Let Us Not Be Ashamed

 “God/our Father/Abba foreordained/destined/planned, in love, for us to be adopted as His own children through Christ (His Son), according to the good pleasure of His will ...making known ...His purpose ...that He might gather together in one all things IN Christ ...in whom you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, 'the gospel' of your salvation: in whom also after you believed, you were  stamped with the seal of the long awaited Holy Spirit.” [Eph 1:5,9,10,13/AMP-KJV]

Lord, You gave us words ...and promised Your words would not return to You void, but accomplish that which You please. [Pastor; Isaiah 55:11] 

“The focus of the gospel is what (God) brings to the table; and what He brings to the table starts (and finishes) with (Christ); not what (we) must provide.” [Pastor] 

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide Himself a Lamb/sacrifice (for our sins)” [Gen 22:8]

ThenSingsMySoul:

(WE) ARE NOT ASHAMED

OF 'THE GOSPEL' OF JESUS CHRIST,

FOR IT IS GOD'S POWER OF SALVATION;

TO EVERYONE THAT BELEIVETH,

TO EVERYONE THAT RECEIVETH,

THEY SHALL HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE!

[Romans 1:16-17]

Jenelsie's Corner (#300)

My Grace and Truth Family,

Can we hear again today that OUR GOD LOVES US?  His motivation for giving us new life in Christ Jesus comes out from His abounding love which does not wane even an iota.  “Love” is not something, but “love” is someone—GOD IS LOVE.  HE has breadth, depth, width, and HE is the One who sheds Himself into our hearts.

Can we believe again today that OUR GOD LOVES US?  HE loves us against our ill-feeling about ourselves or somebody else.  HE loves us in whatever mess we jumped into or were pushed.  HE loves us today whether we did or did not “do it.”  If, in fact, we did say “it”, HE still loves us.  Our GOD—LOVE--connects with us; HE put on flesh and called Him JESUS.   HE gave His life for us, His friends.  And JESUS has been tempted on all points like us and can definitely be touched with the feeling of our infirmity with every experience we may have day in and out.

Hallelujah!

Your sister,
Jenelsie, Pastor’s wife

...That They Will Hear

Acts 28:28 adds new meaning to “Faith cometh by HEARING;” God's unique conduit/channel of/means of transmitting the gospel; that required John's ministry of repentance, to prepare the way for the ministry of Christ (the Word made flesh).

[Pastor; Rom 10:17; John 1:14]

The resurrection lies at the heart of the 'gospel' of Jesus Christ; Whom God (the Father) sent/ gave/ bruised/ and raised from the dead; that we might have access to (Christ) the Tree of (everlasting) Life; by and thru faith. 

[John 20:21; 3:16; Isa 53:5; Rom 10:9] 

But, the question remains: “How shall they believe in (Christ) of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they HEAR (of Christ) without a preacher?”

[Rom 10:14] 

Jesus said: “This is the will of Him (the Father) that sent Me, that every one which ...believeth on (Me), may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

[John 6:40]

“Be it known therefore ...that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles ...that they will HEAR IT.”

[Acts 28:28]

“The purpose of preaching is that (the hearer) believes the gospel (of the finished work of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection), repents and is saved.”

[Pastor]

ThenSingsMySoul:

OPEN OUR EARS LORD

AND HELP US TO LISTEN,

OPEN OUR EYES LORD

WE WANT TO SEE JESUS.

He Makes All Things New

Further reflections on how we have been “begotten”(born anew) again ...by the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, caused me to appreciate, the more, the supernatural work of reconciliation wrought for us, through Christ; who were at one time “separated” (living apart/excluded/alien) from His covenant, with no hope.

[1 Pet 1:3; Eph 2:12]

One interesting Bible translation put it this way: “...His death ...ended the angry resentment (enmity) between us,  caused by the Jewish laws which favored the Jews and excluded the Gentiles; for (Christ) died to annul that whole system of Jewish laws. Then (Christ) took the two groups (Jew and Gentile) that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of Himself; thus He fused us together to become one “new” man, so making peace.”

[Eph 2:15/TLB] 

Talk about DRAW ME NEARER. “You ...hath He reconciled;” and He, alone, is able to perform the good work He has begun, until He returns. [Col 1:21; Phil 1:6] 

ThenSingsMySoul:

(IT'S) NOT OVER, IT'S NOT FINISHED

IT'S NOT ENDING, IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING

WHEN GOD IS IN IT,

ALL THINGS ARE “NEW,” OOH OOH OOH OOH

ALL THINGS ARE “NEW!” 

One Thing Is Needful

During this season of reflection on the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ; let us not lose sight on the necessity of 'the experience' of life everlasting.

[John 3:16 – the g.o.s.p.e.l]

“If God saw fit to 'experience' (interface with) man, we (man) then must needs (interface) 'experience' the life of God ...more than confess Him, but actually possess Him.” [Pastor]

During a night visitation, Jesus told a Pharisee named Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again (of the Spirit), he cannot see/behold/be aware of/'experience' the kingdom of God.”

[John 3:3,5]

The natural man can not 'experience' the things of the Spirit; this 'experience' (of life) is spiritually apprehended.

[1 Corinthians 2:14]

To 'experience' (interface with/encounter) this kind of “new” life, “I” must die/decrease, and Christ must increase; until He fills all in all.

[Colossians 1:19]

ThenSingsMySoul:

IF THAT SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD

DWELL IN YOU, DWELL IN YOU (2xs)

HE SHALL QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODY,

IF THE  SPIRIT DWELL IN YOU;

HE SHALL QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODY,

IF THE  SPIRIT DWELL IN YOU.

[Romans 8:11]