February 24th 2019
Are You Ready To Be Escorted To Heaven By Jesus?
John 17:14-15 (NIV)
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
Did you know you are not of this world? If you have taken Jesus to be your Savior, then you are no longer of this world. Since you are not recognizable as being a member of the world community, then those who are members are not apt to like you! It is difficult to understand this situation of living in this world, but not claiming to be part of it. In recent times we see more and more people leaving the body of Christ and joining the world. When your children and or grand children left the Christian church, and rarely, if ever, attend worship services, they have given up being part of the body of Christ, and defected to being part of the world! Have you defected too? Yes, I know these comments are harsh, but it is important for all believers to desire to attend a worship service at a church of your choice every opportunity that you have.
Many people who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, consider attending church every Sunday, or Saturday for Seventh Day Adventists, as a chore instead of a privilege. What about you? We live in a cursed, and thus, a sinful world that started at the Fall of Man, so called, when Adam ate the forbidden fruit. Jesus came into this cursed world to offer salvation to all members of mankind. Yes, I know this is elementary knowledge, but it is very important to go back to basics, so we can remember why Jesus left heaven and came to this world to save you! Make it personal, because it is, salvation is only available to individuals, it is NOT given to anyone, because of what they have done or what church they attend. Going to the church of your choice on Easter and Christmas, just in case attendance at critical times will save you. It will NOT!!
When Jesus was living in this world, He attended a church (synagogue) on a regular basis. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:14-21). Jesus did not only attend, He participate in the services, and taught using the Scriptures. Jesus led their Bible Study classes!
John wrote about a more positive side to being followers of Jesus, in that they will be protected from the evil influence of Satan. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. (1John 4:4-6). This protection is being supplied by the fact that the Holy Spirit will indwell believers, and thus, give them protection from Satan and his demons. As John tells us we are protected because, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” So, in this world we will be protected from evil.
In Revelation Jesus is telling the churches about this protection continuing even after death for those who have overcome the world. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (Revelation 3:5). Is your name recorded in “book of life?” Therefore, overcomers will be dressed in white, and Jesus says, “I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” Everyone who overcomes the world will become a child of God. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:7). Those who did not overcome the world by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior will not have their name recorded in the book of life. In Revelation we read about what will happen to those whose name is not in the book of life. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15).
Now for the promises of God/Jesus to His followers. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:2-7)
Are you ready to be escorted to heaven by Jesus?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 17:14-15 (NIV)
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
Did you know you are not of this world? If you have taken Jesus to be your Savior, then you are no longer of this world. Since you are not recognizable as being a member of the world community, then those who are members are not apt to like you! It is difficult to understand this situation of living in this world, but not claiming to be part of it. In recent times we see more and more people leaving the body of Christ and joining the world. When your children and or grand children left the Christian church, and rarely, if ever, attend worship services, they have given up being part of the body of Christ, and defected to being part of the world! Have you defected too? Yes, I know these comments are harsh, but it is important for all believers to desire to attend a worship service at a church of your choice every opportunity that you have.
Many people who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, consider attending church every Sunday, or Saturday for Seventh Day Adventists, as a chore instead of a privilege. What about you? We live in a cursed, and thus, a sinful world that started at the Fall of Man, so called, when Adam ate the forbidden fruit. Jesus came into this cursed world to offer salvation to all members of mankind. Yes, I know this is elementary knowledge, but it is very important to go back to basics, so we can remember why Jesus left heaven and came to this world to save you! Make it personal, because it is, salvation is only available to individuals, it is NOT given to anyone, because of what they have done or what church they attend. Going to the church of your choice on Easter and Christmas, just in case attendance at critical times will save you. It will NOT!!
When Jesus was living in this world, He attended a church (synagogue) on a regular basis. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:14-21). Jesus did not only attend, He participate in the services, and taught using the Scriptures. Jesus led their Bible Study classes!
John wrote about a more positive side to being followers of Jesus, in that they will be protected from the evil influence of Satan. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. (1John 4:4-6). This protection is being supplied by the fact that the Holy Spirit will indwell believers, and thus, give them protection from Satan and his demons. As John tells us we are protected because, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” So, in this world we will be protected from evil.
In Revelation Jesus is telling the churches about this protection continuing even after death for those who have overcome the world. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (Revelation 3:5). Is your name recorded in “book of life?” Therefore, overcomers will be dressed in white, and Jesus says, “I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” Everyone who overcomes the world will become a child of God. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (Revelation 21:7). Those who did not overcome the world by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior will not have their name recorded in the book of life. In Revelation we read about what will happen to those whose name is not in the book of life. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15).
Now for the promises of God/Jesus to His followers. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:2-7)
Are you ready to be escorted to heaven by Jesus?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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