You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
Backsliders Are Lost – Rick Bagwell
Tag: lost
Lost Sheep – Rick Bagwell
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
THE CONCERNS OF A DEAD MAN
LUKE 16:23 – AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS AND SEETH ABRAHAM AFAR OFF, AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM.
LUKE 16: 24 – AND HE CRIED AND SAID FATHER ABRAHAM, HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND SEND LAZARUS, THAT HE MAY DIP THE TIP OF HIS FINGER IN WATER, AND COOL MY TONGUE: FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS PLACE.
THE CONCERNS OF THIS MAN HAVE CHANGED.
HIS FORMER CONCERN WAS TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND ENJOY LIFE AND FAMILY. HIS CONCERN WAS TO PREPARE FOR LIFE AND NOT DEATH.
WE READ IN A PREVIOUS CHAPTER ABOUT A PRODIGAL SON WHO CAME TO HIMSELF IN A FOREIGN LAND AND WENT HOME TO HIS FATHER. HE WAS DEAD AND ALIVE AGAIN, HE WAS LOST AND WAS FOUND.
THE PRODIGAL SON CAME TO HIMSELF AND WENT HOME TO BE WITH HIS FATHER BEFORE HE DIED.
THE RICH MAN CAME TO HIMSELF IN HELL.
PRAYER LIFE CHANGES IN HELL, IF A PERSON GOES TO HELL HE WILL PRAY A LOT.
THE RICH MAN’S CONCERNS CHANGED IN HELL.
HIS PRAYER WAS FOR A DROP OF WATER ON HIS TONGUE.
LUKE 16:27 – THEN HE SAID, I PRAY THEE THEREFORE, FATHER, THAT THOU WOULDEST SEND HIM TO MY FATHERS HOUSE:
LUKE16:28 – FOR I HAVE FIVE BRETHREN THAT HE MIGHT TESTIFY UNTO THEM, LEST THEY ALSO COME INTO THIS PLACE OF TORMENT.
THIS MAN IN HELL HAD A CHANGE OF CONCERN, BUT IT WAS TO LATE.
HE PRAYED FOR A WITNESS TO BE SENT TO HIS FATHER HOUSE, TO HIS BROTHERS WHO WERE LOST.
TESTIFY TO THEM HE PRAYED.
THIS MAN IN HELL HAD NEGLECTED THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION IN ANY ONE’S LIFE, HE REJECTED HIS CREATOR, HE HAD CHOSEN TO SEEK THE TEMPORAL INSTEAD OF THE ETERNAL.
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE WITNESS TO HIS BROTHER’S. SOMEBODY HAS TO BREAK THE MOLD IN A FAMILY OF LOST PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO PUT NO VALUE ON GOD AND THE LIFE OF GOD, USUALLY LEAD THEIR FAMILY TO HELL WITH THEM. THEY CHOOSE SPORTS OVER CHURCH,THEY CHOOSE SIN OVER RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEY NEVER READ THEIR BIBLE IF THEY OWN ONE. THEY SELDOM IF EVER GO TO CHURCH. THEY TESTIFY TO THEIR FAMILY THROUGH CONDUCT.
ITS NOT THAT THEY HAVEN’T HEARD THE MESSAGE THEY JUST REFUSE IT. THEY MIGHT NOT EXPRESS IT VERBALLY BUT WITH THEIR CONDUCT. THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RULES OF LIFE.
LAZARUS WAS A BELIEVER THAT WAS LAID AT THE GATE OF THE RICH MAN DAILY.
IF THE RICH MAN HAD STOPPED LONG ENOUGH TO TALK TO LAZARUS, HE WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE MESSIAH.
THE RICH MAN COULD HAVE WENT TO HIS BROTHER’S HOUSE’S AND TESTIFIE D ABOUT THE ONE WHO AROSE FROM THE DEAD.
THE ONLY MESSAGE THAT WOULD KEEP THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY OUT OF HELL WAS IGNORED.
HE WAS NOT IN HELL BECAUSE HE WAS RICH, I PERSONALLY KNOW RICH PEOPLE THA LOVE JESUS AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RICH WHO LOVE JESUS, BUT I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RICH THAT COULD CARE LESS ABOUT JESUS.
BEING SAVED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR FINANICIAL CONDITION. BEING RELIGIOUS DOESN’T MAKE YOU SAVED.
PEOPLE THAT REJECT THE MESSAGE OF JESUS ARE LOST AND ON THEIR WAY TO HELL, THEY WILL KNOW THE TRUTH IN HELL AND WILL BE TORMENTED OVER THIER FAMILY COMING THERE.
PEOPLE MAKE THIS STATEMENT, IT IS A FALSE STATEMENT, BUT THEY MAKE IT, THEY SAY THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HEAVEN. WHO GAVE THEY THE AUTHORITY TO SAY THAT? OUR CREATOR IS THE AUTHORITY, WHEN HE SAYS IT IS LAW, AND HE SAID I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.
JESUS PROVED HIS AUTHORITY WHEN HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE. JESUS IS THE ONLY LAMB OF GOD WHO DIED FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
ALL RELIGIONS CAN NOT PROMISE FORGIVENESS FOR SIN. IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED JESUS BY FAITH AND LIVE IN THAT FAITH, YOU WILL BE PRAYING IN HELL CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
DON’T LET DECEPTION SEND YOU TO HELL, DON’T LET REBELLION AND PRIDE SEND YOU TO HELL. HUMBLE YOURSELF AND CALL UPON JESUS TO SAVE YOU.
PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU DIFFERENT THAN GOD’S HOLY WORD, DON’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SPEAK FOR HIM.
I TELL YOU AGAIN BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD, THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED, BUT BY THE NAME OF JESUS.
PRAY NOW AND ASK HIM INTO YOUR HEART AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, TESTIFY TO YOUR FAMILY AND IF YOU LIVE IN A NATION THAT ALLOWS CHURCH ASSEMBLIES START ATTENDING CHURCH. IF BIBLES ARE AVAILABLE BUY A BIBLE IF YOU CAN. IF CHURCHES ARE NOT POSSIBLE SERVE JESUS WITH YOU WHOLE HEART.
I WRITE THIS MESSAGE WITH GREAT LOVE AND HUMILITY, FOR IF WASN’T FOR JESUS REVEALING HIMSELF TO ME, I WOULD STILL BE LOST AND GOING TO HELL. BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF JESUS I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN FOR THE LOST.
3 STEPS TO DEATH
MARK 5:1,2 – AND THEYCAME OVER UNTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SEA, INTO THE COUNTRY OF THE GADARENES.
AND WHEN HE WAS COME OUT OF THE SHIP, IMMEDIATELY THERE MET HIM OUT OF THE TOMBS A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT.
HERE WE HAVE A MAN WITH AN LIFECLEAN SPIRIT. A MAN WHO HAS COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF HIS LIFE.
THERE ARE 3 STAGES OF DEMONIC ACTIVITY: OPRESSION,OBSESSION, POSESSION.
THIS MAN IS IN THE LAST STAGES OF DEMONIC ACTVITY, HE IS POSESSED.
HIS WILL HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT. SOMEWHERE IN HIS LIFE HE OPENED THE DOOR FOR DEMONIC ACTIVITY.
THIS MAN LIVED IN TOMBS. HE LIVED AMONG THE DEAD.
THE DEVIL COMES TO KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY.
THIS MAN HAD A GODGIVEN PURPOSE. GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HIS LIFE. THE DEVIL WAS TRYING TO KILL THAT PURPOSE: HE WAS STEALING TIME FROM THIS MAN.
EVERY MINUTE THE DEVIL CAN STEAL: MOMENTS, DAYS, WEEKS, AND YEARS FROM A PERSON’S LIFE, HE IS STEALING FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD’
THE DEVIL DESIRES TO DESTROY GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES.
THIS MAN WAS TORMENTED, LOST, AND ON HIS WAY TO HELL.
HE WAS TRAPPED, AND THE DEVIL WAS EATING UP TIME; HE WAS DELAYING PURPOSE AND TRYING TO KILL THIS MAN.
JESUS CAME TO THIS MAN. THIS MAN DIDN’T CROSS THE SEA TO FIND JESUS. JESUS CROSSED THE SEA AND CAME TO WHERE THIS MAN WAS: TO DELIVER HIM.
JESUS GAVE HIM HIS ASSIGNMENT.
THIS MAN WANTED TO TRAVEL WITH JESUS, BUT THAT WASN’T GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIM. JESUS TOLD HIM TO GO HOME AND TELL HIS FRIENDS.
TELL THEM WHAT? ….WHAT GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU AND HAS HAD COMPASSION ON YOU.
WHAT A MESSAGE!!!
THE LORD WANTS TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR US AND BLESS US WITH COMPASSION SO WE CAN GO AND TELL OUR FRIENDS ABOUT JESUS AND LISTEN FOR HIM TO GUIDE US TO HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES.
HOW TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD
Most of us know we can’t hide from God, because He sees and knows all.
He continues to deal with those who run from Him, because it’s not His
will that any should perish. He will continually, draw them to Himself, but we do
have a will of our own. He will draw us but His desire is, that we come to Him freely. This is why
He gave us a choice.
When we do come to Him, and receive Him as our personal Savior, He then, deals with
us: first, as babies, on milk; and then expects us to grow-up.
When we raise our children, we expect things out of them, but we do have to teach them. If they don’t grow up properly, we begin to have trouble with them and they can cause us much heart ache.
Well, God has guidelines and rules, similar to the rules we enforce on our children.
We offer our children many advantages. Most of the time they don’t see that until they grow-up. This is the samewith God and His children.
Some of our advantages of being God’s children are:
1-
His giving of His only begotten Son’s life for our Eternal life
2-
A personal relationship with Him where we can communicate through prayer, and see our prayers answered
3-
The precious promises in His Word
4-
The way to live a victorious life here
5-
Healing and deliverance
6-
The fruit of the Spirit
7-
We can operate in His gifts
8-
Heaven, when we leave here
9-
We will rule and reign with Him in the future Millennial Reign of Christ
And much, much more.
But, we have a part to play in this, which is the difference in having the favor of God, that
we all want, or we could receive the judgment side of God which brings with it much trouble.
We are always telling our children, when we send them out to play, “Stay out of trouble.” You got it! —– With God It’s the same. We know if we break the rules, we are in trouble.
Today we are going to learn:
How to stay out of trouble with God:
Many of us have tried to make a deal with God. We say “If You will do this, I will do that.”
This is not how God operates. We have His Word: if we will do this, He will do that. We’re always trying to ‘get the cart before the horse’ (so to speak).
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD BY BEING OBEDIENT: Our relationship with
God, and our anointing has much to do with our obedience to Him.
Acts 5:29,32
– Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God rather than men.
And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.
John 15:10 —- If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
And
1 John 3:22 —- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Matthew 7:21 —- Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
God Word is very clear about how to follow His will—we must trust and obey.
One of my most quoted Scriptures is found in Proverbs 3:5,6 —-
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own
understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths.
We are instructed to trust and obey and leave the rest to Him.
He can cause circumstances around us to change. All He wants usto do, after trusting and being obedient, is to do good when it is in our power to do so; but the most important of all requirements, is to spend
time with Him each day.
SEEKING THE LORD CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
This is where we get direction, and are refreshed by His presence.
How can we know what He desires of us, unless we have a relationship with Him?
Seeking Him, by spending time with Him, and praising and worshipping Him, brings relationship.
It can keep us out of trouble, even though, most of our trouble, is brought-on by our decision
to ‘do it our way’.
Acts 17:27 — That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far away from every one of us.
2 Chronicles 15:2 — The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Lamentations 3:25 — The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
And
Ezra 8:22 — The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all that forsake Him.
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH:
Romans 8:12,13 —- Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Or we could say, we are not obligated to our carnal or old sinful nature, to do what it begs us to do.
Verse 13 — For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify
the deeds of the body (that is die to self), ye shall live.
Let’s explain it this way. If you keep on following theold sinful nature, you are lost and you will perish, but
if through the power of the Holy Spirit you crush it and it’s evil deeds, you shall live.
You might say, ”This is hard to do”. Well, — I can tell you, it can be done, with the help of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you.
Look at Titus 2:11,12 —- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
WE CAN STAY OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD IF WE TAKE THE WALK OF LOVE:
1-
Brotherly love
2-
Loving God
Let’s start with brotherly love:
There are probably many words that are the opposite to the word love, but the most prominent is hate.
There are others that could describe the lack of brotherly love, like despise, judgmental, unforgiveness,
and the list goes on. I ‘m sure you could think of others right-off, and you would be right, but this will do for
now.
1 John 2:10, describes those
who love their brother (talking about other believers), as abiding in the
light. — He that loveth his brother
abith in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling (or error) in him.
1 John 4: 7,8 —- Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.
E M Bounds, on prayer, says,
“By prayer, the ability is secured to feel the law of love, to speak according to the law of love, and to do everything in harmony with the law of love.”
We need divine aid to act brotherly.
Jesus, our perfect example, was and is a devoted friend. He gave His life willingly that we might live. He
gave us Eternal life.
We need to judge our love walk.
JUDGING OURSELVES CAN KEEP US OUT OF TROUBLE WITH GOD:
Corinthians 11:30,31,32 —- For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (or are dead).
For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.
To judge self, is when the believer sees self as God sees him. He will renounce or forsake self.
It is replacing the self life with the Christ life.
To judge self is to deny self. This is more than self-denial. Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification or enjoyment of the flesh. If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause.
But when we judge self, we are attacking the cause.
*To judge self, is to lose the self-life and find the Christ-life:
Galatians 2:20 — I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self-conscious, but to become Christ conscious:
Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. Amen.
*To judge self, is to no longer be self controlled, but become Christ controlled:
Acts 9:6 — And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me do?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told
thee what thou must do.
*To judge self, is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self:
Philippians 2:3 — Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
*To judge self, is to become selfless or unselfish.
We are to search-out our lives, to see if there be any wicked way in us, and get rid of it, by askingGod to cleanse or take it out of us, so we can stay out of trouble with God and be a part of that Church without spot or wrinkle.
WHO IS THIS KING? WHERE IS HIS KINGDOM?
JOHN18:36-37 JESUS ANSWERED, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, IF MY KINGDOM WERE OF THIS WORLD, THEN WOULD MY SERVANTS FIGHT, THAT I WOULD NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE JEWS: BUT NOW IS MY KINGDOM FROM HENCE.
PILATE THEREFORE SAID UNTO HIM, ART THOU A KING THEN? JESUS ANSWERED , THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE I CAME INTO THE WORLD, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH. EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE.
JESUS CAME WITH A MISSION, HE CAME TO REDEEM AND TO RESTORE.
HE CAME TO RECLAIM DOMINION LOST BY THE FIRST MAN ADAM.
GOD BECAME FLESH AND LIMITED HIMSELF ON LEGAL TERMS, NOT VIOLATING HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT LIMITED HIMSELF TO THE ANOINTING AND THE POWER OF A SINLESS LIFE.
HE PREACHED THE TRUTH, BUT HE WAS AND IS TRUTH.
JESUS RESTORED THE KINGDOM RULE OF GOD ON THIS EARTH IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.
HE RULES THROUGH A BODY OF BELIEVERS IN ALL NATIONS.
JESUS’ FIRST PHASE OF KINGDOM RULE IS THRU BELIEVERS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE ARE LED BY HIS SPIRIT THROUGH THE LIVING WORD OF GOD, WE TRUST AND OBEY AND WE RELEASE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AS WE PREACH, TEACH, WITNESS AND PRAY THE GOSPEL INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
SATAN’S KINGDOM IS COMING DOWN, BY THE POWER OF THE KING, JESUS, AND HIS KINGDOM.
THE CHURCH IS PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD, THE POWER OF SATAN IS BEING BROKEN AND DESTROYED BY THE ANOINTING OF GOD.
THE DEVIL’S DOMINION IS BROKEN OVER THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
PROFF OF THIS FACT, I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, FORGIVEN, AND EMPOWERED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PRESENT NOW AND YET TO COME.
JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE KING OF THE JEWS, OF WHOM WE HAVE GREAT LOVE, BUT HE IS THE KING OF PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONS WHO KNOW HIM IN THEIR HEART.
SATANS POWER IS BEING BROKEN THROUGH THE POWER OF KINGDOM SAINTS WHO PRAY FOR NATIONS, CITIES AND LANDS. WHO BOLDLY WITNESS FOR JESUS.
SATAN WANTS TO BLIND THE SPIRITUAL EYES OF SAINTS AND MAKE THEM BELIEVE THEY HAVE NO DELEGATED AUTHORITY, BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO US BY OUR KING JESUS.
JESUS RESTORED HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH AND IS COMING TO RULE AND REIGN A THOUSAND YEARS ON THIS EARTH AND THEN GOD WILL RULE FOR ETERNITY. WE WILL RULE ALSO UNDER HIS KINGDOM AUTHORITY.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
WE ARE NEAR THE RETURN OF THE LORD TO CATCH HIS BRIDE AWAY, WORK TILL HE COME.
SECOND PHASE IS ON THE WAY.
OBEDIENCE THE PROOF OF LOVE
JOHN 21:15 – SO WHEN THEY HAD DINED, JESUS SAITH TO SIMON PETER, SIMON, SON OF JONAS, LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE? HE SAITH UNTO HIM, YEA LORD: THOU KNOWEST THAT I LOVE THEE. HE SAITH UNTO HIM, FEED MY LAMBS.
PETER HAD LEFT JERUSALEM AFTER JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AND RETURNED WITH OTHER DISCIPLES TO THE FISHING BUSINESS.
PETER WAS DISCOURAGED AND CONFUSED. HIS IDEAS OF MINISTRY WAS LOST. THEIR KING HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED.
JESUS HAD ALREADY APPEARED TO THEM AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, BUT IT WASN’T ENOUGH FOR THESE DISCIPLIES, THEY STILL DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THEIR PURPOSE.
IT WAS EASIER TO RUN AND RETURN TO THEIR FLESH THEN. THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND, SO IT WAS EASIER TO RETURN TO THE COMFORT ZONE.
WHAT LOOKS LIKE A FAILURE, IS A STEPPING STONE TO VICTORY.
JESUS WOULD NOT LEAVE THESE MEN IN THIS CONDITION, BUT CAME AFTER THEM.
JESUS LOVED TO ASK PETER QUESTIONS.
HE CALLED PETER SON OF JONAS (DOUBLE REFERENCE HERE, THEREFORE, JESUS WAS IDENTIFYING PETER WITH A DISOBEDIENT OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET WHO WAS SWALLOWED BY A GREAT FISH).
PETER HAD BEEN A DISCIPLE OF JESUS FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS, HIS OBEDIENCE HAD TO BE CONNECTED TO LOVE FOR JESUS.
OBEDENCE IS PROOF OF OUR LOVE FOR GOD, WE MAY BE CONFUSED BY WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND US, WE MAY BE DISCOURAGED. BUT IF WE REALLY LOVE JESUS WE WILL OBEY.
JESUS ASK PETER THREE TIMES DO YOU LOVE ME? PETER SAID, “YES LORD”, JESUS SAID, “OBEY ME.”
PETER OBEYED JESUS AND WENT BACK TO JERUSALEM AND TARRIED IN THE UPPER ROOM FOR TEN DAYS.
120 PEOPLE WERE IN THAT ROOM BECAUSE OF THEIR LOVE FOR JESUS.
LOVES ALWAYS CARRIES US TO OBEDIENCE.
JESUS LOVES PEOPLE AND WE ARE A CONNECTED TO WHAT HE DOES ON THIS EARTH.
WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GODS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES, BECAUSE WE LOVE JESUS.
LAMBS ARE EASIER TO FEED THAN SHEEP.
JESUS TOLD PETER TO FEED HIS LAMBS ONLY ONCE, BUT HE TOLD PETER TWICE TO FEED HIS SHEEP. SHEEP BITE HARDER THAN LAMBS.
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN SHEEP BIT AND WENT BACK TO THE COMFORT ZONE.
JESUS IS ASKING THIS QUESTION OF YOU. DO YOU LOVE ME?, FEED MY SHEEP.
ODEDIENCE IS THE PROOF OF LOVE.
GO BACK TO THE UPPER ROOM AND TARRY, AND TRY AGAIN.
JESUS HAS COME AFTER YOU, HE NEEDS YOU TO LOVE HIM AND OBEY.
I DESIRE INTIMATE TIME WITH YOU
“I DESIRE INTIMATE TIME WITH YOU.”
THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE TO ME THIS MORNING WHILE WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER IN OUR SECRET PLACE.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU THINK GOD DOESN’T SPEAK; AND OTHERS OF YOU THINK GOD IS LOOKING DOWN ON US, WAITING FOR US TO STEP OUT OF LINE, SO HE CAN BRING HIS WRATH ON US. BUT THIS IS NOT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, NOR THE GOD WHO SPENDS TIME WITH ME EVERY DAY.
HE LOVES ALL CREATION AND HE DOES, OF COURSE, JUDGE SIN.
FIRST, LET’S EXAMINE HIS CHARACTER: HE IS LIFE; HE IS OUR PEACE; HIS BANNER OVER US IS LOVE; HE IS EVERYTHING WE NEED IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION; HE IS THE DIRECT OPPOSITE OF THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS, SATAN.
NOW, LET’S LOOK AT SATAN’S CHARACTER: HE IS SELFISH;HE BRINGS PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH; HE IS LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE SOMEONE ON WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO BASE YOUR CHARACTER?
I FORGOT TO SAY, HIS END IS DESTRUCTION. HE DOES DESTROY, BUT IN THE END, HE WILL BE DESTORYED; ALONG WITH ALL WHO SERVE HIM.
TO FOLLOW GOD, IS TO BE WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE: BY ACCEPTING JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR, AND MAKING HIM LORD OF OUR LIVES.
IF WE WANT TO KNOW WHO TO BE INTIMATE WITH, WE LOOK FOR JUST THE RIGHT PERSON: THE ONE WHO IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US. LET’S DEFINE THE WORD INTIMATE: IT IS CLOSE IN FRIENDSHIP; WELL ACQUAINTED; FAMILIAR; AND CONFIDENTIAL.
WHY SHOULD WE EVEN SPEND THE TIME OF DAY WITH SOMEONE WHO DESPISES US AND WANTS TO TAKE US TO HELL? THINK ABOUT IT!
WE HAVE MANUALS TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH EVERY APPLIANCE OR GADGET WE BUY. THEY CALL IT INSTRUCTIONS. IT TELLS US WHAT THAT THING WILL DO, AND EVEN WHAT IT WON’T DO. HOW DO THEY KNOW? IT HAS BEEN TRIED AND TESTED.
WELL, WE HAVE A MANUAL, THE BEST SELLER OF ALL TIMES, YEAR AFTER YEAR, CALLED THE HOLY BIBLE. IF WE WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GOD, OR SATAN, WE CAN FIND IT IN THIS MANUAL.
MY HUSBAND HAS STATED, REFERRING TO THIS, WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE WITH ME, HE WANTED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT ME. IF THERE HAD BEEN A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT ME, HE WOULD HAVE READ IT TO SEE WHAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY.
I TELL YOU, WE CAN PLEASE GOD, BUT SATAN IS NEVER SATISFIED. HIS ONLY PLEASURE IS TO HAVE OUR SOUL AND DAMN IT TO HELL.
EVERYDAY PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES: SOME TURN OUT GOOD, AND SOME BAD; BUT I TELL YOU, THIS CHOICE TO SERVE GOD BRINGS EVERLASTING LIFE AND PEACE WITH IT. NOTHING ELSE WE CHOOSE WILL EVER STAND THAT TEST.
IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOOD AND TRUE, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES. THEY BRING EVERLASTING LIFE.
EVERY OTHER gOD, LITTLE “g”, THAT MAN HAS SOUGHT OUT TO BE INTIMATE WITH, HAS BROUGHT DEATH OR BONDAGE. WHY SHOULD ANYONE AS INTELLIGENT AS WE THINK WE ARE, WANT TO SERVE AND ENTITY LIKE THAT?
TELL ME, HOW COULD WHOLE NATIONS WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN TO A gOD WHO REQUIRES THEIR DEATH, FOR FALSE BENEFITS, AND TEACHES THEM TO TAKE LIVES? HOW COULD THEY?
WHEN WE FOLLOW JESUS, WE ARE FOLLOWING HIM TO WIN THE LOST FOR CHRIST. AND HE BRINGS US INTO HIS PRESENCE.
THE ANOINTING OR PRESENCE WE FEEL WHEN WE WORSHIP GOD, JEHOVAH, IS PLEASURABLE. WE GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM, AND I KNOW SOME HAVE DIED FOR HIM BY BEING MARTYRED, BUT NO ONE HAS EVER COMMITTED MURDER FOR HIM, KILLED UNBORN BABIES FOR HIM, NOR COMMITTED SUICIDE FOR HIM.
WHY DO YOUM SUPPOSE THE MUSLIM god TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS NOT TO BE PROMISCUOUS, AND THEN TELLS THEM THEY CAN BE, IF THEY KILL AND COMMIT SUICIDE IN THE PROCESS? STOP AND THINK! IT IS IN THE KORAN, WHICH WE COULD SAY, IS THEIR MANUAL.
THERE ARE PRECIOUS SOULS IN THE BALANCE, AND WE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHO WE SERVE AND COMMUNE WITH. EVERYBODY AFFECTS SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.
MY HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS COMMUNION WITH HIS CHILDREN, AND ALL OF US HAVE A PLACE WITHIN OUR BEING, THAT WANTS TO WORSHIP SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.
THE MESSAGE I DESIRE TO GET ACROSS TO YOU, IS: WORSHIP THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD!
HE DESIRES TIME WITH YOU, BUT TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM, YOU HAVE TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY.
MY FRIEND, ALL OTHER gods BELONG TO SATAN AND HIS KINGDOM. HE HAS JUST THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOU, TO DECEIVE YOU INTO WORSHIPPING THAT FALSE god; BUT IN REALITY YOU ARE WORSHIPPING SATAN, AND HE LOVES IT.
GOD THE FATHER IS THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD; GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST: THREE IN ONE.
I HAVE READ THE REAL MANUAL, THE HOLY BIBLE, WRITTEN UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; AND I HAVE BEEN IN HIS PRESENCE, AND HAS SEEN HIS SUPERNATURAL OPERATION IN MY LIFE. HE HAS CHANGED ME, AND IS CONTINUALLY LOVINGLY CHANGING ME.
WHY DO I SERVE HIM? BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME, AND REACHED DOWN FOR ME. HE DREW ME TO HIMSELF. I ACCEPTED HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AS MY SAVIOR AND HE CHANGED THIS GIRL INTO A WOMAN OF GOD WHO LOVES AND TRIES TO REACH ALL THE PEOPLE SHE CAN TO BRING THEM TO THE TRUTH.
I SPEAK BLESSINGS OVER YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS: SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL, AND FINANCIAL BLESSINGS.
DOES GOD EXIST? IS THERE PROOF?
IN THE BEGINNING GOD… (GENESIS 1:1)
THE FOOL SAID IN HIS HEART, THERE IS NO GOD (PSALM 14:1).
WE DO NOT HAVE TO SEE GOD TO KNOW HE EXISTS.
THE SCRIPTURES CONFIRM WHAT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE HAVE EXPERIENCED. THERE IS A GOD. IF WE SAY THERE IS NO SUPREME BEING IS TO DENY WHAT IS KNOWN BY INSTINCT.
THERE IS A PART OF US THAT IS VOID THAT ONLY GOD CAN FILL.
PSALM 19:1-4 – THE HEAVENS DECLARE (TELL OF) THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE FIRMIMENT SHOWETH HIS HANDIWORK .
DAY UNTO DAY UTTERETH SPEECH, AND NIGHT UNTO NIGHT SHOWETH KNOWLEDGE.
THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE, WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD.
THEIR LINE IS GONE OUT THROUGH ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE WORLD. IN THEM HATH HE SET A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN.
SO, GOD, THE SUPREME BEING, REVEALS HIMSELF THROUGHOUT ALL THE EARTH IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, IN EVERY LANGUAGE, BECAUSE CREATION DOES NOT NEED A LANGUAGE.
DAY AND NIGHT HE SHOWS KNOWLEDGE OF HIMSELF; DECLARING THAT HE IS GOD AND THAT MEN EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD OUGHT TO WORSHIP HIM.
JOHN 1:1,9 – IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD (JESUS), AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
THAT WAS THE TRUE LIGHT, WHICH LIGHTETH EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD.
GOD ENLIGHTENS EVERY MAN OR WOMAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD (ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD).
WHEN WITNESSING TO THE LOST, ESPECIALLY THE ATHIEST THEY WILL ASK A QUESTION TO TRY TO STUMP US, OR REALLY TO STOP US AND SHUT US UP.
LATELY, A FRIEND OF MINE RECEIVED A QUESTION, “WHY WOULD GOD ALLOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL GO TO HELL?” PEOPLE IN FORIEGN LANDS WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD THE SALVATION MESSAGE? WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THIS MESSAGE.
I BELIEVE GOD REVEALS HIMSELF NOT ONLY BY CREATION, BUT ALSO BY REVELATION OF HIMSELF AND HIS SON, JESUS, IN A SUPERNATURAL WAY: EVEN BY VISIONS AND DREAMS.
LOOK AT ROMANS 1:19,20 – BECAUSE THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST (SHOWN) IN THEM (TO THEM); FOR GOD HAS SHOWED IT UNTO THEM.
FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE; EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE:
THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.
WHAT ABOUT YOU, DO YOU BELIEVE IN ALMIGHTY GOD?
IF NOT, I CHALLENGE YOU TO ASK JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, IF HE IS REAL, TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU.
IF YOU MEAN IT WITH YOUR HEART, JESUS WILL.
