Prayer for Christian Homes...

Rules for a Christian House in a Christian Marriage…

In Christianity we catch them but Jesus cleans them…prayer for Christian Homes...

Christian Spouses in marriage…

Husbands you cannot save your wife…you cannot pull her out the hell she has ran after…You may only prayer for her decisions but not get entangled with her sin…You can only pray and set a good example…until she decides to let go of sin and obey Jesus too…wives you cannot follow your husbands to hell…on Judgement Day you will answer for your sins not his…you also cannot save your husband…if fact neither of you cannot save the other…Who is the Shepherd of your soul? Jesus the Christ is the only Qualified Human Son of our Creator…He is the only one qualified to save any soul…if you want to aide your spouse into heaven then remain faithful to your vow of marriage by staying faithful to Jesus alone…marriage is a three party contract between two people male and female and our God…Jesus Christ of Nazareth died on the cross and was raised from the dead so you and I…anyone could never choose a wrong thing again…Jesus will forgive you but you have to forgive others to receive forgiveness…Jesus died and rose from the grave to teach you the truth you need for your soul and so you can do what is right with His Father the Creator who is the Great I Am of all that Is…

1Pe 3:1-2 KJV  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;  2  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Eph 5:22-33 KJV  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.  24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…

Teach your wives the Laws of Christ through study of the New Testament (Covenant or Agreement) so you both will grow until the full measure of Christ…blameless on the Day of Judgement…

 27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church:  30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church….

…Husbands love your wives and wives respect your husband these are two main ingredients in a Christ centered marriage…

33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence (respect) her husband.

Christian Parents you cannot save your children from their choices to sin…bring them up in the nurture and admonition (encouragement) of the Lord.

Such phrases as…Love you to the moon and back…but do not wake up on the wrong side of the moon…the moon only reflects the true light of the Sun…I cannot love the sin but I love the you in you…unconditionally just like the Only Fathered Human Son of our Creator…Jesus. I will be a Christian about it…The New Testament is my moral code…my Modius Operandi…so be the best version of you…I will love you through it…unconditionally but I cannot save you from God’s wrath in Holy Hell…I will save myself to Go to Heaven not Hell…by remaining faithful to Jesus the Christ of Nazareth…I will not burn in Hell for you…but belong to Jesus whom I will obey throughout eternity in the new heaven and earth…as always…

Eph 6:1-4 KJV  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  2  Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  3  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  4  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition (encouragement) of the Lord.

Col 3:16-25 KJV  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him…

18  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.  19  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them...

20  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord…

21  Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged…

22  Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers (not to impress others); but in singleness of heart, fearing God:  

…23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (treat everyone like baby Jesus then ask what does baby Jesus need)  24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  25  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Christian Children you cannot save anyone…

…your friend…your preacher…your dad…your mom…your brother…elder…deacon…none of these humans can save you or them…the best way you can aide in their salvation is to be a faith Christian who is praying to the God of Gods and Lord of Lords and King of Kings for their benefit of their soul…Jesus who is your shepherd and is called the Good Shepherd…will guard your soul…will guide your soul with the truth needed so you can do what is right by His Father our Creator…

Jesus does not want to be in your heart…Jesus wants to rule and own your heart…Jesus will first…yours and anyone else’s second…it is never right to do a wrong thing…

Luk 14:25-35 KJV  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,  26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  28  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.  31  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first, and consults whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  32  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassage, and desires conditions of peace…

33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.  

34  Salt is good: but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?  35  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus will never ask you to do a wrong thing and Jesus will reveal the truth to you so you can make a right decision on obeying our Creator in all things good…right…and true.

Mat 11:27-30 KJV  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  28  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Joh 8:31-32 KJV  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Get the first things first…major in the majors and minor in the minor things…

Mar 12:28-34 KJV  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?  29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

…30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment…

…31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these…

32  And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:  33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.  34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Prayer for Christian Homes…

Father…we pray for our soul deepest needs…for our flesh’s deepest needs…for our spirit’s deepest need…we pray for the truth and strength to fulfil our vows…we pray for the truth needed to be reveled so we can remain faithful to Your only human Fathered Son Jesus Christ and do what is right by You our Father the Great I AM of all that IS…by fulfilling our plan and purpose as a Christian in our homes and lives…we renounce satan and his kingdom…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

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Pre-Judging others…Prejudice…Racism...Hatred of other half breed of humans…What would Jesus do...

Pre-Judging others…Prejudice…Racism...Hatred of other half breed of humans…

History of departure and beginning of hatred between races or nations of Jews and Samaritans…

2Ki_17:29 Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

These ancestors of the Samaritans in Jesus day…were whores wanting more not caring who they received their desires from…thus were idolators not following Jehovah…eating from another table.

Mat_10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles (other races of humans who do not worship our Creator), and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

In Jesus day…his 12 chosen men were told do not preach to the Gentiles and Samaritans but only to the lost sheep of Israel (the family or descendants of Abraham…Isaac…and Jacob) in Mat 10 and Luke 10…the disciples were sent on a limited commission to only Jews…the Samaritans still were in idolatry, thus unworthy of repentance.

 Joh_4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, asks a drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Do to the disfellowship of races…idolatry being the chief separator of these two races of humans…the Samaritans left or totally disfellowshipped the Jews and the Jews “have no dealings with the Samaritans” …These two races hated each other….they ignored each other and had nothing to do with each other…but Jesus shared the truth with a woman of Samaria…

What is hatred…murder…pre-judging…prejudice…

Why hatred is the same as murder…

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Murder makes someone no longer exist and hatred is wishing someone did not exist. Murder is an action. Hatred is an emotion. If you hate someone you know then you are not to carry out the deed…unless you be found a murderer. You see hate means you wished these people did not exist…murder is the deed to make it so. Pre-judging someone based on their race…or ancestors is forbidden in Christianity…all creatures have the right to be cleansed and made new and right with their Creator. Prejudice is worse that than Jesus spoke of in the above passage because he says if you hate a brother…not just another…meaning you know a lot about this brother and you still wish he did not exist instead of desiring he repent and do right…prejudice is pre-judging someone and hating someone you know nothing about based on his ancestry…is indeed prejudice. Even is you think another race or human is less than a human or worthless or useless…then hear what Jesus Christ said…Mar 16:15-16 KJV And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but He that believeth not shall be damned…He called all creatures…even that less than human half breed is a creature that can be saved and made new and clean in eyes of our Creator…

What to do when you have been offended or been the offender of a brother or creature…

Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother (Serves Same Creator) has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

When a brother in Christ has done you wrong…or offended you then according to Jesus, you tell him his offense…and if you are the offender and remember your deed…then you are not even worship God until you made your offense right with God…and then one you offended. Remember what Jesus said… Mat 5:7 KJV Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy…and also… Mat 6:14-15 KJV For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses…and yet is it hard for you to consider making peace with an enemy…a righteous deed and not a sin… Rom 12:17-21 KJV  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good…find your reconciliation with God by making even your offense right with an enemy that has become a brother in Christ…or else feed him and water him so he will be without excuse on his day of judgement and experience the wrath of God when God’s vengeance and righteous indignation is kindled to action for his crimes against God and man.

What was offered to these half breeds or half Jews after Jesus death burial and resurrection?

Act_8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

The Same Salvation. Hear the same message…Jesus Christ was born of a virgin…in the tribe of Judah…grew up under the Old Testament or is commonly called the Law of Moses and the Holy Prophets…the minimum requirements to meet to be called sinless of The Old Testament (Agreement or Covenant)…was The Ten Commandments given by Moses to the descendants of Abraham…Isaac…and Jacob…Jesus the Christ never broke one of the Ten Commandments…and was what we would call without sin or offense against God…Jesus never broke a command of God but was the Word of God in motion…as in the words of God in Human form walking and demonstrating the intentions of the Laws and Will of God…Jesus being innocent and sinless offered Himself as a willing sacrifice to reconcile those that were not innocent a chance or freedom to become reconciled to their Creator and made new and clean…Joh 14:6 KJV  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus died and was raised from the dead so you and I could never choose an evil deed again...so we can learn the Truth and do what is right with our Creator…Does this sound like good news…the same good news preached to ever creature…those half breed Jesus died for…Jesus came and died on the cross and was raised from the dead so you and I could never choose a wrong thing again and so that all of your wrong or evil deeds can be forgiven and reconciled with your Creator? Do you believe Jesus died and the cross and was raised from the dead? Yes, or no?

What was the first sermon preached in the name of Jesus Christ resulting in Salvation of a soul?

In Jerusalem 50 days after the Passover…on the Day of Pentecost…many breeds of humans were there and heard the same message that results when obeyed in the forgiveness of sins…sins being in remission or like cancer in remission no longer a problem…and the promise of receiving the Holy Spirit when one is baptized into Christ…listen to the first recorded sermon in Jesus Christ name…

Act 2:1-39 KJV  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  7  And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?  8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  9  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,  10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,  11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.  12  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  13  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.  14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  15  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.  16  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;  17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:  19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:  20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:  21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:  23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.  25  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:  26  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:  27  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  28  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.  29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.  30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;  31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.  32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.  33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.  34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,  35  Until I make thy foes thy footstool.  

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.  37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  

They believed they killed their only hope of salvation…they believed Jesus was the Christ and they killed Him…They confessed Him as Savior…they confessed they were sinners having killed the Savior…Peter said He was raised from the dead and now what do we do? These breeds of humans believed in Jesus…confessed Him as Christ and had confessed they killed Him or were sinners…and then asked what they could do to be right with Jesus who was raised from the dead…

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Even as many creatures as our God will call…if you obey the Same Message then You will receive the Same promise of Salvation and the Holy Spirit…

Father, please remove the ugliness found in our hearts…minds…souls…and even lives…so we can be like Jesus your only Human Fathered Son…please wash us and cleanse us…we are but children in diapers before You not knowing how to please You…In Jesus of Nazareth name amen.

Without faith it is impossible to please God...

Without faith it is impossible to please God

Introduction:

1. Without faith it is impossible to please God, Heb 11:6. Anyone who wants to please God must use faith to please Him. So since it is impossible to please God without faith I thought I would do a little study of the Holy Scriptures to determine what real faith is and what it is not.

2. In this lesson I want to talk to you about what faith is and how it is created and exercised. I want to talk about what faith looks like to God by rendering obedience to His word. I want to talk to you about how faith trusts in God to perform His duties towards all of His faithful children.

3. God loves faith because it rests in the exercise of His Divine Greatness and not that found in ourselves.

I.                    Faith

A.    First you have to hear a message (Rom 10:7-17)

1.      How do you hear?

a.       Rom 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of who they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

b.      God does not preach the good news of salvation in Christ through angels or from speaking from heaven but through the mouths of men.

c.       Mathew 7:24, Jesus said, “therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock”

2.      What do you hear?

a.       Rom 10:17, “faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of God”

b.      Mathew 4:4, “but he (Jesus) answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”

c.       Luke 11:28, “but he (Jesus) said, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it”

3.      How to determine truth from error?

a.       Mark 7:09,13, “and he(Jesus) said unto them, full well you reject the commandment of God that you may keep your own tradition”. 13, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered and many such like things do you”

b.      Mark 16:20, “and they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following, amen (may it be so)”

c.       1 Cor 1:6, “even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you”

d.      When there is confusion about the truth from God, then ask God to confirm His word of truth so that you will not be led astray. He did it for the first people that became Christians and there is no reason He will not do it now.

B.     Second you have to believe the message is from God

1.      What is faith?

a.       Heb 11:1, “now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”

b.      Rom 4:5, “but to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness”

c.       Rom 12:3, “for I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith”

2.      Faith is knowing God’s word and trusting in it to guide you to salvation in Christ.

a.       Col 1:23, “if you continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister”

b.      2 Tim 1:13, “hold fast the form of sound words, which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ”

c.       2 Tim 3:15-17, “and that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works”

3.      Example of real faith

a.       Faith is believing God will, look at the centurion, who said only speak the word (Matt 8:8)

b.      Heb 11:7, “by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became the heir of righteousness which is by faith”

c.       Romans 1:17, “for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written the just shall live by faith”

C.     What Faith is not

1.      Faith is not a feeling

a.       Paul is an example that our feelings can lead us astray, he persecuted the Christians as a Jew in good conscience, but was fighting against Jesus Christ. Jesus appeared to him and Paul repented and began to preach Jesus. (Acts 22:4, Gal 1:23)

b.      Your conscience, or feeling good about yourself can be corrupted, listen, 1 Tim 4:1-2, "Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisy having their conscience seared with a hot iron”

c.       Eph 4:17-20,” this I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the emptiness of their minds, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness (lusts) to work all uncleanness with greediness but you have not so learned Christ”

2.      Faith is not by works or outside of Christ

a.       Rom 9:32, “wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it was by the works of the law, for they stumbled at the stumbling stone”

b.      Heb 11:7, “by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith”

c.       Eph 3:17, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you might be filled with the fullness of God”

3.      Faith is not signs and wonders

a.       Mark 13:22, “for false Christs and false prophets shall arise and shall show signs and wonders to seduce if it were possible even the elect”

b.      2 Thes 2:9-12, “even him whose coming is after the working of satan with all power and signs and wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved”

c.       Why would God allow people to experience signs and wonders from the power of satan? Listen: 2 Thes 2:11-12, “and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” God says you will not believe me and my words so I will allow satan to convince you that your ways are right. Faith is knowing God and His words are right. God is not the author of confusion, the devil is.

II.                 Obedience

A.    Faith is doing what God has said because God said it

1.      Faith and works

a.       Our faith must work by love, listen: Gal 5:6, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love”

b.      Titus 3:8, “this is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they that have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men”

c.       James 2:17-19, “even so faith, if it has not works is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, you have faith and I have works, show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe there is one God you do well the devils also believe and tremble”

2.      Faith is not experienced but is unseen

a.       Rom 8:24, “for we are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man sees why does he yet hope for?

b.      2 Cor 4:18, “while we look not at the things seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal”

c.       Heb 11:1, “faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen”

3.      Faith is salvation

a.       1 Pet 1:9, “receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls”

b.      Eph 2:8, “for by grace (unmerited favor) are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God” Salvation that brought Jesus from heaven to the cross and from the cross to the grave and from the grave to resurrected and then to Heaven is a gift from God. Those actions from Jesus and the Father is unmerited favor to all of us who believe.

c.       The woman whose sorrow for her sins caused her to wipe the feet of the Lord with her tears and anoint him with perfume, Jesus said unto her, Luke 7:50, “and he said unto the woman, your faith has saved you go in peace”

B.     Obedience is better than sacrifice

1.      Saul and his example of rebellion1 Sam 15:1-23

a.       Saul was told by Samuel to go and kill the Ameleks and all of their cattle and spoil.

b.      1 Samuel 15:9, “but Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good and would not utterly destroy them, but everything that was vile and refuse that they destroyed”

c.       Saul was told by a prophet to kill everything including beasts, man, woman, and child but he went through and decided to keep all that was good and destroy all that was bad. When Samuel was telling Saul his sin, he summarized with this, 1 Sam 15:22-23, “and Samuel said, has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…”

2.      The Scribe’s answer “better than burnt offerings”

a.       Mark 12:32-33, “and the scribe said unto him, well Master you have said the truth for there is one God and there is none other but He and to love Him with all of the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all of the soul, and with all of the strength and to love his neighbor as himself is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices”

b.      Look what Jesus answered, Mark 12:34, “and when Jesus saw he answered discreetly, he said unto him, you are not far from the kingdom of God…”

c.       Jesus agreed with the scribe that to love God with your all and your neighbor as yourself is above all material sacrifices, such as burnt offerings.

3.      The doers of God’s will are justified

a.       Rom 6:16, “know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness?” “for not the hearers of the law are just before God but the doers of the law shall be justified” Rom 2:13.

b.      Sometimes we must pray, for God to remove what hinders us from obeying the truth, listen: Gal 5:7, “you did run well, who did hinder you from obeying the truth?”

c.       Jesus is our example of faithful obedience, listen: “though He were a son, yet he learned he obedience by the things he suffered and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him”

C.     Consequences of not obeying

1.      God corrects His children

a.       Prov 3:12 “for whom the Lord loves he corrects, even as a Father the son in whom he delights”

b.      Heb 12:5-6, “and you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him for whom the Lord loves he chastens and scourges every son whom he receives”

c.       2 Tim 3:16, “all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness”

2.      Hell is a place for the unprepared

a.       John 12:48, Jesus said, “He that rejects Me and receives not My words, has one that judges him, the word that I have spoken the same will judge him in the last day”

b.      Heb 4:11, “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief”

c.       Luke 12:46, “the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers”

3.      Hell is a place for the rebellious

a.       2 Thes 1:7-9, “and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power”

b.      Rev 20:10, “and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever”

c.       Rev 21:8, “but the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death”

III.              Trust

A.    What does trust have to do with faith?

1.      Faith is knowing Jesus will not fail you

a.       1 John 1:9, “if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness”

b.      1 Cor 10:13, “there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also will make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it”

c.       1 Pet 4:19. “wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator”

2.      Faith is like a child

a.       Matt 18:3-6, “and said, truly I say unto you except you be converted and become as little children you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and whoso shall receive one such child in my name receives me but whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone was hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the sea”

b.      Luke 19:13-15, “then there were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, allow little children and forbid them not to come unto Me for such is the kingdom of heaven and He laid his hands on them and departed from there”

c.       Mark 9:36-37, “and He took a child and set Him in the midst of them and when He had taken Him in his arms He said unto them, whosoever shall receive one such children in My name, receives me and whosoever shall receive Me receives not me but him that sent Me”

3.      Faith is trusting in Jesus to save

a.       Mark 8:34-35, “and when He called the people unto Him with his disciples also He said unto them, whosever will come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me and whosever will save His life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose His life for my sake and the gospel’s the same shall save it”

b.      Rom 5:10, “for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His life”

c.       Heb 7:25, “wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He lives to make intercession for them”

B.     When God delays we must wait

1.      The persistent widow

a.       Luke 18:2-3, “saying there was in a city a judge which feared not God nor regarded man and there was a widow in that city and she came unto him saying avenge me my adversary”

b.      Luke 18:4-5, “and he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself though I fear not God nor regard man yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her unless by her continual coming she weary me”

c.       Luke 18:6-7, “and the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge said and shall not God avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

2.      Those that wait on the Lord

a.       Psalm 130:5-6, “I wait on the Lord my soul does and in His word do I hope my soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning”

b.      Isa 26:8, “yes in the way of your judgements O Lord have we waited for You, the desire of our soul is to Your name and to the remembrance of You”

c.       Isa 40:31, “but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint”

3.      Zacharias and his example

a.       Zacharias was well stricken in years and had been praying for a child, as was his wife Elisabeth. An angel told him that he was going to have a son and his prayers have finally been answered.

b.      He did not believe the angel and was unable to speak until the child was born and it was time to name him. He named him John just as the angel told him the name of the child was to be.

c.       The child was John the Baptist

C.     What trust is not

1.      Trust is not based on emotional experiences but on truth

a.       Paul is an example of misguided trust. Paul trusted in the Lord that he was living in all good conscience, persecuting Christians yet his trust and faith was not based upon the truth. He was fighting against God thinking himself doing God a favor.

b.      You can trust in people that deceive you, but that trust is not based upon truth but rather deception and lies.

c.       Trust is not based upon a feeling but based upon faithfulness of a relationship that is built upon good reputations. Jesus has the best reputation for being a faithful High Priest.

2.      Trust is like a contract

a.       In all simplicity, is that not what the New Covenant of Jesus Christ is? It is a covenant, and agreement between two parties to perform stated duties. There are all types of agreements or covenants. Marriage covenants, real estate covenants, business agreements.

b.      Becoming a Christian is an agreement between you and God handled through the hands of a faithful Savior, Mediator, and Lord named Jesus Christ. In this agreement, you have certain promises and rights as a Christian, but you have to hold up your end of the agreement to God. Jesus Christ our Mediator works out the any discrepancies between the two parties to keep both parties in harmony and peace.

c.       Talking of Jesus the Hebrew writer says, Heb 8:6, “but now has He obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises”

3.      Trust in Christ is like a family

a.       In most families you can trust each other because you know their characters. You can see how your brothers are and know what they will do. You can see how you dad is and know what he will do. Christ is that faithful big brother that is always taking up for his younger children. God the Father is that faithful dad that never lets you down.

b.      Listen to what Paul begins his prayer with, Eph 3:14-15, “for this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth are named…”

c.       Matt 10:32-34, “whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven but whosoever shall deny Me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven think not that I come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword”. You would never deny that your mom and dad are your family or that your brother and sister are indeed your family, would you?

Conclusion:

1. So, do you believe in God and His revealed word? That is how faith starts. Then that knowing God’s will results in either of two decisions: to do what God has said or to ignore what God has revealed. God’s word is never sown or told and produces no result. God’s word always produces a result, when obeyed it produces faithfulness and when ignored it produces rebellion.

2. So, do you want to ignore the truth from God or do you want to secure your salvation from hell and torment? Do you want eternal life and to have everything you need for this life provided for you? Jesus came to earth and was crucified dying and being resurrected the third day to provide you with everything you need for this life and to be godly. In other words, He has already done the work for you to have everything you need physically and spiritually.

3. In order to make Jesus your Only Shepherd and Lord, you must confess Him as Lord and Savior and repent by amending your ways to follow His ways, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. After you are baptized for the forgiveness of sin then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to help you with all of this life. However, it is a decision you must make for the rest of eternity. To become a Christian and turn away from the truth would be worse than never becoming a Christian. This is a decision to make for the rest of your life.

   
   

   My prayer is that Jesus will confirm this word to you and that He will remove every obstacle that is in the way of you becoming a Christian. May it be so in Christ name.