Words of Encouragement, Teaching, Restoration
 There is a common saying, "Sitting in a garage doesn't make you a car, just like sitting in a church building doesn't make you a real Christian". The same goes for those who call themselves pastors/fathers/ministers/preachers/reverends/apostles or any other name-just because they have gone to seminary school and can quote bible verses doesn't mean they are true followers of Christ. It is sad that many people don't believe in Jesus because of the false teachers way of living. The mansions, the planes, the expensive cars, the lavish lifestyles are the basis of disbelief in the Christian message and Christian way of life. If anything the fact that some of these 'preachers' live the way they do just proves the bible is true. Jesus had a lot of choice words to say to the Pharisees of His day. And none of it was good. The Pharisees were concerned with external and material things. They may have 'said' they worshiped God, but Jesus told the truth when He described the Pharisees/Sadducees/Teachers of the law.: 
The Word of God stands in severe judgement of those who would use the Gospel of Christ for personal and monetary gain. Jesus was talking to the Pharisees and scribes when He proclaimed, "These people-the teachers/preachers- draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart if far from me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." And Jesus warns His followers to 'beware' false doctrines/teachings. What is also bible proving is the fact that Jesus clearly states church leaders are NOT to be called 'teacher, rabbi, or father' and yet many religious leaders call themselves teachers/father/ and rabbi. There are many false doctrines today, no time or space to cover them all. The 'get rich' with Jesus teachings is one the most common false doctrines. Jesus instructs His followers and leaders to be humble servants, not storing up treasures on earth, but storing up treasures in heaven. False preachers may have the 'best' life now, but they will be judged more harshly in the coming Day of The Lord. False teachers/preachers and their extravagant lifestyles is not an excuse to not believe in Jesus or the Bible. It just proves what the the Bible says, the heart of men are evil, and the only thing that can fix it is a heart transplant, God removes the heart of stone and replaces it with a new heart; and this surgery is only done by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The Good News is Believing in Jesus saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave. 2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus. 3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God 4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ. This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived. Bible verses related to this post: Matthew 8:16:5-12, Matthew 6:19, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 23:7, Matthew 23:14
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Hell, a place, a curse word, an adjective. Not many preachers today talk about the reality that there is an actual hell. The way many pastors/preachers and parishioners, and the unsaved live, they don't believe there is a hell either. They don't believe that a loving God would send people to hell. There is a false belief that everyone goes to heaven. There is a false belief there is no heaven or hell. The Bible refutes all of these seriously erroneous assumptions. "Jesus accepted all, He ate with sinners, and He approves of any lifestyle." Where did this belief come from? Jesus clearly warned that a person who sins will NOT inherit eternal life, but eternal damnation. Many preachers don't talk about hell giving excuses like "it scares away members, people don't want to hear about hell. 'Hell fire and brimstone' preaching is not relevant in today's culture". This could not be further from the truth. The truth is if you don't have a saving faith in Jesus Christ, you should be afraid, actually you should be terrified, because Jesus described hell as very horrible place. We can't understand or really know how bad it is unless we actually die and go there. Then it is too late. There is no second chance like many falsely believe, that there is a way to get out of hell. Many make fun, making stupid statements like, "Send me to hell, I'll be okay". Really? Jesus made some very chilling statements about hell. In some instances He said it was better for a man to NOT HAVE BEEN BORN rather than going to hell. This is not a message that will lead to happy feelings. It's not meant to. Jesus died so that NO ONE has to go there. It is a CHOICE. You can choose to believe and follow Jesus or you can choose to believe and follow Satan into the hell that was prepared for him and his angels. God never meant for humans to go to hell, it was for Satan and his angels. But if you want to follow Satan, you will suffer the same consequences as him. God doesn't force us to choose. It may feel that way, many say, "why can't God just accept me for who I am and let me in heaven anyways?" God is a HOLY God, heaven is a HOLY place, no sin or evil can be there. Just think about the earth now, with sin running amok, What difference would there be in heaven if sin was allowed to be there? That is the POINT, heaven is paradise, no pain, pure pleasure beyond our imagination, NO EVIL!!  BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO DO HIS COMMANDMENTS AND THEIR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE AND ENTER THROUGH THE GATES OF THE ETERNAL CITY OF GOD WHERE THERE IS NO MORE DEATH, OR PAIN, OR SUFFERING Many will say To Jesus 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, Jesus Christ, will declare to them, I NEVER KNEW YOU! Depart from me you workers of lawlessness!  CURSED ARE THE UNBELIEVING, LAWLESS,FORNICATORS, IDOLATERS, ADULTERERS, HOMOSEXUALS, THIEVES, THOSE WHO COVET, DRUNKARDS, VERBAL ABUSERS, EXTORTIONERS, SEXUAL IMMORAL, MURDERERS, LIARS, SORCERERS, CHILD ABUSERS, THE COWARDLY, HYPOCRITES THESE WILL BE CAST INTO THE FURNACE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE THAT SHALL NEVER BE QUENCHED, WHERE THERE IS NO REST DAY OR NIGHT, THEIR THIRST WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED THERE WILL BE WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH
Only God can help a person to truly change. It is the supernatural, mystical help of Jesus Christ that is available to anyone who will believe. The Good News is there is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. Believing in Jesus saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW. 1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave. 2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus. 3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God 4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ. This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived. Bible verses related to this post: Revelation 22:14-15, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Mark 9:45, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27, Matthew 7:22-23 It's nothing new. The name of God has been blasphemed since the beginning when sin entered and spread throughout the human race. God has many names, but is still One. God's names are not just common nouns or descriptions. There is actual power in the names of God. God took His name very seriously, making it one of the 10 commandments. The 7th Commandment, "You shall not take the of the Lord your God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." Exodus 20:7. What was the penalty for treating the name of God flippantly? Death. You did not get a trial or get to give an excuse, you were killed immediately. Jesus Christ is God and the same rule applies to His name as well. It was 'In The Name of Jesus' that the blind received their sight, the physically disabled were healed, demons were cast out. There are many bible verses about how you treat and use the name of God.
 The Name of God is HolyThere are so many verses about the holiness of God, Everything about God is Holy. Who He is, What He does, His Name. I will only quote two of them. "The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who Was and is and is to come!" Revelations 4:8. Psalm 111:7-9 The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for His people; He ordained his covenant forever– Holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise. Storing Up Wrath to ComeWhy to people today think that God is no longer concerned about His Laws or statutes? Why do the people not fear or respect the name of the Lord? Where is the zeal for righteousness? According to studies on the faith of the American people, over half of Americans claim to be Christians. Really, over half? So how is it that the movies, the songs, the books, the shows that use the name of Jesus as a curse/swear word are even able to be produced, sold, or watched? The entertainment industry is based on what the people want. They produce and distribute what the people will pay money to go see or do. It is just amazing, the fact that in so many movies and shows and books that Jesus Christ is frequently used as a curse word or an exclamation of frustration. Why are the 'Christians' not protesting, boycotting these modes of entertainment? Oh we rationalize our involvement with these shows/books, etc, many justify their actions by saying, "well I'm not saying His name in name. it's just entertainment." Do you really think God is ok with His people watching and supporting entertainment that blasphemes His name? "For we all must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." 2 Corinthians 5:10 God holds people responsible for colluding with evil. In Numbers chapter 25, a few of the Israelites had given sacrifices to a false god. Not only were the specific offenders killed, but the whole congregation was plagued and 24,000 people died! What stopped the plague was one man who had the righteous fear of God; the man stood up for God and killed the one's who had started the sin in the first place. One man turned back the wrath of God, this man was zealous for God and His laws. Where are those who are zealous for God today?
God has not changed His view of Himself or His expectations on how His people are supposed to act.
There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The Good News is Believing in Jesus saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW. 1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave. 2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus. 3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God 4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ. This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived. Bible verses related to this post: 2 Corinthians 5:10, Numbers Chapter 25, Psalm 111:7-9 Luke 1:46-47 Psalm 99:1-3 Revelations 4:8. |
AuthorErica Harris is a God Gifted Christian Coach, Counselor, providing insights and truths from the Word of God, The Bible. Archives
October 2022
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