Is JESUS GOD?

Is JESUS GOD?

Yes He Is!

The clearest statement by JESUS as to Who He Is was in John 8:58, “JESUS said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” The same name GOD gave to Moses to tell the children of Israel Who sent him, “And GOD said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM!’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you!”’”

So JESUS said He is GOD because He is I AM, the self existent GOD who created everything. The Jews understood that He claimed to be GOD, “The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You being a Man, make Yourself GOD.’” The disciples believed He was GOD, study John 1:1-18, 3:15-21, 5:16-23, 8:48-59; Colossians 2:1-10; 2 Peter 1:1-4.

On top of that, John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was The Word and The Word was with GOD and The Word was GOD.”; and Revelation 19:13 says, “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is called, The Word of GOD.”

Father & Teacher

 Father & Teacher

“JESUS said, ‘But you, do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, The CHRIST, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He Who is in Heaven.’” Matthew 23:8-9 This scripture has caused some controversy in the Church.

Since the world began men have been called father, in every language there is a word for father, the male parent of a child.

Since the world began there have been people who teach knowledge and skills to others and in every language there is a word for teacher, a person who trains others.

In the context of Matthew 23:1-11 JESUS is talking about vanity and pride “But all their works they do to be seen by men…and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’” JESUS ends this teaching with this admonition, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

JESUS was not saying that we could no longer call our male parents “father” or those who instruct or train us “teacher”. He was telling us to not be vain and boastful for ourself and not to give too much honor to those who are fathers and teachers.

Psalm 46

Psalm 46

Tree of Life Version

“For the music director, of the sons of Korah, according to Alamoth, a song.

GOD is our Refuge and Strength, an ever present Help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth changes, though the mountains topple into the heart of the seas, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at their swelling. Selah.”

What a concept! That no matter how bad things get, the natural disasters are destroying everything around us and yet we have no fear. How is that possible, even the twelve apostles had fear in the face of nature’s rage, “So He woke up and rebuked the wind. And He said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind stopped, and it became totally calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Even now you have no faith?’” Mark 4:39-40 The story of JESUS sleeping in the boat in the middle of the sea of Galilee during a storm is a small example of what everyone on earth faces now and especially during the Last Days. “At that hour there was a great earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to The GOD of Heaven.” Study Mark 4:35-41; Revelation 11:13.

“There is a river whose streams make glad the City of GOD - 

the Holy dwelling place of Elyon.

GOD is in the midst of her, she will not be shaken.

GOD will help her when the morning dawns.

Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms totter,

He utters His voice, the earth melts!

ADONAI-Tzva’ot is with us.

The GOD of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.”

Today we see this all over the earth, wars and threats of war, terrorism everywhere. Yet GOD is eternal and He has prepared us a place in His Eternal Kingdom. “Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in GOD, trust also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be.” John 14:1-3

“Come see the Works of ADONAI, who brings devistations on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.

He burns chariots with fire.

Be still and know I Am GOD.

I Am Exalted among the nations.

I Am Exalted in the earth.

ADONAI-Tzva’ot is with us.

The GOD of Jacob is our Strong Tower. Selah.”

GOD both brings devistations and peace, He judges the wicked and the righteous and rewards them accordingly. The earth, seas and heavens will be destroyed by fire and a new eternal earth and a new eternal heaven will be created for those who love and serve GOD by abiding in JESUS. Study John 15:1-11; Revelation 20:11-21:5.

GOD is our Refuge, Strength, Strong Hold, Strong Tower and more; He is our Salvation and Peace. Yet we always ask the questions why? Why do Christians get sick and die, why do Christians get hurt and die, why do Christians die miserable deaths?

The easy answer and true answer is sin, not their sin necessarily, the sin that is in the world. Every human is subject to the effects of the sin of the world, the rebellion of humanity from GOD’s Will. But as we study The Bible we see that the results of the world’s sin is no excuse for us to complain and question. Study the lives of GOD’s servants throughout The Bible! Look at what is happening to Christians in every nation of the world today. The LORD spoke through Samuel, “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.” 1 Samuel 15:22; JESUS said, “Do not think that I came to bring Peace on the earth. I did not come to bring Peace but a Sword.” Matthew 10:34

All of JESUS’ servants in The Bible from John the Baptist on suffered and died inflicted deaths except John the Revelator.

1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:3

“Blessed be The GOD and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who according to His abundant Mercy has begotten us again to a Living Hope through the Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead.” Wow! What a statement.

In Genesis 2:15-17 we see that GOD put Adam in the Garden and told him he could eat the fruit from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and if he did eat from that tree in that day he would die. In Genesis 3 we see that Adam and Eve did eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and they died - eternally not physically. GOD drove them from the Garden where they would have lived eternally into the world where their time was limited. This was passed down to all the generations of humanity. “For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so In CHRIST all shall be made aAlive.” “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the Judgment.” 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, Hebrews 9:27

So GOD made man in His Own Image and made him immortal, but Adam sinned and lost that immortality and so did the whole human race. But GOD knew that Adam would sin and had prepared redemption for humanity before He even made the earth. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in The Book of Life of The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8

“For GOD so Loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be Saved.” John 3:16-17 JESUS had just told Nicodemus that we must be born again by The SPIRIT and water because that is what He was born as The Son of Man to do, restore us to relationship with our Eternal Father in His Heavenly Kingdom. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” 1 Peter 1:20

“JESUS answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly I say to you, unless you are born again you cannot see The Kingdom of GOD…Most assuredly , I say to you, unless one is born of water and The SPIRIT, he cannot enter The Kingdom of GOD.” John 3:3-5 Study John 3:1-21; Romans 5 & 6

Bible Fund Raiser 10-2023

https://gofund.me/4903c6da

Reprobate!

 Reprobate!

Reprobate = n. unprincipled or immoral person. adj. immoral.1

Reprobate = Hebrew: mâ’ac; a prim. Root; to spurn; also (intrans.) to disappear:-abbor, cast away (off), contend, despise, disdain, (become) loath (-some) melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, X utterly, vile person.2

Reprobate = Greek: adŏkimŏs; from 1 (as a neg. particle) and 1384; unapproved, i.e. rejected;  by imp. worthless (lit. or mor.):-castaway, rejected, reprobate.2

Reprobate System: Revelation 17:1, 18:21 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked to me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.’...Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great mill stone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.” (Study Revelation 17, 18)

Reprobate Nation: Jeremiah 6:30 “People will call them rejected silver because The LORD has rejected  them. (Study 6:27-30)

Reprobate Nation: Micah 1:6 “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the field; places for planting a vineyard; I will pour down on her stones into the valley, and I will uncover her foundations.” (Study 1:1-9)

Reprobate City: Isaiah 1:21 “How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.” (Study 1:21-23)

Reprobate Religion: Matthew 23:39 “...for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He Who comes in The Name of The LORD!’” (Study 23:37-39)

Reprobate Individual: Proverbs 1:28 “Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they will not find Me.” (Study 1:20-33)

Reprobate Individual: Romans 1:18, 32 “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness and of men, who suppress the Truth in unrighteousness,...who, knowing the righteous judgment of GOD, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Study 1:18-32)

Reprobate Individual: 2 Timothy 3:8 “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;” (Study 3:1-9; Exodus 7:11-12, 22; 8:7; 9:11)

Reprobate Individual: Titus 1:16 “They profess to know GOD, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”  (Study 1:10-16)

But, there is salvation to those who do not become reprobate, for GOD does not want to destroy people. Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to Them: ‘As I live’ says The LORD GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” (Study 33:8-11)

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, as to whether you are in the Faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that JESUS CHRIST is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified.” (Study 13:4-9; John 3:14-21)

Are there reprobates in the Church? Yes!

2 Timothy 3:1,5,9 “But know this, that in The Last Days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves,...having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!...but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all,...” (Study 3:1-9; 1 Timothy 6:3-5)

Titus 3:9-11 “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second warning, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self condemned.”

3 John vs. 1 “I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.” (Study 2 John vs.7-11; 3 John vs. 9-12)

The most telling is JESUS’ own Words, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ shall enter The Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does The Will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in That Day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23

All Scripture is quoted from The New King James Version Bible, Thomas Nelson, 1994

1The Oxford American Dictionary; Oxford University Press, 1998

2 Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, MacDonald

Might And Authority

 Might And Authority

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (authority) to become Children of GOD, to those who believe in His Name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.” John 1:12-13 NKJV.

In John 1:12-13 GOD declares that he gives the authority (right - NKJV, power - KJV) to become Children of GOD to anyone who believes in JESUS’ Name, if they are born again according to John 3:1-21(5-6).

The Authority (power or right) to be a Child of GOD comes from being born again and filled with GOD’s SPIRIT. Being born of the flesh only leads to death, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so CHIRST was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28.

“Now then, we are Ambassadors for CHRIST, as though GOD were pleading through us; we implore you on CHRIST’s behalf, be reconciled to GOD. For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the Righteousness of GOD in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NKJV (Study Isaiah 53)

In 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 GOD declares we can be reconciled to Himself because JESUS, Who was sinless, became sin for us (in our place) so that we might become the Righteousness of GOD. GOD’s SPIRIT dwelling in us is His Righteousness (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), Who JESUS said would teach us, counsel us, comfort us, correct us in righteousness, sin and judgment and remind us of everything that JESUS said and did. (Study John 14:15-18, 25-26; 16:5-15).

Authority and might have in common that they must be enacted by the person receiving whatever is the promise or reward. The promise or reward cannot be received passively! The exercise of authority as power is not its own reward, it is only belief and action that result in receiving the promise or reward of GOD. (Study James 1:21-27, 2:14-26)

Might also is only accomplished by belief and action; you might be told that you can do something, but if you do not believe it or do it you will not accomplish it nor receive the reward or benefit. Might is only fulfilled by doing!

So, are you seeking The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness first? That is what JESUS told us to do in Matthew 6:33-34!

Questions For GOD

 QUESTIONS FOR GOD

God made Satan right? And everything else. Without him there would be nothing and there is nothing without him. So where did evil come from? Anybody know the answer? If so feel free to let me know. (Presented by one of my cousins).

Answer by me: Evil comes from freewill, every created being has freewill. That is why angels and humans can think and do evil.

Freewill is the ability (it is not a right - it is a responsibility) to choose for ourself how we want to live and therefore how we treat others.

GOD created us with freewill knowing that we could choose evil over good. He did this so we could choose to be saved because He did not want slaves He wanted children.

We become children of GOD by believing in JESUS and choosing to live a righteous lifestyle led by The Spirit of GOD.

Lost and Found - Luke 15

 Lost and Found

Luke 15 is three parables of things lost and found; the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

The lost sheep and the lost coin are about the person who has lost something of value to them and then searches until they find it. The lost son is about one who loses his way but finds his way back.

The Shepherd has a sheep that wanders away and becomes lost, once he realizes one of his sheep is missing he leaves the flock to search for it until he finds it. Then he rejoices with his friends. “I say to you that likewise there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine up persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7, Ezekiel 34:11.

The woman has ten silver coins and misplaces one, she then cleans her whole house until she finds it and then rejoices with her neighbors. “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of GOD over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

Both of these parables tell us of GOD’s love for His lost creation, humanity and how He searches for us when we are lost, Ezekiel 34:11 “For thus says The LORD GOD, ‘Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek then out.’” GOD did that through The Law and the prophets, and now by His SPIRIT, 1 Corinthians 2:10, “But GOD has revealed them to us through His SPIRIT, For The SPIRIT searches all things, yes, the deep things of GOD.”

The lost son is about the sons who had the inheritance but did not understand it. The one took his share and wasted it in sinful living; then seeing his sin he repents and returns to the father who is anticipating the son’s return. The second son did not realize he also had the inheritance and he worked to earn his way to the Father’s heart without ever asking his father for anything, just expecting it.

In the first two parables the object that was lost was desired by its owner and the owner took the effort to find the lost item. In the third parable both sons were lost and the father was waiting for them to know they were lost and to turn to him.

Salvation is about GOD searching for us and revealing Himself to us; whether we are zealous for Him in our religious lifestyle or we are desperately lost and know we cannot save ourself. GOD will reveal Himself, then we must repent - ask His forgiveness for being a sinner and surrender our life to His Will through JESUS CHRIST.

John 9:4

 John 9:4

“I must Work The Works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.” KJV

“I (we) must Work The Works of Him Who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” NKJV

“We must do the Work of The One Who sent Me, so long as it is day! Night is coming when no one can work.” TLV

“As long as it is day, We must keep doing the Work of The One Who sent Me; the night is coming when no one can work.” CJB

As I was reading in my TLV Bible today this statement by JESUS jumped out at me, “We must do the Work of The One Who sent Me,” even though the TLV and the CJB have been my reading Bibles for at least 4 years. How has this statement never registered with me before.

Remember JESUS is talking to His disciples and those who were traveling with Him, this is where He Heals the man born blind. They asked Him why the man was born blind, was it his sin (impossible) or his parents sin and He tells them it is no one’s sin it is for the Purpose of GOD. “YESHUA answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so that the Works of GOD might be brought into the light in him.” WOW! As many times as I have read this scripture in the last 49 years of being a Christian, I just never saw the truth of this passage.

1st did the translation of the Greek word I get lost early in the translation to Latin or later from Latin to English? As I looked into this I understood why it happened, who knew the Greeks had so many words for I. My Strong’s concordance only gives one word for I in both the Hebrew and Greek, then it lists all the scriptures that have I in them. For the Greek word I in the New Testament they give (1473) ego’ = a primary noun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):-I, Me. Then it references 7 other Greek words used to express I; 1691 which references 3165 which translates me; 1698 which references 3427 which translates me; 1700 which references 3449 which translates me; 2248 which references 1473 which translates we; 2249 which references 1473 which translates we; 2254 which references 1473 which translates us; 2257 which references 1473 which translates us (these are all plural forms); then is says etc.

Without the original writings It is impossible to say for sure what it should be, but since the NKJV references we in it’s cross reference and both the Hebrew Christian translations use we I will say that we is the correct translation for this passage. 

The King James Version and Modern English Version use I; the New American Standard Version, the New Living Translation, The Tree of Life Version, the Complete Jewish Version use we; and the New King James Version uses I and references we (these are the only versions we have in our home).

2nd So it is up to each student of The Bible to decide if JESUS was including the disciples (and therefore all believers in JESUS) in His statement or was he only speaking of His own responsibility to fulfill the Works of GOD’s Kingdom. I believe He was including all believers since He told us to pray for GOD’s Will to be done in the earth as it is in Heaven, and He continually told us to obey His commands, to take up our cross and follow Him.

3rd JESUS said this man was born blind so the Work of GOD could be shown in the light of day, day here is not a 24 hour day, it is “the day The LORD has made”, “the day of visitation”, “the day of salvation” it is the time in which we live so that those who do not know GOD and JESUS can see the Power and Mercy of GOD and be saved before the day is over. So how many times have we missed GOD’s opportunity for us to obey and reveal GOD’s Power and Mercy for Salvation?

The preaching of the Gospel is to come with signs of Power (Mark 16:1-18), how many times do we preach the Gospel but do no signs of Power? JESUS said “Believe Me that I am in The Father and The Father is in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of The Works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, The Works that I do he will do also; and greater Works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:11-12.

GOD!

 GOD!

Here is the problem with most Christians today, some will read this and think how arrogant of me, some will agree with me and some will not understand what I am saying. None of these positions have anything to do with common sense or intelligence, they will be based on faith and understanding.

Faith in The One True GOD; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Understanding of Who and What GOD is through personal experience.

The first problem is that many if not most Christians do not believe in The One True and Living GOD, YHWH(ADONAI)-ELOHIM, (The LORD-GOD Creator) JEHOVAH-ELYON, (The LORD-GOD Most High), EL Shaddai (GOD Almighty); Emmanuel (GOD With US), YESHUA Mashiach (JESUS Christ); RUACH-ELOHIM (SPIRIT of GOD), RUACH ha-KODESH (HOLY SPIRIT).

With all these names, that are not actually GOD’s Name (we do not know it because the Hebrew people stopped using it for fear of offending GOD), no wonder people are confused and not able to have unrelenting Faith in GOD. Whole denominations have been established on using one of these titles and then used against any who use a different title for GOD. For this paper we are going to say that the title GOD represents all the names above, that there is only One GOD, The GOD of The Bible. If you cannot believe this statement then you can stop reading because there is only One True, Living, GOD. All the Scriptures are based on this fact, every Word of The Bible depends on our believing and understanding this one fact. Also, we will exclude any other religious or non-religious god, of which there are many. The title of god is referenced in The Bible for other demonic entities who represent themselves as god to people; Baal, Dagon and others.

For those who believe that there is only One GOD, that He is Eternal, that He created everything that exists (even the “man made” stuff), that nothing exists outside of Him, that everything good and bad He uses to accomplish His Purpose (Will) for all creation. That means that He will judge every person and every spirit who was ever born or will be born or was created at the end of JESUS’ 1000 year reign on the earth. Yes, that means that JESUS will come back to the earth and rule from Jerusalem for 1000 years over the nations of the world. We must move past the religious exercise of these facts to the understanding by personal relationship with GOD, we must learn as much of The Bible as we can and we must live according to JESUS’ teaching and commands.

If we do this in our own desire and motivation we will become religious, if we do this to fulfill some requirement of organizations we will become religious. There are two types of religious people JESUS deals with; the Pharisees (Matthew 23) and the zealots (Matthew 7:21-23).

JESUS said that “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know The Truth and The Truth shall make you free.” “If you Love Me, keep My Commandments.” “You are My Friends if you do whatever I Command you.” John 8:31-32; 14:15; 15:14

JESUS said, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the Light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the house tops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather Fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” “Do not think that I came to bring Peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword…’and a man’s enemies will be of his own household.’...And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life forMy sake will find it.” Matthew 10 27-28, 34-39

JESUS said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for Righteousness’ sake, for theirs is The Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

JESUS repeatedly called us to obey Him above everybody and everything, because He told us that He came not to do His Will but The Will of His Father; and we are expected to do the same. (Matthew 6:10; Matthew 26:23-46; John 6:36-40; John 12:23-33)

JESUS told us that we have to abide in Him and He in us or we can do nothing, but if we abide in Him and He in us then He will produce much fruit through us. (John 15:1-17; 1 Corinthians 12-13)

This is why it is important for you to pray and fast and seek the face of GOD while He may be found! This is why it is important for you to read The Bible, study The Bible, memorize The Bible as much as you can, and live according to The Bible.

Tony's Top Ten 10-01-2023

 TONY’S TOP TEN

Psalms 68:33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

1. Of the five senses that God has given us, there is no doubt in God’s mind or mine that listening is the one least used.

2. I find it almost shocking how many questions we ask already presupposing the answer.

3. You can never grow past what you are willing to learn.

4. We are never so poor that we can’t pay attention to what others are saying, even if we don’t agree.

5. Before you think # 4 wrong; just remember how much you want others to agree with you even when they don’t.

6. Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. Amplified Bible.

7. It is the peace of God in you that counters the turbulence in your life.

8. The peace of God in you brings the stability of knowing you belong to God and the security of knowing He is with you always.

9. God’s peace comes when you know How much God loves you; how far He goes to forgive you; how many ways He sustains you; and how many life opportunities He offers you.

10. Psalm 3:5 I lay down and slept [safely]; I awakened, for the Lord sustains me. Amplified Bible

By Pastor Tony Kim

Fist or Sponge

 Fist or Sponge?

I heard this in a movie the other day, “Your heart is like a sponge or a fist.”, of course in the movie the point was to get a person to open their heart.

When we are born our heart is open to receive whatever our parents, family and the world is offering. How open our heart is at every stage of life is dependent on how we handle what we are taught and how we are treated.

Some people wind up with their heart like a fist, closed to anything that they do not like or believe, they reject almost everything in life and try to control how others affect them. Some people wind up with their heart like a sponge and they react to everything around them continually driven to try anything and accept everyone. These are the two extremes, most of us have a guarded but slightly open heart.

If you are a born-again, SPIRIT filled Christian then you should have a new heart from GOD. But the change in life takes time, it is the process of no longer living for ourself but living for GOD (repentance). “‘Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways.’ says The LORD GOD. ‘Repent, and turn from your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new SPIRIT, for why should you die O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says The LORD GOD, ‘Therefore turn and live.’” “...The Word of GOD came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,...Then he said to the multitudes that came to be baptized by him, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’...So the people asked him, saying, ‘What shall we do then?’ (study 3 :11-14, this is repenting)...” “Then I saw a Great White Throne and Him Who sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heavens fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before GOD, and books were opened, and another Book was opened, which is The Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things that were written in the books.”  Ezekiel 18:30-32, Luke 3:1-18, Revelation 20:11-12.

The heart is not just the muscle that drives the flow of blood throughout our body, it is also our soul. How we think, how we react, how we believe; our thoughts and emotions drive our behavior. This is what GOD wants to change in us; The Bible says that in JESUS we are a new creation (person); “Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” “In CHRIST JESUS neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15.

The Problem:

Proverbs 27:19 “As in water, face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.”

Jeramiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, The LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing.”

Matthew 6:21 “”For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” (Study 6:19-24)

Matthew 15:19-20 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man,...”

1 John 3:16-18 “By this we know Love, because He laid down His Life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the Love of GOD abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in Truth.”

The Solution:

1 Samuel 10:9 “So it was, when he turned his back to go from Samuel, that GOD gave him another heart (changed his heart); and all those signs came to pass.” (study 9:27-10:16).

1 Samuel 16:7 “But The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature, because I have refused him. For The LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but The LORD looks at the heart.’” (study 16:1-13).

Jeramiah 24:7 “Then I will give them a heart to know me, that I Am The LORD; and they shall be My People, and I will be their GOD, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.” (study 24:1-10).

Ezekiel 11:19 “Then I  will give them one heart, and I will put a New SPIRIT within them, and take the stoney heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,” (study 11:14-21).

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD.”

John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as The Scripture says, out of his heart will flow rivers of Living Water.”

Romans 10:8-10 “But what does it say? ‘The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is the Word of Faith that we preach): that if you confess with your mouth The LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.’” (study 10:1-13).

So is your heart a sponge, absorbing The Word of GOD and led by The SPIRIT of GOD; or is your heart a fist, rejecting GOD and His Salvation or so bound up in religious regulation that you can no longer hear His voice?

If your heart is a sponge then you are working “...out your own Salvation with fear and trembling; for it is GOD Who Works in you both to will and to do for His Good Pleasure  Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and innocent, Children of GOD without fault in the midst of a  crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” Philippians 2:12-15

If your heart a fist closed to GOD’s Gift of Life then, “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from Heaven against all unrighteousness of men, who suppress the Truth in unrighteousness…Professing to be wise they became fools, and changed the Glory of the Incorruptible GOD into an image made by corruptible man…And even as they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge, GOD gave them over to a debased mind…” Romans 1:18-32.