Following the LORD - June 13, 2014

Scriptures: Luke 21-22
17 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.[d] 18 But not a hair of your head will perish! 19 By standing firm, you will win your souls.
36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

Message:
Following the LORD is not just believing, it's a way of life. A constant thing.

Observation:
So many of us believe in the Son of Man called Jesus, Yeshua the son of GOD. But we don't know the cost of what it's really like to be following GOD. The Bible says the world will hate us because we follow the LORD. Why such strong feelings? We are hated when we chose to do what is right and the world is comfortable with doing what is wrong.

Application:

We ought to stand firm no matter how much the world will hate us for our allegiance to GOD. In order to stand firm, we have never stop praying. And we will win our souls when we do not give up, when we keep praying, we do not lose our ground or firm footing. When we depend on the LORD by making Him our security, He will make sure to secure us at all time. 

Prayer:
Lord Help me to stand firm at all times. The craziness of life and the worries of it all are making me wave along back and forth but I want to stand firm because it's not about me at all. It's all about you. Remind me every second of the day that I should not stop praying no matter what I'm doing and that I should offer to you in prayers everything that ever concerns me. Help me to stand firm no matter what the cost.

Righteous - April 23, 2014

Scripture: Genesis 12-15

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.[a]” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

- Genesis 12

14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants[a] as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you. - Genesis 13
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. - Genesis 15

Message:

Counted Righteous because of Faith.

Observation/Promise:

Walking with GOD is not easy. But it is the most amazing experience in life. There is nothing more fulfilling than to be like that of Abraham to know that everything you are doing in life is mandated and decreed by GOD. No matter what challenges may come your way, you can rely on GOD to rescue you and give you the victory because it is HE who has called you to be there in the first place. GOD will see you through no matter what. Taking on an adventure with GOD is wonderful and it is the only endeavor in life that satisfies the human soul more than anything in this world could ever offer. We are righteous in GOD's eyes when we believe everything that HE says. 

Application/Command:

How do we get the promises of GOD when we are not even seeking Him? To seek GOD is to read His word. We are blessed to have all GOD's promises written down for us in a nutshell called the Bible, but what about Abraham during his time? He had to seek GOD on His own with prayers and then he hears GOD speak to him through words, visions and signs. We already have the word, we just need to open the Bible and read. Seeking GOD is not just reading, it's reading with an expectation of receiving GOD's word into our Spirits. And when we receive a promise, believe, believe with all your heart and do not doubt. GOD will count you righteous when you simply believe. Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ can save you and accept this gift from the Father and you are eternally saved.

With GOD - April 10, 2014

Scripture: Joshua 6-10
26 At that time Joshua invoked this curse:
“May the curse of the Lord fall on anyone who tries to rebuild the town of Jericho.
At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay its foundation.
At the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates.”
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land.
- Joshua 6
1 But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. 4 So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated.11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. 12 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.

- Joshua 7

14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day! - Joshua 10
Message:
We cannot go against GOD for we will be against everything. It is wise to go for GOD and walk in His will, for If GOD is for us, no one can be against us. 

Observation/Promise:
When the LORD instructs us, we ought to obey and do it right away. We cannot reverse what the LORD has promised us and we cannot back out on when we have vowed to go with GOD. For when we turn our back and rebuild our evil ways that were supposedly set apart for destruction, we will be cursed and eventually destroyed. We only have to move forward with GOD, no matter how fierce the battle, you will not be harmed as long as you stay with GOD and be faithful to Him. There will be many things that will attempt to steal our hearts away from GOD but remember this, no riches or wealth, can ever fulfill what GOD can do in your life. No one can take GOD's place, He alone is to be worshipped and revered. With GOD we will always win.

Application/Command:
What the LORD has destroyed to not built up. Do not be enticed by your old ways of sin and lustful desires. Remove everything that the LORD has told you to remove, set your life apart for the LORD alone. He will not tolerate the slightest of sin, even though He is merciful and compassionate but HE will make sure that no evil will be able to conquer you so take away everything set apart for destruction or else you will be destroyed along with it. 

GOD's good plan

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 ... and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
- Ephesians 1

GOD has a plan, a great and grandiose plan for each of us and for the whole world at large. Why would HE go through all the trouble of creating a world, being hurt repeatedly by the humans HE intentionally created to love and worship Him? But GOD's heart is always for the good to every human person and creature alike. Therefore God's plans are good, they are to fulfill His own pleasure because His pleasure is always good. Paul explains GOD's plan the one day at the right moment, HE will bring everything together, both male and female, animals and plants, every living creature under the authority in Christ. He works out everything according to His plan. If you are part of this world, then you are part of GOD's plan. GOD's plan is always good, do you want to know what His good plans are for you?

If you want to know GOD's plan for you, you have to understand who GOD is, His greatness - who He is, His goodness - what He is like, His power - what HE can do. To know GOD, first we have to believe that HE exists and that HE is real and that HE is at work in every little thing in this world. You have to understand what He did to show His love for you, what Jesus did on the cross some 2,000 years ago is something that every seeker should take hold in His life - GOD sent His Son to die for you. Why? That's how much He loves you. Jesus is the proof of His love. Jesus was raised to life and right now is seated on the right hand of GOD is proof of GOD's power. Death is something everyone is certain about, but JESUS conquered even death and so will those who truly believe in Him. Do you want to be part of God's good plan? Believe and keep seeking Him.

Belief and Trust

4 Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)

- Revelations 20:4-5

The book of Revelations talks so much about the last days and the things to come when the world is about to end. Many people believe we are in the last days while some believe it will take another century until we will be at the last days. But regardless of what we beleive in, do we beleive in the most important thing that even the end of the world will not matter as so much as death will not bring fear to a person's heart or mind? Do we believe in Jesus the One who was sent for us so we can live even after we have died in this world.  It is in Jesus that we find salvation even from death, because His word promises that those who stand with Jesus even until the very end will be resurrected and while reign with the Messiah for a thousand years.

Where we put our trust deeply matters to GOD. Does GOD matter to us, do we believe in His word and live our lives according to it? Or are we god of ourselves and live according to what we think and feel is right? How we live on earth will determine if we will live after we die. The Bible says to believe and trust in Jesus, the only One to whom we can have salvation from eternal death. If we truly follow Jesus, we will have no fear of death, no fear of calamities, and no fear of the end of the world. It doesn't even matter how the world will end but what will matter is being with GOD to experience the perfect life we can only dream of while we are still in this world. Those whose hearts are dedicated to GOD will long for the day they will be with GOD forever. It is important to understand where you place your belief and trust. Everything we do in life, our thoughts and choices all stem from where we our faith and trust comes from. Is it from believing and trusting JESUS or fearing for the future?