You Changed Everything

You Changed Everything

Father in Heaven:

Before I knew You, I was a wretch living a wretched life.

I was at war with You and didn’t even know it.

• James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

I denied that You even existed.

• Psalm 52:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.

I found fulfillment in my career, security in my money and sought to satisfy my desires without regard for You or anyone else.

• Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I Had No Peace

• Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

I Had No Purity

• Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

I Had No Purpose

• Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

I knew something was wrong.

• Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

But then,

You Changed Everything!

You Called Me!

• Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

You Forgave Me!

• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

You Adopted Me!

• Romans 8:14-15 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

You Commissioned Me!

• Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t even know I needed it. But You saved me from eternal damnation because of Your perfect love for me.

• Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

You Gave Me Peace

• Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

You Gave Me Purity

• Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

You Gave Me Purpose

• 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;

for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

8 For he who sows to his flesh

will of the flesh reap corruption,

but he who sows to the Spirit

will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Thank You Father God!

Please save many, many more!

Eternally Grateful,

Your son and servant

Who’s Keeping Score

Who’s Keeping Score

Have you ever known someone that always seems to be keeping score? Whatever you do that they don’t approve of, they mark it down. They keep a record of every wrong and are always ready and willing to bring up what they view as your mistakes and misfortunes, when what you could really use is an encouraging word.

Do you ever view God that way? Do think of Father God as a critic; just watching and waiting for you to make another mistake? Is God keeping score?

• Psalm 130:1-4 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

Thankfully, He is not. If God’s love depended on checks and balances, we would all be in serious trouble – who among us is without sin? But praise God for His compassionate mercy and grace. He loves us perfectly, forgives us willingly and understands our weaknesses.

• Psalm 103:11-14 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
• Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

But, make no mistake – God is holy and He will judge all sin. The truth of the matter is, everyone is guilty.

• Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
• Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Yet God, in His infinite love has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. God came to earth as the man Jesus Christ and died on a Roman cross to pay our sin debt. When we surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, God forgives all our sin – past, present and future. This reconciled relationship is what God desires with all people.

• Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
• 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Don’t be fooled; many will tell you Jesus is not the only way to a right relationship with Father God. Jesus made this very clear, He is the only way. This may be a hard truth, but it is the truth.

• John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The only way to heaven is to be righteous before God. The only way to be righteous before God is to have the righteousness of Jesus Christ credited to you. The only way to have Jesus’ righteousness credited to you is to confess your sins, surrender your life to Christ as Lord and Savior and accept His free gift of salvation.

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Once you have been reconciled to God, keep yourself in a right relationship with Him by humbly confessing your sins to Him.

• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you already know this truth and have accepted Christ as your Savior:

Praise God and share this gloriously good news with someone who needs to hear it

• Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

If you haven’t given your life to Christ, pray for God to:

Hear your plea for forgiveness

• Luke 18: 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

Wash away your sins with the sinless blood of Jesus

• Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Fill you with His Holy Spirit

• Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Send you a Christian mentor to guide you in Bible study and prayer so you can start maturing in your faith

• Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

God is not keeping score.

He is waiting for you to come to Him.

He longs for reconciliation with You.

Humbly respond to His love.

Respectfully worship and obey Him.

Prayer

Gracious Father, please open the hearts of many to the truth of the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. Only Your Word has the power to save. Use Your saints to share this truth and to encourage and guide new believers in their walk with You. I praise You Father for Your love! I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer!

Worship

Worship

Honestly, I have struggled for a long time trying to understand in a deeper and more personal way what worshipping God really means.

I know that Father God is due my worship.

• Psalm 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

I understand that Jesus Christ, the manifestation of God in the flesh, is due my worship.

• Matthew 2:11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

But I have been unsure about many aspects of worship.  Here are a couple of examples:

What should be included in my worship of God?

Doesn’t worshipping God include more than singing, music and offerings?

• 2 Chronicles 29:28 So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

Doesn’t worshiping God preclude the worship of any other ‘gods’?

• Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

When is the right time to worship God?

When my times of feeling far from Him are over?

• Isaiah 27:13 So it shall be in that day: The great trumpet will be blown; They will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, And they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, And shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

When I find myself in His very presence?

• Revelation 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!”

Often when I am struggling with what something really means, I find it helpful to do some research and write down my own definition. So I read some, studied some, and prayed a lot. Here is what I came up with.

Worship

• The intentional and involuntary actions, attitudes and assertions of God’s creation in recognition of, respect for and reliance upon the attributes, assurances and activities of Jehovah – the one true God as revealed in The Bible and in life.

But practically speaking, what should that look like in my daily life? I am praying, seeking and trusting that my worship will become:

• A Spontaneous Response to the Revelation and Demonstration of God’s Character
• A Faithful Response to the Preeminence and Permanence of God’s Lordship
• A Prayerful Response to the Certainty and Beauty of God’s Providence
• An Obedient Response to the Truth and Excellency of God’s Word
• A Grateful Response to the Sufficiency and Timeliness of God’s Provision
• A Humble Response to the Perfection and Compassion of God’s Love
• A Sincere Response to the Presence and Power of God’s Spirit
• A Jubilant Response to the Reality and Permanence of my Relationship with God’s Son

Worshiping God is responding to Him genuinely.

Anything that brings Him glory can be worship.

Anytime is the right time to worship Him.

One thing is for certain, the LORD will be worshipped – whether I do it or not!

• Luke 19:37-40 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as flawed and insufficient as my worship of You may be, I pray that You accept it, knowing it comes from a heart that longs for You, a life that depends on You, and a sinner who trusts you. I ask that everything I do is worshipful and honoring to You. In the power and perfection of Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

A God Pleasing Life Requires Faith

A God Pleasing Life Requires Faith

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I strongly desire to live in a way that is pleasing to my Heavenly Father. In His loving and gracious ways, He doesn’t leave us guessing as to what He demands from and desires for us. And thankfully, what He requires today is exactly what He has always required; God doesn’t change (see Malachi 3:6). Therefore, scripture from both the Old and New Testaments can help me understand what kind of person God has called and empowered me to be.

• Deuteronomy 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
• Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Living a life that satisfies God’s demands of me

requires a faith that doesn’t take me outside of

what He desires for me.

God pleasing faith is more than just believing – it changes who we are and what we do!

God pleasing faith is not arbitrary – it demonstrates Godly character!

Faith Without Reverence is Deluded

Respect for God is a prerequisite for growing in Godly wisdom and understanding.

• Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Faith Without Godliness is Deviant

Righteous living is an outward testimony to the inner changes of the heart, soul and mind.

• Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

Faith Without Love is Deficient

Perfect love (see 1 Corinthians 13) for God and others is a result of saving faith and salvation in Christ.

• Psalm 116:1 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

Faith Without Works is Dead

God saves, empowers and gives spiritual gifts to His children so they can share His truth and love with the world.

• James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Faith Without Obedience is Defiant

You can try to justify or excuse deliberate sin; but disobedience indicates a rebellious and ungrateful attitude.

• John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

God pleasing faith leads us to be in awe of God, virtuous, loving, productive and obedient.

Is your faith in God transforming your life? Are you living a in a way that is pleasing to Him?

Prayer

Holy Father in Heaven, Your love, grace, mercy, patience, kindness, and so much more are awe inspiring and life transforming. I pray that the faith that You have given is embraced and fully utilized by those who have received it. Help us to live lives that are pleasing and honoring to You. Empower us to fulfill Your call on our lives. May Your Spirit guide and teach us as we walk with You daily. I ask these things in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.