From Bill —Today’s message is a direct quote from John MacArthurs excellent book: Hard to Believe p. 78. “There’s a common misconception that the choice between Christ and false gods is the choice between desiring to go to hell and desiring to go to heaven. I’ve heard preachers say the narrow way is the way of Christianity that people choose when they want to go to heaven, and the broad way is the way people choose who are content to go to hell. But they are misinformed or confused. It is not a contrast between godliness and Christianity on one hand and irreligious, lewd, lascivious pagan masses headed merrily for hell on the other. It is a contrast between two kinds of religions, both roads marked “This Way to Heaven.” The choice we all make is this: either we’re good enough on our own, through our belief system and morality, to make it to heaven; or we’re not, and we have to cast ourselves on the mercy of God through Christ to get there. Those are the only two systems of religion in the world. One is a religion of human merit; the other recognizes that we find true merit in Christ alone, and it comes to the sinner only by grace. There may be a thousand different religious names and terms, but only two religions really exist.” —John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Love Mel
Ephesians 1:4 We Were Chosen Before the Foundation of the World
Eph 1:4 According as He hath CHOSEN us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy & without blame before Him in love. Ephesians 1:5, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will. 1 Peter 1:3- 4, Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, & unfading, kept in heaven for us. —Atonement preceded by tens days of awe! Since Jesus paid the ultimate price & we have been set free! What a rejoicing we should do! We are His CHOSEN thru adoption to do His will & receive an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, & unfading, kept in heaven for us. Now that is worth celebrating! He wants to be our Father! Love Mel
Isaiah 54:17 No Weapon Formed Against Us Can Prosper
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; & every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord …” Malachi 4:3 You shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents & scorpions, & over all the power of the enemy: & nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers … nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” James 4:7 ” … Resist the devil, & he will flee from you.” 1 John 4:4 “You … have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” — Why do we think we will never have to war against the enemy, when Jesus, himself had to as well! He defeated Satan with the word of God! He defeated death at the cross thru His suffering. & He rose from the grave having set the captives free! These are all our promises too, but it means we might have to face some opposition alone the way! This is why we must study the word of God so that we can yield the sword of the spirit & use the shield of faith for protection! Love Mel
2 Peter 1:5-8 The Virtues to Pursue
2 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, & virtue with knowledge. & knowledge with self-control, & self-control with steadfastness, & steadfastness with godliness, & godliness with brotherly affection, & brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours & are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. —To be faithful & full of virtue keep us from harm, allows us to be effective & fruitful. This is what on purpose living looks like. And it is really living for God! Love Mel
The Fall Feasts
From Bill— The second Fall Feast is Yom Kippur which occurs on Tishri 10 (10th day of the 7th month). This year Oct 10th! —Lev 23: “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 27 “Also the 10th day of this 7th month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, & offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. 28 & you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.” —It was once a year when the Jewish people could be forgiven of their sins for the previous year after the High Priest sacrificed the scapegoat in the Holy of Holies. For us Jesus was the scapegoat & His blood continually cleanses us from all sin. Through Jesus we have a lasting atonement. — John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” & bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit. —He conquered Sin! In the last days Yom Kippur marks the end of Gods wrath upon the earth after His return & the beginning of preparation for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We can look forward to the day because of what Jesus did for us! Love Mel
