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He is alive

6/21/2016

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And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him. (Mar 16:2-6)
     Our Lord, having paid our sin debt, yet without sin, Himself was not subject to death. The grave could not hold Him. Death could not keep Him, for He is life. He has paid for our sins, and satisfied the Father’s wrath, and all who receive Him by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are no longer under condemnation but free. We free to free to live in Him the life we are meant to live through Him and free to live a life of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

     The stone was not rolled away to let Him out, but that His disciples and followers would see in, and know that He had risen, that He was alive, and would see them just as He said. The angel was sitting, no longer covering the mercy seat, but now at rest, just as we rest in Him who is our life, our peace, and our rest, because He has fulfilled the Law, made a way for us to have peace with GOD through His sacrifice and given us victory over sin, death, and the grave. We have victory in Him, not to live as we please, or to do as we will, but to accomplish His will and do the work He has for us to do in this broken and sinful world.

     The Lord Jesus has called His redeemed Church to serve Him as His ambassadors, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need with that which GOD provides. Our GOD and Saviour has commanded us to love one another as He first loved us and gave Himself for us, and to disciple one another in His Word that we might grow up into the full measure of Him who commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Our Master has commissioned us into His service to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and as we go, 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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Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

5/20/2016

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Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of Heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? (Job 38:4-6, 31-33)
     The Lord speaks to Job and his counselors. He never answers them directly, but asks rhetorical questions which declare that the Lord, He is GOD and there is no other. The Lord's ways are righteous, they are above our ways, His thoughts are above our thoughts. His Truth is everlasting, His mercy is renewed every morning, and His judgements are true and righteous altogether. He alone is creator of all things and our maker, redeemer, and King. He made all things, from the smallest microbe to the largest galaxy. He sustains all things, holding them in His hand, and directs their ways, providing for all. He has established the foundation, and yet He has not just set the world on a shelf and forgotten His creation, for He is a personal and involved GOD who knows each and every one of us. Even though we rejected Him and rebelled against His Authority, He loves us and has not abandoned us to our fate, but gave His only begotten Son that we might have eternal life and have it more abundantly.

     Job and his friends had no idea of the fulness and majesty of GOD Almighty. Not only did they not know of the events in the spiritual realm that led to Job's testing, they really didn't understand the breadth, and depth, and length, and height of GOD and His love for all of His creation, and especially for those who have trusted Him for Salvation through repentance of their sin and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Though Job never really gets an answer for his questions, GOD simply asks Him pointed questions to remind Job that He is GOD, and we are not, and that GOD cares intimately for His creation and for its people. Though He tests us and chastises those of us who are His, to cause us to become more like Him, He is perfect and righteous, and we can turn to Him and rest in Him who is our strength.

     We have hope in Christ because of what He has already done for us, and we can trust that every one of His promises will come true. They may not all be for us, as individuals, or for our nation, but GOD will bring us through whatever He leads us to, just as He has revealed in His Word. He calls His people to be faithful, to trust Him, not just for Salvation, but in all things, for He is Lord, and the life we now live in the flesh, we are to live by the faith of the Son of GOD who loved us and gave Himself for us. We are to be His servants, His ambassadors, with the Word of righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, to minister to others who are hurting and in need. We are to be His children, loving one another as we disciple one another in His Word. We are to be His witnesses, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world in the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we go 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 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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I will teach you by the hand of GOD

5/5/2016

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As GOD liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; All the while my breath is in me, and the Spirit of GOD is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when GOD taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon GOD? (Job 27:2-4, 8-10)
     Job maintained, and rightfully so, his integrity and righteousness in relation to GOD. He knew his righteousness came from His faith in GOD and in his obedience to GOD'S requirements. His hope was in GOD and he knew, though he questioned what was going on, and why the troubles he was experienced were happening, that GOD would bring him through it all. He believed that GOD'S Judgment was just, and the experiences of this world even by the faithful are complex and frustrating, for we live in a broken and dying world corrupted by sin. He was not trusting in himself, or what He had done, but in GOD who had redeemed him and made him righteous in His sight.

     Our works don't save us or make us right with GOD but they do follow and reflect the faith that we have. We ought to be doing the works GOD calls us to accomplish for Him because of what GOD has done for us, and because of His love within us, not to save us or to earn any favours with GOD. Those who are trusting in their works, or behaviour, or religion to save them, apart from saving faith in Jesus Christ alone and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, are fooling themselves and GOD will not receive them unto Himself because we never knew Him. Neither will our works maintain our relationship with Him, for if we truly are a new creature in Christ, that cannot be undone. That is not a license to sin all we want, or to do our will, but liberty in Christ to live in and through Him a life of service and love for Christ and to others.

     Those who are playing games with church, and with GOD, and are not the Christian they think they are, because they have never truly repented of their sins and been born again, will be cast out of the presence of GOD at judgment because they were never His. That which we do, if we do it to earn favour with GOD, and not out of the abundance of the love of GOD shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of GOD which is within, is of the flesh and is filthy rags in the sight of GOD. GOD demands, and He has the right to as our Creator, the only Redeemer, and soon coming King, our complete and total surrender on His terms for us to be in right relationship with Him. He desires, out of His great love for all, that we come to Him and believe in Him and His Word, and receive Him by faith and complete trust in who He is and what He has done to pay the penalty for our sin, once for all.

       GOD'S Church must stop playing church and playing games with the Gospel, and be about our Father's business. We are here to serve, called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness, reconciliation, and Truth, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We are here to disciple, commanded to love one another and equip one another in the Word that we may all grow into the full measure of Him who first loved us. We are here to witness, commissioned to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, that as we go, in the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us, we proclaim 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 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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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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Where is now my hope?

4/21/2016

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Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. (Job 17:8-10)
      Job continues his lament against the counsel of his so-called friends. His reflection that much of what they say is neither true or wise in understanding or application. They truly do not know him or what GOD is doing. Job didn't understand what GOD was doing either, so he simply cried out to the Almighty for answers. Though He never got an answer to his why?, GOD did reveal Himself to Job and Job was wiser for it in the end. Job knew he didn't have any hope in this life, in his friends words, but his hope was in GOD.

      Those that are in Christ are righteous and upright, not in their own strength or power, for we are without any righteousness of our own, but through repentance and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We are made new creatures in Him when we believe and receive eternal life, not just a future and hope in Heaven, but a new life hidden in Christ who makes us His own, and an abundant life that we now life in Him and through Him who is our life. Our hope is in Him who died for us that we might live.

       Because of our new life in Him, we are to live His life in this sinful and broken world, not of it or conformed to its ways, but transformed by His Word we serve Him in gratitude for all He is, our Creator, Redeemer, and King. We serve Him as He calls us to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and with the blessings of GOD which He gives that we might give to others. We serve Him as He commands us to love one another, not in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth, and to disciple one another in His Word until we are all grown up into the full measure of Him who first loved us. We serve Him as commissioned to be His witnesses, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the Word of GOD, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we go proclaiming 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 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 much less shall I answer Him

4/11/2016

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I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with GOD? If he will contend with Him, he cannot answer Him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against Him, and hath prospered?
For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any Daysman betwixt us, that might lay His hand upon us both. Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His fear terrify me: (Job 9:2-4, 32-34)
      GOD is so much higher, holier, just, and righteous than man, apart from a saving relationship with Christ could ever be. Job understood much of the separation between our mighty GOD and our inadequacies and failures. Without our advocate with GOD the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, The Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, who became a man that He might bring us to GOD through repentance and reconcile us to the Father by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we would have to face our Judge in our sins and already guilty.

     Job knew he did not measure up to the Almighty, but also knew his sins were covered and he was righteous. Not self-righteous, but having met GOD'S requirements for sin and righteousness He was pardoned by his faith in GOD. Without Christ we cannot answer GOD, nor could we hope to contend with Him who is all-knowing and all-powerful. His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours. If He had not revealed Himself to us through His Word we would only know through His creation that He exists, but could not comprehend our Creator, Redeemer, and King. He has revealed His nature and character in His Holy Word that we might know Him and turn to Him in repentance and faith for Salvation and the covenant relationship with Him that He offers to us, having already paid the price for sin we cannot pay.

     The daysman or intermediary between GOD and man has come, when GOD sent His only begotten Son into the world, not to condemn it for it was already condemned, but to deliver all who will receive Him from the sin and into fellowship with Jesus Christ. That is the message of hope GOD has given us, His church, His people, His body, to go and tell to all who will hear and believe, not just agreeing with the facts, but in true repentance and trust in Him and Him alone. GOD has called His people to go, as ambassadors of the Kingdom of GOD which is within us, to go with the Word of reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. GOD has commanded His children to love one another and to disciple one another in His Word that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord. GOD has commissioned His church to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, that they might know the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son and in believing that He is the Christ, the Messiah, The Daysman, 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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Despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty

4/5/2016

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Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. I would seek unto GOD, and unto GOD would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. (Job 5:6-11)
      Eliphaz was so sincere in his counsel, but sincerely wrong because he didn't know all the details. He assumed facts not in evidence, and ignored details in which he had no knowledge, without ever admitting that there might be other reasons for the affliction and calamity which had come upon Job. His testimony of GOD was right in what he said, for GOD does chasten His own. But it did not completely apply to Job, because GOD was testing Job and had allowed the actions of the adversary against Job, which Eliphaz ignored or dismissed out of ignorance of GOD. His ways are above our ways, and His thoughts are above our thoughts. He is too wonderful for us and past finding out, except that He has revealed Himself to us through His Word, and put on flesh that we might know Him and know the Father.

     When we go through trials and tribulations, many times we want to blame GOD, or ignore the fact that this world is broken and dying.  In our lament, we often don't stop to consider the testing He may be doing to conform His own into the image of His Son. We also don't take into account that He doesn't always direct that which comes our way, but nothing happens which He doesn't allow, since He is Sovereign, and therefore we must seek His counsel. We should go to His Word to see what He has already said. We must let the Spirit of Comfort speak that we might have peace in the midst of the storm. The secret things belong to GOD, but that which He has revealed is for us that we may know Him and trust Him in faith and obedience.

       We may not know everything on this side of the grass, but what we do know from His Word, we who are born again through repentance of our sin and by faith in Him and His finished work on the Cross of Calvary are to take to this lost and dying world. His people, the ambassadors of the Kingdom, are to take the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. His children, members one of another, are to love one another as He first loved us and disciple one another in His Word that we may grow thereby in grace and in the knowledge of Him who is our Lord. His Church, the body of Christ, and lively stones placed in His building, are to take the Word of GOD and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to this lost and dying world, and as we go where He sends us, proclaim  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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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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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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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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