Personal Thoughts and Ministry

Worship His Majesty

9/30/2013

Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the Glory due unto His Name; worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness. The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of Glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. (Psalms 29:1-6)

Our Lord is worthy of all praise and glory, for He alone is GOD. He alone is Creator of all things, and all nature is singing His majesty. He alone is our provider, sustainer, and redeemer, and we adore and love Him who first loved us. He alone is Judge of this whole earth, and King over all of His creation, and we await His soon return. We acknowledge the greatness and majesty of our GOD and Father, the Holiness and sufficient sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the Cross of Calvary, and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, who indwells and guides us into all Truth.

GOD speaks, and we hear His command to go and share the Gospel; GOD calls, and we respond in obedience to share His love and mercy; GOD corrects, and we repent, returning to our GOD and Father: for His sheep hear His voice, His people trust and obey, His true children are cleansed and sanctified by the Word of GOD.

Our great and powerful GOD loves each and everyone of us so much that He sent His Son to die on a cruel Roman cross that we might have life and have it more abundant. Jesus became a man and took our place and paid our sIn debt. He is not willing that any should perish, but wants you to come to the knowledge of the Truth. He wants you to surrender to Him on His terms and be born again. He loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Believe and receive Him by faith in His Word and let Him give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. He is waiting for you to respond today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Bless the Lord Oh my soul

9/27/2013

Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in Thy Truth.
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. LORD, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD. (Psalms 26:1-3, 7-8, 11-12)

Our GOD is a righteous judge, who has already pronounced us guilty and worthy of death. But those of us who know Him and have our sIns forgiven, are seen as righteous in His eyes because of the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us, He is our Redeemer. We now have a relationship with GOD because of our trust in Him. Our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary is not a license to sIn, nor is it a free pass that somehow guarantees us a place in Heaven no matter what we do.

No, because we continually trust Jesus Christ and His Word, we obey His commands. We continually die to self, and observe to do all that He has told us to do in His Word. We declare Him among the nations, we minister in His Name, we walk in His path; not to earn anything, for we cannot, He has already done everything we need for Salvation and we cannot add to that. He has redeemed us out of this lost and dying world, and translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, not because of anything we have done, but because of His mer.

We rejoice in His mercy, we celebrate His love and share His grace through the Gospel of Jesus Christ for sinners who need a saviour. We bless GOD not to make Him do anything, but because of His great love for us and because we cannot save ourselves.

We thank Him that we who know Jesus are no longer under condemnation, but we are compelled because of what He has done for us to warn the unruly. Those who do not yet have a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ by faith in Him are still dead in their trespasses and sIns. But, GOD is not willing that you should perish, Jesus loves you and wants you to come to Him and repent. Surrender to Him on His terms and be born again. Believe in Him and trust His Word, and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting.

He knows our hearts, and our souls, and He is waiting for you today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Rejoice in the GOD of our Salvation

9/26/2013

Shew me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy Truth, and teach me: for Thou art the GOD of my Salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in Thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psalms 25:4-5,10-11,20-21)

The ways of the Lord are above our ways, and yet He shows us the revelation of Himself through His Word. He shows and guides us into all Truth from His Word and through His Spirit. He wants us to know Him through the Scriptures. Salvation and Eternal life are found in its pages. Jesus Christ, the Living Word is written in every book. The Bible is the Testimony of GOD.

GOD is merciful. Those that know Him and have a covenant relationship with Him by faith in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary know that mercy well. We praise Him for His forgiveness and grace to us through Jesus Christ. And it is only through His righteousness extended to us when we are born again that we can have the life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that He promises to all that believe.

GOD will not fail, He will deliver all those that surrender to Him on His terms and trust Him for Salvation. We serve GOD and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit because this lost and dying world is condemned without Him.

He has judged us all, guilty sinners separated from GOD. Our only hope, in this life or the next is Jesus Christ, GOD the Son who is the Son of GOD. He went humbly and willingly in our place to that cruel Roman cross to pay the price for our sIn that we could not pay.

GOD is not willing that anyone should perish, but wants all to come to the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and desires to establish a real and personal relationship with you. He promises to those that believe in Him an abundant and everlasting life. He is the way of Salvation and calls you to Himself today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

O Worship the King

9/25/2013

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. Selah. (Psa 24:1-4, 7-10)

Our Creator, who became a man for our redemption, the pure and spotless Lamb of GOD who taketh away the sIns of the world, now comes into His creation as King. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, He is crowned with all glory, laud, and honor. He alone is worthy, He alone is to be praised.

Without Christ we are sinners, and men most miserable. Our hands are not clean, nor are we pure. We have acted and thought in vain, and said and done that which is wrong. But Christ, paid the sIn debt we all owe when He went humbly and willingly to the Cross of Calvary. Those of us in Christ, by our faith in Him and His finished work, can rest in Him and accomplish His work and will in this world. We can stand before Him, not in our own righteousness, which is as filthy rags, but trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ that washes us white as snow.

We worship Jesus Christ, and one day we will see Him. We will see Him when He calls us Home to be with Him. We will see Jesus when He conquers all His enemies. And we will see Him as He is crowned as King ushering His millennial Kingdom on this earth. We rejoice and praise and worship our soon coming King. Hallelujah!

But those that don't know Jesus Christ can not rejoice in His return. If you have not been born again, and received Jesus Christ by faith, you are still under condemnation for your sIn. But, GOD is not willing that any should perish, but wants you to come to the knowledge of the Truth. The Truth that Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to GOD on His terms and receive a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Believe His Word, and turn from your sIn, and to a righteous and Holy GOD that is waiting for you to come to Him today.

My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me.

9/24/2013

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the House of the LORD for ever. (Psalms 23:1-6)

What a picture of our Lord this presents; Provider, Shelter, Salvation, Rest. And the three Psalms together show us a timeline of History that was not perceived at the time it was written. The Cross, The Christian age, The millenial Kingdom. Jesus Christ goes from The sacrificial lamb on the Cross to the Saving Shepherd of the Church to the Sovereign King of all Creation.

The promises that GOD gives us in His watchcare and provision, His correction and guidance, and protection and presence are all presented here in this passage. So much can be said because our GOD is an Awesome GOD. He gives us so much more than we can even imagine. He provides our needs, He provided our Salvation and continues to care for us, so we don't fear. He teaches and chastens from His Word so we trust and obey. He stands strong on our behalf so we at peace and rest, and He is present with always, so we are safe and secure.

Make no mistake, those in Christ, who have been born again, don't have it easy in this life. This psalm does not mean that we will not be tempted, or tried, or even persecuted. But despite the effects of this sinful broken world on us, and those that oppose GOD and the things of GOD, we perservere because He is faithful and keeps His Word and His promises. Whether you are of GOD's Jewish flock by faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, or you are of His other flock, a Gentile Christian by the power of GOD, if you have exercised saving faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, you are one of His and He will keep you until the end.

But, only those that know Jesus Christ, who have repented of their sIn, and surrendered to GOD on His terms can be accepted into the beloved and hold to these promises. GOD is not willing that any should perish, Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He calls you to Himself that you may receive by faith a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Believe His Word and enter into His fold that you may rest in Him today and forever.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

The Cross upon which Jesus died

9/23/2013

My GOD, My GOD, why hast Thou forsaken Me? why art Thou so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring?
All they that see Me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.
I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and My tongue cleaveth to My jaws; and Thou hast brought Me into the dust of death.
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture. (Psalms 22:1, 7-8, 14-15, 17-18)

A thousand years before Christ went humbly and willingly to the Cross of Calvary, David wrote of His distress and suffering for us. In this prophetic passage we see an accurate and graphic description of the terrible suffering of our Lord. We can begin to understand the shame and horror of such an act, but the fact that it was written hundreds of years before the Phoenicians developed crucifixion and several hundred years before the Romans perfected it, sheds light on our all-knowing GOD who spoke the Words through David, and then repeated them on the Cross to point those with an ear to hear to this Psalm.

Even on the Cross He had a heart for His people, and even while He was dying, He expressed to them of His love, grace, and mercy. He still cares for Israel, and has not forsaken nor forgotten His people, even while He indwells His Church and works through them now. His love and care for all people is demonstrated in His selfless and sufficient offering of Himself on that cruel Roman cross. We who are His, must have His mind and heart for those that are lost and for those that are separated from the love of GOD because of their rebellion and sIn.

That sIn cost Jesus everything, but GOD's plan didn't end at the cross for Jesus rose again and is alive and sitting at the right Hand of the Father. He has commanded us to preac and we cannot be obedient to His Word if we hold back and refuse to obey, whether it is out of fear, ignorance, or selfishness. GOD calls us who know Him to a higher standard and will not hold us guiltless for our disobedience to His commands. He has sent His body, the Church into this world, not to be part of it, but to reach a lost and dying world for Christ, and to see sinners repent and be born again.

Unless you surrender to GOD on His terms, and believe that Jesus died in your place, GOD, who has declared us all guilty before Him, will have no choice but to dismiss you from His presence. But, GOD is not willing that any should perish, but wants you to come to the knowledge of the truth. Jesus loves you, and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Believe His Word and receive by faith in His finished work a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. He is waiting on you to respond today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

All nature is singing His Majesty

9/20/2013

The heavens declare the glory of GOD; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalms 19:1-6)

All nature reveals our GOD. Even though our world is broken by sIn and awaits the final restoration of all things, it still shows the design and care of our Creator. Logic and math, beauty and design are all seen in this world. From the greatest star put exactly where GOD wanted to be, to the smallest molecule of DNA which contains more information than a set of encyclopedias, GOD's work and care for His creation is seen and can be discovered.

GOD does not hide Himself, or His work, and only the foolish reject Him and His revelation of Himself through nature. But nature, being cursed by our sIn, is only the general revelation of GOD as Creator and Provider. GOD further reveals Himself through His Word that is more sure than even the sun coming up each day. One day there will be no more sun, but GOD's Word will remain.

As long lasting as this world seems to be, it will have an end, just as it had a beginning. But GOD, who is eternal and outside His creation, will never end, and we who are alive in Christ, will live forever with Him. We are promised this because of His love, and our faith in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary.

Those that don't know Jesus Christ are promised a different eternity, because they have not yet been born again. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He is not willing that you should perish, but wants you to repent of your sIn. Surrender to Him on His terms and be born again. Believe in Him and receive by faith a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship that is abundant and everlasting.

Trust His Word and His revelation of Himself, and His Salvation that is provided and freely offered to you.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Jesus is the Cornerstone.

9/19/2013

The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my GOD, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Salvation, and my high Tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my GOD. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me.
For who is GOD save the LORD? or who is a Rock save our GOD?
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my Rock; and let the GOD of my Salvation be exalted. (Psalms 18:2-3, 21-22, 31,46)

GOD alone is worthy to be praised. Our Creator, Redeemer, and King. The only wise GOD, in whom we trust, is our life, and breath, and our Salvation. The Lawgiver has given Himself in our place, and because of our Faith in Him we have eternal life, now and always.

We lift up the One who gave Himself for us, and praise Him for His Word that cannot be broken. We give glory and honor to our soon coming King that has purchased us with His own blood.

We obey His commands because of His Holiness. We trust His Word because He cannot lie, and does not change. He cares for and protects His own and we know His voice, and we follow Him, Jesus Christ the Righteous. The Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, became a man and put to death the flesh that we might be born again and raised into everlasting life.

There is no plan B, Jesus Christ, who spoke the universe into being with His Word, who walked with Adam in the cool of the day, provided Himself, the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

No other religion, or system of works, or even denying the Holy One, can do for you what He has already done. When you stand before Him, He will either be your Saviour and Lord because of your relationship with Him, or He will be your Judge because you chose not to receive Him in this life.

Jesus lives, and He loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He wants you to repent and surrender to Him on His terms so that He can forgive you, and give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting.

Trust His strength, His comfort, His Salvation in place of your own that has you under condemnation because of your sIn. He is waiting for you to receive Him by Faith in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary. Call on Him today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

For we walk by Faith and not by sight

9/18/2013

Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O GOD: incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew Thy marvellous lovingkindness, O Thou that savest by Thy right hand them which put their trust in Thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness. (Psalms 17:5-8,15)

Those of us who are in Christ are to rest and rely on GOD, knowing that GOD hears us, that He loves us, and we are saved and secure in His arms, because we have trusted in Him and His great Salvation. We know, because of our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, that we shall see Him. We see Him in righteousness through His Word now, as we walk by faith, and trust that, just as His Word promises, we shall see Him as He is, and we shall be like Him, when He brings us Home to Himself. Not divine, but glorified.

In the meantime, He is changing us through the work of The Holy Spirit, into His image, to be more like Him in every aspect of our lives. As He shines the spotlight and mirror of His Word into the darkness within we try to hide, those areas of our lives that aren't what Jesus would have them to be, He exposes them for us to repent and forsake the sIn that so easily besets us. Those of us who know Him understand that the chastening of the Lord is not unbearable, but for His purpose of correcting His own.

GOD, who is not willing that any should perish, calls all who do not know Him, to repent and believe in Him. Those that have never put their trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of their sIn, and the Salvation that He freely offers must surrender to Him on His terms and be born again. Jesus loves you and desires to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He has already paid the price for your sIn debt, and wants you to receive Him and let Him give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is real and personal. Trust Him today.

If you are one of His, Praise Him for His great Salvation, and share His love with those you meet
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

9/17/2013

I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalms 16:7-10)

We praise our GOD for His Word which stands as a rock against the wavering words of man's folly. We praise Him for His finished work on the Cross of Calvary which, for those that have believed, and are resting in His promise and providence, gives us hope for now, and for the future. We praise Him that His will has and is being done, for He is not dead, but alive and ever interceding for those that are His.

Those of us in Christ, who have received Him and forgiveness of our sIn through the blood of Jesus Christ, rejoice; not in ourselves, or anything we have done, but in Him. We give all the glory and praise to our GOD, for it is His work and will that is being accomplished in and through us.

Again, I say rejoice, for He is worthy. His love provided not just mercy, but justice, and for those that receive Him, grace and holiness in Christ. Our journey began the moment we believed, and will not end, for we rest in Him and fellowship with Him now and always.

We trust His Word, praise the Name of Jesus, and proclaim Him to the nations because of who He is, and what He has done. Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, willingly and humbly stepped out of Heaven and became a man, and went obediently to a cruel roman cross, betrayed by His own, but doing the will of His Father, to pay the price for our sIn that we could not pay. GOD has judged us all as guilty before Him, but He is not willing that any should perish, but wants you to come to the knowledge of the Truth.

The Truth that Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He has said, you must be born again. He offers you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Believe Him and receive His forgiveness that you too may rejoice in His power to save to the uttermost. He is our Blessed Hope, and He is waiting for you to respond in faith in His finished work for you today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

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