Having love for our enemies -God's way

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Luke 6:27-36       http://nlt.scripturetext.com/luke/6-27.htm

Our Heavenly bodies

'Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will never die.'

'The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person. ”But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.'

'What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.'

1 Corinthians 15:42
1 Corinthians 15:45-53
http://nlt.scripturetext.com/1_corinthians/15-1.htm

Sin hinders blessings from God and prayers from being answered

Promises made concerning obedience

"If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

'Fear the Lord, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need.'

'Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; His ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil; He will erase their memory from the earth.'

'The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!'

LOOK

This message is urging all Christian's to obedience to God and all His commands. Obedience strengthens our relationship with God and the reward is having all we need!

Isaiah 1:19   http://bible.cc/isaiah/1-19.htm
Psalm 34    http://nlt.scripturetext.com/psalms/34.htm

'Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven'

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

Matthew 27:21-23

Romans 2:1-5

http://www.openbible.info/topics/hypocrisy

Job never blamed God

'Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”'

LOOK

'In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.'

Job:19-22                 http://nlt.scripturetext.com/job/1-19.htm

Praise the Lord God Almighty, The One who keeps His covenant!

'Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exult in His holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him. Remember the wonders He has performed, His miracles, and the rulings He has given, you children of His servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, His chosen ones.

 He is the Lord our God. His justice is seen throughout the land. Remember His covenant forever—the commitment He made to a thousand generations. This is the covenant He made with Abraham and the oath He swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant: “I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.” He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan. They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. Yet He did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf: “Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets.”

 Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling. O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory He deserves! Bring your offering and come into His presence. Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before Him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!

Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise, for the Lord is coming to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.” Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.'

1 Chronicles 8-36           http://nlt.scripturetext.com/1_chronicles/16.htm

God want's us to be a living sacrifice for Him in all we do

The Lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets. From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around him. He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people.

Look at what the Lord says!

 “Bring my faithful people to me—those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.” Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. “O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your God! I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble,

and I will rescue you and you will give me glory.”

But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant? For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash. When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers. Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies. You sit around and slander your brother— your own mother’s son. While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you. Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you. But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

LOOK

God wants us to be a living sacrifice for Him in all that we do whether openly or in our hearts, the Lord made a promise to us; ''If you keep my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God''

Test Him.

Psalm 50   http://nlt.scripturetext.com/psalms/50.htm

Abba, Father

'We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near.

People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.

“I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists! Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.’”

For no one on earth—from east or west, or even from the wilderness— should raise a defiant fist. It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs. But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”'

Psalm 75   http://nlt.scripturetext.com/psalms/75.htm

The significance of the blood of Jesus Christ

'...Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.'
'In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.'

'And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation.'

'He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.'

'My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'

LOOK
'And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.'

Hebrews 13:12         http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/5-15.htm
Hebrews 9:22         http://bible.cc/hebrews/9-22.htm   
Romans 5:9           http://bible.cc/romans/5-9.htm
2 Corinthians 5:15    http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/5-15.htm    
1 John 3:5-6           http://niv.scripturetext.com/1_john/3-5.htm

http://www.byfaith.co.uk/paul200922.htm
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/sinless-jesus-faq.htm

What does God say about asking?

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."

"Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."

Matthew 7:7-11          http://nlt.scripturetext.com/matthew/7.htm
Jeremiah 33:3          http://nlt.scripturetext.com/jeremiah/33.htm

Trusting in the Lord

'My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart, for they will give you a long and satisfying life. Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation.'

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.'

Proverbs 3:1-6

Being a Lukewarm Christian brings about severe punishment!

This is what God wants to tell you today. Listen!

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
LOOK
We cannot fool God. He knows the kind lifestyle we live
Psalm 139:1-12
O Lord, you have examined my heart
      and know everything about me.
 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
      You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
 3 You see me when I travel
      and when I rest at home.
      You know everything I do.
 4 You know what I am going to say
      even before I say it, Lord.
 5 You go before me and follow me.
      You place your hand of blessing on my head.
 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
      too great for me to understand!
 7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
      I can never get away from your presence!
 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
      if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
 9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
      if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
 10 even there your hand will guide me,
      and your strength will support me.
 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
      and the light around me to become night—
    12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
   To you the night shines as bright as day.
      Darkness and light are the same to you.
LOOK
God knows everything we cannot escape Him now and in Judgement
Revelations 3:15-16


http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139&version=NLT
http://nlt.scripturetext.com/revelation/3.htm

Always be full of joy in the Lord

'Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all that you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.'

LOOK
'Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.'

Phillippians 4:4-6

What does God think about being humble?

'Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.'

'Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.'

LOOK
'The Lord despises pride; be assured that the proud will be punished.'

Philippians 2:3-8
Proverbs 29:23
Proverbs 16:5

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=provebs%2029&version=NLT

Hope for the dead in Christ

The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”  “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Ezeiel 37:1-6

http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults2.php?tp=48&book_id=33&c=1&passage1=Ezekiel+37&version1=51

The flesh and the Holy Spirit are constantly at war!

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Galations 5:16-21
http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio

For many are called, but few are chosen.

The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.' So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen."


Matthew: 22:1-14

Recalling God's promise

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you, Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."

Isaiah 41:10-13

http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/this-week-on-tv

Copying the ways of this world

'Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.'

LOOK at what will happen when you do this
'you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.'

Romans 12:2

The cost of following Jesus Christ

He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
LOOK
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:59-62

Obeying God, disobeying the world

'My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God's sight. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.'

LOOK
'For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.'

James 1:19-27

God is not joking, He is perfectly serious. We only have a limited amount of time left!

"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. 'Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.'

LOOK at what the Lord Almighty says

"“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

LOOK

'For the Lord is righteous, and He loves justice. Those who do what is right will see His face'

Revelation 3:1-15

Psalm 11:7

Who can define Love like God defines it

'Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.'

LOOK
Now, let us read this definition of love AGAIN very carefully. This time when you read each word, think of your life as a whole and use it to check if you are following the divine definition. Please endeavour to do this here or in your bible regularly because as children of God we must act this out every blessed day.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Underestimating The Lord Almighty, Alpha and Omega

'The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship.  Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heaven and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.'

LOOK at the sky. Pure evidence of God's presence and invisible qualities. God is everywhere -Omnipresent. All knowing -Omniscient. He knows when you stand up and sit down. He is watching us constantly, never taking His eyes off us.

Just imagine if we knew our mothers or our fathers knew everything we were doing and every thought that went though our minds. Some of us won't be doing the things we think we can get away with THINK OF IT YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE.

God is real, heaven and hell is so real let us not take this for granted.

Psalm 19:1-9
Psalm 139:2

persistent prayer shows faith

'One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.' “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

LOOK
If we have been praying for something even 10 years ago and you have not yet seen the results. Keep praying. This is a form of Faith. When you stop praying about something it shows that you've given up and don't think it's possible for God to answer that prayer. God loves when His children pray persistently no matter what.

Remember
Abraham was 100 years old when he had a son from Sarah.

Luke 18:1-8

Faith stands the test of time bringing joy and results

'When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed Him. God had also said. "Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars," even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible! And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though he knew he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children.'...'Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, His faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

LOOK
'We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us -they help us to learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.'

God didn't give Abraham a child until he was 100 and God called him at 75. Just imagine 35 years without offspring from his wife Sarah. Let us have faith in all things we do. Our work, prayers, everything. Abraham's faith. 'Brought glory to God'

Romans 4:18-20
Romans 5:3-5

How does God want us to give in everyday life and in church?

Every day life
'Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. When the clouds are heavy, the rains come down, When a tree falls, whether south or north there it lies. If you wait for perfect conditions you will never get anything done. God's ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind, and as mysterious as a tiny baby being formed in a mother's womb. Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow -perhaps all will.'

Let use start to give to God by giving to others even if we don't have as much as we want. Time, money, advice, a shoulder to lean on, forgiveness, gifts, a smile, you name it. God delights in this! This is how He wants His children to be!

The Church
LOOK at the Lord Almighty says!
"Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! "But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me...Bring all the tithes and offerings into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do." says the Lord Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great that you will not have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them off from insects and disease."

LOOK at what the Lord Almighty says again
psalm 50:12 "...for all the world is mine and everything in it."

God owns everything including you're time, money, possessions, everything. If this is true then it is disobedient not to give to the Lord. Let us start to give our tithes and offerings to God for the honour of His name and for Him to prove himself to us. He says "Try it! Let me prove it to you!"

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
Malachi 3:8-11

God knows what you are going through just remember

'There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak up.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.'

LOOK
We need to remember to thank God for everything in good times and in bad times. Remember its the bad times that really test our faith in God. It refines our faith and relationship with God just like how gold is refined in fire.

'God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.'

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Romans:8:28

Godly vs ungodly

'Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about His law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the the time of judgement. Sinners will have no place among the godly.'
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'For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.'

Psalm 1

The ultimate sacrifice for mankind

'But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.'

Jesus Christ paid our sin debt in full by shedding His blood on the cross of Calvary. We are to repent from our sins and fully trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for He care for us.
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He made us. Why shouldn't our Heavenly father care for us.

If you have never heard about Jesus Christ and you want to know more about Him. Start like this; in your heart say now 'Lord Jesus forgive me for all my sins (and you can name them) come into my life, help me to trust you and come and live and dwell within me forever In Jesus Name Amen.' Just that little statement with an open heart will seal you eternally forever.
Next step. Get a Bible and start to read. You should probably start from the New Testament or Psalms or Proverbs from the Old Testament.

Isaiah 53:5

Let us trust in these statements of faith

'Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see...Everything has been created through Him and for Him. He existed before everything began, and He holds all creation together. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of His blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies separated, from Him by your evil thoughts and actions, now He has brought you back as His friends...Through His death on the cross in His own human body. As a result He has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it.'
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'For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in His glory.'

Colossians 1:15-27

Living the New Life in Christ

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'If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.'

Let us all start to analyse how we are living

Colossians 3:1-11

Do you want to know a bit about the kind of people that are fit for the kingdom of God?

 'Who may worship at your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to slander others or harm their neigbours or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise persistent sinners, and honour the faithful followers of the Lord and keep their promises even when it hurts.Those who do not charge interest on the money they lend, and who refuse to accept bribes to testify against the innocent.'
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'Such people will stand firm forever.'

Psalm 15:1-5

How God intends for us to live before His return

LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAYS!
"When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all."

 "And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business -until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destryed them all. Yes it will be business as usual right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns"

"Whoever clings to this life will lose it, whoever loses this life will save it"

God wants us to fully seek the Kingdom of God and surrender the empty cares of this world to the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus Christ tells us that "he will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

Luke 18:26-33

Let us turn wholeheartedly to the true Saviour of the world

'All who make idols will be humilliated and disgraced...For the Lord is God and He created the heavens and the earth and put everythig in place. He made the world to be lived in and not a place of empty chaos.'
LOOK AT WHAT THE LORD SAYS!
"I am the Lord and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises...Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God and there is no other...I have sworn by my own name, and I will never go back on my word. Every knee will bow to me, and every tounge will confess alligiance to my name."

let us all look to to the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation. Only Jesus Christ can give true eternal life. Worshiping false idols may be a costly threat on the great day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. It may be your profession, famous people or even carved statues. Bare in mind that whatever you are worshiping like for instance a stone or metal carving. God created that raw material. So wouldn't it be wise to worship the creator of that raw material?

Isaiah 45: 16-23

Taking Christ's return for granted

'But you must not forget dear friends, that a day is like a 1000 years to the Lord and a 1000 years is like a day'<---- if this is so it means that the Lord Jesus Christ was gone TWO DAYS ago. 'The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return...He is being patient...He does not want anyone to perish, He is giving more time for everyone to repent.'

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 'But the Day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.'

2 Peter 3:8-10