Billy Graham: 'The Greatest Mistake' is to Assume You're 'Good Enough to Go to Heaven'

by Veronica Neffinger

Famed evangelist Billy Graham recently said that “The greatest mistake anyone can ever make is to assume that they are good enough to go to heaven.”

 

Someone had written to Graham on his website, saying, “I think it's arrogant for people to say they know they're going to go to heaven when they die. How do they know? I'm just as good as some of them are, even if I'm not very religious.”

In his response to the question, Graham writes that “countless people make this mistake every day, thinking their good deeds will somehow outweigh their bad deeds and make them eligible for Heaven.”

 

God’s standards are perfect sinlessness, Graham continues, according to ChristianToday.com. To get to heaven, we must be perfect--a standard that no one can achieve.

 

However, the good news is that God sent his son, Jesus, to take our place and make a way for sinners to be welcomed into heaven.

 

“The reason is because God has provided another way for us to be saved. That way is Jesus Christ. He was without sin (for He was God in human flesh)—but on the cross all our sins were placed on Him, and He took upon Himself the judgment and Hell that we deserve. He died in our place!" writes Graham.

 

Graham encouraged the questioner to not trust in human works, but to trust God for salvation.

 

“[C]ommit your life to Jesus Christ and put your faith and trust in Him. Then you will know that someday you will go to be with Him in Heaven forever—not because of your goodness, but because of His.”

STAND WHERE YOU ARE!

By Miles Stanford

"God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us ... hath made us alive together with Christ ... and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:4-6).

Believers are not occupying their position! At best, most are trying to attain a victorious position by means of prayer, Bible study, commitment, reconsecration, surrender, and so forth. But the answer is simply to abide where we have already been placed --- in our risen Lord Jesus Christ. Abide above, and keep looking down!

"Our Father has taken us over Jordan and placed us in Canaan, but the reality of it is never known until by faith we accept the fact on the basis of having died with Christ, and that therefore heaven is our place, and we know it to be our place now; and that this side is not our place, and we know that it is not.

"The more we abide in the Lord on the other side, the less disappointed we will be here, for when we are there we import new joys and new hopes into this old world, from an entirely new one, and we therefore in every way surpass the inhabitants of this lost world." --- J.B.S.

"You must abide in Christ in heaven before you can descend with heavenly ability to act for Him down here. The great secret of all blessing is to come from the Lord. Most Christians go to
Him."

"Christian experience is our measure of apprehension of that which is already true of us in the Lord Jesus Christ." - A.J.

"Stand fast in the Lord" (Phil. 4:1).

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH vs. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

by Russel S. Miller

Adultery heads the list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, with fornication and uncleanness following second and third in succession. There is a world of sinners out there, unrestrained with unbridled lusts, to which the Lord sends His ambassadors with "the message of reconciliation" (II Cor. 5:14-21).

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like..."

It was adultery that ruined King David, for when it came time for the king to go to war, he was on his rooftop:

"And it came to pass in an evening tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon" (II Sam. 11:2).

Did the Lord have this in mind when He said: "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:28)? It is truly "from within, out of the heart of man, [that] proceed evil thoughts"; and "adulteries" are at the top of this list in Mark 7:21-23 also.

Again, in Romans Six, the Apostle Paul speaks of the works of the flesh as unfruitful and leading to death: "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death" (Rom. 6:21). In Colossians, we read that these works of the flesh originate from within, and pointing to the Christ of Calvary’s cross, Paul says: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, YET NOW HATH HE RECONCILED IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" (Col. 1:21,22).

Consequently, there is real "joy and peace in believing" (Rom. 15:13) as God’s grace saves and transforms lives so that Christ may be seen, and not the works of the flesh.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22,23).

It is only right that there are laws against the works of the flesh, but how could there be laws against the fruit of the Spirit? A striking contrast indeed!

THE SPIRIT OF PROMISE

by C. R. Stam
  

"[Having] believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise"  (Eph. 1:13).

Of all the wonderful Scripture passages on the eternal security of the believer in Christ, this is perhaps the most blessed of all.

"[Having] heard the Word of truth you believed," says the Apostle, and "[having] believed, you were sealed."Now a seal speaks of finality and permanency, whether it be the official seal on an important document, the seal on an electric transformer or the seal on a jar of preserves. But the most blessed fact of all is that the believer in Christ is "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." Mark well, he is sealed not by the Spirit but with the Spirit; the Spirit Himself is the seal.

Here, let us say, is a woman sealing jars of preserves with wax. The jars are sealed by the woman, but with the wax. Thus the humblest believer is sealed with the Spirit. It is He Himself who keeps us safe in Christ through all eternity.

And this is but the "earnest," the first installment, "of our inheritance" (Ver. 14), for the Spirit keeps us secure in "this present evil age" so that "in the ages to come" God might show "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (2:7).

Little wonder the Apostle closes this passage on our security with those appropriate words: "To the praise of His glory" (1:14).

What some theologians have called "the perseverance of saints" is not our perseverance at all, but God's faithfulness. We have not persevered; He has preserved us by His grace for His glory.

HE HAS THE RESOURCES, BUT...

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3 NIV).

 

On many occasions, people wonder why God do not answer their prayers the way they want it. This has made some people to think that God probably cannot provide for what they are asking. Some have even concluded that there is no God. However, God exists and He has the power to answer prayers and give more than enough to provide for people that are requesting for one thing or the other from Him. Paul exhorted Timothy to charge the rich in the world not to rely on their riches “but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17 NIV). There are other Scriptural passages that reiterate the richness of God (see Psalm 36:8; 130:7; Romans 9:22; 11:33; Ephesians 1:7, 18; 3:8, 16; Philippians 4:19). In spite of these, He may decide to deprive us of some of these riches if He knows that we will not use them profitably or for His glory. Most especially, He would not grant our requests if such requests are asked with wrong motives for personal gratification (see James 4:3).

 

I understood this principle more with a recent incident in my family. My ten-year-old has a mobile phone. His desire is that I frequently credit the phone. Because of his careless use of previous credits that I had given him, I decided to limit the amount of credits I will be giving him. It came to a point that I did not even give him any credit for a long time. Then one evening after he had slept, my wife pleaded with me to transfer to him some credits out of the abundance of credits that I had on my phone. I conceded to the plea and made the credit transfer without the knowledge of my son. However, I warned my son the second day that I would not give him more credits in the future if he does not use the one I gave him prudently. The obvious lesson that I learnt from that incident is that inasmuch as I would be reluctant to give my son credit in spite of the fact that I have it in abundance but because of his misuse of previous credits, God also would be reluctant to give us anything if we ask amiss.

 

What have you been asking from God? What is the motive behind such request? Will God’s answer to such request glorify God? Will it be profitable to you and others around you? Are you not asking with wrong motives for personal gratification? He indeed has the resources to answer your prayers, but....

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE COMING GENERATION?

“‘The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime’” (Isaiah 39:8 NIV).

King Hezekiah did something wrong: he exposed his kingdom’s treasures and splendour to some envoys that came from a foreign land. God through His prophet denounced this act and predicted that the king of that foreign land would come one day to carry away all the treasures and the people of Hezekiah’s kingdom as well as making some of his descendants to be slaves in the palace of the king of that foreign land. Surprisingly, Hezekiah was satisfied with this prophecy because he thought that there would be peace and security in his lifetime. Here was the person that prayed fervently against the prophecy that he would die (see 2 Kings 20:1-3; Isaiah 38:1-3). He accepted this later prophecy because it does not affect him directly. That is, he did not care about what would happen to the coming generation! Unfortunately, he gave birth to one of the worst kings in Judah (Jeremiah 15:4).

Many people today are living anyhow without caring about the repercussions of their actions (and even inactions) on the coming generation. Some are even ready to have now the pleasure and benefits that are reserved for their children and grand children. Most of the African politicians and leaders are guilty of this. They keep on recycling themselves in the corridors of power. It has indeed become the bane of progress to many parts of Africa.

In what way are you like Hezekiah? Do you care about your coming generation? What is your attitude to the coming generation? What are you doing now that may affect your coming generation? Know that your actions and inactions now will have great effects on your coming generation. Care for the coming generation through your character and even thought.
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

GRIEVE NOT THE SPIRIT

by C. R. Stam

The first lesson each believer in Christ should learn is that immediately upon believing he is given everlasting life. Referring to this fact Ephesians 1:13,14 says:

"In whom ye also trusted, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."

Mark well, the believer is not sealed by the Holy Spirit, but "with" the Holy Spirit. The Spirit Himself is the seal. Every sincere believer in Christ, then, should rejoice in an accomplished redemption and rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit will keep him eternally safe.

But while we cannot lose the Holy Spirit we can, and often do, grieve the Holy Spirit, as we read in Eph. 4:30. This is why we are told in Rom. 8:26 that the Spirit "helpeth our infirmities" and makes intercession for us, that we might live lives which please and honor God.

The wonderful fact is, however, that "nothing," not even an aggrieved Spirit shall "separate us from the love of God" (Rom. 8:38,39). Thus in the same breath with which the Apostle exhorts us not to grieve the Spirit he again reassures us that this same Spirit keeps us eternally safe:

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).

Does this encourage careless living? Those who think so have missed the whole point of Paul’s appeal. The Apostle does not warn the believer that if he grieves the Spirit he will be lost. Rather, in grace he exhorts:

"Do not grieve the very Spirit who in mercy and love has sealed you as forever His own. Do not repay such love with such ingratitude."

Our Only Boast

by Pastor C.R. Stam 
 “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Gal.6:14).

St. Paul was once a proud Pharisee, smug in his self-righteousness. In Philippians 3:5,6, he lists some of the things in which he took great pride:

“Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel,of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

But everything was changed since that day when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Suddenly he had seen himself a lost, condemned sinner in the sight of a holy God and had tasted the matchless grace that could reach down from heaven and save even him. He knew now that he could not stand before God in himself, or “on his own two feet,” as we say. His only safety before the bar of God was to take refuge in Christ,as he says in Verse 9:

“And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

Now he knew, as we all should know, that he really had nothing to boast of as far as his own standing before God was concerned. For the rest of his life, however, he did constantly boast of one thing: the cross,where the Christ he had so bitterly persecuted had died for his sins that he (Paul) might be justified before God. All else of which Paul boasted was embraced in the cross of Christ. This too is really the only thing we have to boast of and the most godly saint will enthusiastically join Paul in saying:

“BUT GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND UNTO THE WORLD.”

SEVEN MARKS OF A BIBLE CHRISTIAN

By John LaVier 
1.  Gods people are a SAVED people.

Theirs is not a hope-so salvation, but a know-so salvation. They know on the authority of Gods own Holy Word. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Having believed, they are saved from sin. They are saved from the wages of sin, which is death. They are saved from the lake of fire, and the blackness of darkness forever. They are saved, not by their own works, but by God, Who hath SAVED us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9).

2.   Gods people are a SANCTIFIED people.

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through SANCTIFICATION of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thess. 2:13). Like the Corinthians, they were sinners of the deepest dye, yet now it may be said of them: But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11). Sanctification is that work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer, even before he is conscious of his justification, is set apart to God. It is based upon the redemptive work of Christ. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb. 10:10). Christ Himself becomes the believers sanctification. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).

3.   Gods people are a SEPARATED people.

Just as God of old put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel (Exo. 11:7), so there is today a difference between the people of God and the people of the world. Jesus said, If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:19). The separation is to be manifested by Gods people, for the Lords command is, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Cor. 6:17). Though in the world, Gods people are not of the world, and they are to walk in separation from the evil that surrounds them.

4.   Gods people are a SPIRITUAL people.

Paul wrote, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the SPIRIT, if so be that the SPIRIT of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT of Christ, he is none of his (Rom. 8:9). All of Gods people are indwelt by the Spirit, and their bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost. They are taught by the Spirit (John 14:26), they are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14), and they are empowered by the Spirit (Acts 1:8). They should all be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) and manifest the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal. 5:22-23).

5.   Gods people are a SEALED people.

The believer is instructed, And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). Then in Ephesians 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that Holy Spirit of promise. The words after that ye believed are in the Greek only one word pisteusantes, which means believing. Simultaneously with their believing the gospel, Gods people are sealed. First, the seal signifies a finished transaction. The work of our redemption has been completed. Jesus cried, It is finished (John 19:30). The seal also signifies ownership. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods (1 Cor. 6:19-20). They belong to God. His seal is upon them. Finally, the seal signifies security. They are sealed unto the day of redemption. There will be a safe delivery of Gods purchased possession at the end of the line. They are safe and secure in Christ. Sealed in Him so that all the legions of hell cannot touch them.

6.   Gods people are a SEATED people.

The Lord Jesus, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12). Those who have trusted Him and are resting in His finished and all-perfect work, are also seated with Him. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made us SIT together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-6). The saved are, in very truth, a heavenly people. Their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Their citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Their home is in heaven (2 Cor. 5:1). Their blessings are in heaven (Eph. 1:3). Their inheritance is in heaven (1 Pet. 1:4). They are seated in heaven. As members of the Body, they are there with the Head, seated at the Fathers right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

7.   Gods people are a SATISFIED people.

The prophet asked, Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? (Isa. 55:2) Many there are today who are giving all their time and attention to the things of earth; seeking satisfaction in that which satisfieth not. How happy are those who have found Him Who alone can satisfy. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he SATISFIETH the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness (Psa. 107:8-9). Lasting joy, and peace, and satisfaction is to be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. He satisfies. Daily, hourly, moment by moment, He satisfies. All through lifes journey, He satisfies, and when Gods children close their eyes to this earthly scene, and open them in the realms of endless glory Ah! then, their satisfaction will be complete. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be SATISFIED, when I awake, with thy likeness (Psa. 17:15).



O Glorious Lord, what a good reminder this is of the desperate condition I was in when You justified me. I was not merely needy; I was spiritually dead. I thank You for burying that old life with Jesus in His tomb. I praise You for raising me with Christ to a new life. I rejoice in the radical nature of Your saving grace. Lord, by the power of the resurrection, lead me in the reality of newness of life, in Jesus name, Amen.

LIVING BY FAITH

By Pastor ROBERT E. HANNA,

Scripture Reading: Romans I: 17; Habakkuk 2:4

"Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 18:4,5). Such are the unquestionable and irrefutable conditions of life under the law. There were no exceptions stated, no shadows of meaning, no gray areas.

But notice another positive and unequivocal declaration--- also the Word of God! "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live in them. CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree" (Galatians 3:10-13).

A seeming paradox! But our Apostle provides the answer.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23,24). "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith [provided by God for our justification] to faith [received by the believer as the enablement to walk pleasing to God]." "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak in the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:3).

THOUGHT TO PONDER ON THIS WEEK
          Affliction comes to the believer not to make him sad,
             but sober; not to make him sorry, but wise.
     Even as the plow enriches the field so
             that the seed is multiplied a thousandfold,
            so affliction should magnify our joy and
 increase our spiritual harvest.
           
             -- Henry Ward Beecher

LET IT GET YOU DOWN

by C. R. Stam
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3: 14).

When adversity strikes, the world keeps telling us: "Don’t let it get you down," but believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have learned that it is good to let troubles and difficulties get them down -- down on their knees.

A native evangelist in Africa sat outside his hut discouraged and unhappy. Trouble and disappointment had brought "great coldness" into his heart and he seemed ready to give up. The Lord, he felt, had utterly forsaken him. As he sat there, though, his little girl kept nudging him and saying: "Daddy, go inside and pray ." Finally it worked! The evangelist went inside, poured his heart out to God and arose feeling sure that the Lord would see him through.

It is good for us to get down on our knees before God. There is no attitude more appropriate to the redeemed sinner. And as we pray, often falteringly....

"The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
"And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:26-28).

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding. shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6,7).

THE ADAMIC HERITAGE

By Pastor Bob Hanna

"There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10,23). Most believers think of these statements in the sense that because we have committed many sins, we must confess them and repent of them in order to attain salvation. In actuality, however, even if it were possible for one never to have sinned at all (which it is not) he would nevertheless be guilty and under condemnation, separated from God and in need of salvation. Most evangelical teaching is geared to pleading with God to forgive us for sins that we have committed. But the most important factor is either misunderstood or overlooked. The fact is that our condemnation is inherited from Adam.

"Wherefore as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come" (Romans 5:12-14). King David had knowledge of this condition. He said, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). As for the plea for forgiveness, this too is misunderstood by the majority of teachers, pastors and evangelists. To beg God for forgiveness is in fact a denial of His finished work of redemption on Calvary's cross. He has already forgiven; we have but to thank Him for it in order to claim it for ourselves.

Our apostle's message is clear: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians1:12-14). "For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (Romans 5:15). "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" ( II Corinthians 9:5).

We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

 by C. R. Stam
  
    Man, by nature, is afraid of God. When Adam first sinned, he should have gone immediately to God to beg for mercy and forgiveness. Instead he did just what millions are doing today: he ran and hid from God so that God had to come and look for Him, as it were, calling: "Adam... where art thou?" (Gen. 3:9).

Many people who consider themselves as good, morally, as those about them, or even better, nevertheless feel utterly ill-at-ease in a place of worship, where believers pray and praise God together. This is because in their heart of hearts they know that they have "sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).

Such, however, may come to know, love and enjoy God through faith in Christ. He was Himself God manifested in the flesh, come to earth in love to pay for our sins on Calvary's cross, so that we might have "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

Concerning those who respond in grateful faith and trust in the crucified, risen, glorified Lord for salvation, the Apostle Paul says:

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2).

Peace with God, and the fellowship which naturally results from this is the most precious treasure the human heart can contain. Yet our fellowship with Him here on earth is but the beginning. Read carefully Ephesians 5:25-27 and see how He took upon Him human form, and died, that He might have us for Himself forever:

"...Christ... loved the Church, and gave Himself for it... that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." 

RISEN IN CHRIST

By HAROLD STEINBRON,

Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 4:16

Resurrection is only for the body. The only ones who will take part in the raising of these select dead are those who have already been placed in Christ by the baptism of the Spirit of God. To be IN CHRIST is to immediately partake of the Life of God: that is eternal life. The body may become dust before God's program is ready for the Spirit and soul to be reunited.

At this resurrection, the spirit of those who experienced what Paul spoke of---absent from the body, present with the Lord---(No soul sleep there!) will return to earth to see that pile of dust be raised so they can now be once again in the body now made new and be present with the Lord, in their new body.

Resurrection for the members of the Body of Christ has already happened---IN CHRIST! Because He lives, we too shall live! Those who are born once will die twice. Those who are born twice will die once. Eternal life is experienced in the Spirit, at the moment of salvation. Eternal life will be experienced by the mortal body either at this special resurrection, or at the moment of translation. We shall not all sleep, and perhaps this generation will be the one to see this glorious thing happen. Not death, but translation!

IN CHRIST, we have died, we have been buried, and we have been raised from the dead. Our whole life is now on the resurrection side of the grave. Eternal life is not only quantitative, it is qualitative. Resurrection is just one more benefit of being IN CHRIST.

 Give it all to God: your past regrets, your present problems, your future ambitions, your fears, dreams, weaknesses, habits, hurts, and hang-ups. Put Jesus Christ in the driver’s seat of your life and take your hands off the steering wheel. Do not be afraid; nothing under His control can ever be out of control. – Rick Warren

HEAVEN -- AND WHO WILL GO THERE

    by C. R. Stam


    Most people are surprised when they learn that the Old Testament,though three times as large as the New, does not contain one single promise about going to heaven. God's people, in Old Testament times, looked forward to a glorified earth, with Messiah as its Ruler.

    This was so even when our Lord was on earth and continued to be so through Pentecost. Peter, addressing his kinsmen just after Pentecost, said in essence: "Repent, and God will send Jesus down here" (See Acts 3:19-20), but Paul, in his epistles, says by divine inspiration: "Believe, and God will take you up there."

    This apostle of grace teaches us that God has already given believers in Christ a position and "all spiritual blessings" in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 2:4-6; 1:3). And he teaches further that at the close of this dispensation of grace "the dead in Christ shall rise" and "we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together ...to meet the Lord... and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thes. 4:16,17).

    Thus it is that Paul, God's special apostle for our day, declares that "our conversation [or citizenship] is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20) and writes of "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven" (Col.1:5). Thus it is that he encourages persecuted saints, saying:

    "Ye...took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing...that ye
    have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb. 10:34).
    And thus he writes even of death:

    "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
    dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with
    hands, eternal in the heavens" (II Cor. 5:1).

    "...to die is gain....to depart and to be with Christ...is far
    better" (Phil. 1:21,23).

We have so much to be thankful for every day.
God continually  provides for all our needs.
 So let’s make Thanksgiving a  year-long celebration.
—David C. McCasland

A Lifetime of Transformation

Let's continue to walk through a lifetime of transformation.

In the message "The Rock of Obedience" we considered our call to hear the words of God AND to "put them into practice" (Matthew 7:24). In fact, we saw that obedience to His Word is an indicator of our eternal position in Christ; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands" (1 John 2:3).

Salvation is a work of the Spirit, a "circumcision of the heart" (Romans 2:29), for those who truly believe in Jesus Christ. This miraculous work of the Spirit will always cause a change and will always produce fruit. However, we must balance this truth with the understanding that spiritual change is a transformation which is sometimes painfully slow. Each new creation in Christ is given the Holy Spirit as a guide, but we will spend the rest of our life learning who we really are in Christ and how to "keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).

Even Paul recognized his spiritual maturity was not complete. He had the unique opportunity to receive truths and understanding directly from God; "this is what we speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:13), but Paul still fell short of God's glory and had to strive to reach the place Christ desired.
Philippians 3:10-12

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

Paul knew the goal of his life was to bring glory and honor to God by living in the fullness and power of the resurrection. He knew he was to live a submitted life as one who was born "into an inheritance that can never perish" (1 Peter 1:3-4). But he also knew he had not fully attained this goal.

At the moment of salvation, Jesus "took hold" of our life. Every single day we are given a new opportunity to pick up the pieces and bring Him glory and honor in ALL we do as we "press on toward the goal" (Philippians 3:14). We only arrive at the goal when we are called Home and see Him face to face, when we are fully "transformed into His likeness" (2 Corinthians 3:18). But until that time, we are to press forward in the obedience of worship, holiness, and eternal priorities.

No matter how difficult our current circumstances, how terrible our past mistakes or how seemingly hopeless our future, the only step under consideration is our very next. We must begin today to live as a new

REPENT:

This is the time of the falling away, when many whose love of God is waxing cold, and is made very clear unto those having an ear to hear, hear [Jhn 10:27-30] what the Spirit is saying to the Church ...

you have made MY word of none effect by the traditions of your fathers; you proclaim that darkness and light are able to fellowship as one, and you call that which is evil good, and via versa, you burden MY people with miracle seeds that are not - you have become politically correct tossed to and fro by/with the winds of the changing social order times as you continue to drink at Jacob's well when a Greater One has arrived; and you hunger and thirst after the dollar bill, and trinkets in error that do not help one to get any closer to God, for Christ in you, the hope of Glory. And you hunger and thirst after men so to be accepted of men who come in having a form of godliness but denying MY power and authority, denying My precepts (the idea {Logos} behind the principles, decrees, commandments given unto you that is do be rooted deep in our heart that I AM desires reign in you) . 

So, don't be surprised: all systems of this world crumble, all answers to all question come short of the glory of God. This is the time of the falling away, when many whose love of God is waxing cold, and is made very clear unto those having an ear to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church ... you have made MY word of none effect by the traditions of your fathers; you proclaim that darkness and light are able to fellowship as one in the ONE, Repent:

you have become politically correct tossed to and from by/with the winds of the changing social order times as you continue to drink at Jacob's well when a Greater One has arrived;
and you hunger and thirst after the dollar bill, and to be accept of men who come in having a form of godliness but denying MY power and authority, denying my precepts (the idea behind the principles, decrees, commandments given unto you that is to be rooted deep in your heart that I desire reign in you that not one jot nor tittle shall pass away unto all be fulfilled as MY enemies be made MY footstool) . 

So, don't be surprised, and don't be shocked, and surely fear not, of nothing going down; the enemy of our God knows he's defeated and is going about "the church" seeking who he may devour .... Repent: because, in that, seeing that - The kingdom of Heaven is in our very presence .... seek [Mat 6:33] so to know that ye eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God [[Rev 2:7].
Our decision is to choose you this day whom we will serve .... God, or the promises of vain men being unattainable .. they're all just mouthing off - and don't be shocked, and surely fear not, at nothing going down; the enemy of our God knows he's defeated and is going about "the church" seeking who he may devour .... 

Our decision is to choose you this day whom we as individually the church, the tabernacle of God, will serve .... God, or the doctrines of men .... Repent ....
Selah

I Can Hear the Sound of Rain

No matter how many mistakes you make, God STILL has a plan for your life! Trust in Him that His plan will be restored no matter what you feel like may have "derailed" your life, even if you feel like YOU derailed your life. God is BIGGER!

God Bless you

Michelle ~ I Can Hear the Sound of Rain

Romans 8:35, 38-39

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?" ........

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The Rock of Obedience

Let's faithfully allow Him to build our life upon the rock of obedience.
In the message "Laboring In Vain" we saw we must remove ourselves from the construction process and allow God to build every area of our life. We still must put forth effort - sometimes GREAT effort - but we can no longer build according to our own plans or rely on our own abilities; "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1).

We also saw one way to ensure God is building is to live according to the truth of His Word and "do what it says" (James 1:22). We cannot serve our Heavenly Father without aligning our life to His Word. At the end of a passage commonly referred to as "The Sermon on The Mount" (Matthew 5-7), Jesus stated the importance of being obedient to His Word.
Matthew 7:24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
In this wonderful mountainside message, Jesus taught about Salvation; "enter through the narrow gate" (Matthew 7:13), but He also taught extensively about basic Christian living - what Paul referred to as being "in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). Jesus said that both the foolish and the wise man heard His words and set out to build a house, but only one man followed God's design, and only one house remained standing after the storm.
Salvation is never earned by "doing." But true believers will strive to be obedient to what Jesus taught; "If you hold to My teachings, you are really My disciples" (John 8:31). We are obedient because our heart has been transformed and His Spirit now compels us to follow; "We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands" (1 John 2:3). We may stumble and sometimes fall, we may even become frustrated at the frequency of our falls, but if we are a child of God we will continue to get back up and move toward obedience because of who we are in Christ!
Each of us have been given a choice on how to build our life: our way or God's way. We must allow our Heavenly Father to become our Master Builder. As His plan unfolds, we must learn to trust Him with ALL our heart. He promises to work through us to build something eternally beautiful that will weather all storms. But His promise is only applied as we faithfully allow Him to build our life upon the rock of obedience.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries

Laboring In Vain

Dear Lord, beginning right now, help us to stop laboring in vain!
As we are "crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20) and live "united with Him in His resurrection" (Romans 6:5), we begin to view more and more of our life through the eyes of God. What we once saw as critically important begins to fade; and what we once neglected, we now begin to see as beloved by our Heavenly Father.
We can no longer build according to our old set of priorities. In fact, when we truly come in full submission to the cross of Jesus, we find we can no longer build anything according to our own design or in our own strength. We discover we must make God the Master Builder of every area of our life or we are wasting precious time, energy, and resources.

Psalm 127:1
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."
Our life goes by so fast and our eternal vision is so very limited. Many of us are frantically building our castle and have failed to see we are building with sand which will crumble with the swell of the next tide. We may be struggling to build in our marriage, children, parents, job, school, friends, or even our ministry. But if we are expending great effort without results which are pleasing to God, we must honestly ask the question: "Who is doing the building?"
Even if our effort meets with apparent success, we must ask the same question and relinquish controls to God. Our greatest projects, if built in our own strength, will one day pass through the fire and be consumed; "the fire will test the quality of each man's work" (1 Corinthians 3:13). The standard of quality is determined by God, not man! It will be a sad day if we find we have spent a lifetime building that which is consumed by fire; "he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" (1 Corinthians 3:15).
In order for God to properly build, we must first submit to the refining He desires to accomplish. He will mold us into the likeness of His Son as we are fully devoted to loving Him, learning His Word, and applying His Truth as the absolute foundation of our life: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22-24).
God is not just the best solution, He is the ONLY solution worth pursuing. Heavenly Father, help us to not waste another moment of this precious life you have given. Help us see where we have taken too much control and give us the strength and courage to turn over ALL to You. Dear Lord, work through us to build what will last for eternity! Beginning right now, help us to stop laboring in vain!
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries