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Take heed lest any man deceive you

6/16/2016

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And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the Gospel must first be published among all nations. (Mar 13:5-10)
      There are many who will come in the Name of the Lord and while affirming Jesus as the Messiah of GOD wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction and mislead many. They don't preach our Gospel, for they have another gospel which will not save them, for it is all about them and promises safety and security in this life, not eternal life. They deny many things that Jesus said and did, even while affirming the person of Jesus, but usually not His deity. They serve themselves, not our Lord, even when claiming His Name, and their destruction is coming.  We must turn to the Scriptures and see if those things we hear are true, with our Biblical glasses on, and listening to the voice of our Lord, to know His Words and obey Him.

      All will be tried and tested, only those who are truly in Christ will endure. The Lord knows those who are His and will not lose any who are secure in His hand. Many trials may come, and His people will be persecuted for our faith, but the Lord is in control. The Father has resurrected all of us who have repented of our sins and placed our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and made us to sit in heavenly places. We who have received Him by faith, knowing that we cannot save ourselves, have been made a new creatures in Christ and we hear His voice and follow Him who is our Saviour and King. When He returns we will know our Masters voice and go to be with Him.

     Until that day, He has work for us to do. We can't sit back and wait for Him to come back and get us, for we have been called to serve, commanded to love, and commissioned to evangelize the lost, until He is done with us. We are to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and as His ambassadors, representing His Kingdom. We are to love one another as He loved us and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him who is our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and prepared with the whole armour of GOD, proclaim as we go, the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who 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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Making the Word of GOD of none effect through your tradition

6/8/2016

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Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the Commandment of GOD, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the Commandment of GOD, that ye may keep your own tradition. (Mar 7:5-9)
      All the rules and directives which the Pharisees had instituted to ensure that people kept the Law they couldn't keep, and the Pharisees didn't keep it either, had made such a mess of GOD'S Law that they were actually breaking both the letter and the spirit of the Law through their "law around the law". Their unbelieving lip-service to GOD while ignoring the intent of the Law to show them their need of GOD for Salvation, while also ignoring the true righteousness of GOD which the Law could never give, was true hypocrisy and Jesus rightfully spoke to the heart of the issue. Their hearts were not right, for without faith in GOD they looked to themselves and their religion for salvation, worshiped a god of their own making, and pridefully held to their own ideas of what the Law was for and to grant them their own righteousness.

      Self righteousness will not get anybody anywhere with a Holy and righteous GOD who demands, and He has every right to as our Creator, His people to come to Him on His terms and not their own. But, knowing that in our sin we cannot measure up, no matter how careful we are to the Laws and Statutes of GOD, He has given us the only sacrifice that will truly pay for our sin. He has provided Himself, when He humbled Himself and took our place on that cruel Roman cross that we might have life, His righteousness, and be reconciled to GOD through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. The Law by itself cannot save or make any one righteous, but Christ has fulfilled the Law, and He who is our rest, makes us righteous in the eyes of GOD, new creatures in Christ, dead to the Law, to sIn, and to ourselves, to live in Him the life we are meant to live.

       As His righteous servants, not in our own righteousness which is as filthy rags, but through the washing of the Word of GOD, we minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. As His righteous people, the Church of GOD, holy and without blemish by the blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are to love one another as members in particular, and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we might grow thereby. As His righteous army, not with weapons of this world or of the flesh, but with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the armour of GOD, we go where the Holy Spirit which is within us sends us, and as we go, we proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who 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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Can a man be profitable unto GOD

4/28/2016

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Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. (Job 22:21-26)
     Eliphaz tries to make an argument that contradicts what Job actually has said. Job was not trying to hide anything, and certainly knew that the Almighty could see his pain and suffering. His question was why it was happening and why GOD was, as he thought in his mind at the time, punishing him when as far as he knew he had done what was required to be righteous. GOD had called him His righteous and faithful servant, and allowed the test, but Job was not aware of that part of the conversation, and neither was Eliphaz. Eliphaz insisted that Job must be trying to hide his sin and rebellion from GOD and needed to return to GOD.

      Since this test was not punishment for egregious sin, nor was it the every day calamities that befall all of us who live in this broken and dying world, Eliphaz was in error and his admonishment to Job was misdirected. We would do well to take his words to heart if we are away from GOD or hiding from Him who sees and knows all.  For those that are secure in Christ and made righteous through repentance of our sin, and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we are held in His hands and no matter what comes our way we are safe. That is not a license to sin, for sin is still a reproach and rebellion against GOD, but our sins are and continue to be forgiven, and we are at liberty to live in and through Him the life we were meant to live.

     That life is a life of service, love, and commitment to His will and His work in us and by us for His glory. We minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as His ambassadors, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, as He provides that we might be a blessing to others and they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We love one another as members one of another and children of the King, and disciple one another in His Word that we may grow thereby until we are all grown into the full measure of Him who is our Head. We take the Gospel of Jesus Christ with us as we go in the power of the Holy Ghost that is within us, and proclaim His Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in Him that those who 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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How long will it be ere ye make an end of words?

4/22/2016

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Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare. (Job 18:5-8)
      Once again Bildad chimes in, and gives an incorrect application and horribly comfortless opinion of GOD'S judgment upon the wicked and concluding that Job must be wicked. He has no regard for GOD'S sovereignty or our free will, or the fact that often the wicked seem to prosper in this life, though that prosperity is temporary, and certainly does not extend into the next. Bildad, because he had no knowledge of the test and trial Job was undergoing, totally disregarded GOD's justice and timing, which is not ours, since His ways are above our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. GOD is Holy and Just, and will punish those who disobey Him, and often times will do so in while they are on the earth. He also chastises His own, to bring them closer or back to a right relationship with Him.

       Bildad was partially right in that, some who are wicked are judged and punished in this life. Often emotionally and psychologically, if their consciences aren't seared and scarred, they fear that judgment and punishment, not usually from GOD, but from the authorities, or from others more wicked than they are. It will come, but it may not happen while they are living. When they die in their trespasses and sins, having rejected their Creator who would have redeemed them from their sins if they had repented and believed in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, they will face Him as their Judge and receive the recompense of their reward for their sins and iniquity. There will be no mercy or grace then, for the time of GOD's wrath will be at hand.

      We who are born again from above, having been made new creatures in Christ by His blood and power, are no longer to live in our self-righteousness, but live the life in Him which He equips and empowers us to live. We are to glorify Him in all we say and do, and lift Him up before others that they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We are not to seek our own way, or follow man's vision and the world's methods, but being transformed by the renewing of our mind through the Spirit and the Word of GOD, fully surrendered to Him who alone is worthy of our obedience and worship.

       We are called to serve Him in ministry, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, as we minister to those around us who are hurting and serve those who are in need. We are commanded to love one another as He loved us and gave Himself for us, and we are to disciple one another in His Word, speaking the Truth in love, that we may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ. We are commissioned as witnesses unto Him who is our life to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of GOD to this lost and dying world, and as we go in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that He is the Christ, the Son 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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Our days upon earth are a shadow

4/8/2016

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Doth GOD pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their transgression; If thou wouldest seek unto GOD betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. (Job 8:3-7)
      Now Bildad tries to chastise Job and his words ring hollow and lifeless. Too many if's to be of any help. Much of what Bildad had to say was partially correct in its initial theory, but the reality is that Bildad had no idea about GOD or His character. He even sounds like some of the prosperity preachers who tell you every thing will be fine if you just believe. GOD is Sovereign, and His justice is perfect, but that is now what had happened in Job's case. GOD is not our butler or genie to fix our mess, or bless our works and efforts, He is Lord and we are His servants to do His will and accomplish His work in this sinful world that all who will believe may repent and place their trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for Salvation.

       Job was not under condemnation as Bildad proposed, but under testing. Without that revelation, Bildad missed not only the Sovereignty of GOD, but also His perfect will to shew Himself strong on the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him. Though our sins and transgressions are worthy of death, for those whose sins are paid for, either by the sacrifices of faith in Job's case, or by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ in our place, GOD has imputed His righteousness to us through repentance and our faith in Him. That is not a license to sin, but understanding that when we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. When something happens, especially terrible events we don't understand, like Job we can ask why?, but GOD is under no obligation to give us the answers we seek outside of what He has already revealed through His Spirit and His Word. That is His vision of Him we are to search, study, meditate upon, and share with others. Without His Word we perish, but His Word can and will make us happy and blessed.

      GOD has His church on mission for Him, with His vision for His ambassadors, from His Word, to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. GOD has His children, as members one of another, speaking the Truth in love, and with His vision for us to grow in Him and be conformed to the image of His dear Son, edifying and equipping all members to the work of the ministry. GOD has His soldiers, with His vision for the lost to be saved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go in the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we go to where He sends us proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that He 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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By the blast of GOD they perish

4/4/2016

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Shall mortal man be more just than GOD? shall a man be more pure than his Maker? Behold, He put no trust in His servants; and His angels He charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom. (Job 4:17-21)
     All of Eliphaz's words to Job would be true, if GOD'S mercies were not renewed every morning, and our life were not hid in Christ who is our life and our righteousness. We cannot be more just or righteousness than GOD, for we have no righteousness on our own apart from Him who put to death the flesh that we might have His great Salvation through repentance and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. He alone is our strength, and the only way to be reconciled with the Father who is over all. It is foolish to live, or think, or act, otherwise.

      Without Christ and the eternal and abundant life He has already purchased for us, we would remain in our sins, and under the judgment of GOD, just as others who have no hope. We are but clay, made in the image of GOD but flawed by sin, and in rebellion against our Creator, who has already judged all to be guilty of sin against Him who is Holy and just. Without repentance of our sins and saving faith in Him who took our place and paid our sin debt, we would remain under His judgment and perish without the Wisdom which He gives and the mercy and grace He has freely offered to all who will come to Him on His terms. He is the Truth, the Word made flesh, He is the way, through the empty cross and empty tomb, He is the life, our Creator, Redeemer, and King.

     GOD has called His church to speak the Truth in love and the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, not as Eliphaz whose words were partially correct but not comforting. We are to take the whole counsel of GOD, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that those in need might know the Oracles of GOD. Our Lord has called His people to serve Him, as we minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, His ambassadors and servants of the King. He has commanded His children to love one another as members of His body and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we may grow thereby into the full measure of Him who is our life. GOD has commissioned His servants to go with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and as we go, in the power of the Holy Spirit who guides and directs us, proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in the Son that those that believe that He 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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O LORD GOD of Israel

2/2/2016

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And the people came to the House of GOD, and abode there till even before GOD, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; And said, O LORD GOD of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel? And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Jdg 21:2-4, 24-25)
     The accounts of the time of the Judges ends with this bizarre tale of how Israel restored the tribe of Benjamin after the punishment GOD handed out for their grievous sin. Though they come together at the House of GOD to inquire of the Lord, the account ends with all returning to their places and homes, and doing what was right in their own eyes. Once the 'crisis' was averted and solved, every man returned to following himself, instead of the Lord GOD of Israel.

    Our sIn problem means that without the life changing new birth by the Spirit of GOD when we repent, acknowledging our sIn, and trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we are spiritually dead. Those who are not in Christ, cannot follow the ways of GOD, nor can they understand them, for they are spiritually discerned. Those of us who are regenerated by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Saviour, and have received by faith His free gift of Salvation, have His righteousness, and are resurrected into a brand new life of sanctification and works meet for repentance which glorify Him as He works in us to do His will.

     His Church, unlike the people of Israel in those days, have the Spirit of GOD within us to empower us, to guide us into all Truth through His Word, and to lead us in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake as we serve Him. He calls us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides, as His ambassadors, with the Word of comfort, peace, and reconciliation. He commands us to love one another as He loves us, and to disciple one another in the Word and through the Spirit that we may be conformed to the image of His dear Son. He has commissioned us as His witnesses to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, and as we go, share the Good News with all we encounter that they might repent and believe in Him 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 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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Arise, that we may go up against them

1/28/2016

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And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. (Jdg 18:18-21)
       Several men found out about the idols and the priest in Micah's house and invaded, taking them for themselves. Since there was no law, judge, or magistrate in the land, everyone did what was right in their own eyes, no matter that the Law of GOD said no other gods, no graven images to be worshiped, not to steal. They even got the 'priest' to bless their home invasion and theft, taking the Name of the Lord in vain. When confronted they threatened Micah and his friends with harm, all because they coveted what Micah had. They broke pretty much all the Commandments because their hearts were wicked and desperately evil.

       So many today are just the same, with no regard for the Laws of GOD. Even in the Church too many who claim Christ live as though He didn't exist. Some may even attend a service on Sunday morning, and live the rest of the week as practical atheists, like the folks in this account of Micah and his idols. We who are in Christ are to and tell those who are in bondage and sin of their need for Christ to deliver them from sin and their iniquity through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Only the new birth which Jesus brings can release sinners from their condition of death and judgment.

      That is not to say that we who are saved, receive His Salvation in order to sin all we want, for we are translated from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light and life, to live in Him a brand new life of holiness and righteousness, not in our own strength or power, but by the indwelling Spirit of GOD which is within us. We are saved to serve Him as ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors for the Kingdom. We are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides and guides us. We are commanded to love one another as He loved us and disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him, conformed to the image of His dear Son. We are commissioned into His army, equipped and encouraged with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to into this lost and dying world and take the Good News to all who will hear, that they might repent and believe in Him, 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 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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Every man did that which was right in his own eyes

1/27/2016

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And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. (Jdg 17:3-5)
     The saddest epitaph written in the book of the Judges, in which it records that every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Eyes that can, and do, lie to us. Hearts that lead us astray because they are desperately wicked. Minds and thoughts tainted with sIn and corrupted by our sIn nature that lead to all sorts of wickedness and debauchery. Since Adam sinned, that has been the norm and the problem with mankind that Jesus died and rose again to deliver us from, that we might have life and have it more abundantly, free from sin and its power and wages, not free to sin more, but a new life of liberty and grace in Christ.

      This man had stolen and hidden his own mothers silver and only returned when it was discovered. When she got it back she had it melted and made into an idol of silver and they called it god. They even declared the Lord's blessing upon it, in blasphemy toward GOD. Their worship of this false idol led to hiring a Levite to be his personal priest, instead of working in the tabernacle, and further sin of declaring his own prosperity because of his idol and his 'priest'. GOD didn't bless it, or him, and tragedy followed as others learned of his wealth, his silver idol, and his servant 'priest'.

      If we are secure in Christ through our repentance of sin and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we cannot blatantly sin against our Holy and Righteous GOD and expect to continue in that sin. GOD will chastise and correct His own. We cannot expect His blessing on our sinful lifestyle, for He has already judged and condemned sin, both as an offense against Him and outright acts of rebellion, and declared those who are still in their sins, and not born again, as guilty sinners in need of Salvation. He paid the price of redemption in His own body on that cruel Roman cross that we might live, not in sIn, but in Him and for Him, new creatures in a covenant relationship and fellowship with Him.

      That is the purpose of each of us, and His church as a whole, to live and work in Him to accomplish His will and do His work in this broken and sinful world, that others might come to know Jesus Christ and see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. He has called His people to be His ambassadors while we sojourn in this world, not of the world, and to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. He has commanded us to love one another and to disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit that is within us. He has commissioned us to go to this lost and dying world and as we go tell the Good News of reconciliation and redemption to all who will hear, that those who believe the Gospel, repent of their sin, and receive Jesus Christ by faith 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 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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He wist not that the LORD was departed

1/26/2016

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And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto GOD from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. (Jdg 16:16-19)
     Samson's problem with women led to confrontations with the Philistines, but this final relationship would be his undoing. Delilah caught his eye and captured his heart, so that after many attempts to discover his secret and overcome Samson, she finally wore him down, and he shared his understanding of the Spirit of GOD upon him. Since to some extent his faith was in his hair, and not in GOD who commanded his nazarite vows, when his hair was gone, so was his faith. On the other hand, he broke the vow, even if Delilah had a hand in it, and the Spirit left him when his hair was shaved. Either way, his desire for her, and her incessant driving for the information, led to his being weakened and vulnerable, so that he was captured and imprisoned by the Philistines.

      So often, our earthly desires, which are of the flesh, can trip us up, if we are not careful to seek GOD and rely on Him to meet our needs. And if our faith is not exactly focused on Him and His Word, whether in the church, or the pastor, or a faulty idea of what GOD should do for us, when whatever our faith is in falters, or doesn't come to pass as we want it to, we stumble or our faith is shaken, because it was not built upon the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ and His Word. Our Salvation may have been real, built upon our repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, but our continued walk with Him can get sidelined and sidetracked if our faith is redirected away from our Lord.

      However, when we stumble, we have a GOD that is faithful. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation and we are to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. Those who stumble, or lose their way for a season, can come back and be restored to the Father by repentance of sin and faith in Him. Those in Christ are to be loved and discipled, that their faith may be sure and focused on our Lord as we become more like Him and serve one another. We are to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who don't know Him, that they hear and believe the Good News of a secure and loving relationship with their Creator through repentance and faith in Him that they may 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 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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