Give me a Word!

It was several weeks ago, and it was late. Most of my family were in bed sleeping.

I was in the Dining Room, and I was praying for somebody (I do that sometimes.)

I was very worried and upset. I was very, very upset. I was very upset. You get the picture.

For a second, I thought, maybe I should ask the Lord to show me a vision or a sign. Then I thought, no, the devil has the power to show visions and signs, that wouldn't be sure enough.

What would be sure enough? The Word of God is the only thing I completely trust. It's a sure thing. I thought I would ask for a Word from the Lord. A special Word, just for me. I assumed, if He answered, I might find a passage in my Bible answering my prayers.

I prayed something like, "Father, I don't ask for a sign or a vision, Lord, give me a Word, Lord, please give me a Word!"

---

Not really realizing that my prayers would have any effect, I saw immediately saw a piece of plastic wrap lying on the table. I remembered, somebody had 2 left-over pancakes wrapped in that plastic, but now they were gone. I was a bit angry that she (and everybody else) had left the plastic lying there this whole time, and I was still upset about my prayer request. I snatched it up to throw it away before I went to bed.

When I picked up the piece of plastic, I could see the name of the person, written on the piece of plastic, backwards, because I was holding it facing away from myself. I remembered that her first name had been written on it. I turned the plastic around to look at the name forwards. At that moment I was praying that the Lord would give me a Word.

Her name happens to be Hope.

Here I was, holding the Word Hope in my hands- just the Word I needed. Praise the Lord! I crushed that plastic inside of my hand.

I took that piece of plastic wrap with me, folded it up neatly, and kept it. I still have it now.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Keeping the Law

Acts 15:10

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Something is going on today that reminds me of what happened in Acts 15, and it's explained very well in Galatians and Hebrews. Search the scriptures diligently to see whether the things you are being taught are true, and cease to hear the instruction that causes you to err from the way you should go. Weren't the Apostles honest, trustworthy, good, biblical, godly people? Yet the Bereans were commended for searching the scriptures before believing even the Apostle's teaching. Could it somehow hurt to take a peek for yourself just in case? I'll tell you some of my experiences:

1. I'm a Gentile, who never received the old law from the Lord, like Israel did. The Lord never even chose us Gentiles to keep that law!
2. Never add to the gospel. The law is a good thing, but it isn't part of the Gospel, which I've heard and believed from the beginning. The gospel should never be changed in any way for any reason. Preaching the 10 commandments is not a necessary part of preaching the gospel.
3. God did not show us the way He wants us to live by sending the law. The Lord never asked us to please Him by keeping the law, or by any other effort of outward behavior. The intention of the law was never so that we could please the Lord by keeping it. The Lord showed us the way He wants us to live, by sending His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to do good, heal, and die on the cross to pay death, for the wages of our sins. Jesus is the Principle.
4. God is dreadfully high and mighty, having all power over all things, and having made everything by Himself. There is nothing good that I can do to give anything to Him. None of our efforts are sufficient to please the Lord at all.
5. The problem with trying to please the Lord by keeping the rules, is that we can't keep the rules. I've tried not to sin, but I've found out that I can't keep myself from sinning. Nobody I know really can. Israel couldn't. The Apostles couldn't. Only Jesus did, and He worked on the Sabbath, dealt with Samaritans, drank wine, ate with sinners, and his disciples didn't even wash their hands. The sooner you realize this, the better: We can't keep the rules.

My point this. The Old Law of Moses, including the 10 commandments, the ordinances, and the pattern of the temple, is for a specific purpose today. The law is to kill sinners who don't believe in Jesus. It shows us that we fall short of the glory of God. It warns us of the destruction we will suffer without a sacrifice. It points to the perfect High Priest, that Spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

I'm already a Christian

Ezekiel 5:11

Wherefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

This is a promise from God. He will pour out an extremely miserable punishment on His Own Children who sin. Have you believed that Jesus suffered the death on the cross to pay for your sins? Then you know that your sin is the thing that tortured and killed the One Who Loves You.

So many people today say, "Yes, I'm already a Christian." You would be better off if you never knew the Lord, than you are claiming to be a Believer, and yet not following Him. Brethren, your sin is worse than that of Osama Bin Laden, because he never knew Jesus, but you know what you're doing. You'll all have a part in the lake of fiery indignation, just like him, unless you repent.

woe unto us, that we have sinned! We're the sanctuary of the Lord, and He detests our lust, covetousness, fornication, idolatry, and lies. The Lord will by no means clear the guilty. We defile His sanctuary, and set up an abomination in the Holy Place, where it ought not to be.

You know that your conscience is convicting you. I don't care what your excuse is. Thus saith the Lord, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate!

Believe Jesus to be Saved!

http://home.findmercy.com/home/gospel.swf

Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear

1Jo 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Hbr 12:21-29; Hbr 10:31 "[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." BUT: Rom 8:15; 2Ti 1:7 "...God hath not given us the spirit of fear;" Mar 6:50 "...be not afraid." How many times has the Lord told us Fear Not?

The more you care, the less you fear.

Gen 15:1; Gen 21:17; Gen 26:24; Jdg 6:23; Dan 10:12; Dan 10:19; Mat 1:20; Mat 14:27; Mat 17:7; Mat 28:5; Mat 28:10; Mar 6:50; Luk 1:13; Luk 1:30; Luk 2:10; Jhn 6:20; Act 18:9; Act 27:24; Rev 1:17; etc.; Lam 3:57

Thou drewest near in the day [that] I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

Quiz References

1. Which people have already been raptured? Gen 5; Heb 11 "Enoch was translated." 2Ki 2 "Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." Mar 16:14-20; Luk 24:36-53; Act 1:1-12 "...after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven..."
2. What must be done before the end will come? Mat 24:9-16; Mar 16:14-20 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world..."
3. Will anybody see the God before Jesus' return? Luk 17:20-24 "...ye shall not see [it]."; Jhn 1:16-18; Jhn 14:9; Act 7:32 "...Moses trembled, and durst not behold." 1Jo 4:10-15; 1Ti 6:14-16; Rev 22:6-9 Deu 4:12-15 "...ye saw no manner of similitude..."
4. Does someone making something dead, become alive, necessarily prove that he's God? Rev 17:8; Rev 13; 2Th 2:8-12; Exo 7:8-13 "the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments."
5. Does someone being terrifying necessarily prove that he's God? Hbr 10:31 "[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." BUT: Rom 8:15; 2Ti 1:7 "...God hath not given us the spirit of fear;" 1Jo 4:18 "...perfect love casteth out fear..."; Mar 6:50 "...be not afraid."
6. Will the false god or the True God come first? 2Th 2 "Let no man deceive you..."
7. Do new, additional words, become part of the Bible? 2Ti 3:13-17; Pro 30:6; Rev 22:18-19; 1Ti 4; 1Jo 4:1-6; 1Jo 5:5-12; 2Ti 4:1-5; Rev 21:5-6 "It is done."
8. Who will be raised from the dead before the resurrection? Rev 11; The 2 witnesses.
9. Are most of the people who seem saved, really saved? 1Jo 3:10; 1Jo 4:20; Mat 22:14; Luk 13:23-24; Mat 7:21; Mat 19:23; 1Sa 16:7; Rom 9:27; Mat 7:14 "...few there be that find it."
10. What do we get if we overcome? Rev 21:7 "...all things;"
11. Will this world be fun and easy for believers? Act 14:22 "...we must through much tribulation enter..."; 2Ti 3:12 "...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer..."
12. Once someone has truly believed in Jesus, will they ever perish in any case? Jhn 3:16; Rom 11:29; Isa 49:15-16; Jhn 5:24; Rom 8:38-39; 2Ti 1:12 "...whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

End Times Quiz

1. Which people have already been raptured?
2. What must be done before the end will come?
3. Will anybody see God before Jesus' return?
4. Does someone making something dead, become alive, necessarily prove that he's God?
5. Does someone being terrifying necessarily prove that he's God?
6. Will the false god or the True God come first?
7. Do new, additional words, become part of the Bible?
8. Who will be raised from the dead before the resurrection?
9. Are most of the people who seem saved, really saved?
10. What do we get if we overcome?
11. Will this world be fun and easy for believers?
12. Once someone has truly believed in Jesus, will they ever perish in any case?