To Be From You Not Just For You

To Be From You Not Just For You 

by David Brenneman 

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly.

EPHESIANS 6:18-19

     In Ephesians 6:18-19, we have one of history's first missionary prayer requests. The apostle Paul, having written about the armor of the believer and the urgency of prayer, asks the Ephesians to pray that God will give him the ability to share the gospel boldly at every opportunity.

     Notice the alls in this passage. We're to pray always-at all times. We're to offer all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. We're

to pray with all perseverance. And we're to remember all the saints

     In his book on prayer, Samuel D. Gordon wrote that this world is God's prodigal son and that God has devised a plan for winning His prodigal back. He wants to use us in the process, and our greatest agency is prayer, which, Gordon says, is communication between God and His allies in the enemy's country. We're behind enemy lines, but prayer is our connection with the Commander.

     Let's take prayer seriously and always offer all prayer in the Spirit with all perseverance for all the saints. - Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah. 

Communion is the basis of all prayer. It is the essential breath of the true Christian life.

S. D.GORDON

Last night I was really compelled to pray for many people. New people in my life as well as those who have been in my life and those who used to be.  

Everyone appreciates being prayed for but if we all aren't praying as well then in all truthfulness not a whole lot of prayer happens. 

Prayer isn't to be just our bringing requests to God. Prayer is to be us showing our thankfulness to our Father in Heaven for all He's done. 

Prayer is our conversations with our Father in Heaven and our Lord Jesus Christ. David was known as a man after God's own heart because of his prayer life. Samuel was heard because of his prayer life. Solomon started out strong in the Lord because of his prayer life. The Disciples asked perhaps the most important question on learning how to pray.  

How many movies or television shows on war have you ever seen it go well for anyone on the battlefield when they were out of communication and all alone? Probably not very often. 

We are never going to fare well in this foreign land in which we live, since this world is not our home, without prayer, and not just words but prayer from the heart.

What's on us is to obey and do and to leave the consequences to God. 

When we neglect to pray, to talk to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, our Father in Heaven, it SHOULD bother us. We aren't giving a liturgy when we pray but our very hearts poured out to God. Not lists but our heartfelt concerns. Not demands but desires.  

Listening to the Spirit in prayer as well as speaking is important. My Dear Reader it's never a coincidence when someone you just ran into is now on your mind. Never a coincidence when people you know are now on your mind. Never a coincidence when something crosses your mind that needs done now or soon.

The Spirit is our Helper not just our Teacher. He is ever present within us. Awaiting the return of Jesus Christ even more than we.  

How DID the one or the few in your life become your favorite or best friend? Through various forms of communication. Then those communications that started out in superficial ways later got deeper and stronger. Intimacy grew until your level of trust and perhaps love for the person got to be where it is today. 

So should it be between you and your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  

So should it be between you and your Father in Heaven. 

It's what we were created for...our relationship with our God.  

We cannot accomplish our God-given purpose here without prayer and being given His spiritual understanding. 

So really look at your relationship with Jesus, with your Father in Heaven today and if it isn't...let's get it right this time. If it is...then go deeper with it.  

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

It's Getting Hot in Here an That's Okay

It's Getting Hot in Here an That's Okay 

By David Brenneman 

"For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

Proverbs 3:12.

     Love is the motivation behind everything God does in us and

everything He allows into our lives. The Father is never acting in anger or wrath when He allows trials to assail us. Rather, He cares about us too much to see us continue in sin, remain in a lukewarm spiritual state, or go unfulfilled in His purposes for our lives. He moves to help us change, grow, and become both spiritually mature and whole in spirit, mind, and body. This also means He disciplines us for our good when necessary.

     God's purpose is not to break our spirits but, rather, to breach the stubbornness of our wills in order to carry out His will through us. A good parent knows that any streak of obstinacy in children must be lovingly prevailed over so that they can grow up to be productive, law-abiding, generous, and loving spouses, friends, parents, citizens, and members of the body of Christ. In the same manner, God seeks to eliminate the pride, self-focus, and disobedience that keep us from being the loving, generous, fruitful, Christlike people He created us to be.

Jesus, I know You love me. Help me to endure this trial in a manner that honors You. Amen

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.

Most of the things that we go through we have no idea why. Oh we can, like for centuries mankind has, point fingers. 

But for those who truly believe...there's a greater purpose to what we go through. Juat as the purpose of parenting is the bringing up of children in the Lord so it is with us in Christ. Our parents taught us, for the most part, how to talk, walk, dress, eat, behave as we needed to in order to function well in society and in the home.  

The Spirit, after we come to Christ, because of our new birth in Christ, is doing all that and more. We don't know how to live a life approved by God. We don't know how to dress for spiritual growth and spiritual battles. We don't know nor understand the true dangers of sin and the nature of God's enemy or his minions. We don't know how to use our spiritual lives for God's glory. We need to be taught. We need to go through that crucible, those fires of purpose and purification to come out as those approved by Jesus. 

It can and will seem painful at times, but never at any time are we alone in them.  

Much more than a parent staying with a child on a bike without training wheels for the first time our Lord Jesus Christ stays with us always and in everything. 

Purification of precious metals is a difficult process. An often time sensitive process. It's a formula of time, temperature and sometimes additional materials to purify precious metals.  

In Scripture we are the precious that is being the purified to become like Jesus Christ. 

For those who are saved we are the precious Bride of Christ. We are part of the body of Christ. We are to obey in what we're told, instructed, to be doing in the Lord. 

We may or may not understand the details but we must trust the Spirit to knows what He's doing in and through us.

When we look back at the early Church in the days leading up to the Romans who burned down the Temple, the fires of persecution were everywhere. Satan thought he was going to crush, snuff out, Christianity, but through these events the Church grew. 

While he tried to turn up the heat, he was only permitted to go so far. 

He wasn't permitted to run amuck. 

He was and is to this day still answerable to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  

So while you, my Dear Reader, may be going through some heavy things you are never alone in them. Seek out what His purpose is for them in you. Look for possible unconfessed sin. Look for things that He knows and is showing you that need to be removed from your life in order to become more like Jesus. Look for the possibility that He's needing to change your priorities, your dreams, your ambitions.

We are still here and not immediately taken to Heaven because of both our sanctification, that is our becoming more like Jesus Christ, and to still seek the lost and direct them to Jesus for salvation. Some of us are indeed on the front lines of the heaviest of spiritual warfare. The thing to remember is it is never things that are at stake in spiritual warfare it always only people at stake. 

We may be hurting but we can rejoice in knowing that Jesus sees, Jesus knows, and most importantly Jesus loves. 

Trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding isn't just a saying it is how to live life in Christ.  

Your physical body will try to convince you of everything but the spiritual realities of whatever is happening in your life. It will try to distract you. Even those around you whom you think you can trust may not see what Jesus wants to accomplish in your life.  

Don't be afraid to cry out to Jesus. We do the most damage to our lives when we try to handle spiritual matters on our own. 

All of the whole armor of God is provided by God. Ever think of this?

Even the instructions for putting it on are only in the Word of God...let alone how to properly use it. 

An lastly the whole armor of God fits you. The flaming arrows of the evil one might hurt for a time but they cannot prevail against what God provides to protect you. 

Trust in His wisdom for what you are facing. Obey in the big things and the small things. In what seems important and what doesn’t. Ours is to obey and leave the consequences to Him. 

Jesus loves you more than you can imagine or think. He will see you safely to His Heaven in due time.  

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5:6-11.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Ued, You're in It: Now Run It

Yes, You're in It: Now Run It

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

     Are you spiritually lethargic? Is your soul sapped of energy?

Perhaps you would love to know God better and grow in godliness, but your progress is slow at best. You don't understand it because you're not slacking-you read the Bible and pray every day. The spiritual momentum just isn't there. What's going on?

     Today's verse provides a clue. Many believers are weighed down

with excess baggage burdens like anger, pride, bitterness, lust, greed, jealousy, and unforgiveness, to name a few. Any sin we entertain will drain us of our spiritual energy and kill our progress in the Christian life.

     God stands ready to supply His power and wisdom once you

realize you must rid your heart of these entanglements to receive

His strength. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of some area of sin

in your life, do not ignore Him. You won't be able to run the race the Lord has for you until you obey Him. Throw off the encumbrances through confession and repentance. Then enjoy the race as

He energizes your spiritual life and teaches you to soar.

Jesus, reveal every sin in me so I may repent and walk in Your will, Amen

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley 

Ever stop to realize that after you came to Christ for salvation, that you were automatically entered into a race?  

You weren't eligible for the race set before you until Jesus became the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life but after He had you were then in the race.

You probably didn't figure on running in one but here we are.  

There's things about running a race that aren't going to be found on golf courses or baseball fields. While Paul's writings often suggested other sports that existed even in his day...both he and the writer of Hebrews point to the race set before us.  

There's the conditioning. The needed nutrition. The required rest. The focus on the kind and type of path the race is on. The preparation for the various challenges of the race. The weather during the race. Preparing for endurance. I actually learned a lot about racing from the movie "Overcomer" when Hannah's Dad, through a recording, coached her through the championship race. What she should expect. What struggles she would need to surmount. When to burst ahead and when to hold back. 

Another great source is a book by my friend Steve Crisafulli called "My Godly Marathon" available on Amazon and Barnes & Knoble.

We aren't given a choice about running this race set before us. Consider what that passage we opened up with said. 

God set that race before you and I. 

God's using this race to tune our lives towards His purposes for us.

In keeping with the movies...the original Karate Kid. Daniel had no clue, until he was shown, what his chores were really accomplishing.

Most of us just don't see or understand what we are going through is or means. We need to be in the Word of God and in prayer to get our instructions much as Hannah did from her Dad.

Most of us miss the whole point of thinking like we're in this race in order to become more like Jesus Christ. 

Nobody who goes and enlists is the same person after basic training as they were before starting it.

We are in this race set before us and as it is God given we should honor it as such.  

We should use what He's saying in His Word to shape our part of this race.  

This race, however, isn't a competition between us and other Believers. We are running this race with Jesus.  

A very old Jewish saying is "May you be covered in the dust of your Master" in terms of becoming a Disciple. We run along side and often right behind Jesus. Going where He goes, following in His footsteps. At His pace.  

We are never to be trying to be in competition with other Believers. We are all part of the same body of Christ. We all have a part in that body as given by the Spirit of God to be doing.  

Are you spiritually lethargic or are you at least moving? Have you lost sight of Jesus and need to get back in the race? 

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. 

You have to get back to God's plan for you. This race is part of God's plan for you. 

It's not nor has it ever been for you to get all you can get out of this world for you.

It's not about us but all about Him. 

We do ourselves a great disservice by getting our life's priorities wrong in Christ. 

So while you're now realizing you are in this Godly race...realize that the core ingredients are there for your benefit not your detriment. It's never a good thing or good idea to focus on what you might have lost or are going to lose. Focus on what is good, right and pure in Christ. The Author and perfecter of your faith.  

Core ingredients are prayer and the Word of God. You cannot mentally prepare for to have the right mental state without the right mindset. 

Realize as well the rules are different in this spiritual race.  

Another movie analogy is Neo and Morpheous in the training dojo..."hmm you think that is air that you're breathing?". We learn in prayer and in God's Word of the reality of the spiritual world that our race is set in.  

Then know this: As you are in this with the Lord...keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep your priorities straight. Keep the right attitude in prayer. Let go of sins that easily entangle us. Get rid of the weights that the world wants to put on your back. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24

Keep your focus on the Lord and the finish line that He's established. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

No Excuses, Lessons to Grow Us

No Excuses, Lessons to Grow Us 

by David Brenneman 

The things that people fail to notice about Jesus keeping His word.  

We can easily look over stories in the Old Testament and miss the little morsels that change the story to something that spans the centuries. Am reading in 1 Samuel and the interactions between Eli and Hannah are actually rather profound. With regards to Eli I am rather dumbfounded because he chose to be weak towards his disobedient sons whom the Lord told him were going to die because of the evil they refused to depart from. When Hannah reveals Samuel it was Eli who worshiped God first...then we have Hannah's worship song. 

As this day dawns on you, my Dear Reader, there are choices before you. By the grace of God these choices are yours to consider.  

Choices that are the very same as those faced by even these of the Old Testament.  

They all begin the same: Will you obey and honor God, His Son Jesus Christ, above all names?  

Will you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness today?

Will you be in His Word today with all seriousness...as in with all your heart? 

Will you indeed pray for His will to be done rather than your own?

Will you look to the horizon for the return of Jesus Christ with all expectation because the Word of God says that day is quickly approaching?

Will you be bold enough to not assume what you are doing in your life today is for you to be doing but rather will stop and ask Jesus, through His Spirit, what needs to change in you for you to become more like Him?

Will you begin today to reflect on what is taught in your Bible as more than mere suggestions?

Questions questions questions. 

These and more. Matters of the heart they all are. Matters that are everything to the King of kings and Lord of Lords. Your heart.

Your heart is only fully understood by Jesus, not you. Think hard on that one. He, according to the Scriptures, weighs the hearts. He knows all the intricacies of thoughts and intentions you have in every moment of your life. He knows every dream you ever had and why they were that way. 

Shortly after confirming Samuel there was a situation where indeed the Word of the Lord was confirmed in reality: both of Eli's sons died in the same day.  

"May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.” Romans 3:4.

Are you aware that in this very moment it is by His grace that you are even considering what He is saying here?  

As in Eli's case so it is with yours and mine: Will we put obeying Jesus before ourselves. Will we put trusting Jesus before relying on ourselves. 

For all his wisdom Solomon failed to keep obeying God and trusting in God.  

You and I are tempted every single day to not think that whatever is on our hearts and minds is important enough to bring to Jesus in prayer.  

We will be tempted to just handle it ourselves.  

We will be tempted to consider that we need 'me time' and in turn neglect the Word of God that awaits our consumption. 

We will because throughout the centuries that's been the temptations that mankind has faced. Jesus was tempted in every way as we are even today and He chose the will of His Father in Heaven.  

Some think this means giving up on dreams and desires. Sometimes yes. Sometimes it's not because they are inherently bad but rather they aren't going to fit in with the plan of God for you and your part in His plans for mankind.  

I have many various aspirations and dreams. Yet in seeking them God's let me know that while they would work or that I would likely accomplish them...they don't fit His plans. So I stopped pursuing them and just trust Him in those things. It's enough for me to know that I was onto something that would have worked.  

Do you make it a point to check yourself in whether you are trying to trust the Lord with all your heart And to not lean on your own understanding? Are you looking to see if in all your ways that you are acknowledging Him? 

When you are being truthful with yourself are you embittered against anyone? Are you wishing for their downfall rather than them finding Jesus? Are you rejoicing in their sufferings rather than praying they open their hearts to receive the free gift of salvation that you did?  

When we hold onto such things we hinder our prayers. When we don’t forgive we aren't forgiven. When we are not honoring our relationship with Jesus above our relationship with those in the world or the world itself we are being just like Eli and others in the Old Testament who were called out by the Lord. 

This is how the Old Testament applies to your life today. 

Truth be known...every single professed Believer in Jesus Christ who is saved by His blood...has absolutely no excuse for not pursuing a life that fully honors His work in their lives.  

There's no excuse for not developing a prayer life that grows in its depth with Jesus.  

There's no excuse for not being in the Word of God daily with all seriousness to be fed by the Spirit, taught by the Spirit. 

There's no excuse for not developing the spiritual gifts we were given upon being saved.

There's no excuse for putting people or things ahead of what the Spirit wants to do in our lives to show the world their need for a right relationship with Jesus and His free gift of salvation. 

There's no excuse for unforgiveness for all we were forgiven of.

There's no excuse for not praying for those who have or are persecuting us. Likewise no excuse for rejoicing when the Lord Jesus Christ deals with them...when Scripture explicitly states we should never do that.

We read of all kinds of lives in the Old Testament who tried making excuses. Even Abraham did, so did Moses. From the greatest to the least.  

So, my Dear Reader, consider your ways. Consider these truths that take away our excuses.  

What will you now do differently?  

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Suppertime is Soon

Suppertime is Soon 

By David Brenneman

Most would have to search for it on Google or YouTube, for a Jim Reeves song "Suppertime", and as the song's message goes...there awaits for all who are a part of Christ's Church a Heavenly supper time for all who've placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

It's something that we get to look forward to and its scope blows my mind. Besides probably sitting with family and friends who also received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior...I imagine at the same time Jesus will sit with everyone too.

The millions of people who will be there already and Jesus will meet with each and every single one. 

I suppose I could describe it as the family reunion of the ages but it is going to be outside of time itself. 

Are you looking for that day, as much of the New Testament mentions that we should be, of Jesus giving that shout that it's suppertime? Paul wrote much to the Churches to live an approved life in preparation for that day. 

Are you living life with excited expectation? The Early Church sure did.  

The Lord Himself said that we always should be at the ready to stand before Him to give an account of our lives. Of what we did in our physical bodies for Christ after receiving His free gift of salvation.  

Good vibes don't count. Wishing people well yet doing nothing won't count. Warm feelings don't count. Scripture says we should be doers of the Word and not just hearers only...why? Because we would be deluding ourselves.  

Many people will be confronted with their failures to obey the Spirit of God. Many will see how their success in life, which from a worldly standpoint was great, turn to ashes. Success in the eyes of God is a life that's all-in in living life for Jesus and a life transformation into becoming like Jesus. 

Our lives are supposed to be lived in such a way that people see our good works and then glorify our Father in Heaven. 

Our driving force should be to obey God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through the Spirit of God. While our hands are doing that, we should be diligent to put whatever the Spirit directs as first in our life. All the while listening for that shout that will call us out. 

We have nothing to be fearful of or ashamed of concerning obeying the Spirit of God. We probably will if we aren't obeying.  

As Ambassadors of Christ we have a mission to represent Jesus well wherever we are. 

Cast aside your fears my Dear Reader. Obey with your whole heart. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself. 

Listen for that call n be about the Father's business. 

Be in the Word of God, learning whatever you can, to give of your best as unto God. 

Truth also says that this Supper Time is only for Believer's. 

Jesus must be the One who is the forgiver of their sins and is the Leader of their life. 

Truth also says those not here by Christ's invitation will be cast out into that horrific place where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth. Where nothing is known but painful suffering and the complete understanding of how they missed the mark by rejecting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.  

Good deeds, clean living, won't get you an invitation.  

I am more than ready for that shout that will call us out!

"Ahhhh, but I'd loved to hear that once more

But you know for me time has woven the realization of

The truth that's even more thrilling and that's when

The call come up from the portals of glory

To come home for it's suppertime

When all Gods children shall gather around the table

Of the Lord, Himself and the greatest suppertime of them all

(Sang)

Come home, come home it's suppertime

The shadows lengthen fast

Come home, come home it's suppertime

We're going home at last..."

- From "Suppertime" by Jim Reeves. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Just Believing He is, Isn't Enough

Just Believing He is, Isn't Enough 

by David Brenneman 

"What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." James 2:14-26.

Atheism doesn't exist among Satan or his demons. Did you know that?  

Did you likewise know that it isn't at all enough to just believe that God exists, or that the Father exists, or the Son of God Jesus Christ or even the Holy Spirit?

If you only believe that they are real but have never come to the place where you have asked Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...you are still yet dead in your sins and will never see Heaven. 

Jesus said that in that future judgment day many people will both claim to believe in Him and will have claimed even to have done things in His Name...but they never asked Him to be the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives. 

There has to be those steps or you will die in your own sins. You will not see Heaven. You will be forever separated from Jesus and all whom you knew who did ask Him to be the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives. 

People who claim to know Jesus are all around the world. Yet they live defeated lives. There's no fruit growing in them that shows that Jesus is their Savior and Lord. These same people just won't cross that line and ask Jesus, whom they do claim to be real and who He said He was, to forgive their sins and to be their Savior. 

All the day long the wide open maw that is Hell is receiving thousands and thousands of people who cry out that they believe in God that they believe in Jesus. Yet in their crying out they are without excuse, they know they never asked Jesus to be the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their life.  

A very distinct hallmark in Heaven as well as in Hell is the utter clarity of thought. There is the plain unadulterated truth. There's nothing that stands in the way. Those in Heaven know that they are there only by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. They know that it's by faith alone in Christ alone that they are there. In Hell everyone there knows that they never did, that they rejected Jesus's free gift of salvation. 

My Dear Reader only in this life you have been given do you have the choice to come to Christ for salvation or to reject His free gift of salvation. Once you die that's it. Your eternity is sealed.   

All who come to Christ for salvation are to be growing in Christ. He took care of their sins and now they live for Jesus. There's fruit, evidence as it were, that they are indeed a new creation in Christ Jesus. They certainly have stepped beyond saying they're saved to living the saved life that evidences it.

A life that more and more shows Jesus to the world around them. 

The works that Believers do aren't part of their salvation. They are evidence that they are saved.  

So my Dear Reader...be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sins. 

Only believing that Jesus was who He said He was or believing that He existed will never save you. You will still end up in Hell. He must, must, must, be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.  

All the promises of God are all beginning with that choice to ask Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. Otherwise none of His wonderful promises apply to your life. 

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

When you do choose Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life...then and only then do any works you might do matter for anything.  

So if you are wondering why when you cry out for God to do something in your life because of how bad it is and nothing is happening, nothing is getting any better...start with the truth. Are you really saved in Christ Jesus?  

Good deeds, positive thoughts, warm feelings, will accomplish absolutely nothing with regards to your thoughts on Jesus and Heaven.  

Jesus had to live a sinless life, die a horrible death, arise from the dead in order to pay the price for your salvation. We who are saved rely solely on what He did to save us. Then we're living lives that reflect that and show Jesus to the rest of the world.  

Move beyond just believing that Jesus is real. As today's Scripture shows...even demons believe that.

If you're ready to move beyond that...call or text the word "Jesus" to 330-264-9459. There are people ready to show you how to be sure that you are saved. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Recognize What the Spirit is Telling You

Recognize What the Spirit is Telling You
by David Brenneman

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding ofthe hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a
robber, and want like an armed man." PROVERBS 24:33-34

     We've all seen it. In the worlds of sports, business, and academics, less gifted individuals often go further than those with greater abilities due to one trait: diligence. Such people are willing to take seriously the challenge of laziness and do what they must to overcome  its allure.  You likely are one of those people or aspire and work to be one.
     But, if we're honest with ourselves, this same diligence is often lacking in our spiritual lives.
     If you and I are to counter spiritual laziness, we're in need of an assessment of sorts: Do we have any indication of how we're doing? When We reflect on the past year, have We made any progress? Have We done any Bible memorization recently? Have we used "idle moments" to read or meditate on the word or to pray to our Lord? Or has laziness caused us to do what is easy rather than what is best and prevented us from storing the word of God within our hearts?
     When asked to take part in Christian service, how do we respond? Maybe it's not an outright refusal, but even a hint of reluctance is a dangerous sign. What about in hearing the word of God when it's preached, when it comes home with power and impact and we know that it demands application and change? Do we take action as doers of the word and not as hearers only (James 1:22)?
     Your answers to such questions can help you press on and avoid the slow drip-drip of laziness (a lie-in instead of a morning devotional here, a boxset instead of a prayer meeting or a sports match rather than a conversation about Jesus there), which leads to spiritual poverty.  Do not become a master of unfinished spiritual business and unfulfilled good intentions. Often, all the started plans and kind notes, and the many words of repentance and petitions for help, die in our minds while we turn on our beds "as a door turns on its hinges" (Proverbs 26;14).  Flee from this behavior and instead run to Christ, asking Him to stir your heart and make you into a man or woman of action.
     Do you want to be useful to God? Do you long to make a difference: to reach people on the seas of life in all their trouble and emptiness and to be part of the means by which God builds His Church? Do not neglect your souls by giving room to laziness.  Without diligence in your relationship with God, you will grow no true fruit in your life. "Tomorrow" is the devil's favorite word.  "Now is the favorable time; behold now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). Be useful to God now.
- Truth for Life Devotional Pastor Alistair Begg.

It's been something stirring in me to start asking myself the question: are we treating, have I been treating,  what we/I have read in the Scriptures as mere suggestions or as instruction for living?  If so, what is behind such thinking?  Then I read this devotional last night.

Do we convince ourselves that the other things in our lives are God-given and ignore the weightier things that Scripture tells us to abide by and make a part of our lives?

If what we fill our days doing, regardless of intent, isn't allowing our proper ingestion of the Word of God and for quality time in prayer, then we need to re-evaluate. 

We can be busy and lazy about life at the same time.  We can look like we're doing great things yet accomplishing nothing of importance for the Kingdom of God.

Spiritual laziness isn't fiction.  It is a reality in many lives.  We are in a society that has transitioned to one where like's, follow's and subscribe's are becoming a defining part of lives...at the expense of all else. 

We can be so concerned about such things and neglect the instruction and admonition of the Lord. 

My Dear Reader...don't put feel good things before your relationship with Jesus.  Don't, as Allistair Begg's examples show, make excuses for not being in the Word of God and prayer because we put other things and people above that.  While people are why Jesus came, lived, died and arose again...our relationship with Jesus-our sanctification- is the work of God in us.

Our prayers are weakened, our struggles made more real, because of our spiritual laziness. 

We learn spiritual discipline through what we permit the Spirit to do in our lives. 

Be sure of what you're doing in your life that it's from God for you to be doing.  Be sure of those whom you surround yourself with.  Be sure of your salvation as the Scriptures say that we should be doing. 

Is your time with Jesus on as much of a schedule as your streaming or television time?  Are you showing adverse signs that aren't glorifying God when you are engaged in these other activities?  Showing flavors of anger, rage, bitterness and justify it be calling it 'fun'? 

Recognize that even things done in 'fun' can cause days, weeks, months or even years of damage to the work of God in someone's life to bring them to the same salvation that we have in Christ ourselves.

If we are really wanting to live lives approved by Jesus we must examine our lives, ask Him to point out what ought to be removed or changed, and stick to it.  Be more involved in studying the Word of God.  Be more involved in listening to the Spirit of God. 

"Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3.

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalms 37:5.

"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:11-12.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org