March 3rd 2024
Perfection Is On Its Way, If You Choose To Be Followers Of Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Having faith develops or results in having hope for your future and allows you to show love for your neighbors! As the writer of Hebrews wrote, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Many people today place their faith in themselves or other people because they do not believe that the God of the Bible is real! Their reality is based on what things they see and can touch. This world is a temporary place and when you die, if there is not a God then that is the end!
The Bible tells us that we have an immortal piece that is God-like, which believers call our soul. Praying to a god or gods is not going to be directed to a being that exists! Such prayers may be intercepted by Satan, as we are told that Satan and his demons are residing on this earth. When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He left the Holy Spirit behind on this earth. This Holy Spirit is available to indwell all the people who become born again through belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
Paul wrote about this Spirit to the people in the church in Rome, and for us to understand this, Spirit. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27). This Spirit also helps believers to be able to become more Christ-like every day!
This Spirit worked with Paul as he wrote letters to Timothy to help him know about people he may encounter in his ministry. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1). Paul told Timothy, and us, about being careful what some people may claim to be God’s Word, but it is not! Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7-8). This is a good warning for us today to listen intently to preaching we may hear.
We are told that Satan and his demons are on this earth, and they will tempt unbelievers to do terrible things, and they will try to bring disbelief to those people who are working out their salvation. The writer of Hebrews tells us about the angels God sends to assist believers. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14). Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2). Accounts of people being helped in some way by an angel are given in our Bible. Unlike demons (once angels) it seems that God sends angels to this earth to help believers, and they may or may not stay here!
Why should you regularly attend a church of your choice? Jesus Christ said, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). Some people who do not attend a church of their choice regularly have told me they do not go because someone at a church did something to them that turned them off to going to a church. Some such people may say that they commune with God/Jesus wherever they may be, so they do not feel compelled to attend a church! When Jesus walked on this earth as the Son of Man He attended the temple regularly.
When Jesus was only twelve years old, He went with His parents on a trip, and He stayed behind without them knowing! So, Mary and Joseph went back to find Him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" (Luke 2:46-49).
Today in this world believers have churches, which represent places of worship or Jesus’ Father’s House! An important question for all people who profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, AKA Christians, is “Why do you attend a church of your choice on the Sabbath day?” Most churches use the term “worship service” to identify the purpose for this service or mass! The reason you should attend such a service is to worship God! You should do this regularly, as Jesus did, because God and only God is to be worshipped!
Being a believer in Jesus Christ sets you apart from non-believers and followers of worldly religions. Peter wrote about this treatment as aliens by people who do not claim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:11-12). It is true that believers do still have a sinful nature inherited from the fall of Adam, so we can still be apt to view some sinful opportunities as looking like good actions.
If you are currently attending the worship services at the church of your choice, also get involved in other opportunities to participate! Join the Sunday School class, as it will offer you more ways to get to know other attenders in a much deeper way! Of course, do not expect a perfect experience, as all earthly churches are being run by imperfect sinners, who have chosen to become followers of Jesus Christ!
Perfection is on its Way, if you choose to be followers of Jesus Christ, because Jesus is preparing a room for you in heaven for you to move into when you leave this mortal world! We are told to fear God, but I like to always interpret this fear is to hold Jesus in awe. John wrote about such fear or awe! There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18). Jesus love for His followers is perfect, just like His life on this earth was perfect!
Jesus is the truth and the life! What a friend we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Having faith develops or results in having hope for your future and allows you to show love for your neighbors! As the writer of Hebrews wrote, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Many people today place their faith in themselves or other people because they do not believe that the God of the Bible is real! Their reality is based on what things they see and can touch. This world is a temporary place and when you die, if there is not a God then that is the end!
The Bible tells us that we have an immortal piece that is God-like, which believers call our soul. Praying to a god or gods is not going to be directed to a being that exists! Such prayers may be intercepted by Satan, as we are told that Satan and his demons are residing on this earth. When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He left the Holy Spirit behind on this earth. This Holy Spirit is available to indwell all the people who become born again through belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
Paul wrote about this Spirit to the people in the church in Rome, and for us to understand this, Spirit. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27). This Spirit also helps believers to be able to become more Christ-like every day!
This Spirit worked with Paul as he wrote letters to Timothy to help him know about people he may encounter in his ministry. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1). Paul told Timothy, and us, about being careful what some people may claim to be God’s Word, but it is not! Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7-8). This is a good warning for us today to listen intently to preaching we may hear.
We are told that Satan and his demons are on this earth, and they will tempt unbelievers to do terrible things, and they will try to bring disbelief to those people who are working out their salvation. The writer of Hebrews tells us about the angels God sends to assist believers. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14). Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2). Accounts of people being helped in some way by an angel are given in our Bible. Unlike demons (once angels) it seems that God sends angels to this earth to help believers, and they may or may not stay here!
Why should you regularly attend a church of your choice? Jesus Christ said, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). Some people who do not attend a church of their choice regularly have told me they do not go because someone at a church did something to them that turned them off to going to a church. Some such people may say that they commune with God/Jesus wherever they may be, so they do not feel compelled to attend a church! When Jesus walked on this earth as the Son of Man He attended the temple regularly.
When Jesus was only twelve years old, He went with His parents on a trip, and He stayed behind without them knowing! So, Mary and Joseph went back to find Him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" (Luke 2:46-49).
Today in this world believers have churches, which represent places of worship or Jesus’ Father’s House! An important question for all people who profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, AKA Christians, is “Why do you attend a church of your choice on the Sabbath day?” Most churches use the term “worship service” to identify the purpose for this service or mass! The reason you should attend such a service is to worship God! You should do this regularly, as Jesus did, because God and only God is to be worshipped!
Being a believer in Jesus Christ sets you apart from non-believers and followers of worldly religions. Peter wrote about this treatment as aliens by people who do not claim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:11-12). It is true that believers do still have a sinful nature inherited from the fall of Adam, so we can still be apt to view some sinful opportunities as looking like good actions.
If you are currently attending the worship services at the church of your choice, also get involved in other opportunities to participate! Join the Sunday School class, as it will offer you more ways to get to know other attenders in a much deeper way! Of course, do not expect a perfect experience, as all earthly churches are being run by imperfect sinners, who have chosen to become followers of Jesus Christ!
Perfection is on its Way, if you choose to be followers of Jesus Christ, because Jesus is preparing a room for you in heaven for you to move into when you leave this mortal world! We are told to fear God, but I like to always interpret this fear is to hold Jesus in awe. John wrote about such fear or awe! There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18). Jesus love for His followers is perfect, just like His life on this earth was perfect!
Jesus is the truth and the life! What a friend we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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