Salt Of The Earth & Light Of The World!

The Bible says in Mathew 5: 13, "You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

The metaphor of the word "salt" used here was to describe the character of God's people in being connected with purity, and to indicate their influence for good as they penetrate secular society.

In the old days, a Christian who had been ejected by discipline from the Church was compelled, before he was received back, to lay at the door of the Church and invite people to enter, saying, "Trample upon me who is the salt which has lost its flavor."

Salt has some unique characteristics. Let's take a closer look:

Salt causes thirst...
We make others thirst for the Lord by living His Will.

Salt is a seasoning...
We are to season each other by His Word and our testimonies.

Salt is a preservative...
By doing His Will we save souls because His wish is that none should perish.

Mathew 5: 14 - 16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."

Christianity was meant to be seen...
We shine as reflected light, (His Light), radiating from the presence of Christ within our hearts.

Visible to all men in the World
Attracting them to God...

We are to be a guide for God to others, In Love, to make the way clear as an example or a warning light which is our duty. Praising good and condemning evil.

The bottom line is that Christian uselessness invites disaster. We must be an example of purity. Our conviction should be brought about by loyalty and living for Christ today. We have a choice to either have a positive or negative effect on others today. It is and always will be our responsibility to live in the Truth, as He has instructed us, bringing glory to Him.

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Committed Christians - Certainty Of Purpose!

What was the certainty of purpose that propelled the early Church into action?

Let's look back for a moment -

The Crucifiction

.....To the disciples it seemed as if everything was over. They felt helpless as they stood off at a distance and watched Jesus, the light of their world, fading before their eyes. As He was being nailed to the Cross, all of their hopes and dreams were being nailed to it also. Their reason for living hung before them bleeding and dying. Looking at the blood-stained body of Jesus, the disciples shook their heads in dismay. This was the man that they had seen give sight to the blind, open deaf ears, cast away demons, and feed thousands with a few loaves of bread, and fish. This was the man who spoke into the darkness of a tomb and called a dead man back to life. This man who was now on a Cross, laboring to breathe.

Can you picture the despair that was on the faces of all the disciples, not to mention in their minds, envisioning danger, capture, and the end of a dream?

In those dark hours, they forgot the promise of Jesus.
The promise to rise again on the third day.

.....Their moment of darkness could have been an occasion for expectancy. Had they focused on the promise instead of the problem, they would have known much sooner that it was not the end, but the beginning.

.....In John 20: 1-8, the Gospel proclaims, "Jesus was resurrected. The tomb was empty. Tribulation was turned into triumph. Jesus was alive." A new beginning had dawned out of the darkness. God's grace shined for all of mankind. He showed us that even when things looked dark, and it seems nothing can be done, that is when your faith should be strongest. To God, your dark tomb of tribulation is just the fertile ground from which He will resurrect your deliverance. The instant you exercise your faith in His Divine Power, your tribulations turn into triumphs. In our hour of despair and darkness, we are to take our eyes off our problems, and turn them toward Jesus, the Light of the World.

.....Christ's resurrection provided His shaken disciples with a solid foundation of hope. His empty tomb gave new life and meaning to the disciples. It strengthened their shaky structure of faith, and gave them all something to live for, and die for. They were no longer afraid. The resurrection of their master turned their certain break-up into a breakthrough of certainty. Each one of them became a man of great faith and action.

....Then on the day of Pentecost, these men and 108 others, emerged from the upper room, and possessed a certainty of purpose. No longer did these disciples cower behind locked doors and deny involvement in the cause. They had a sure foundation of faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit as their guide and comforter. These 12 men allowed no hardship, no tribulation, no threat of death, to hinder them from proclaiming "Truth," Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and coming King. Despite every test, and torture, these men remained constant in their resolve. They kept their feet firmly planted in the Word, and their eyes fixed on the prize. From that point in their lives, they preached the Gospel with boldness, having the authority given to them by God through the revelation of what truly happened and what they witnessed, even unto death.

James, the brother of John, "The Revelator," was so adamant of his faith in Christ he was beheaded.

Thomas, the one who believed only after seeing the nail scares of Jesus with his own eyes, proclaimed the Gospel throughout Persia, and took the message of Christ eastward to India. There he declared his faith openly, up until the very day he was slain with a short spear.

Simon, The brother of Jude and James, was a dynamic witness for the Son of God, and was crucified in Egypt.

Simon, called Zelotes, preached throughout Africa, and also was crucified.

Mark, taught about Jesus throughout Egypt, and during the terrible reign of Trajan the Emperor, the evangelist was dragged by ropes into a fire, and left there to burn.

Bartholomew, missionary to India, later went to Armenia and withstood numerous persecutions. He was finally beaten mercilessly with sticks, then crucified. And afterward, beheaded.

Andrew, the brother of Peter, proclaimed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for about 50 years. He brought many to the understanding of salvation. He confronted the Governor of a large territory in what is now known as Ethiopia for worshiping idols, boldly declaring the Son of God. The Governor became afraid of Andrew's growing influence and ordered the disciple to be, "fastened to the cross with all speed."

Mathew, wrote a New Testament Book and taught against pagan practices in Ethiopia, and Egypt, leading many to salvation, when King Hircanus, the ruler of the area, sent a servant to him and ran him through with a spear.

Phillip, fearlessly declared the teachings of Jesus throughout the nations of the Middle East. And after persevering through many trials, he was crucified and stoned until dead.

James, Governor of the early Church, he persuaded both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus was the promise Messiah. He was killed by the Scribes, and Pharisees, and buried where he fell.

Peter, traveled the World testifying of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Facing a multitude of adversity, including scourging, imprisonment, and trials before Kings. Peter suffered the agonizing torment of death on an upside down cross.

John, Author of "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," live to be 100. Dedicated his entire life to Christ and the administering of His Church. Was banished to a life in prison by the Emperor Domitian on the Island of "Patmos," which means My Killing.

.....All of these brave, and dedicated men of God were committed, excited, and sure of their faith. And that is why miracles followed them. They built up the Church of Jesus Christ, and courageously looked death in the face, proclaiming the Gospel with a certainty of purpose. These first Christians were committed to seeing lives transformed by the power of God, despite the personal dangers.

.....God is looking for committed Christians today who are certain of their convictions, and willing, without hesitation, to stand up for their beliefs. He is looking for those that have the tenacity to stand their ground, no matter whose toes they have to step on. The example committed Christians set during adversity today will drive men to either get right with God, or get left behind. The Word is our responsibility. Our response to God's Ability. Tribulation helps us to learn not only of God, and from God, but also enables us to teach others about God, so that many will be drawn to God. Adversity makes the strong stronger, and the weak weaker. Are you ready? Are you committed to Christ? Are you ready and willing to go out into the World and rescue the hurting, the dying, the lost? Let us take our cue from the 12 disciples. If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.

Like those who have gone before us, if we are to survive the heat, we must be prepared to walk through the fire, for Christ, and acquire God's special mark of "Certainty."

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Basic Insights On Knowing God's Will!

God's Will Involves People

God so loved a world full of people that he gave His Son...
It's all too easy for us to become more concerned about things than people today.
If this happens we will always miss the real joy of knowing God's will.

Knowing Basic Needs Removes Fear Of People

Many people have a fear of talking to others.
There is a way of overcoming this fear.
If we were walking down a neighborhood street and happened to see a gathering of people sitting the porch in front of their house, many of us would probably experience a certain fear about the idea of saying hello, concerned with intruding upon their gathering.

However, if we were to see that the roof of their home was on fire, we would overcome our fear instantly. We would be sure that the message we had to give them was one of great importance and one which they needed to hear. We would be quite confident that they would immediately recognize the importance of our message.

So what is our problem with sharing our Christianity with them and others?

1John 4: 17-18 says, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness...
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear."

God Has A Special Concern For Christians

It is quite easy for us to become spiritually discouraged with the spiritual immaturity of some Christians today, and decide that we will not bother with them, but instead will concentrate on only reaching those who are not saved or heard the Gospel.

It is important for us to proclaim the Gospel to those who have never heard. But when there are already Christians in the area, it is also important to bring them up to their full maturity in Christ. If we don't do this, their immaturity will cause others to stumble, and we will know how to solve similar immaturity in those we lead to Christ.

This is the main reason we are able to "Do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household faith."
Galatians 6: 10

In determining God's will for our lives, one of the most important questions we must ask ourselves is: "How can I help the Christians around me to mature and by doing so, beautify the Body of Christ?"

We Are To Assume Responsibility For The Reputation Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

When one member of the Body of Christ sins, (Missing the mark), or displays spiritual immaturity, the reputation of Christ is damaged and the whole Body of Christ suffers. When David sinned with Bathsheba, in 2Samuel 12: 14, Nathan the Prophet stated, "... by this deed thou has given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme..."

Because of this, Hebrews 3: 13 says, we are to "exhort one another daily... lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Just as the corpuscles in our blood surround a wound in the skin, laying down their own life and dieing, in order to stop the infection from spreading, we too are to "lay down our own lives for the brethren." 1John 3: 16

Three Types Of Christians Exist In Most Church Groups

When I had the privilege of working directly with a few churches and youth groups, I could always expect to find three types of Christians: Those that were cold, those that were spiritually hot, and those that were in between.

I soon learned why the in between or "lukewarm" Christians were and are nauseating to God.

Revelation 3: 15-17 says, "I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would rather see that you were cold or hot. So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have no need of nothing , and knowest not that thou are wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Cold Christians needs are fulfilled from the world and all it has to offer. They view lukewarm Christians as having no difference between them. The reason is "No Conviction." Their thoughts are, "He is closer to God than I am, but He does the same things I do!"

While cold Christians see the difference between them and the hot Christians. They can see that their needs are focused and centered around Christ. They can see the "Conviction" by which they live. Their thoughts are, "His life is so different from mine. I want to know what he is doing differently than me, maybe I had better start doing something about it."

2Chronicles 7: 14 says, "If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." 1Peter 4: 17

God's Will Involves Leading Those For Whom We Are Responsible To Spiritual Maturity

When we determine which individuals are under our spiritual care and purpose to give ourselves to the high calling of leading them to spiritual maturity, we have established the basis for a fulfilling ministry in our lives. Then, as God allows us to experience death to our natural inclinations, we will discover His way of responding to life's situations. We are then... "able to comfort others who are in trouble, by the comfort where with we ourselves are comforted by God." 2Corinthians 1: 4

We Are Responsible To Deepen Our Message.
God Is Responsible To Broaden Our Ministry.

We are prone to be concerned with how many people we are reaching with the Gospel. But God is only concerned that we bring those we reach to spiritual maturity. Colossians 1: 28 says, "Those who become mature are then able to reproduce the life and character of Christ in others as well."

God's Will Involves The Message We Develop More Than The Job We Are Doing

As each one of us dies to the natural inclinations of our old ways, which were contrary to the Word of God, and as we experience the life of Christ by applying the principles of His Word to our daily lives, we build a "Life Message."

God desires that each one of us becomes a "Living Epistle." 2Corinthians 3: 2
As we do, we will experience more and more joy. Proverbs 15: 23

God has chosen us and ordained us that we should go and bring forth fruit, and that our fruit should remain. John 15: 16

2Peter 1: 4 says, "God has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these we might be partakers of His divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in this world."

May this help you on your journey today!
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Grace And Sin!

Psalm 19: 12-14 mentions three kinds of sin - Errors, Hidden Faults, and Willful Sins.

Errors - sins we commit and are not aware of. David said, "Who can discern (one's) errors?" We can commit error-sins for years as a Christian and not be aware of them, unless someone courageously and lovingly points them out.

Hidden Faults - sins we commit that we are aware of, but try to hide, hoping nobody catches on. David prayed often to God, "Forgive my hidden faults."

Willful Sins - Attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions that we know are wrong, and yet we do them anyway. David asked God, "Keep your servant also from willful sins."

But let us note that there is something encouraging here also. Though David knows he is a sinner, he is also still God's servant.

Even willful sin does not exclude us from God's Love.
God's Grace never gives up on us!

"Where sin increased, grace increased all the more." - Romans 5:20

Despite our sin, we are God's servant, not because of what we have done, are doing, or ever will do, but because of whom we believe in...

Christ, and the Finished Work Of The Cross.

Maybe that is why David asked God, "May my sins not rule over me." He knew God's servants should only have one ruler - and it ought not to be willful sin. He knew he was not perfect.

So David prays, as a humble man, "May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight." And to whom does he make that request? " O Lord, My Rock, and My Redeemer."

These inner struggles are what make us alive today. These same struggles were shared by Jacob when he wrestled with God as in Genesis 32:28. Every God-believer is a God-struggler. Struggling with God is not a sign of unbelief or weak faith. It is a sign of an honest relationship, and even strong faith. Those who have no faith, have no need of grace, and no need to struggle with God. But all who have faith, struggle with God and the grace, and unmerited favor which He gives to us because of the imperfections we see in ourselves. Sometimes it is with a great ferocity, and other times it is a lesser intensity. He actually likes us to struggle with Him, because it always brings about change in our lives. Struggling with God shows that we take Him seriously to the Truth that He reveals to us in our lives each day as we journey forward, renewing our minds to what is true of us. Transforming us more and more into His image and likeness for the world to see. God's Grace is always more than enough to help us in our struggles with sin, strengthening us in our faith, showing us that He has everything we need in this life and journey today. Our true freedom and change comes through accepting His Grace, through His Son, Jesus Christ, and all that He has done to allow us to have that relationship again today.

Choose You This Day!

God is beginning a process of calling the world into a
relationship with Him concerning the finality of His Kingdom,
establishing itself on this Earth. Everyone who seeks to live through
the end times of great tribulation and live on into a new world,
where God’s Kingdom reigns, will have to choose for themselves if
they will receive God’s truth, or stubbornly hold onto traditional
beliefs that are fables. It is a choice, but one that will not be up for
debate with God.

People must repent of their wrong ways and receive God’s way
of life, or they will simply be erased from the earth at this time. The
way of greatest hope (because there is still no guarantee to survive)
is to repent of error and receive what it true. That is the right thing
to do, no matter what the immediate outcome. If we do not receive
such favor immediately, then it will come when we are resurrected
to life once more. However, your best hope, concerning your own
life now and the lives of those that you love, is that you repent
speedily and pour out yourself to God, seeking His guidance,
forgiveness, favor, and every day help and intervention in life.

As God reveals truth to you, a decision each time will have to be
made in your life. You will repent of your wrong ways and receive
the truth with gladness, or reject it. Will you accept what is true?
Will you embrace the light that removes the darkness in you
and from you, or will you continue to resist God and hold to false
ways, like the world has done for so long a time?

For now, what will you choose? It really is a simple choice.
This is where you must begin. It will not be easy. It was not easy for
all those who lived during the past 6,000 years and who chose to
follow the true ways of God. It was hard because of the
resistance, the mocking and oppression that came from others
who hated such ideas and beliefs. It will be the same for you.

These Blogs are written to give you the tools and means whereby
you can find answers to what is coming on this Earth, so that you
might have some opportunity to share in what lies just beyond the
end-time tribulation. God is bringing His worldwide ruling
Kingdom to the Earth. All who live on into it will be able to become
a part of His Church. It will be the only Church on earth.
No other religion will exist that can hurt and deceive mankind any
more. It will be “One Church.” There is only one Church anyway,
but in that new world it will be manifested throughout
all the world!

Do you grasp what God may be offering you? What will it take
to bring you to your knees? If death comes, your choice ends. If you
live, how long will it be before you will repent and accept the truth
you are reading? ...You are about to find out, one way or the
other!!!

God’s desire for mankind is that he repent—that his heart be
changed to receive the kind of heart that the faithful fathers of
old—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—possessed. But the history of man
is that he rejects such a heart. God has long expressed His desire
for man to change and receive His ways, that he might live life
to the full. It has been expressed in many ways and at many times.

God is going to bring down all nations. All governments of man will be
brought to an end. God will gather all people into a single
kingdom—His Kingdom over the whole earth. In the end-time, God
will destroy all religions, idols, and false gods, including the false
ways of what is called Christianity. Then God’s Kingdom will
begin to reign, and God will pour out His Spirit on all mankind.
God must bring down all nations from their haughtiness and
pride—humble them—so they can receive a new heart and spirit.

God’s final judgment will indeed be righteous and just.
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How We Grow! (In Christ)

"Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect." Romans 12:2

"God wants us to grow up... like Christ in everything." Ephesians 4:15

"We are not meant to remain as children." Ephesians 4:14

.....God wants each and everyone of us to grow up. His goal is for us to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ. Sadly today, a lot of us are growing older, but are not growing up. Many are stuck in perpetual infancy, remaining in diapers, still needing to be bottle fed on spiritual milk, never converting over to eating the spiritual meat. The reason is that they never intended to grow.

.....Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. A true want and desire. To grow, a person must make a decision, and a persistent effort towards that decision. Discipleship - the process of becoming like Christ - always begins with a decision. Jesus calls us, and we must respond, as the disciples did back then when they were called by Him.

.....When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn't understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus' invitation. That is all you need to get started also. Just decide to become a disciple.

.....Nothing shapes or defines your life more than the commitments you choose to make in your life today. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way they will define you. You will become whatever you are committed to.

.....It is at this point of commitment that many people miss God's purpose for their lives. They are for the most part, afraid to commit to anything, and just drift through life. Others make only half-hearted commitments and give in to competing values in their lives, which often lead to frustration and mediocrity. And then, some even make full commitments to worldly goals, such as becoming wealthy or famous, and end up disappointed and bitter. Every choice we make has eternal consequences, so take my advice, choose wisely.

God's Part and Your Part:

.....Christ likeness is the result of making Christ like choices and depending on the Holy Spirit to help you fulfill those choices. Once you decide to to get serious about becoming like Christ, you must begin to act in new ways. You will need to let go of some old routines, and develop new habits, intentionally changing the way you think. This can be done through the study of the Bible, which is the truth, and then the application of it.

.....The bible says, "Continue to work out your salvation, (or victory), with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."

Notice the two key elements in this verse for spiritual growth. "Work Out," and "Work In."

....The "work out" is your responsibility, and the "work in" is God's role. Spiritual growth is always a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit works with us, not just in us.

.....The "With fear and trembling" part means to take you spiritual growth seriously, because of the eternal implications.

To change your life, you must change the way you think.

.....Behind everything you do today is a thought or reasoning. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, every action is prompted by an attitude. God revealed this thousands of years ago, before Psychologists, when He said, "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts."

.....This verse was written to believers, and is not about how to be saved, but how to grow. It does not say "work for" your salvation, because you can not add anything to what Jesus did, and the "Finished Work"of the Cross.

.....Willpower alone can produce short-term change, but it will always create a constant internal stress because root causes of the behavior have not been dealt with. So the change never feels natural, causing you to eventually give up, like in diet, and exercising. Hence, you quickly revert back into your old patterns, not a complete lifestyle change.

.....That is why real spiritual growth starts by changing the way you think. The Bible says, "Let God transform you into a new person the renewing of your mind, through the washing of the water of the word of God." You must develop the "Mind Of Christ" that is within you.

.....This mental shift is called "Repentance," which literally means to change your mind. Technically, you repent whenever you change the way you think by adopting how God thinks- about yourself, sin, God, other people, life, your future, and everything else. You take on Christ's outlook and perspective. This begins when we stop thinking immature thoughts, which are always self-centered, and self-seeking. The Bible says that this selfish thinking is the source of all sinful behavior.

.....Paul worded this perfectly when he said, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put my childish ways behind me."

.....Today, many assume that spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of biblical information and doctrine one knows. While knowledge is one measurement of maturity, it is not the whole story concerning this. The Christian life is far more than creeds and convictions, it includes conduct and most of all, character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds, and our beliefs must be backed up with Christ like behavior. Christianity embodies a relationship, and a lifestyle. We must seek His Face and not His Hand for true spiritual growth, and God has given us His Spirit to help us and guide us, no longer thinking like the world thinks.
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Experiencing Life Together! (In Christ)

Each one of you is part of the Body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace.
Colossians 3:15

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1

.....Life is meant to be shared. God intends for us to experience life together. The bible calls this shared experience fellowship. The true meaning of fellowship includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other "one another" commands found in the New Testament.

.....Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It is genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing. It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

.....People wear masks today. They keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real fellowship. It is only as we become open about our lives that we can experience real fellowship with God and others.

.....The Bible says, "If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other... If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves.

.....The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. Darkness is used to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are. This requires two things, courage and humility. It means facing our fears of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.

So why would anyone take such a risk today?

Because it is the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy.

.....The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed."

.....We can only grow by taking risks, and the most difficult risk of all is to be honest with ourselves, God, and others. Nothing ventured, is nothing gained.

.....In real fellowship, we also experience mutuality. The art of giving and receiving, or depending on each other. Mutuality is the heart of fellowship. It includes the aspects of building reciprocal relationships, sharing responsibilities, and helping each other. The Bible is very clear on this subject, commanding us (over 50 times) in the areas of mutual accountability, encouragement, serving, and honoring. We are not responsible for everyone in the Body of Christ, but we are responsible to them. God expects us always to do whatever we can to help them. See a need, meet it.

.....In real fellowship, we also experience sympathy. Sympathy, or as some call empathy, is entering in and sharing the pain of others. Sympathy says, "I understand what you are going through, and what you feel is neither strange or crazy." The Bible says that we as Holy people are to be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Sympathy meets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood, and the need to have your feelings validated. Every time you understand and affirm someone's feelings, you build a new level of fellowship with that person. This increases your level of intimacy (IN-TO-ME-SEE) with them. It is in the times of deep crisis, grief, and doubt, that we need each other most. When circumstances crush us to the point that we find our faith in question, that is when we need believing friends the most. Friends who have faith in God for us, and to help pull us through. The Body of Christ is real and tangible for us today, even when God may seem distant in our lives, or our circumstances.

.....And the last thing I wish to share with you concerning real fellowship, is experiencing mercy and forgiveness. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes are not rubbed in, but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice.

.....We all need grace and mercy today, because we all stumble and fall, and require help getting back on track. We need to offer that same mercy and grace to each other, and be willing to receive it from each other as well. God says, "When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so that they won't give up in despair."

.....You can't have fellowship without forgiveness, because bitterness and resentment always destroys it. Because we are all imperfect people who still sin, or miss the mark today, we will inevitably hurt each other when we are together for a long enough time, either intentionally, or sometimes unintentionally, but either way, it will take a massive amount of grace and mercy to maintain any fellowship throughout its lifetime.

.....The Bible says, " You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." God's mercy is the key and the motivation for showing mercy to others. We will never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven us.

.....Many people today are reluctant to show mercy and grace because they do not truly understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior.

.....Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be built over time. Trust requires a track record. If someone hurts you repeatedly, you are not expected to trust them immediately, and you are not expected to continue allowing them to hurt you. They must prove they have changed over time. The best place to restore trust is within the supportive context of a small group that offers both encouragement and accountability.

.....I hope and pray that after you read this, you step out in faith and use this message as a tool to guide yourself into a deeper aspect of fellowship, experiencing it, with God and others in the near future as you apply it in your own life and journey today, and forever.
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The Spiritual Kingdom Of God!

.....One area of understanding that still needs to be clarified today is in regard to the Spiritual Kingdom of God. This Kingdom will reign on the earth, beginning at the return of Jesus Christ. However, those living on the earth will not be in that Kingdom. They will merely be ruled over by it. Many in traditional Christianity do not understand this message because they teach that the Kingdom is about heaven. Much of this confusion comes from scriptures that refer to the Kingdom in the context of heaven. Therefore, they believe they must go to heaven to be in the Kingdom. They simply fail to grasp that the Kingdom comes from God. It receives its power and authority from God, but it will come to reign on the earth at the end of this age. But what is that Kingdom?

Let's start with this scripture...

.....“Then Jesus said unto His disciples, verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23-24).

.....Jesus Christ is explaining how difficult it is for the rich to follow the way that leads into the Kingdom. Being rich physically or spiritually, in this context, represents an attitude about oneself. It is an attitude of pride—how human nature sees itself. It seeks to justify self. Human nature tends to see itself as right; it is wealthy in its own eyes. So much so, that it will not listen to instruction and correction from God. A mind of inflated self-worth cannot be changed against its will, yet God makes it clear that we must repent of our ways and receive the one and only true way of God, which will lead us into His Kingdom. But again, what is that Kingdom?

.....The “Kingdom of Heaven” spoken of here is the Kingdom of God. It shows the same origin—it must come from God out of heaven. Such expressions are speaking about the same thing. This is easier to see when you begin to understand the role of the Messiah. He will come to this earth to rule in a literal Kingdom, as the King of kings. That Kingdom will rule the earth— rule over mankind for 1,000 years. But what is difficult for people to grasp is that the Kingdom of God is spiritual. God the Father—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—Yahweh (the Eternal God) of the Old Testament is a spirit being, composed of spirit. His power, by which He created the universe, is of the spirit. It is often called the Holy Spirit because it reveals the source as coming from God, who is Holy. The Holy Spirit is the power that proceeds from God. It is not a separate spirit being (sometimes called the Holy Ghost), as some believe. God the Father is a spirit being, and He created other spirit beings, called angels. There is a spiritual realm. Angels dwell there. Some of those angels, along with Lucifer, rebelled against God and were cast to this earth. They became known as demons, foul spirits and fallen angels. Lucifer became known as Satan the Devil. Although these things are clearly in the Bible, few people really believe them.

.....Yet, God is spirit, and His Son, Jesus Christ, is now spirit. Jesus Christ was born into a physical world. His Father was Yahweh (the Eternal God) and His mother was the virgin Mary. He lived as a physical human being until He was killed—put to death as the Passover for all mankind.

.....The apostle Peter spoke of this by saying, “For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

.....Jesus became the first person to be resurrected, as a spirit being, and born into a spiritual family—above that of the angelic realm. After His resurrection, He manifested Himself in human form to the disciples and taught them for forty days. Spirit beings can appear in human form when God gives them the power to do so. When these beings are in their spirit form, physical human beings cannot see them.

.....After Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He appeared to Mary the following morning and told her to go tell the disciples that He was now going to ascend to His Father and their Father. Later that same day, as evening drew near, Jesus came upon two people walking and He began to talk with them about the events of the past few days. However, they did not know that it was Jesus who spoke until He departed from them. But notice how He departed. “ And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight” (Luke 24:31). He simply disappeared before their very eyes.

Later that evening, Jesus appeared before the disciples. Notice the account.

.....“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you” (John 20:19). The doors where the disciples were gathered together were shut, yet Jesus Christ suddenly appeared in their presence and spoke to them.

Here is another account of this same occasion.

.....“And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said unto them, Why are you troubled? and Why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have” (Luke 24:36-39). The disciples were so shaken that Jesus had to calm them down by letting them know that they couldn’t see a spirit and showing them that He had literally manifested Himself physically to them.

.....So when Jesus Christ comes in His Kingdom, as King of kings, to reign over this entire world, He will manifest Himself in physical form, just as He did to His disciples. Jesus Christ will be the King of kings in this Kingdom. But others, who are part of this Kingdom, will also come to this earth with Jesus Christ.
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The Day of Restoration! Easter Sunday!

.....Today is the celebrated day of Restoration for all of mankind. Easter Sunday is the time to rejoice and contemplate the victory, and resurrection, of the finished work of the Cross, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.

.....Restoration can also be seen in Creation as well. Genesis 1:1-2 says, "In the beginning God created the Heaven and Earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep..."

.....We can see in Genesis, Chapter 1 a picture of restoration. I am convinced after exhaustive study that there is a great gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. God does not create things without form and void.

.....In verse 3 of Genesis, we see the first day of creation. The first day can be likened to the incarnation, "Let there be light." When Jesus Christ was born into this dark world there was light manifested at that moment. God now had a body to reach the world. The incarnation is what proves to us that Jesus was legally qualified to represent us.

.....In Genesis 1:7, it says, "And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so."

.....We can see from this verse, the crucifixion of Christ pictured here. We can see Jesus as hung between Heaven and Earth on Calvary's Cross. The crucifixion was God getting rid of what was wrong with us. It was God judging the world in Christ. It was getting rid of who you used to be. It was when God separated and divided your "old man" from the "new creature" you have been made to be in Christ. Before you can enjoy who you are, you have to know how you got rid of who you used to be. A Christian is not somebody who just gets a little spiritual salve put over them and are just forgiven. We are new creatures in Christ. Romans 6:6 says that we were crucified with Christ.

.....Genesis 1:11 says, "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."
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.....Today is the third day, and is the resurrection, which points to the reality of who we now are. When Jesus came up from out of the tomb, the Bible says we were raised together and made to sit together with Him in Heavenly places, Ephesians 2:6. He is the seed of which brings forth fruit of its kind that is now upon the earth through us bringing glory to God.

.....Genesis 1: 14-16 says, "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also.

.....The two great lights today point to the Ascension. Not only did God plan for there to be an incarnation, a crucifixion, and a resurrection; but God also wants us as believers to rise up and become one with Christ in His Ascension. The fourth day of creation points to this because there are two great lights referred to here. The sun points to the Son of God, Jesus.

.....The moon represents us, the Church. The moon was created to rule the darkness, the night. But the moon rules the darkness with no light of its own. The only light the moon has is the light that is reflected from the sun. With that light, it rules the darkness on this earth. This clearly points to the Church. You and I today as believers are a part of the Body of Christ, and we are to rule and to reign with the light that is not our own, but given to us by the Son of God. We do not have any light of our own that is capable of driving out darkness. Any light that we have today that will drive out darkness is a reflection of the Son of God, that is on us and in us. This is what we are to grow up into. This is what Ascension Life is all about for us today.

.....Judges 5:31 is a beautiful verse concerning this today, and says, "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord; but let them that love Him be as the sun when he goes forth in His might." In other words, let him that loves the Lord reflect the light of the sun (Son), everywhere he goes.

.....So what about the stars mentioned in Genesis 1:16? If the sun is Jesus and the moon is the Church, then those little bodies of light up there must parallel this concerning us in some way also.

.....From my studies, the Spirit of God spoke to my heart concerning this. A star is a body that has been placed in the Heavens and given light for the purpose of making people look up. Stars are also used to help us and others to navigate and gain direction in the darkness while journeying on this earth. God has a great need today for people in the Body of Christ, to cause others to look up. Christians as well as the rest of the world, need people who will draw them to a Raised and Seated Christ, giving guidance and direction as spiritual beings, having a physical experience while on this earth today. We have to start thinking differently today, raising our expectations in our own lives, causing our ways and our thoughts to rise up. May we start thinking more like God and less like the world as we enjoy the celebration of this day.
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My God! My God! Why Has Thou Forsaken Me?

Today is the quietest day of the church year....

.....The Bible contains not one but four accounts of Jesus' death. They agree on the essentials: Jesus died on a cross at a place called Golgotha, hung up between two other men with a sign above His head. "King of the Jews," it said. The charge was treason against the Empire. The method of execution was Roman. People were so sure He was not coming down that they divided up His clothes where He could see them. He was offered some sour wine before He died and then He died, just before sundown on the day before the sabbath.

.....Those are the bones of the story, which each gospel writer fills out in a different way. Matthew and Mark's accounts are almost identical, except for a few differences in phrasing. Their Jesus is a broken man, who is so injured in every way that He needs help carrying His cross and whose only word from the cross is a cry of abandonment at the end.

.....In Luke's gospel, Jesus has more to say. Luke adds a word of pardon from the cross—"Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"—as well as a conversation between Jesus and the two men dying with Him that the other gospel writers do not mention. When Jesus dies, He does not ask where God has gone. Instead, He uses his last few breaths to commend His spirit to God. Luke's Jesus is as gentle and forgiving in death as he was all his life.

.....In John's gospel, however, Jesus is neither broken nor particularly gentle. He is brave, omniscient, and in charge all the way. John does not say anything about Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus' cross for Him. Jesus is strong enough to do that for himself. Nor does John allow anyone to mock Jesus while He dies. Even on the cross, Jesus is in charge. He arranges for his mother's care, says He is thirsty (in order to fulfill the scriptures), and when He dies there is no question about where God is. God is on the cross, pronouncing that "It is finished."

.....While all four of these accounts report the same event, they are not easily harmonized. They are four alternative readings of that event, so different from one another and yet so faithfully told that the editors of the New Testament decided that none of them could be left out. By including all four, those early shapers of the gospel sent us a message between the lines: namely, that there is more than one way to view what happened on the cross, and all of them are right.

.....Even if they do not agree on everything—not even something as important as Jesus' last words—their very disagreement preserves the mystery of what happened on this day. There is no one definitive word. There is no one answer to the awful questions raised by this day—chief among which is why God allows the innocent to suffer. In the case of Jesus, we are asked to believe that God not only allowed the suffering but willed the tortured, humiliating death of the Beloved.

.....You have heard the same explanations I have heard. Before Jesus, sinful humanity was so deep in debt to God that no human being could pay it all. So God sent Jesus to die for our sins, erasing the debt once and for all. This is the most traditional view of the cross, but it does not answer the question of suffering. What kind of father demands the death of a son in order to pay off a debt to himself?

.....According to another view, it was God who died on the cross, putting an end to divine bookkeeping through the voluntary sacrifice of divine power. But if Jesus was God, then whom was he talking to in the garden and from the cross? He clearly believed that someone else had the power to remove the cup of suffering from Him, or at least to be with Him while He drank it down--but who, in both cases, declined to do so.

.....I don't pretend to understand any or all of it. Sometimes I think that the suffering of Jesus was not God's will at all. It was, instead, the will of those who were arrayed against Him—those whose patriotic values He had offended, whose sense of God He had betrayed. It was the will of ordinary people like you and me, who prefer dead messiahs to living ones, since living ones are so much harder to tame.

.....It seems entirely possible to me that God's will for Jesus was a long and fruitful life, brimming over with the divine justice and love He was born to embody. When the world opposed that justice, however—when the world reviled that love—God's will did not give Jesus a license to stop being Jesus. God's will supported Him to go on doing justice and loving mercy even in the face of deadly opposition. So in that sense, I suppose, it was God's will that Jesus suffer and die—since suffering and death turned out to be the unavoidable consequences of being who He was. It was God's will for Jesus to be fully who He was every day of his life—even if the fullness of that life shortened the length of it.

.....But if that was the case, then where was God at the end? According to at least two gospels. Jesus believed Himself forsaken by heaven as well as earth. Couldn't God have spared one angel there at the end? Couldn't God have whispered one comforting word in Jesus' ear, just to help Him get through the last few awful, parched hours? It happened at His baptism in the river Jordan. It happened on the Mount of the Transfiguration with Peter, James and John. "This is my son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Where was that same voice at the end, when the Beloved was panting His last few breaths? What difference might a word have made?

.....But there was no word, except Jesus' own. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It was a quiet day for Him too—the quietest day of His whole life, when He asked for bread and got a stone. Whatever else it was, it was the death of hope—that God might intervene, might stop the suffering, might at least say a word that would make the suffering bearable. None of that happened. God was, for all practical purposes, gone—and yet Jesus died seeking God. He died talking to the Abba who would not talk back to Him, giving us the stripped down vision of faith that remains at the heart of our tradition.

.....When all of our own hopes have died, we still have this faith that seeks nothing for itself—not wisdom, not spiritual power, not rescue from suffering. "Success" is not in its vocabulary. This faith seeks nothing but God, to whom it is willing to surrender everything—up to and including its own cherished beliefs about who God is and how God should act. This faith is willing to sell all that it owns and bet the farm on one chance for union with God. If God plays hard to get, then this faith will never stop its wooing.

.....Purged of all illusion, weaned from everything that is not God, this relentless faith will devote itself to doing justice and loving mercy no matter what the consequences are, and if the consequences turn out to be a cross, then this faith will hang there for however long is necessary, asking God to be present, asking God to speak, regardless of whether or not God chooses to answer. This kind of faith, embodied by Jesus, is what makes Him the Christ—God's own Being of Light, God's own Anointed One—whose self-annihilating love for us and for all creation is never more vivid than it is on this day.

.....I actually know people who come to church on Good Friday and who don't come back on Easter. Easter is too pretty, they say. Easter is too cleaned-up. It is where they hope to live one day, in the land of milk and honey, but right now Good Friday is a better match for their souls, with its ruthless truth about the stench of death and the high price of love. It isn't that they don't care about what happens on Sunday. They do. They just don't believe that God is saving all the good news until then.

Today, on the quietest day of the year, we have come to sit in the presence of one who was the full embodiment of who God created Him to be every day of His life—who loved God with all His heart, and with all His soul, and with all His strength, and with all His mind—and who loved His friends so much that He stepped into the oncoming traffic of death in order to push them out of the way. He furthermore did it all with no more than the basic human equipment—a beating heart, two good hands, a holy vision, and some companions who could see it too—thereby showing the rest of us humans that such a life is not beyond our reach. Whatever else happens on Sunday, here is enough reason to call this Friday Good. Amen.

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The Divinity Of Jesus!

.....Today we will discuss the passage of scripture from John 5: 16-47, concerning the Divinity of Jesus, especially in the statement Jesus made in John 5: 17, where He stated, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

.....According to the Jewish wisdom of Jesus' day, although God's work of creating ceased on the 7th day, (Genesis 2: 2-3), His providential, care taking work did not. The Rabbis taught that two ongoing works of God were giving life and judging, and He performed these duties even on the Sabbath day. Because there was only one true God, (Exodus 15:11), the work of life-giving and judgment were prerogatives belonging to God alone.

Let's look at the Jewish reaction back then, which was from the words that Jesus spoke from the passage of scripture above.

.....When Jewish leaders accused Jesus of healing, and therefore, working on the Sabbath, (verse 16), Jesus responded that like God who works on the Sabbath, He works too, (verse 17). Jesus asserted His right to perform a divine activity, establishing an identity between Himself, and the Father. The Jewish leaders understood the implicit claim, charging Him with blasphemy, and then tried to kill Him, (verse 18).

.....Jesus' response was significant. He did not correct the accidental misunderstanding, or back away from His profound claims, but emphatically reasserted the point. In this passage, Jesus claimed an equality with the Father in activity, (verses 17-19), in honor, (verses 22-23), in authority, (verses 22, 27, 30), and in perspective, (verses 36-37). Most important, was the two main assertions Jesus made about Himself to grant life to the dead, (verses 21, 25-26, 28), and His right to judgment, (verses 22, 27, 30). - The very two works listed in the Old Testament that were attributed to God alone, (2 Kings 5:7, Ezekiel 37:13, Deuteronomy 1:17, 32:36).

.....The key here in the passage of scripture provides us with one of the most exalted statements of Jesus and His RELATIONSHIP with Father. All that belongs to God from the Old Testament, - Sabbath work, honor, power to give life, and authority to judge, - belong equally to Jesus, and us who are in Him today. His claims are unlike any other, for they are nothing less than claims of Deity shared with the Father. Without this important understanding, says Jesus, even the most diligent study of scripture will produce only lifeless results, (verses 39-40).

.....I would only hope that today's study would help to elevate you to contemplate the full Divinity of Jesus, the Son of God, and our identity, to us who are in Him. Your understanding of this can make all the difference in the world today. For those who understand and believe in the equality of the Father and the Son, have Eternal Life, and the love of God dwells in their hearts, (verses 24, 39-44). This is the power, from His Deity, confirmed through the Death, Burial, and Resurrection, that He brings to us for consideration, our identity through the resurrection life, which is to be celebrated on this upcoming Easter Sunday. May God Richly Bless You, through the Revelation of this.
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Easter - Resurrection Day!

.....Romans 6: 4 says, "As Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

.....In my line of work I have often had the privilege of meeting those who are at the bottom of their life, feeling lost, abandoned, and helpless, consumed in addiction and other life-controlling issues. And through our ministry's Christian Discipleship Program, I have been blessed and able to see God's miracles everyday as these people have their lives turned completely around and transformed right before my eyes, through the power of God. Like a caterpillar coming out of a cocoon and standing before me as a beautiful butterfly, these people experience liberation from their addictions, leaving behind lifestyles of hatred, and violence, experiencing grace, embracing the faith of a better future, hope, love, joy, peace, and forgiveness, for God, themselves, and others. They have truly become a "new creation" in Christ.

How is this possible?

.....The key to their transformation is the empty tomb on Easter morning. Paul spells out the impact of that empty grave when he writes in Romans 6:4, " We were buried with Christ through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead (This is the power that was unleashed) through the glory of the Father, we too may walk and live a new life." This faith, in choosing to boldly and unswervingly believe what God has said about them, and what He has said has happened to them, frees them to live as never before, for the good of God, and others. This is why the faith of a mustard seed has the ability to move mountains out of our own lives today.

.....Easter is obviously a big deal in the life of Jesus. But it is also a big deal for you and me also. The power of the risen Lord breaks addictions, melts hatred, and gives each of us a sense of purpose to live as resurrection people, experiencing all that God has for us, heaven on earth.

.....The expression "live a new life" literally means "walk a new life." The God we serve loves to take walks. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden according to Genesis 3: 8. He walked with the Old Testament people through the wilderness into the promise land in Exodus 40: 36-38. In Christ, He walked the dusty streets of Palestine, and then walked out of the tomb on Easter morning. Why? So we could see the victory that took place for us, and could personally walk with Him as He led the way into a fresh new life for us to experience all that God has for us as never before.

.....I would only ask the Lord to show you the power of the victory that took place over 2000 years ago, on this Easter Sunday. Upon seeing that, I know that your life will be truly changed forever, experiencing it daily in your life, leading you and guiding you into a life of resurrection, hope and power, unlike anything you have ever experienced before.
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The Riches Of God Through Christ!

.....Mathew 13:44 says, " The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for the joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

.....Mathew 13:45-46 says, " The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

.....I wish to discuss these 2 small parables today, but first let's ask ourselves, What is the kingdom of heaven?

.....The "kingdom of heaven" or "kingdom of God" in New Testament terminology and concept stands for and is indicative of the blessings of God according to Mark 10:25-26. Heaven is that which is over this earth, and through Jesus' Lordship and rule, is now available to bring life to every human experience today. A new power and presence of a new world of potential and hope to mankind, with respect to experiencing heaven on earth.

.....The kingdom of heaven. The term "kingdom" which means the king's domain is used about 137 times in the New Testament. "Kingdom of heaven" or its equivalent is found about 100 times in regards to Jesus' Ministry, and preaching about the kingdom. John the Baptist came preaching the kingdom of God and indicated it was then imminent in Mathew 3:2.

.....These 2 short parables were given to us to better understand the things concerning the kingdom of God that are far beyond anything that we could ever think or imagine. Spiritual truths always have preeminence over the physical, or the natural. This is why Jesus had to speak to us in parables, so we could get the bigger picture.

.....The treasure hid in the field, or the pearl found represent things of great value and worth, which we may make our own. Jesus Christ is the true Treasure; in Him there is an abundance of all that which is rich and useful, and will be a portion for us: all fullness (Col. 1:19; John 1:16): treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3), of righteousness, grace, and peace; these are laid up for us in Christ; and, if we have an interest in Him, it is all our own.

.....The gospel is the field in which this treasure is hid: it is hid in the word of the Old Testament and the New Testament. In gospel ordinances it is hid as the milk in the breast, the marrow in the bone, the manna in the dew, the water in the well (Isa. 12:3), and the honey in the honey-comb. It is hid, not in a garden enclosed, or a spring shut up, but in a field, an open field; whoever will, let him come, and search the scriptures; let him dig in this field according to Proverbs 2:4; and whatever royal mines we find, they are all our own, if we take the right course. It is a great thing to discover the treasure hid in this field, and the unspeakable value of it. The reason why so many slight the gospel, and will not be at the expense, and run the hazard, of entertaining it, is because they look only upon the surface of the field, and judge by that. The richest mines are often in grounds that appear most barren; and therefore people in general will not so much as bid for the field, much less come up to the price.

.....Those who discern this treasure in the field, and value it, will never be easy till they have made it their own upon any terms. They that have found this treasure, sometimes hide it, which denotes a holy jealousy, rejoicing in it, though as yet the bargain be not made; they are glad there is such a bargain to be had. They are the ones whose resolve is to buy this field, making it their own, for the sake of the unseen treasure in it. It is Christ in the gospel that we are to have an eye to; we need not go up to heaven, but can experience the kingdom of heaven on this earth if and when we truly find Christ. Christ is the key that opens up the kingdom to us. But in finding that key, we must be willing to part with all, counting every thing but loss, that we may win Christ, and be found in Him.

.....Today, many of us are busy, seeking our own treasures and pearls: ones that would make us rich, other things that would bring us power or honor, and take up with counterfeits for pearls. Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price, a Jewel of inestimable value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward God. And in having Him, we have enough to make us happy here and forever. This is truly what opens the eyes of our understanding to see all the treasures and pearls which He has placed around us upon this earth. A true experience of heaven on earth through the all the wonderful people that He places in our path to have fellowship, and relationships with. I have found Christ, and that spiritual treasure or pearl of great worth today. And because of that, I am truly blessed and able to see all of the physical treasures and pearls of great worth in my life today. I would only hope to show them, as God has shown me through truth and love, by having the privilege of experiencing the kingdom of heaven on this earth with them today with Christ. Isn't that why we are here?
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Why Should We Study The Bible?

.....Why should we study the bible? The simple answer is because God in His word tells us to. (2Timothy 2:15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We are exhorted to preach the word and to be able to defend it. (2Timothy 4:2) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. Scripture is the tool God has given us and it is our duty to study it, know it, and apply it. (2Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I have listed some of the benefits to studying God’s word:

.....Studying the bible develops an appetite for God’s word and allows for spiritual growth:

.....(Matthew 4:4) But He answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." We must nourish our physical body with food. Without food our body begins to grow weak and can not function to its fullest potential. In this condition we can not properly perform our duties at home or the work place. We become ineffective and worthless. As our physical body needs nourishment, so does our spiritual part. If we do not take in a regular intake of bible doctrine, we become worthless as servants to God. To be strong spiritually and be good stewards we need a steady diet of His word. (1Peter 2:2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, By feeding on God’s word we will become mature Christians. As believers we have a hunger that can only be satisfied by God’s word, anything else will leave us feeling hungry. (Job 23:12) I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

.....Studying the bible gives us the opportunity to know God and to reveal His character:

.....God is not an inanimate object but a living God. As believers we should know God on a much more personal level then the world. We learn through His word that He is a loving God offering comfort, peace, and mercy. He is our hope and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is our savior. The attributes of God and His love is probably a endless list but by studying His word we will develop a greater appreciation and a thankful attitude toward God as we see Him unfold in the scriptures. If we do not know God, how can we love and appreciate what he has done for us? (Ephesians 3:19) to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

.....Studying the bible helps us know the truth:

.....As students of the bible, we must not trust the authority of man, but search the scriptures to see what God says. We must study the bible with diligence and prayer. (Acts 17:11) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

.....It is important to have prayer and communication with God so that the Holy Spirit can teach us. (1Corinthians 2:13) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Truth is important, especially when it is God’s truth. If we study God’s word, we will know His truth and we will be able to recognize a lie when we hear one. (1John 4:1) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Discover the truth and do not be carried down the path of deception. (2Peter 2:1) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. Studying God’s word protects us from traveling down this road.

.....In summary studying the bible allows us to be better workman for God. It equips us with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) so that we can quench the fiery darts of the devil and be more than conquers in Christ. (Romans 8:37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

.....Remember our citizenship is not on earth but in heaven and while on earth we are to represent Christ in everything we do. That is our job to represent Christ to the world and to preach His saving message. By studying His word we will be able to give reasons and to prove by the Word to the lost why Christ is our hope. The word of God will set you free, so discover His truth in the word and enjoy the freedom and peace it brings. (John 8:32) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

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