Romans

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Nothing New!

Christians are unpopular; viewed as haters, hypocritical, intolerant, bigoted, smug, and self-righteous.

Teaching about sin is unpopular and is viewed as judgmental.

What I find ironic is the amount of hatred that is directed toward Christians by the same one’s that call them haters.

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. Matt 10:22

And the hatred is far surpassed by anything a Christian might be guilty of doing. After all, if I preach what the word of God says about fornication and perhaps there is a couple living together outside the bounds of marriage, then I am told that I am passing judgment and out of touch with the way the world is now.

The way the world is now is not new. Sin is sin and has existed since that day in the Garden of Eden when the first couple decided to go against God’s word and will.

God gave commandments concerning adultery because it existed and was a problem.
Paul talked about fornication because it existed and was a problem.

God reveals:

there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us. Eccl 1:9-10

Hypocrisy is not new. Gossip is not new. Murder is not new. Cursing is not new. Child molesters are not new. Homosexuality is not new. Alcoholism is not new. Bestiality is not new. Drug abuse is not new. Nothing is new – it has already been done.

But sin will kill those that commit it.

The soul who sins shall die. Ezek 18:4

The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23

But praise God for His gift to us – eternal life through Jesus!

Abba, give me wisdom to always say the right thing to share the Gospel message of salvation in a loving way. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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I can see!

I finally made an appointment with the optometrist! My eyes have changed slightly so I am getting new frames and lenses.

When the doc was checking my eyes he wanted to see what my vision was without glasses. So he projected the big, big letters on the wall and asked me if I could read them.

I asked him, “What wall?”

Yes, I am nearsighted and would not dare do anything, like driving, without my glasses.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Rom 3:18

But my physical eyesight is not in proportion with my spiritual sight. Even if I were blind I would still believe in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even with perfect vision, I would still trust Him to supply my needs.

Nearsighted, farsighted, or astigmatism has no effect in changing how I see God.

With Him,

we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7-8

Abba, I am thankful for optometrists that can help me see better. I ask that You bless me more to be a spiritual optometrist so I may help others see You better. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Persevere

Yesterday morning three women answered phone call after phone call to sign up thirty-one children to sing Christmas carols on the radio.

It took a couple of minutes with each caller to get the needed information. It took over an hour to sign up all thirty-one.

After it was over I checked the call logs and there were over 1,500 phone calls during that time. That’s not 1,500 individuals – it’s 1,500 calls with many parents calling over and over trying to get through.

In checking the logs one individual called 146 times!

I could tell from the time line that he called, got a busy signal, hung up, and tried again.
His persistence paid off. He did get through and signed up his children.

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

Likewise, God blesses perseverance! It shows commitment as a strong characteristic.

In fact the Bible says,

tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; Rom 5:3-4

These days there are not many people that can persevere, endure, and commit – whether it’s going to church, holding down a job, or being married.

You will be rewarded in any situation for your moral and ethical perseverance. Do not give up. Keep pushing, reaching, and moving forward!

Paul gives his own example for you to keep going.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Phil 3:12

Abba, I press on in Jesus name. I put one foot in front of the other and keep going! I know You will bless me as I keep going. YES&AMEN

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God has Provided

God has never demanded anything from you that will allow you to provide salvation for yourself.

It is revealed that –

all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; Isa 64:6

So why would God demand a self-prescribed fix for you – a fix doomed to fail?
He wouldn’t!

Even the Law is not a cure for sin. Paul said,

I would not have known sin except through the law. Rom 7:7

So God’s demand for Abraham was not a sacrifice for sin. It was a method to increase the faith of Abraham.

A test is different from a temptation.
A temptation will entice you to sin.
A test will encourage you to do what is right.

A test will make you realize your dependence on God.

As Abraham said (and discovered) at his sacrifice of his own son, Isaac,

“God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. Gen 22:8

God did this for Abraham and has done this for you. Jesus is the Lamb of God provided for you. (John 1:29, 36; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:19; Rev 5:6)

Abba, You have provided the way for me through Jesus! I am grateful! YES&AMEN

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A Message of Death – A Message of LIFE

“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?” Acts 5:28

Sinful living and false religions all have a major problem with the word of God – it won’t go away and it won’t be silenced.

Those that commit sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these are determined to end any message that would call their lifestyle sinful.

Of course any government official that lives contrary to the scripture will take offense when a pastor takes to the pulpit with the word of God and preaches against such sin.

The Islamic world has made a remedy for them that dare preach Jesus – death. In countries with high populations of Muslims, they are the majority and with the approval of their governing officials, they can imprison, try, and kill “infidels” that preach the Gospel of Jesus.

High populations of other religions can do the same.

What is unique about pure Christianity is it preaches life, not death! Of course in the message there is the condemnation and death of all that sin,

For the wages of sin is death! Rom 6:23

But the same message is tempered with

the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

It is not a message of purely condemnation of a lifestyle or belief – it is THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION!

Abba, Your name is life. Your way is life. Though the world may choose death, I choose to tell them about Life. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement

Lev 23:27 Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement.

It is the Day of Atonement, the second fall Feast Day of the Lord.

The instructions to the Hebrews this day are as such –

It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.
And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.
For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.
And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.
You shall do no manner of work; Lev 23:27-31

There is no mention of the word ‘atonement’ in the New Testament using the NKJV. It is found only once in the KJV –

Rom 5:11 We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

This may be because Jesus has not fulfilled this Day as of yet. But He will.

Before you were born, Jesus fulfilled Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost.

I find it exciting to think that we will see the fulfillment of the three fall Feasts – Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28

Abba, I praise the word of God for the salvation and atonement it offers to me. And I praise Your name for the promises that will be fulfilled for me, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Big Promise

My promises to others are small. I try not to commit to what I cannot do. And sometimes I forget something, so I try to keep notes in my iPhone.

You don’t want to promise what you cannot deliver to begin with. Time and effort work against promises

I know I have broken promises, both intentionally and unintentionally. And promises have been broken to me.

God is the opposite of you and me.

Gen 15:5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

God’s promises are big. I mean to say your descendants will be as numerous as the stars is a huge commitment. It’s happened! How many descendants of Abraham have there been through the ages – both born naturally and adopted and grafted in!

It’s not the only promise He has made!

Isa 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Matt 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Rom 10:13 “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Heb 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

1 John 1:7 the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Acts 1:11 This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Rev 22:20 “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Abba, I have yet to see a broken promise from You. I believe them all, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Here is your reward!

You walk into a business and see a notice taped to the window. There’s a picture of the cure little dog and the words “lost” and “reward”.

As you leave the store and drive home you are surprised to see a dog running loose that amazingly favors the one you saw on the window.

You stop and gently speak to the little dog. It wags his tail and slowly comes to you. You pick up the dog and place him in your lap. He licks you and happily settles down while you drive home.

You call the number you saw on the poster in the window. The owner meets you, thanks you over and over and wants to give you $50 for finding the dog.

You hesitate to take it but the owner insists! It is your reward.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Abram was definitely a man of faith. But even people of faith can have those moments of doubt. God assurance to Abram –

Gen 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

God, Himself, is your reward.

He rewards with forgiveness. Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

He rewards with salvation. Rom 10:9-1o if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

He rewards with eternal life. 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life.

Abba, I found You and I am rewarded. YES&AMEN

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There is Hope!

1 Cor 15:13-14 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Continue reading →