Personal Thoughts and Ministry

His banner over us is Love, His Truth endureth forever.

10/31/2013

O GOD, Thou hast cast us off, Thou hast scattered us, Thou hast been displeased; O turn Thyself to us again. Thou hast made the earth to tremble; Thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh. Thou hast shewed Thy people hard things: Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the Truth. Selah.
That Thy beloved may be delivered; save with Thy right hand, and hear me. (Psalms 60:1-5)

David cried out to GOD for deliverance from his physical enemies, but he teaches us to cry unto the GOD who has judged all mankind and yet provided the only Salvation. The Truth of GOD's Word declares that GOD alone can save. Even when we were at war with GOD and separated from Him because of our sIn, He loved us and came to this earth for us.

Just as He turned the captivity of the faithful Israelites, and delivered them at His appointed time from their just punishment, so He will deliver those of us who know Him and are secure in His Hand. His love is a banner over us, and an ensign to the nations. His Word is our message, and the only authoritative and lasting Truth for this lost and dying world.

While GOD has not forsaken Israel, and will one day turn His attention back to the Jews and their nation, He currently calls everyone everywhere to repent. If you don't know Him He says you must be born again. Surrender to Him on His terms and believe His Word that you may receive a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Jesus loves you and is not willing that you should perish. He wants to establish a covenant relationship with Him that is real and personal. Place your faith and trust in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary and receive His free gift of Salvation and forgiveness.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

His mercies are new every morning

10/30/2013

But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; Thou shalt have all the heathen in derision. Because of his strength will I wait upon Thee: for GOD is my defence. The GOD of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by Thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak. (Psa 59:8-12)

No matter how bad it may seem to us, GOD is still in control, and will exact a just punishment on those that reject Him. He waits in order to give them a chance to repent and surrender to Him on His terms, just as He did with us. If He gave us what we deserve as soon as we sinned against Him, we would be destroyed. But GOD, who is not willing that any should perish, withholds His righteous Judgment because of His love and mercy.

Our sins have separated us from GOD, but Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, stepped out of Heaven and became a man. He bore our sIns on a cruel Roman Cross, humbly and willingly enduring our punishment, because we cannot not save ourselves.

We, who know GOD and have a covenant relationship with Him that is real and personal, are commanded and commissioned to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ to all. We are to shout it from the rooftops, declare it among the people, and consistently and continuously Preach the Word of GOD. It is not an option, it is not a suggestion. We are to go and tell others of His love and judgment that they might believe and be saved by faith in His finished work on the Cross

Those that don't know GOD, have never been born again, are still under GOD's condemnation. Jesus Christ wants to give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Receive Him by faith and enter in to His Kingdom of righteousness.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of GOD

10/29/2013

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
The righteous shall rejoice when He seeth the vengeance: He shall wash His feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily He is a GOD that judgeth in the earth. (Psalms 58:1-2, 10-11)

When David wrote this Psalm, he was allowed to pray for vengeance on his enemies. But, even then, he was called to a standard of righteousness that no man can achieve apart from GOD. Without the Spirit and presence of GOD working in and through us, no man is without sIn, for we are all born sinners as sons of Adam.

Those of us in the Church are commanded to pray for our enemies, not that they will be defeated or destroyed, but that they will come to Christ and GOD will have the victory. When a sinner surrenders to GOD on His terms and is born again, it is by the grace of GOD and by faith alone. GOD as judge has every right to condemn those that disobey His divine Law, but in His mercy He delays that judgment that we might be saved through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

One day, He is coming back, and He will have vengeance on all His enemies. They will be destroyed before His judgment and power, and Jesus will set His throne in Jerusalem. He will gather His own from every corner of the earth and restore all things to their former state. Until that day, we are to tell everyone the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ

We who are His, will be with Him for all eternity, but those that refuse to repent, that is, turn from their sIn and surrender to GOD, will be cast out. But, GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would 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 wants to give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship that is abundant and everlasting. Place your faith and trust in Him and let Him give you His righteousness and Salvation.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

I will cry unto GOD most High

10/28/2013

My heart is fixed, O GOD, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto Thee among the nations. For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds. Be Thou exalted, O GOD, above the heavens: let Thy Glory be above all the earth. (Psalms 57:7-11)

Our GOD is worthy of all our praise. He has redeemed His people out of every nation, tribe, and tongue; and His mercy endureth forever. His Word will last to all generations and He is exalted. The Father has set the Son on His right Hand and when His enemies have been subdued, all nations and peoples will bow before the Lord and worship His Majesty.

Because of His mercy, we are not consumed. He has not given to those of us who have surrendered to Him on His terms and been born again according to our works, but by His grace we are saved from our sIns. That is not a license to sIn, but a new life in Christ and a new heart for the things of GOD.

We are compelled by the Love of GOD to tell all who will hear, of the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That all those that believe can receive forgiveness of sIn, and eternal life. That is the Good News, and we who are alive in Christ are commanded and commissioned to preach the Gospel to every creature, to go and tell that they might be saved.

For, all those that do not know Jesus Christ are still dead in their trespasses and sIns. But, Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He is not willing that any should perish, but wants you to come to the knowledge of the Truth. The Truth that if you repent and believe, He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Receive Him by faith, today and rejoice in His great Salvation.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

We bring the sacrifice of Praise into the House of the Lord

10/25/2013

Save me, O GOD, by Thy Name, and judge me by Thy strength. Hear my prayer, O GOD; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Behold, GOD is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
I will freely sacrifice unto Thee: I will praise Thy Name, O LORD; for it is good. (Psalms 54:1-2,4,6)

GOD is the only Saviour, and in His Name we spread the Good News of Salvation to all those that will hear and obey. He is our help and strength, it is His Life we now live in Him, and He upholds us with the power of His Hand. We offer ourselves to Him, freely surrendered because of His sacrifice in our place. We praise Him and love Him because of what He has done to pay the sIn debt we could not pay.

Those of us who are His Church, do His Will and keep His Word are commissioned and commanded to share the love of Jesus with those that do not know Him. We are compelled by the mercy of GOD extended to us to tell everyone we meet about His grace, and the Gospel demonstrated through His finished work on the Cross of Calvary. That precious Name that is above every name is the Name of Jesus which we praise, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, who became a man, and died our death, that we might live. To Him belongs all glory, honour, and blessing for the great love which He loves us.

Jesus loves you and desires to establish a covenant relationship that is real and personal with those that will repent, surrender to Him on His terms and be born again. Salvation is of the Lord. He desires to give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship that is abundant and everlasting. He wants you to believe and receive Him for forgiveness of your sIn, He is waiting to hear your prayer of faith, today.

GOD will have them in derision

10/24/2013

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no GOD. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. GOD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek GOD. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up My people as they eat bread: they have not called upon GOD. There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for GOD hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against Thee: Thou hast put them to shame, because GOD hath despised them. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When GOD bringeth back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. (Psalms 53:1-6)

There have always been people who rejected GOD and His Salvation. GOD calls them fools, for they deny their only hope in this life and the next. Those that oppose themselves in order to shake their fist in GOD's face and deny Him, while trying to save themselves from their own destruction.

Even worse are those that are His, and at least claiming to be, and yet they deny the Lord that bought them. The only thing worse than a sheep in wolf's clothing, is a shepherd in wolves clothing, for the sheep follow him to destruction.

GOD always has a remnant though, that are true to Him, and keep His Word and do His work, not because we have to, but because we want to. We preach Christ crucified and raised again, not only because it is the only salvation from our sIn, but because of what GOD has done in our life through the Cross and through the Blood. The One who created us, has redeemed us out of every nation, tongue, and tribe and will present us to GOD the Father as His bride, holy and spotless because of His finished work to pay our sIn debt.

Those that don't know Him are unclean, separated from GOD because of their sIn, and unless you repent, surrender to Him on His terms, you shall likewise perish. But, 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 commands you to be born again and wants you to receive by faith in Him a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Rejoice with Israel, and praise with Jacob the Salvation that comes from Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

We will trust in the Name of the Lord our GOD

10/23/2013

Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of GOD endureth continually.
The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not GOD his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of GOD: I trust in the mercy of GOD for ever and ever. I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy Name; for it is good before Thy saints. (Psalms 52:1, 6-9)

It is only through our secure relationship with GOD through Jesus Christ and our faith in Him and His Word that we have strength to endure all that this world throws at us. Those that trust in themselves will falter when events spin out of their control. Those that trust in their wealth and riches will stumble when their fortunes change. Those that trust in others will eventually be disappointed when those others fail and let them down. Those that trust in their own goodness and good works will learn that they cannot measure up to the sinless perfection of GOD.

We look to the only one who can save us. GOD will never leave us or forsake us. He cannot lie, and His Word will endure to all generations. It is a sure foundation in which we trust, and GOD's promise of Salvation in Jesus Christ because of His finished work on the Cross of Calvary is just as sure for He will not fail, and will save to the uttermost all those that come to Him in belief and repentance.

We worship Him for He is worthy of all our praise. As Creator He has made us and upholds all things with the Word of His power. As Redeemer, He has saved us out of our sIn, and in His Name we perservere and share the Good News of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ. As King, He will soon return for His own, and we will ever more be with the Lord.

Those that have never been born again cannot rest in that promise. GOD, who is not willing that any should perish, wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Jesus loves you and wants you to believe in Him and receive by faith a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Surrender to Him on His terms and trust Him for forgiveness of your sIn, and your Salvation in this life, and the next.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

10/22/2013

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O GOD; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy Salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. (Psalms 51:7-12)

When David sinned against GOD in the death of Uriah, and adultery with Bathsheba, GOD convicted him, first through his conscience and then from the prophet Nathan. When David confessed and repented, he knew that Salvation only comes from GOD, and only to those that acknowledge their sIn, and surrender to GOD on His terms. In David's day the Spirit came and went at His pleasure, and so David prayed for not only a restoring of the righteousness that came only from GOD, but also the cleansing and renewal of the Spirit to once again come to the Lord's anointed.

Today, we always have the Spirit of GOD with us, indwelling those that are truly His. He comes and possess us, we are His, bought with a price, and He will not let us go. That is not a license to sIn, or behave as we would, but a promise, and a warning to those of us who know Him, to live a sanctified life of surrender that glorifies GOD, and witnesses to others of GOD's presence within us and His life lived through, in, and for us. We are washed because of the Blood of Jesus Christ, and we are made new in Christ. That is Joy in Christ and Peace with GOD. That is the reason we are here. That is the Good News that we are to tell to this lost and dying world.

Those that don't know GOD are separated from Him because of their sIn and still under the condemnation of judgment. But, 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 commands that you must be born again, and to receive by faith in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Believe His Word and receive His free gift of Salvation and forgiveness of your sIn, today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

The Judge of the whole earth shall do right.

10/21/2013

The mighty GOD, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, GOD hath shined. Our GOD shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for GOD is Judge Himself. Selah. (Psalms 50:1-6)

Our GOD has judged sIn, and pronounced us all guilty of disobedience to Him. We are all under the sentence of death, both physical and spiritual, because of our iniquities before our Creator. Except by the blood of Jesus Christ shed for our sIn, we are condemned. Those that looked ahead to the Cross and their Messiah, obeyed the Law and kept the sacrifices by faith in His perfect sacrifice that was to come. Those of us who look back and believe, obey His Word and Will by faith in His finished work and look to His future return. All His saints praise Him for His grace, mercy and love.

We will praise Him for His perfect creation, that was cursed because of our sIn. We will praise Him for the redemption that He offers to all who will believe. We praise Him for His protection and His provision for His own. And we praise Him for He will return, as Judge and King.

The righteous Judge will do right, He is just and will carry out His swift justice on all those that reject Him. Not just for their sIn and unrighteousness, but because they have not believed on the Name of the only begotten Son of GOD. He will also judge His Church, and purge that which is unholy from within, just as He did, and will do again, for Israel.

But, Jesus is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and a knowledge of the Truth. The truth that you must be born again, and receive by faith a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Jesus wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal, but you must acknowledge the sIn that has separated you from GOD, and surrender to Him on His terms. Believe His Word and receive His free gift of Salvation, today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Our GOD is exalted for He alone is GOD

10/18/2013

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto GOD with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most High is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
GOD is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to GOD, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For GOD is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. GOD reigneth over the heathen: GOD sitteth upon the throne of His Holiness. (Psalms 47:1-2, 5-8)

Our GOD is worthy of all praise. He has redeemed His people from every nation, tongue and tribe, and gathered them to Himself. We sing praises to the King of Kings, for He has triumphed over sIn and the grave, and when He returns He will conquer all those nations that have forgotten and forsaken GOD. He is victorious over death and lives and reigns from on High, and one day He will return for His own, and we shall ever more be with the Lord.

We shout with triumph His Word for it does not return void, it goes out and accomplishes that which GOD has purposed for it. We preach the Gospel for it is the power of GOD unto Salvation to all those that believe. We worship Him who sits on the Throne, and proclaim all His wondrous works to the children of men.

The Creator of all things, who has judged sIn and declared us all guilty and worthy of death, humbled Himself and became a man for our sIn. He went obediently and willingly to that cruel Roman Cross and took our place, and paid our sIn debt. The grave couldn't keep Him, and death couldn't hold Him, and we give Him all the Glory for His matchless grace, mercy and love.

But those that don't know Him should fear Him, for He is the Judge of the whole earth. But, GOD is not willing that any should perish. He loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. He has commanded that everyone must be born again to receive eternal life. You must surrender to Him on His terms, believing His Word, and receive Him by faith in His finished work. He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Rejoice in the GOD of your Salvation today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

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