r L n -- really LOVE now! : November 2022

Friday, November 18, 2022

A Mercy-FULL Warning

CHRIST JESUS Himself said -- “If GOD were your FATHER [but He is not], you would LOVE and recognize Me, for I came from GOD [out of His very Presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self-appointed], but HE [is The ONE Who] sent Me. WHY do you misunderstand what I AM saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are UNable to hear [the TRUTH of] My Word. You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does NOT stand in the TRUTH because there is NO TRUTH in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths. But because I speak the TRUTH, you do not believe Me [and continue in your UNbelief]. Which one of you [has proof and] convicts Me of sin? If I speak TRUTH, why do you not believe Me? Whoever is of GOD and belongs to Him hears [the TRUTH of] GOD’s Words; for this reason you do not hear them: because you are NOT of GOD and you are NOT in fellowship with Him” (John 8:37-47, AMP).

EVERY person belongs to a family. Ultimately, there are ONLY two families... ONLY two fathers... ONLY two lines of descent. ANCESTRYdotCOM may reveal your long-dead ancestors from the PAST -- but only GOD's Word of TRUTH, by the supernatural work of The SPIRIT of the Risen CHRIST, will reveal your PRESENT spiritual family, true father and actual line of descent.

EVERY person would prefer to be in GOD's heavenly Family, with GOD as spiritual FATHER, partaking of His divine Nature. NO reasonable person would choose the OTHER family, the OTHER father, the OTHER nature that The One TRUE Living TRIune Sovereign GOD has already judged and condemned to EVERlasting Hell. EVERY person would prefer Heaven over Hell as his/her FINAL destination.

You say you believe in GOD, you claim to be a blessed child of GOD, and you are certain that your immortal soul is destined for Heaven -- BUT you do NOT love the TRUTH of GOD's Holy Word and you do NOT love The Holy SON of GOD -- CHRIST JESUS -- Who is Himself co-equal, co-eternal with GOD The FATHER and GOD The Holy SPIRIT. The LORD JESUS Himself IS The Living TRUTH -- The Living WORD Himself, THE I AM (see John 1:1-3,14; 8:58). How can you say that you love GOD The FATHER, but do not love GOD The SON? The LORD JESUS Himself said, "The one who does not honor The SON does not honor The FATHER Who sent Him" (John 5:23).

You gladly receive the gracious Works (the blessings of GRACE) of GOD that come through The SON -- but you do NOT receive the Words of TRUTH from The SON of GOD Himself, The LORD JESUS. You desire to go to GOD's heavenly Kingdom -- but you do NOT desire The KING of GLORY Himself, The Risen CHRIST, to be there, rightfully ruling over HIS Kingdom of GLORY. How is GOD your FATHER, when you have NOT received The ONE and ONLY Savior Whom GOD sent to save you from Hell? CHRIST JESUS Himself said: "I AM The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE. NO one comes to The FATHER except THROUGH Me" (John 14:6).

You hope to R.I.P. after this fleeting earthly existence -- without placing your Faith IN The PRINCE of Peace Himself, JESUS The CHRIST of GOD. You hope that your "good" works will be good enough to gain entrance into the UNapproachable LIGHT of GOD's heavenly Splendor in The GLORY (see 1 Timothy 6:16). You hope that you'll be prayed into GOD's Majestic GLORY through many novenas, much incense, and lighted candles. You hope that your church attendance and offerings will open the door INto GOD's Kingdom of GLORY. And yet, you will not the believe the TRUTH -- the REALity that without CHRIST JESUS' sacrificial DEATH, His atoning BLOOD shed at The CROSS for the SINs of SIN-natured, SIN-practicing SINners like you and me -- we would STILL be in the family of that devil, Satan, STILL ruled by him in his Kingdom of Darkness, STILL members of his captive Walking Dead.

And here's the REALity, the TRUTH, the FACT -- 'it is APPOINTED and destined for ALL men to DIE once and after this [comes certain] JUDGMENT' (Hebrews 9:27); 'But as for the cowards and UNbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate IMmorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach FALSE religions], and ALL the LIARS [who knowingly deceive and twist TRUTH], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the Second DEATH' (Revelation 21:8).

'BUT GOD -- demonstrates HIS own LOVE toward us, in that while we were STILL sinners, CHRIST DIED for us' (Romans 5:8).

'BUT GOD, being [SO VERY] RICH in Mercy, because of His GREAT and WONDERFUL LOVE with which He loved us, even when we were [spiritually] DEAD and separated from Him because of our SINs, He made us [spiritually] ALIVE together With CHRIST (for by His GRACE—His UNdeserved Favor and Mercy—you have been SAVED from GOD’s JUDGMENT). And He raised us up together With HIM [when we believed], and seated us With HIM in the heavenly places, [because we are] IN CHRIST JESUS, [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the IMmeasurable and UNsurpassed RICHES of His GRACE in [His] Kindness toward us IN CHRIST JESUS [by providing for our REDEMPTION]' (Ephesians 2:4-7, AMP).

'For it is by GRACE [GOD’s remarkable Compassion and Favor drawing you to CHRIST) that you have been SAVED [actually DELIVERED from JUDGMENT and given Eternal LIFE] through FAITH. And this [SALVATION] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [UNdeserved, gracious] Gift of GOD; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his SALVATION]. For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created IN CHRIST JESUS [REborn from Above—spiritually TRANSFORMED, RENEWED, ready to be used] for GOOD works, which GOD prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the GOOD Life which He PREarranged and made ready for us]' (Ephesians 2:8-10, AMP).

HOW do you KNOW if you truly love GOD and are of GOD? You LOVE the TRUTH -- His HOLY Word; and you LOVE The SON of GOD, Who is Himself THE TRUTH. IF you say you love GOD, but do NOT love the TRUTH -- GOD's Written WORD, The HOLY Scriptures; nor do you love The TRUTH Himself, Who is GOD's ONE and ONLY Begotten SON -- The LORD JESUS -- you are self-deceived. You are STILL of that UNbelieving family of Satan, STILL under his dominion, STILL lost in Darkness.

BUT TOday, by The Holy SPIRIT's supernatural work of giving LIFE to the spiritually DEAD -- may you acknowledge your own SINfulness in light of GOD's INfinite Holiness. REPENT -- turn away from your lifestyle of SIN, and turn to GOD for forgiveness through CHRIST JESUS' atoning Death.

May you receive by Faith, GOD's Gift of REDEMPTION -- cleared of eternal condemnation, punishment, and guilt -- made JUSTIFIED and gifted with the perfect Righteousness of GOD's own Beloved ONE and ONLY Begotten SON JESUS, The CHRIST sent of GOD, Who was Himself the The Propitiation that satisfied GOD's Holy WRATH for sinners like you and me, Who was Himself the Sacrificial LAMB of GOD Who took upon Himself the Righteous JUDGMENT and JUST Punishment for sinners like you and me.

May you receive GOD's Gift of RECONCILIATION -- the REAL Peace from GOD that surpasses all human understanding, through a restored FELLOWSHIP with GOD -- through The PRINCE of Peace Himself, JESUS CHRIST. May you receive GOD's Gift of REGENERATION, a NEW and EVERlasting Life -- through The RESURRECTION and The LIFE Himself -- The SON of GOD, CHRIST JESUS. AMEN! \o/

"FALSE Assurance of the Religious" -- Sermon on John 8:37-47, by Pastor John MacArthur -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBLkSJVfg1Q

"The HOPELESSness of the Stubbornly BLIND" -- Sermon on John 9:35-41, by Pastor John MacArthur -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkSWopGbtug

"Through CHRIST" -- Sermon on Ephesians 2:7, by Pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones -- https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons/book-of-ephesians/through-christ-jesus-2/

my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)