WHO DO YOU RELY ON?

PHILIPPIANS 3:3

"We rely on what Jesus Christ has done for us.  We put no trust in human effort."

Who do you rely on?  Do you rely on yourself?  Do you rely on a parent or the government?  When the chips are down and the rubber meets the road, who do you turn to for help?  If you are relying anyone made of flesh and blood, and that includes yourself, to save you, then you are in for a great disappointment.  Human efforts will give some temporary satisfaction, but they all lead to an inevitable conclusion and end.  We all will die and then the judgement.  You can never rely on a man.  Men fail ultimately for they do not have the gift or ability to Save lives!  As believers, WE RELY ON WHAT JESUS CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US!

We can never put our confidence or depend on anything of the flesh.  We have no outward privilege, external appearance or physical advantage that should allow us to rely or depend on ourselves.  Our flesh, like our lives, is deteriorating and fleeting.  We all will come to our end and death is inevitable.  No one can rely on themselves or any collection of men to come to their rescue.  Who can save you?  Not yourself, nor any other person.  We can put no confidence in any human efforts.  Salvation come only from Jesus Christ and what He has done for us all ready.  

As Christians we worship God in the spirit and by the spirit.  Our pride and our glory is not in ourselves, but in Jesus Christ the Lord God.  Now that is something we can rejoice in at all times.  We have a Saviour who is not subject to death and who can save us from death.  The Lord has the power to give us eternal life in His kingdom.  So when some one asks you who you rely on, the correct answer to the question is that we RELY ON JESUS CHRIST!

GOD IS WITH US!

MATTHEW 1: 23

"Look the virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a Son, they will call Him Immanuel, which means GOD IS WITH US!"

This One Truth Today is so very important.  So many  people have failed to hear or understand that "GOD IS WITH US"!  The God who made the universe and everything in it is now with us here on earth.  The Lord became a human being made of  flesh and blood that we could see, touch and feel.  When we grasp hold of the awesome power and truth in that one statement we can be call a believer and child of God.  It requires the help of the Holy Spirit who enter us and aids us in understanding the truth.  We will never completely understand how the God who made the universe could be contained in the person of Jesus Christ until we enter His kingdom. What we do know from the Word is that at the birth of Jesus Christ, GOD IS WITH US!

Mary was a virgin when she conceived her child.  She gave birth to a Son and one of His names was Immanuel, which means GOD IS WITH US!  All this is well documented and witnessed by many.  There is no reason to doubt the veracity and credibility of the facts as we know them.  That is what makes this such an awesome event.  Imagine holding the little baby Jesus in your hands and holding Him close to you.  How could you understand that you were holding the God of the Universe in your hands.  How could anyone understand that God was now with us in the flesh?

Wise men still seek Him and find Him.  Just as at the time of Jesus Christ birth many come to fall at His feet and worship Him.  Wise men present Him with gifts.  Jesus is still accepting gifts and the one He desires the most is your love and worship.  You do not have to follow a star or go anywhere, the important thing to understand is that from that day, GOD IS WITH US!  Have you come to that realization?  Have you grasped the message, Immanuel, God, is with us at all times and everywhere.  Praise you Lord for your live and mercy and salvation!

GIVE IT UP!

LUKE 14: 33

"So  you can not become my disciple without GIVING UP  everything that you own."

What possessions will you be able to take with you when your life on earth ends?  The Word tells us that we came into this world with nothing, and we will take nothing with us when we go!  Have you come to an understanding about what you own and what God owns?  You may temporarily possess something, but, you never really own anything in this world.  You may hold the title to a home or car or some other property but in the end you will never retain ownership or possession.  The Bible tells us that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord.  That is the One Truth Today that we must learn from this scripture.  We must come to an understanding that everything we have is the Lords and in order to become His disciple we have GIVE IT UP!  

Greed or covetousness is a sin.  We are not to be jealous of anyone because of what they possess and we do not.  We  break one of the Lord's commandments when we try to cling to or hoard any possessions.  It is foolish to be jealous of what others have, for there is always someone who will have more possessions than you.  We must learn to be content with what the Lord has given us.  After all the truth is that if we have the Lord as our Shepard, we have all that we need.  The Lord will give us many gifts and blessings and they are in proportion to how we have handled those He has given us in the past.  If we handle them properly and honor His name the little things we have will be added to.  Are you a good steward?

It is important that we forsake, renounce and surrender any claim that we may have to any earthly possession.  Say goodbye to everything that you temporarily possess because you do not really own them anyway.  Recognize that God allows us to have and use some things on a temporary basis but in the end we have to give them up.  The better stewards we are the more He will give us.  This is true here on earth and it will be true in the kingdom to come.  It is not hard to give up something if you know that you never really owned in the first place.  We all want to be the Lord's disciple and we need to acknowledge that we can not become one until we give up everything we own.  We never really owned it in the first place, so GIVE IT UP!

THE NARROW DOOR

LUKE 13:23-24

"Someone asked Him, Lord, will only a few be saved?  Jesus replied, work hard to enter THE NARROW DOOR  to God's kingdom.  Many will try to enter but will fail."

Some people believe everyone will enter the kingdom of Heaven.  Some people do not even believe that the kingdom of Heaven exists.  Some people think that this life is all that there is and then there is no more.   What do you believe?  Is this life we live here on earth all that is ever going to be and then the end comes?    The Word of God and His promise is that there is an eternal kingdom, called heaven, and that we are invited to enter there in.  This scripture tells us that many will try to enter but will fail.  So the real question to ask yourself is; am I going to enter the narrow door to heaven and be saved!   Is failure really an option?

How many will be saved and how many will fail?  How can I be delivered from death and the penalties of the Last Judgement?  If you want to be saved you will have to enter THE NARROW GATE.   You will have to believe and accept the Salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.  You will have to rely and place your trust in the Lord to show you the way to enter at the narrow gate.  Once the door has been closed to you, because of your rejection of the Lord, it will never be opened to you.  You do not want to be on the outside looking and trying to get in, for it will be too late and you will fail to enter the kingdom of God.  Is failure really an option?

The evil forces of the devil would like you to believe that everyone will enter into the Heavenly places.  They want you to believe that no matter what you do or what you believe, you will be acceptable and OK.  The One Truth Today is that the gate to death and Hell is wide and many will walk through it.  You have to enter through the narrow door, and that is Jesus Christ.  There is no life and no salvation without the Lord.  He is the way the truth the light and also the door to Heaven.  No one will enter the kingdom of Heaven except through Him.  Which door are  you going to go through?  If you want eternal life you will have to enter THE NARROW DOOR!

REPENT OF YOUR SINS!

LUKE 13:3

"You will perish too, unless you REPENT OF YOUR SINS and turn to God."

Have you seen the cartoons where someone is holding a sign that says, REPENT SINNERS?

On the other side of the sign it says, THE END IS NEAR.  Sometimes the other side of the sign says, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.  Then we have the joke caption that denigrates the idea.  Even though these are meant to be a joke, they are not really funny, because they are an attempt to mislead people.  You see, the sign is the truth and should not be mocked.  The consequences of missing the message is to be lost eternally.  You and your earthly body will perish, but your eternal soul will spend eternity in Heaven or in Hell.  If you do not repent of your sins and turn to god you will perish eternally.  The end is close at hand in the eternal perspective at any time in you momentary life.  The end is near, Heaven is close at hand!

Repentance means to change your mind and turn around from the path you are on.  If you are walking on a path away from God and His Kingdom, then you need to change your mind and your direction and walk toward God and not away from Him.  You need to stop sinning against God.  You must learn to abhor your past sins and life and turn to God for forgiveness.  You must make your path straight towards God.  If you have been stealing or committing adultery then you need to stop.  If you are abusing alcohol or drugs you need to stop now.  If  you have not honored your father or your mother, you need to start now.  No matter what your sin in life is you need to turn away from it now.  You need to REPENT OF YOUR SINS, and ask for God's forgiveness. 

The consequences of not repenting and turning to God are eternal separation and damnation.  You will spend eternity in Hell.  The choice is quite important and life changing.  You are responsible for your choice and you will determine your own consequence.  Do not blame God if you reject Him and His Salvation.  His justice is perfect because you determine your destination.  REPENT OF YOUR SINS and turn to God or you will perish.  Not deciding to accept God and His truth is a decision.  You either accept or reject His promise of Saving you from eternal death or you do not.  God allows you to make a choice and that includes to keep on sinning.  You, however are responsible for the choice you make and you determine whether you will perish or be saved.  You are not a puppet on a string and you have free will as a gift from God.  Your other gift from God is Salvation from death, but you have to accept it.  The good news is that God does not want anyone to perish or be lost.  He is waiting for your decision today.  REPENT OF YOUR SINS!

I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK!

REVELATION 3: 20

"Look!  I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK.  If  you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."

Did you know that the Lord stands outside the door to your heart and is knocking so that He can come in?  Have you ever felt or heard the voice of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit knocking on the door to your heart?  Everyone has known that tug on their heart, to listen and then act on the call of the Lord.  What has been your answer to the knocking on the door to your heart?  Will you open the door and allow the Lord to come in and dwell with you?  Will  you share your life with Him eternally?   Will you ignore the Lord and cover your ears and reject Him?  If you do reject Him, you will be separated from the Lord forever and your choice will have eternal consequences.

Remember the Lord said, "behold I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK".  The Lord did not say He would knock down the door to your heart and force His way in to your life.  God does not impose His will on your life.  You have a choice to make.  When you hear Him knocking on the door to your heart you must hear Him and open the door to your heart voluntarily.  You can choose to ignore anyone knocking on your door and you can refuse them entry into your life but the choice you make does have consequences.  The Lord wants you to open the door to your heart and allow Him to come in and dine with you, and dwell with you , and share His love and life with you!  His knock is gentle and full of love, inviting a relationship with anyone who will listen to Him and heed His Words.  

Are you listening?  Have you heard the knock on the door of your heart by the Lord?  Are you too busy or too bright or too sophisticated and educated to hear Him?  That still small voice is speaking to you if you will only listen.  When you hear the knock by Jesus Christ be sure and open the door to your heart and invite Him in personally.  He promises that He will come into your life and the two of you will join together and become one.  If you want to open the door to your heart you can do so right now.  Ask Jesus Christ to Save you and forgive you and come into your heart and life right now!  Can you hear Him, "I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK!   

DELIVER US FROM EVIL!

PROVERBS 12: 21

"No harm comes to the Godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble."

Do you believe in God?  Do  you believe in God's gift of eternal life in Heaven?  Do you know in your heart that God will deliver you from any and all evil?  The One Truth Today tells us that God makes sure that in the end no harm comes to the Godly.  This is a blessing that God grants to those who love and serve Him.  In our present vernacular we would say about evil that it imposes no eternal harm to us as believer's; "no harm, no foul".  On the other hand the wicked have their fill of trouble and misfortune and it also is eternal.  They do not look to God for salvation and they do not believe that He would save them.  God could save them, but He will not out of their disrespectful personal choices.  

Isaiah tells us that even in our old age when our hair is white, the Lord will carry us and bear our burdens.  God will save us from death and damnation.  Timothy confirms that the Lord will deliver us from every evil work.  God will preserve us unto His Heavenly Kingdom.  Job exclaims that the Lord will save us from our troubles and no evil will ever touch us!  That is the message of this scripture.  No harm will come to the Godly, in the end.  The wicked will have their fill of trouble here on earth and certainly in the age to come.  

In verse 13 of Proverb 12, we are told that the wicked are dangerously snared by the transgressions of their lips.  They spit out the seeds that are harvested in their future.  Once again we are what we think about ourselves in our hearts.  If we disrespect and disbelieve God then we choose to reject Him and suffer the consequences.  The uncompromisingly righteous shall come out of trouble.  Thus the Lord assures us that as His children, no actual evil or misfortune or calamity will overcome us.  If you believe in God you will also believe that He will DELIVER US FROM EVIL!