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Hast thou considered My servant

3/31/2016

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And the LORD said unto satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse GOD, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of GOD, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:6-10)
     After allowing Job to suffer the loss of all his children and his possession, and Job did not sin against GOD, GOD now allows satan to afflict Job in his body, but not to take his life. Job is afflicted from head to foot with boils, and still does not curse GOD and die, as his wife suggested, but maintains his integrity and his faith during this trial. Not only do we see the faith of Job, but we see the foolishness of Job's wife, and that the devil had the ability, but not the permission, to take Job's life. GOD allowed all this to happen but He was, and is, still in control and still the Lord of the Universe.

     Too often, Christians begin to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, and stray from what the Scriptures teach. We have no power apart from Christ, without Him we are nothing and can do nothing. He is our strength, He is our life, He is righteousness. Through His Word, rightly divided, we have wisdom and understanding. Through His Spirit, which indwells us, we have power and discernment. We can endure the trials that come our way by resting in Him and our faith can remain strong in His Word and His redemption and eternal life which He has already purchased in His own body on that tree. Our hope is secure because of our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Our life is now by mercy and grace, the grace of GOD extended to those that repent, not as a license to sin, but liberty to worship Him, do His will, and accomplish His work in this broken and sinful world.

     All we do should point others to Him who has delivered us from sin, and can, not because He is our genie or butler, because He loves us, deliver us from our circumstances. He also may choose not to, either because He is testing us, chastising us, or conforming us to the image of His dear Son. He has left us here, to sojourn as strangers and pilgrims in, but not of, this world, to fellowship together, to reach the lost, and to grow up into the full measure of Him.

     His church is called to reach out to those around us who are hurting and in need as ambassadors of Christ with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness. We are commanded to love one another and disciple one another in the Word of GOD. We are commissioned to go with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world in the power of the Holy Spirit and as we go, proclaim the Good News of forgiveness of sin through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ might have life in His Name.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Blessed be the Name of the LORD

3/30/2016

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And the LORD said unto satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth GOD, and escheweth evil? Then satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear GOD for nought? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:8-12)
      Having most of our journey through the New Testament, we now turn our attention to one of the oldest books in the Bible. The events of Job are contemporary, and possibly earlier than Abraham. The understanding and worship of GOD is very patriarchal, just as it was for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even their children up to the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai with Moses. Much of what is relayed in this account is strange to us, but there is a lot of meaning, of hope, faith, and the power and authority of our GOD that we can study, and by faith, hear from GOD and understand.

     This first look gives us an odd scene where the accuser of the brethren is allowed to come into GOD'S presence and during the discussion, he accuses Job of loving GOD for His blessings and all that GOD had given Him. GOD allows satan to take Job's possessions and family, but at this stage, he is not allowed to hurt Job, his health, or his life. GOD is still in control, and our adversary is on a leash when it comes to GOD'S people. As this account plays out, we shall explore Job's condition and lament, his friends and their not so helpful advice, and GOD'S declaration and pronouncements at the end.

      For GOD'S people, those who are secure in the Lord through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, this account reveals that GOD may test us and our faith in Him, He may direct or allow events to come our way to conform us to the image of His dear Son, and when we are astray, He certainly will direct events to chastise His people that we turn to Him, in trust, repentance, and complete surrender to Him who is our Lord, our Creator, Redeemer, and King. GOD'S purpose for His children while we are here on this earth is to become more like Him as we do His will and accomplish His work, in but not of this broken and sinful world, as lights in the darkness until He is done with us and brings us to Himself.

      Until that day, whether we go Home to be with the Lord, or the Lord returns for His own, the Church of GOD are to be about our Father's business, as ambassadors for the King, as members one of another, and as His witnesses testifying of our GOD. We are to take the Word of righteousness and reconciliation with us wherever He sends us to meet the needs of those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD guides and provides for His people, that others might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We are to love one another as Christ has loved us and disciple one another that we might grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord through His Word. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to this lost and dying world, and as we go, proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness of sin through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who hear and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD, might have life in His Name.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The Lord is not slack concerning His promise

3/29/2016

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Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is Salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2Pe 3:14-18)
     Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, and waiting for His return, that Blessed Hope, doesn't mean sitting on the pew and wishing He would come back. It means being about our Father's business, of ministry, missions, and discipleship as we evangelize the lost and edify and mature those who are secure in Christ. It means worshiping Him who is worthy in Spirit and in Truth rather than in acts of the flesh, rejoicing in the fellowship we have in and of one another, reaching out to others who are hurting and in need, pointing people to Christ and testifying of our risen living Lord, and encouraging one another in the knowledge of Him who is our Saviour because of His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, our Redeemer because of our repentance of sin and our faith in Him, and our soon coming King, for He is the righteous Judge, the Creator and Lord of the Universe, the Holy One of Israel, and the Head of the Church.

      As we wrap up this series, having covered the general epistles, and most of the New Testament, other than Mark and Luke's Gospels, our final view of Peter's final message gives us encouragement and exhortation to look to eternal things, not temporary things. To be steadfast in our study of the Word of GOD that we may grow and mature in Christ, to be constant in our prayers to hear from GOD, and to consistent in our love and care for one another as we continue this journey, as strangers and pilgrims, foreigners in this world, but fellow saints with all who are in Christ, and all who have gone on before us to be with Jesus. With our feet firmly planted on the foundation of Christ and His Word, and having the mind of Christ, we bear one another's burdens and provoke one another to good works, while reaching out to others that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory, until He is done with us.

     GOD has called, commanded, and commissioned His people to be His ministers, His servants, His ambassadors, and His witnesses. We are to go out into this lost and dying world with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, equipped and empowered to speak the Truth in love, and with the Word fitly spoken, proclaim His love, mercy, and grace to all those GOD sends our way and in our path. We are to love one another as He loved us, with charity and as members one of another, not just in the four walls of our meetinghouse, but wherever GOD'S people are doing the will of GOD and the work of the Kingdom. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we go and proclaim in the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit the Good News of reconciliation with the Father through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ alone, that those who hear might believe and in believing that He is the Christ they might have life in His Name.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The longsuffering of our Lord is Salvation

3/28/2016

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But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the Day of GOD, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2Pe 3:8-13)
     Our GOD is outside of time and yet intimately involved with His creation. He is patiently waiting for all who will come to Him in repentance of their sin and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place and for our Salvation to surrender to Him on His terms and be born again. From our perspective it may be a great deal of time, which GOD is waiting, but in the light of eternity, and in the eyes of GOD who is eternal and not subject to our time frames, He is right and just. We ought not to equate His foreknowledge with His fore-action.

     For there is coming a day, and we know not when, that GOD will end His wait, and pour out His wrath on all those who do not believe. Those that die in their sins, even while GOD is waiting for others, are sealed in their judgment and guilt. Those who are in Christ, ought to be living in Christ and through Christ, holy, righteous, meaningful, purposeful, and abundant lives with an eternal perspective, not caught up in temporal things which do not matter, and do not last, but focusing on our Lord and all He has done and will do, not as our genie or butler to fix our problems or clean up our mess, but as the Lord of life, the redeemer of all who repent and believe in Him, and the creator of all things who reigns in the hearts of His people, and will rule this earth when He returns.

     The Church of GOD, His people and members one of another, are to be on mission for our King, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We are to be about our Father's business, ministering to those who are hurting and in need, loving and discipling one another in the Word of GOD, and taking the Gospel to every creature. His purpose for His people, while He waits with grace and mercy, and we wait on Him is to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, not in our flesh, while we do His will and accomplish His work here on earth, until He is done with us and all who will come have received His grace by faith in Him and repentance of their sin.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Reserved unto judgment

3/25/2016

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But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the Way of Truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (2Pe 2:1-3)
       Those that deny the Lord Jesus Christ and corrupt His Word and the great Salvation which He has purchased by His own blood on the Cross of Calvary with false narratives and natural explanations, especially those that lead His people astray from the Truth of GOD, will be judged for their pernicious ways when they stand before their Creator and receive the just reward for their sin and transgressions. All people have a choice while they are still living, deny the Lord Jesus Christ and reject His love and paid gift of Salvation, as demonstrated by the empty cross and the empty tomb, and die in your sins, or receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith and repentance and be born again and adopted into the family of GOD, a new creature in Christ, sealed until the day of judgment, and translated into His Kingdom.

      GOD is not willing that any should perish, but those that chose to live apart from Him are given the choice to remain separated for all eternity. All of us have been judged for our sin and rebellion against our Holy and Righteous GOD, the only wise GOD and our Saviour. Those that repent and put their trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross are saved, but those who refuse to surrender to Him on His terms remain lost and dead in their trespasses and sins. We cannot pay for our sin, for we are already guilty and worthy of death. Only the sinless death of a perfect sacrifice can pay for sin. The sacrifices brought in faith in the Messiah covered sin for a season, but when Christ humbled Himself and became a man and went willingly and humbly to that cruel Roman cross, He paid our penalty for sin and took our place, redeeming those that believe from the curse of sin and death, and satisfied the wrath of GOD.

      We who are in Christ, having been delivered from the kingdom of darkness, are called to shine in this world, serving as His ambassadors with the Word of righteousness and ministering to those around us who are hurting and in need. We are commanded to love one another even as He loved us and gave Himself for us, as we disciple one another in the Word of God that we may grow thereby and have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. We are commissioned to take the Good News of forgiveness of sin through repentance and reconciliation with the Father to this lost and dying world, and as we go, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all that will hear, that they may believe that Jesus is the Christ and have life in His Name.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation

3/24/2016

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For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. For He received from GOD the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure Word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of GOD spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2Pe 1:16-21)
       We can be absolutely assured that the Scriptures, the written Word of GOD, the Sword of the Spirit are Truth, are sufficient to speak to us the thoughts and ways  of God, and the thoughts and intents of the heart, and are authoritative and profitable in perfecting the saints to do the work of the ministry and edify the body of Christ. The Word of GOD is not the words of any men, but holy men of GOD, the preachers, proclaimers, and prophets of GOD, from Adam to the Apostle John wrote as they were moved the inspired Words of our Lord, and their interaction with Him, that we might know of His plan of redemption, and learn of Him. They are true, holy, perfect, just, righteous, settled, without error, and without contradiction, for the words of Scripture are a reflection of Jesus Christ who is without sin, and He has elevated them above even His Name, which is above every name. They cannot fail, cannot lie, and cannot pass away, for GOD who has given it to us, has promised we will always have the Word of God. We are blessed when we hear them and read them, we grow when study them, are kept from sin when we memorize them, rest and follow Him as we meditate on them, and in our obedience and surrender to them He applies them in us.

     Forty authors from various walks of life and backgrounds, all with one thing in common, they were obedient servants of the Most High GOD, who transmitted His Words through their writings, and preserved them along the way, that we would have His Word just as He promised. The Word which reveals Jesus Christ, as our Creator, our Redeemer, and our King. The Word which reveals the work of GOD in love, in judgment, in mercy and grace, and in justice and correction. The Word that tells the beginning to the end, from the first Hallelujah, where the angels rejoiced in His perfect creation to the last Amen, when Christ has consummated all things. The Word that tells us of our sin and rebellion, the destruction of the world in Noah's day, and the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel, also tells of God's plan to save those who will come to Him in surrender to Him on His terms, Jew and Gentile, whom He is redeeming through His Son and their faith in Him and His finished work on the Cross of Calvary for sin and Salvation.

      We, the people of GOD, His ministers and ambassadors are to take the Word of reconciliation, the word of comfort, and the word of righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, to those around us who are hurting and in need. The family of GOD, adopted into the fellowship of the saints, though strangers here in this world, are to love one another and disciple one another in His Word that we may grow thereby, fully equipped, encouraged, edified, and empowered to do His will and accomplish His work of ministry and missions, discipleship and mentoring, and reaching the lost of this broken and sinful world that they might be saved. For GOD has also commissioned His church, His body, the host of the Lord, to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God to all nations, and as we go in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming to all who will hear the Good News of forgiveness of sin through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in Him that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ might have life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Be established in the present Truth

3/23/2016

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According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Pe 1:3-8)
     Our life is in Christ, who is our Hope, our refuge, our strength, and our peace. We will be glorified, if we are in Christ, when He comes back for His own. Those of us who have repented of our sins and received Jesus Christ by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, are no longer citizens of this world and the kingdom of darkness. We have been translated into the Kingdom of light, and while we sojourn here for a time, we are now citizens of that Heavenly Kingdom, new creatures in Christ, awaiting the Blessed Hope of His return.

     While we wait on the Lord, serving not sitting around, for we are to continue to do all that He has commanded us to do, to make disciples, to baptize those that believe, and to disciple all who are in Christ that they may grow in Him and continue to make disciples, until He is done with us. We rest in Him who is our rest, resting from our labours to save ourselves and taking His yoke upon us and becoming more like Him as He works in us, to produce His fruit of righteousness in us. His children continue in Him and through Him the cycle of growth and obedience which produces fruit in ourselves and in those around us who we are ministering to, through His Spirit and at His command.

     God's people are called to minister, as His ambassadors, to represent the Kingdom as salt and light in this dark and broken world that needs healing and Truth, serving those around us who are hurting and in need with the Word of reconciliation as God provides. His children are commanded to love one another and to disciple one another as we become more like Him who first loved us. The Church of God is commissioned to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world in the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we go proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father to all who will hear that they might repent and believe that He is the Christ and in believing have life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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GOD resists the proud and gives grace to the humble

3/22/2016

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Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the GOD of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal Glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1Pe 5:6-11)
       Our daily dying to self, bearing our cross, and resting in Him who is our rest, who is our righteousness, and who is sanctifying His children to be conformed to His image, calls us to trust and obedience in our walk with Him. We who are saved by His imputed righteousness because of our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, are to continue to walk by faith in Him, living His life and He in us. No matter what happens around us, no matter what GOD allows to come our way, we rest in Him and trust Him to bring us through it. He tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us, He cannot fail, and that no matter what He cares for us.

      We are to be careful for nothing, for our GOD cares for us. That does not mean we don't prayerfully plan, or that we aren't to be wise in all we do, but that we seek His face, follow His purposes, and go in the path He has for us, in His wisdom and knowledge. We are to bring our burdens and supplications to the Lord, to the throne of mercy that we might find grace to help in time of need. We are to trust in Him and walk in Him, that when the enemy of our souls and accuser of the brethren comes against us, we may resist, not in our own strength, nor binding him by our word, but in the strength of the Lord, rebuking the devourer in His Name and by His authority, not in vain, but as His people and children of the King. Fully armoured and in His strength we stand through Him who is our refuge and strength.

       In full submission to Jesus Christ, the Lord of life, we are to do His will and accomplish His work while we are here. His servants, in obedience to His commands, are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of Truth and righteousness fitly spoken, that others may see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. His children, members one of another, are commanded to love one another as He loved us, and disciple one another that we may perfect the saints, for the work of the ministry, and edify the body of Christ. His people, on mission with Him and under the guidance and power of the Holy are commissioned to take the Good News of forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father to this lost and dying world, and as we go, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will hear and believe that He is the Christ, that in believing they might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet


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That GOD in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ

3/21/2016

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Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of GOD resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify GOD on this behalf. (1Pe 4:12-16)
      The things we endure in this world may not make us happy, but we can be joyful and grateful, for our GOD will bring us through it, and use it for His purposes. The joy of the Lord is our strength to endure, and He tells us to give thanks in all things for that is His will for us in Christ Jesus. If He has not directed it to strengthen or correct some aspect of our walk and character, He allows it to occur that we might trust in Him and glorify Him in all things. As we walk by faith in this life, we are to rest in Him and lean on His everlasting arms, secure in His hand, that no matter what we go through, even death itself, He is right there with us, and He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He cannot fail.

    The evil and calamity of this broken and dying world is temporary, but for those in Christ, the promise of Glory and our presence with our Lord is eternal. We are to look to eternal things and not temporary, for those who do not know Him, who have never received Him through repentance and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, their eternity will be spent separated from GOD and suffering eternal punishment for sIn. We have all been judged by GOD and guilty of death. But GOD took our punishment upon Himself that we might live, not only in eternity with Him, but as a new creature in Christ, the eternal and abundant life we were meant to live in Him and through Him. That is the message of Hope which we are to preach and proclaim to all who will hear.

     Those of us who are in Christ are to walk in Him in holiness and obedience to His Word that we might shine in this world as His children, ambassadors for the Kingdom and ministers of reconciliation, called to serve those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD blesses us and provides for us to do His will and accomplish His work while we sojourn here in this lost and dying world. His Church is commanded to love one another and disciple one another, perfecting the saints for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ as we grow in knowledge of Him who first loved us. GOD has commissioned the people of GOD to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, in the power of the Holy Spirit for direction and guidance, and as we go, proclaim the Good News of forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with the Father, that those who repent and believe in Him might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet


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The answer of a good conscience toward GOD

3/18/2016

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But sanctify the Lord GOD in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of GOD be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1Pe 3:15-18)
        Our hope is Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father, and we look for His return, first to take us Home to be with Him, and then to judge this earth, rule from His earthly Kingdom, and then all eternity in the presence of our Saviour.  Not because of anything we have done, but because of our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary we who are in Christ have been born again, made new creatures in Christ by the power and presence of the Spirit of GOD who dwells within us. He is in us, and we are in Him and our eternal life, which began the moment we repented of our sins and received His great Salvation by faith in Him, is secured through Him who gave Himself for us.

       Our liberty in Christ is not a license to sin all we want to, or for us to do our will or to do as we please, but a call to holiness because He is Holy and Righteous. We are to walk by faith and in obedience to Him and His Word, which is a reflection of Himself as well as a revelation of GOD and His interaction with and redemption of His creation, this broken and dying world, that others might see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. We are to live His life and do His will, and not our own, while we sojourn in this one, glorifying Him in all things, and pointing everyone to the only one who can save us from our sin, deliver us from our rebellion, and alter the final destination for those who are not secure in Christ, through a covenant relationship with Him in repentance and faith.

     He calls His children to obedience, that we might be His ambassadors for the Kingdom and witnesses of who He is, and with the Word of reconciliation minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, fully equipped and prepared to represent our Lord and Master. He commands His church to love on another as He loved us, and to disciple one another in His Word that the saints might be made perfect to do the work of the ministry and edify the body of Christ. He has commissioned His people to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power and authority we have in Him and through His Spirit and make disciples, teaching them all things, and proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father that they might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of GOD and in believing have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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