with seeing:  and your ears are blessed with hearing.  For I declare unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them."

 

CHRIST'S EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE

*  Matthew 13:18-23 (SLV) - "Therefore, listen to the parable of the sower.  When any one hears the Word of the Kingdom, and understands it not, then the wicked one comes, and takes away that which was sown in his hardened heart.  This is he who received God's Word on the pathway.  But he who receives God's word as rocky ground, the same is he who hears the Word, and with joy receives it; but it does not take root in him, his joy is short-lived:  for when tribulation or persecution comes his way due to his faith in the Word, by and by, he becomes silent.  And he who receives God's Word among the thorns is he that hears the Word; and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, distract him and he too becomes silent.  But he who receives God's Word into the prepared soil, is he that hears the Word, and understands it; and as a result, shares it; bringing forth fruit a hundred-fold, or sixty-fold, or thirty-fold."

 

HAS TRIBULATION OR THE TEMPTATION CAUSED YOU TO BE SILENT?

THEN THE WORLD IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN PLEASING GOD!

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

THE GOOD:  ONLY GOD IS GOOD!

*  Psalm 34:8 - "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him."
*  Psalm 100:5 - "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations."
*  Psalm 135:3 - "Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good:  sing praises unto His name; for it is pleasant."
*  Jeremiah 33:11 - "The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for His mercy endures forever...."
*  Nahum 1:7 - "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."
*  Matthew 19:17 - "And He said unto him, Why do you call Me good?   There is none good but one, He is God...."

THE BAD:  ALL MEN ARE "BAD!"

*  Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
*  Matthew 7:11 - "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?"
*  Matthew 9:4 - "And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts?"
*  Matthew 15:19-20 - "For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy:  These are the things which defile a man:  but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
*  Romans 3:10 - "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one."
*  Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

THE UGLY:  BELIEVERS ARE "UGLY" UNTIL THEY "LOOK LIKE JESUS!"

*  Romans 7:14-25 - "For we know that the Law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  For that which I do, I allow not:  for what I would, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do.  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that it is good.  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing:  for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would do, I do not:  but the evil which I would not do, that I do.  Now if I do that which I would not do, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man:  but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."  [Note Paul is speaking in the present tense!]

THE BELIEVER'S FUTURE METAMORPHOSIS

*  1 John 3:2 - "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."  [Note that John is speaking of our being like Christ in the future tense!]

THE WILL OF GOD

*  Mark 3:33-35 - Jesus answered them saying, Who is My mother, or My brethren?  And He looked around at those who sat near Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!  For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and Mother.

*  Acts 13:35-36 - For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, died; and he was laid to rest with his fathers, and his body saw corruption:  but Jesus, Who God raised from the dead, saw no corruption.

*  Romans 8:26-27 - Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our infirmities:  for we do not know for what we should pray:  but the Spirit, Himself, makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And He Who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

*  Galatians 1:3-4 - Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God, our Father.

*  Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently for you in prayer, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

*  1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 - Furthermore, we plead with you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you ought to live and to please God, so you would do so more and more.  For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification....

*  1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

*  1 Peter 2:13-15 - Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:  whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, and to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those who do well.  For it is the will of God, that with well doing, you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

*  1 Peter 4:1-2 - Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:  for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time according to the lust of his flesh, but to the will of God.

*  1 John 2:17 - And the world shall pass away, with its lust:  but he who does the will of God shall live forever.

 

THERE IS NO GREATER JOY THAN TO BE LIVING ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL!

CHRIST'S TWO ROLES: KING AND LORD

I have been a born again believer since January 31, 1971, and I have heard thousands of sermons!  In fact, as a Pastor, I preached many myself, and yet, I have never heard or preached a sermon that divided Christ's "name," which appears in three variations in the Scriptures:  in Revelation 19:16, Jesus is both "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."  The same goes for 1 Timothy 6:15 which states that Jesus is "the King of kings, and Lord of lords," and in Revelation 17:14, He is identified as "Lord of lords, and King of kings."  However, I cannot count the sermons which included the seven words as a single title. 

 

JESUS CHRIST AS KING OF KINGS

The phrase or title of "King of the Jews" appears only eighteen times in the entire Bible, all in the four Gospels (Mt. 2:2; 27:11, 29, 37; Mk. 15:2, 9, 12, 18, 26; Lk. 23:3, 37, 38; and Jn. 18:35, 39; 19:3, 19, 21).  However, the word "kingdom" is found 110 times in the Old Testament, and 162 times in the New Testament (120 of those are in the four Gospels).  The kingdom, with Christ as King, was presented as prophecy in the Old Testament, was offered to the Jews in the Gospels (Jn. 1:11-12), and when Christ was rejected and crucified, it once again has become a prophecy for the future.  It will become a reality at Christ's Second Coming (Rev. 19:11 - 20:15)!  Jesus will be acknowledged as the King of the Jews.

 

JESUS CHRIST AS LORD OF LORDS

The phrase or title of "Lord" appears 667 times in the New Testament; in eighty-four verses, the words, "Jesus," "Christ," "our," and "Lord" appear together!  While Jesus will one day rule as King over Israel, He IS NOW (and always will be) Lord over the Church!  Remember, the Church is comprised of both Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ.  Here are some examples:

*  Acts 2:47 - "Praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
*  Acts 20:21 - "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Gentiles, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
*  1 Corinthians 1:2 - " Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours."
*  1 Thessalonians 1:1 - "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

SALVATION OCCURS WHEN ONE RECOGNIZES JESUS CHRIST AS LORD!

*  Romans 10:9-10 (SLV) - "That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart man believes and receives Christ's righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21); and with the mouth, confession of Christ as Lord results in salvation."