Evidence That You Are a Christian and Have Been Saved by God

The evidence that you have repented of your sins and were saved is that you are still repenting today.

The evidence that you believe in Jesus is that you are still believing in Him today and you are believing more than before.

The evidence that you have been truly saved by grace is that you keep walking and following Jesus and He continues changing you day by day.

The evidence that you are a Christian is that Jesus has done something in your life, and THAT something that He has done is the thing that motivates you to follow Him, and you want to be like Him and you continue on and on daily following Him.

Do not think that just because you were raised in a Christian home that you are a Christian, it is by grace you are saved, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Do not think that just because you read your Bible that you are a Christian.

Do not think that only because you believe in God that you are a Christian, even the demons believe (James 2:19).

The greatest desire of your heart is to be totally devoted to Jesus Christ, to honor and please Him and Him alone, continually putting away the desires of yourself, abstaining from the things that bring disgrace to His glorious name.

Are these things evident in your life? If not there is still hope.

Think about your sin and your disobedience.
Think about the Savior and that He died to save you from the wrath of God that you deserve. Agree with Him that you are a sinner and that you have been living for yourself.
Apologize to God for your disobedience and repent (turn away) from your sin once and for all and put your trust in the Savior Jesus Christ to save you and give you a new heart with new desires that honor Him.
Its called being born-again. Jesus said in John 3:3 "Unless a man is born-again he cannot see the kingdom of Heaven."

He WILL save you if you trust in Him and not your own goodness. Your goodness can never be good enough. The Bible says that our righteousness/goodness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). His goodness must be placed upon us, His goodness must be credited to our account.
Apart from Christ, not even the most kind, compassionate, loving and caring little old lady has any hope whatsoever of an eternity in heaven.

Plead with Him today to save you and He will hear; trust in Him and He will give you everlasting life; then read His word and follow His will all the days of your life, not in order to be good but because He is good.

Spiritual Warfare

During a discussion earlier this year in our Saturday men's bible study the pastor asked, "What are the things we are up against in this church when it comes to this spiritual war?"

All were a bit reluctant to answer that question and it made me think; Do we know what we are up against in this battle of good and evil?

After some thought, I considered some reasons for the inability to offer insight into the question posed; one being self implication of our own shortcomings. When we talk openly with others about the things that hinder the work of the Holy Spirit around us, we risk shining the light on our own sin. We are terrified to expose our lives that we ourselves may be lacking in some area and possibly found to be entertaining a lifestyle that displeases God.

A second reason we may not want to point out the evil around us is fear of being seen as judgmental and possibly even thought of as being better than others by pointing out the failures around us.

Another reason even being that if we expose the battles we face in our churches it could be seen as a poke in the eye of the entire congregation who for the most part claim to be believers in Christ.

We fear that someone will be offended if we stand for truth and righteousness, and we do not want to suffer the consequences.

Christians are up against a multitude of evil things that many times we do not even recognize. Spiritual warfare is the evil that we battle around us daily, it is the thing that stands in direct opposition to the word of God.

The recent messages on holiness bring to light even more the useless, evil, worthless things we entertain every day, in our lives and in our churches.

The direction of man, even with the best of intentions will fall short of God's perfect plan. The best of men are men at best.

I've since had to ask God's forgiveness for entertaining the thoughts that our selfish desires are in some way more important that His will for the church.

May we not lose heart in proclaiming the truth of scripture, daily repenting of our own sin and moving in a direction that brings glory to God while standing on the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reaching the Lost

The best way to reach lost people is to exalt the glory of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God, and the wrath of God. For 2000 years He has been seeking people with His gospel, and He is sufficient to do it. - David Platt

Blessings Are Often Hidden

Youth Ministry: It's Time to be Biblical

It's becoming painfully clear that the 'Cool and Fun Gospel' doesn't work. Due to the silliness an entire generation has been lost.

What happens when more concern is placed on creating fun activities for getting youth into churches than preaching the gospel and teaching the truths of God's word? Their hearts are hardened, lives are lost, they become spiritually shallow, Christ is mocked, and blasphemy toward the Holy God is considered normal.

Youth programs are not biblical and the segregation is destroying churches, it's not too late to repent of this and trust in God's way.

Sounds like some people are picking up on the problem.
As you watch this 3 minute video please allow the Spirit of God to reveal to you the problems and use you in turning this around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vEa0O5av7c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Blood Money (Film Trailer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaTywSDmls&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Westboro (Baptist) Church

Recently I saw a post that read, "I get so tired of "christians" acting like idiots. Can you say "Westboro"?

When I read this I couldn't help thinking about how God's ways are infinitely higher than our ways; maybe God has hardened the hearts of such individuals in order to test the faith of others; surely there is a purpose in all of this; how and why people can read the word of God and get it so mangled has always been a mystery to me; but God's ways clearly surpass ours. Do some people not know that God is just as angry with their sinful ways as He is regarding the sins of others.

No doubt, God's plans are superior to any human mind; for example, I surely would not think that the persecution of Christians could be used to spread the gospel to unreached cities and towns as was the case when Saul was so wicked prior to his true conversion; but God did.
Read Acts 7- 9.

Terrible things used for good?
How can this be unless the sovereign God of the universe has ordained such?

Isaiah 45:7
I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.

Disastrous events such as hurricanes, tsunami's, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and most recently the tornados in Alabama and Oklahoma have resulted in the dispatching of relief agencies such as Texas Baptist Men (just to name only one) to assist in cleanup efforts in these areas which result in these men verbally sharing the gospel of Christ as well. God's word is advanced once again.

Could it be that the United States itself has been so neglected as a mission field or become so lost that God is moving His word along in ways we could not even imagine?

Lamentations 3:37-40
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?
Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins?
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!

Punishment for sins?
It appears that is possible!
Reasons to keep fighting the good fight and not to become weary in proclaiming the saving message of the gospel? Absolutely!

Can the evil and wickedness of rulers, leaders, judges, and false prophets cause people to repent, trust the living God and turn to Him for salvation? It has for centuries!

I do tend to agree that the Westboro (Baptists) are unstable in their ways, their understanding of scripture seems to have little room for God's plan for salvation but thanks be to God for these and other opportunities so we can tell others about the true Savior of the world Christ Jesus, and thanks be to God that His ways are not only higher than our ways but His ways achieve everlasting results.

Lord please give us a wise and discerning mind as we faithfully read and study Your word, give us a heart that breaks for the souls of the lost, give us boldness of speech to proclaim Your precious word, guide us with the truth, Your word is truth.

WOW 2

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-11

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) Comments on Abortion

Steven Tylers (Aerosmith) comments after pressuring his girlfriend to get an abortion:

Some sense of responsibility (or curiosity?) compelled him to watch the procedure, with an unanticipated result: "[T]hey put the needle in her belly and squeeze the stuff in and you watch. And it comes out dead. I was pretty devastated. In my mind, I'm going, Jesus, what have I done?"

Read the entire article:
http://online.worldmag.com/2011/05/09/dont-walk-this-way/

A Psalm of David

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. [14] I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. [15] My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. [16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Response to Abortion Advocates

Many of our governmental leaders keep saying we need to strive to make abortion safe, legal, and rare.

Are you kidding me? Abortion is murder!
Murder safe, legal, and rare??
What kind of insanity is that??

Ladies, don't fall for that ridiculous way of thinking.

What about rape victims, they say.

Rape is a horrible devastating act of violence and those who commit such acts should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Does the baby inside the rape victim deserve to die?

Will the rape victim not be traumatized because of the rape regardless if the baby is murdered or not?

Killing the baby will not keep rape victims from remembering the torture they endured at the hands of their attacker, however they will be traumatized a second time physically and emotionally for years to come because of their choice to end the life of an innocent baby! Many women who have aborted their babies have said that the abortion is the emotional trauma that continually haunts them the most, not the rape.

I've heard several testimonies from individuals who were the product of violent rape, thankfully the victims of these crimes knew that murdering a child was not the answer to their situation. These children that were allowed to live, now as adults, are extremely thankful that their mothers gave birth to them and I am too.

No one would say that it is easy to carry and birth a child of rape, just that it was the right thing to do. It is a grievous thing that so much physical, emotional, and psychological pain is involved.

The murder of unborn babies is a sin against Almighty God.

Someone said to me once, "So you think ALL (emphasis added) women who have had abortions will burn in Hell?"

Clearly the answer is no, not ALL, however, according to scripture liars, thieves, fornicators, adulterers, and murderers are deserving of eternal torment in the lake of fire and ANYONE who does not repent of their sins, turn from their wicked ways and trust in the finished work of Christ to save them from their sins WILL be cast into that pit and perish on the day of judgement. Yes, including that kind little old lady down the street who has not put her faith and trust in the risen Lord.

PRO Abortion or PRO Choice as people like to call it is just an excuse for PROmiscuity.

Our choices have consequences.
Choose LIFE.

God is a just and holy God. He is also long-suffering, kind, forgiving and those who repent, turn from their sins and put their faith in Him will be saved on the day of judgement. All their sins will be forgiven, the old things will pass away and God will give them a new heart with new desires that are pleasing to Him.

It is only by God's grace and mercy that we live and breathe.
He ALONE is to be praised.

Franklin Graham on Fox News: Obama, Rob Bell and the Gospel Message

Franklin Graham in an interview on Fox News w/ Bill O'Riley weighs in on Obama, calls out Rob Bell as a false teacher/heretic and shared the entire gospel all in less than 3 minutes.
http://ow.ly/4LFxU

It is true--I do love my sins, my lusts and pleasures

GraceGems.org

("A Few Sighs From Hell" or "The Groans of the Damned Soul" by that poor and contemptible servant of Jesus Christ, John Bunyan, 1658. Being an exposition of Luke 16:19-31, concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar, wherein is revealed the lamentable state of the Damned--their cries, and their desires in their distresses, with the determined judgment of God upon them. A good warning word to sinners, both old and young, to seek salvation by faith in Jesus Christ--lest they come into the same place of torment.)

Lost sinner, I beg you to consider the state of those who die outside of Christ Jesus. Yes, I say, consider their miserable state, and think thus with yourself: "What, shall I lose an eternal Heaven--for short pleasure? Shall I buy the pleasures of this world at so dear a rate--as to lose my soul to obtain them? What advantage will these be to me--when the Lord shall separate soul and body asunder, and send one to the grave, and the other to Hell; and at the judgment-day, the final sentence of eternal ruin must be passed upon me?"

Consider, that the profits, pleasures, and vanities of this world will not last forever--but the time is coming, yes, just at the door, when they will give you the slip, and leave you in such a dreadful condition.

And therefore to prevent this, consider your dismal state, think thus with yourself: It is true--I do love my sins, my lusts and pleasures; but what good will they do me at the day of death and of judgment? Will my sins do me good then? Will they be able to help me when I come to fetch my last breath? What good will my money then do for me? And what good will my vanities then do, when death drags me away? What good will all my companions, fellow jesters, jeerers, liars, drunkards, and all my harlots do for me? Will they help to ease the pains of Hell? Will these help to turn the hand of God from inflicting His fierce anger upon me? Nay, they will rather cause God to show me no mercy, to give me no comfort; and to thrust me down into the hottest place of Hell, where I will swim in fire and brimstone!

O consider, that your doom is forever, forever! It is unto... everlasting damnation,
eternal destruction,
eternal wrath and displeasure from God,
eternal gnawings of conscience,
eternal continuance with devils.

O consider, that just the thought of now seeing the devil, makes your hair to stand straight up on your head. O but this--to be damned, to dwell among all the devils, and that not only for a short time--but forever, to all eternity! This is so astonishingly miserable--that no tongue of man, no, nor of angels, is able to express it!

Endure Temptation and Love The Lord

James 1:12-15 (KJV)
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Counterfeit piety--is double iniquity!

from gracegems.org 

(Thomas Watson, "Dearly Beloved" 1662)

"Surely, You desire truth in the inward part." Psalm 51:6

Be sincere! Be what you seem to be!

Do not be like rowers in a boat, who look one way--and row another way.
Do not look heaven-ward by your profession--and row hell-ward by your life!

Do not pretend to love God--and yet really love sin.
Counterfeit piety--is double iniquity! Let your hearts be sincere and upright with God.

The plainer the diamond is--the richer it is. Just so, the more plain and sincere the heart is--the more does God value His jewel.

A little rusty gold--is far better than a great deal of bright brass. Just so, a little true grace, though rusted over with many infirmities--is better than all the glistening shows of religious hypocrites.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Matthew 23:27-28, 33

Rob Bell's Strange Theology

This is an example of why it is vitally important to read, study, and understand God's Word so we will not be led astray by false teachers.
According to many who study scripture, including many wise theologians, Rob Bell's teaching fails the test of biblical historical accuracy not to mention the misquoted references in his new book 'Love Wins', which appear to be nothing more than an attempt to sway others toward his altered view of the gospel.
The beliefs of this apparent wolf in sheeps clothing is being exposed on national TV by exceptional journalism. Rob Bell never expected this journalist to

Please Beware of False Teachers

Beware of false teachers who lead people astray with their clever words. Like a wolf in sheeps clothing Rob Bell distorts the word of God giving false hope to tens of thousands and quite possibly millions of people. His false teachings are sure to lead many down the path of destruction. Stay away from teaching like this which oppose the words of our Lord.
Please Rob, do not cause those who hear you to stumble in their faith, do not misuse

Serious Warning

Warn the lost AND those who do not obey the Gospel of Christ, it's not a joke, this day IS approaching

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9

6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

How to Become an Atheist by Ray Comfort

1) Ignore design and nature.
2) Ignore your God given common sense.
3) Find other atheist's that will confirm that indeed you are intelligent.
4) Believe that you are right in all your beliefs.
5) Believe that evolution is true and believe that it's scientific.
6) Believe that there are no missing links.
7) Believe that Richard Dawkins knows what he is talking about.
8) Believe that you are an ape.
9) Believe that your conscience has been given to you by your parents and society.
10) Never ever question evolution.
11) Don't think for yourself.

Do all these things and you'll be able to call yourself an atheist, or at least as much as one CAN be called an atheist.

No one can really be a true atheist because they must have absolute knowledge to say that there is absolutely no God, so until your omniscient 'like God' you'll just have to pretend to be an atheist.

The Atheist Does Not Exist

According to God the atheist does not exist, only those who suppress the truth.

Romans 1:18-20 (ESV)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN 30 SECONDS

You are a sinner, you've broken God's law and God is angry at sinners. But he is good and he is kind so he provided a sacrifice, a payment for your sins, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die on a cross for your sins. In other words, you broke Gods law and Jesus paid your fine with His lifes blood, He took the punishment that you deserve for breaking God's law. Jesus then defeated death by rising from the dead and if you respond to Him by repenting, turning from your sins and putting your trust in Him and Him alone to save you from your sins then your sins will be forgiven and He will grant you everlasting life.

Jesus died for you, it's the most loving thing anyone has ever done for you wouldn't you agree?