Hello to all of my World In Focus International viewers (WIFI Ministries), subscribers family and friends… I bring you greetings today from Irvine, California… I must say that I’ve been super busy with events of life scheduled and unscheduled… Nevertheless, the work of the Lord must go on…
As I study Queen of Sheba on this afternoon, I was very enlightened and wanted to share this story and passages of scriptures with you all in this post… I pray that you will be blessed by this story as I was… ~ Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas~ edt/05/29/12
1 Kings 10:1-13
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she discussed with him all that was on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. When the queen of Sheba had observed the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit left in her.
“So she said to the king, ‘The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes saw it. Not even half of the greatness of your wisdom had been told to me; you far surpass the report that I had heard. Happy are your people! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your GOd. Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.’ Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a very great quantity of spices and precious stones: there were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 9:1-9 (NIV)
“The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon”
9 When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind.2 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her. 3 When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built, 4 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cup bearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.
5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 6 But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. 7 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 8 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.” 9 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
2 Chronicles 9:12 (NIV)
12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
Matthew 12:42:
“The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!”
Jesus honored the queen of Sheba’s desire for wisdom. The Scribes and Pharisees Jesus spoke to, could not see the wisdom Jesus offered. They would not make the effort to see. The Queen of Sheba, however, had taken great pains and trouble to seek out wisdom–yet the only wisdom available was the lessor wisdom of a man. The wisdom Jesus offered, far out shown that of Solomon, yet few would seek it.
If I could this with you too as this scripture just crossed my mind… .~ Minister Evelyn~
Don’t Waste Time With The Unrepentant Sinner
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample
them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Matthew 7:6
Posted by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas edt:/05/29/2012
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV) 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
Created to Worship/ I Know Why I’m Here …
Happy Memorials Day to each of my WIFI subscribers, family, friends’ and visitors… Thank you to those that have given their lives for our wonderful Country… Have you wondered what it’s like to give your life for your very country, or just for me so that we can be safe… Thank you to all of the armed forces…
I thank the Lord that Jesus did it just for me…. He died just for me and you, and for that we say thank you! Also on today I realize my very existence and realize that I am not a mistake… I was meant to be, and for that I thank you dear Jesus… Thank you for making me a little lower than the Angels.. Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and you
have crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 103:4-10 (KJV) 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Donnie McClurkin “What is Man?” (Very Powerful)
Elohim – is the Hebrew word for God!
Psalm 8:5 (ESV) 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
Hebrews 2:6(KJV) But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Genesis 5:1 This is the written account of Adam’s line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.
What Is Your Life?
It Is Even a Vapour, That Appeareth for a Little Time, and
Then Vanisheth Away
2 Samuel 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
1 Chronicles 29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
Job 7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope. 7 O remember that my life is wind [New Scofield: a breath]: mine eye shall no more see good.
Job 8:8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: 9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) 10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
Job 9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post [NKJV: a runner]: they flee away, they see no good. 26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Psalms 39:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am [NIV: how fleeting is my life]. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity [NKJV: but vapor]. Selah.
Psalms 78:39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Psalms 89:47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
Psalms 90:5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep [New Scofield margin: a dream]: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
Psalms 90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Psalms 102:3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
Psalms 102:11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
Psalms 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
Psalms 109:23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
Psalms 144:4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
Isaiah 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
Posted by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas “You are not a mistake”
Uncut / Unedited sermon notes taken by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas
Scripture reading Genesis 2:15-16 (NIV) 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
Sermon Title: I am not out of options…
I know it’s been hard, but God wanted me to sit next to you to tell you that you are not desperate and you are not out of options…
Dr. Jamal explains while he was on his trip, he had a 3 hour drive to his destination.. He met some people from Minnesota when he got to this destination, and they told him that he could have chartered a plane, took a helicopter and been on the island in 30-minutes… However, he did not know he had options was the lesson learned…
You wasted your day unnecessarily, because you did not know that you had options….
As of this moment, in the next 7 days, God is opening up to you unlimited options… The only things I needed to know from God is that there are some other options… Do not let the enemy twist your arm and put a gun to your head and make you think you do not have any other options….
You do not have to work on that job if you don’t like it… You don’t have to stay in that relationship if you don’t like it.. Do not make yourself beleive that quitting is your only choice… God woke you up this morning to let you know that you have options..
When the wise men came to see Jesus to bring gifts…
You are going home a different way… Whatever emotions and thoughts that have been running through your minds, your feelings would have been change.. I declare stress, depression, hypertension, Etc.. Is moving out of your way and it’s under your feet….
I pray every spirit of witchcraft, and negative spirit that has tried to blind you from your assignment… I speak over that lyeing, nasty devil that that spirit has just been cancelled…..
You have a choice and need you to declare out load that you are going home another way…
The Power of life and death is in your mouth… They give you the option to speak life… You have to authority to speak over your future.. .The choice is yours… Whatever you speak next, it will have authority over your life the next 45 day.. If you believe that your eyes are seeing the glory of the Lord… When you open up your mouth, you will open options!!!! Hallelujah!!!
Whatever you speak will set the tone for the rest of your summer…. I speak greatness right now!!!!!!
An open mouth opens an option!!!!
Joseph was different from his family… They did not understand how he saw things in the natural…. As a consequence he ended up in slavery and Potiphar’s wife made unwanted advances at him… He said “I can have anything, but you”….
But for many of you, you have to decide… Is the person you sleeping with worth loosing your promise? Not that I can’t have you, butI ‘d rather have the Kingdom, than to sleep with you…. The Olympic champion said that the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was be 29 and a virgin… I’d rather have what God has for me than what people think they can provide for me..
In Genesis Chapter 5:15 – God took man and placed him in the Garden to work it…. Don’t look at the person beside you, look at you… God is about to put you in an environment where you belong… You have to much to offer to be working in a Garden… This is the season you are about to yield an incredile harvest… He is getting ready to put you into a place where you gifts, dreams and imaginations can grow and not be encumbered… He is getting ready to put you in an environment where you are a gift to the environment.. He is gettting ready to put me where I m celebrated…. This is for those that know that if my dream and ideal ever get some attention, I will shift everything in my environment…
He does not just put Adam in the Garden… He tells him to work it… .Work your gifts, work your dreams, ideals, concepts and talents…
Look around because you worked for this… You sacraficed for this… For you to work that hard and you have nothing to show for… What you see in this Garden, you have a choice….. If you work hard for your gift, don’t you dare aplogiize for your gift… You work to hard not to have what you want…. People who are mad at what you have, don’t work as hard as you do… .You deserve it!.
Ladies and gentleman, this is not a regular church.. The harder you work, the more choices you will have… God does not bless lazy people… If you work sun up to sun down, and you had to sweat to get it.. Make no apology… You had to work for what you have…
If I work for it, I should be able to have it… How I look apologizing because I look this good… While you were flipping the channels watching Jerry Springer, God was blessing me for working in my Garden…
Behold, I stand at the door and knock…. Any man that let him in, I will come in and supp with him… I felt stuck and desperate, and chose to go with Jesus… I’m looking for some believers that are not apologetic for believing…
One day when I was lost he died upon the cross and I know it was the blood for me…. No other God’s can’t do it, but there is something about that man Jesus that woke me up this morning… You can’t make me doubt him, I know to much about him… He’s real to me…. Neighbor, do you remember the day you chose him? I remember that Friday night I was in church… I felt a litlle wheel turning and a fire burning….. If you knew the places I’ve been….. You would not sit there an be looking stuck up… If anybody ask me, what’s the matter with me… Telll them I’m saved, sanctified and I’m running for my life…. Is there anybody glad to be filled with the Holy Ghost?
Be seated please…… (Dr. Jamal H. Bryant) – In Acts Chapter 1 Jesus give the directives to the diciples… Wait on the gifts that the father has promised.. You will be baptized in the Holy Spirit… They had a choice whether you stay or you go… If you don’t want it as bad as I do, but I’m getting baptized… Every person on your row is getting ready to get filled with the Holy Ghost… Just wait on it… They that wait on the Lord, he shalll renew your strength.. You shall mount up as wings of Eagles…
God, If I ever needed you before, I sure do need you now… In two minutes, if you open up your mouth… There is getting ready to be a visitation…. Open up your mouth and lift up your voice… The holy spirit is getting ready to decscen… But I need some Intercessor to pray..,. .Those that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth…. Lord I’ve been waiting… While on other’s though are calling, please don’t pass me by….
His glory is getting ready to come… His train is getting ready to fill the templ… God’s glory is filling the room… .I choose to give God glory and bless the Lord at all times… His praise shall continusly be in my mout… Oh taste and see that the Lord is good… In the time of trouble, he shall hide me… When my mother and my father forsake me, he will hide me… When trouble comes, he will hide me…. There must be a God somewhere… Would you open up your mouth and choose… This is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it…. It needs to be a sign from your belly…. Lift him up… He’s coming… I can’t hear nobody…. lift him up…. I need you to scream and open up your mouth like he is in the room…. I need you to hollar like demons are trembling….. I need you to lift him up… Lift him up until he speaks from eternity… If I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me….
My time is up, and for the last time I will ask you to be seated……
Praises are going up in the sanctuary…. Thank you Lord… Hallelujah!!!
I feel his anointing…. I need just one scream…. If somebody would just lift up his name… I got to say one last thing to you then we will open up the doors of the church, have an offerring and give the benediction…
Praising God is a choice… You do not have too…. It is a choice to praise him! If I choose to praise God that is my choice… You cannot encumber my decision… .I choose to shout and clap… I choose to yell and dance…. Because shouting gives me options… Because I found out that when the praises go up, the blessing come down… I’m shouting because when I shout, I am not out of energy… When I shout, I do not run out of energy.. .When I shout favor takes the place of money… So when you see me giving God the glory… I’m giving God the glory because I have no choice…. I came in church saying God it’s about me and you… I came into church because I need more choices.
I would be wreckless if I did not tell you… You can anything in the garden, but this One tree…. On this Pentecost Sunday, my cirlcle is getting a lot smaller… I want to praise God for the option he said No too! I want to shout for the doors he shut… I want to pray for the people he got out of my life… I want to shout for what I could not have…
Most of our shouting is for what we can get… But I need mature chrisitant to shout for what God said NO to…. You would be messed up if you married that psycho path.. You should be shouting for that job you did not get… You shoukd be shouting for what you could not get to… We mess up when we choose what was not an option… When you take what was not an option for you, that’s when your life spiral out of control….
Many people never live past it because they consume something that was growing wrong… I am now purging your system of every decision you chose incorrectly… All the poising fruits of poor choices are not going to corrupt your destiny… God is getting out of system, all the things you put into you system.. He is now getting it out of your account.. .Every person that you have been intimate with… His trace is going to be released from your body.. You are not going to have a stroke or a heart attack, your orans will work properly.. .You will not spend your last days in a nursing home… I came that you h ave life, and have life more abundantly… I pray you later will be grater than your past.. You will be bombarded with options… You will go from no dates to your phone ringing off the hook…. In the next 7 days, options are getting ready to rain into your life…
Don’t let anybody make you think you don’t have some other options…
I speak options over your children.. Your children will have more options than you can ever dream or imagine… I pray your grandchildren will experience things you could not ever imagine… I speak over your options….
I want you to live there because that’s where you want to live… I want you drive it because you like it…
I want you to wear it because you like it….
I was flying home yesterday and God gave me this… It’s not about section 8, WIC of food stamps… Poverty means lack of options… .You willl never have another day in poverty… You eill never have another day in poverty if you believe that the sky is the limit for what you can have… .I want somebody to shout for God given options.
You can choose to stay in the life you are in and go no where,, or you can choose Jesus Christ and go to the top…
You need to choose a church that will change and innovate you… There’s no God like Jehovah… Jesus is your best option…. Pray for somebody to find Jesus and get saved…
With your eyes open, will you give God a praise in advance…
If you are not saved, I need you to come quickly… Wherever you are, I need you to come… This is what I need you to do… Talk to the people on your row and ask them are they saved and need a church home…
There’s no God like Jehovah!!!
You are in the right place at the right time serving the right God… If you know I”m right about it, give God some Praise!!!!
“A person who can’t stand for something will fall for anything ” ( Dr. Martin Luther King)
Give me more choices, but not more than I can handle…
May God remove every frustration, and I’m praying
that new doors open up for you… New Options!!!
Uncut / Unedited sermon notes taken by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas
Sermon inserts from Dr. Jamal Bryants Sermon… Did not take any official notes today.. Just Uncut/ unedited highlights on facebook that I want share with you all… I will do my best to insert the pod cast sermon at a later date…
Sermon Title: “One Step Up!”
Hebrews 11:1-6
New International Version (NIV)
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(I)must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Inserts and High lights…
Father forgive them for they don’t know who I am….
My past has nothing to do with my present.. Just because you know my past, does not mean you understand me now! God is not to be played with… Our ways are not his ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts…
The Lord will knock your tower down if you think youre going to make it to the top without putting his name on it.! Some of youre ideas didnt work because You didnt involve God. Some Plans didnt work because you didnt have God in mind. Youre frustrated because youre so smart & so innovated but you cant get anything to work well put God’s name on it. Dont waste your time with youre own agenda God will pull it DOWN!
Next time someone ask you whats your sign tell them MY SIGN IS MY TESTIMONY! HELLO! Because I woke up this morning God has a plan for my life! As-long as you got a pulse God has a plan. I have a sign its a cross GLORY TO GOD! God gave me a sign he isn’t thorough with me yet No zodiac sign needed The cross is my sign ha!
James 1:1-8 King James Version (KJV) 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Maranatha Singers – A Single Minded Message
(To A Double Minded Man)
Greetings to all of my WIFI subscribers, family and friends… I pray blessing to each one of you… Remember to seek the Lord in everything that you do … He will lead you and he will guide you in the right direction and please follow the path that was designed for your life… Have a blessed Memorial Day weekend! ~ Minister Evelyn Diane, Irvine, California
How many sins have you done in your lifetime so far?
Because we have a sinful heart, we refuse to let God be the Boss of our lives.
You must make two turns: you must turn away from your sins and
you must turn to the Lord Jesus Christ to obey Him
Romans 3:10 (KJV) 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
James 4:11-12 New International Version (NIV)11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
“Deuteronomy 31:6 New King James Version (NKJV) 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Blessings to all of my World in Focus International Ministry Subscribers, visitors, family and friends.. Just wanted to let you know on today that I appreciate you… I’ve prepared a simple message in the post…. If you don’t gather anything from it, just know that “God Is Everything that you need!” ~Minister Evelyn Diane~ Irvine, California 2012
I CAN do anything but fail with God on my side..
We serve a mighty God…
I’m a living witness to let you
know that if you trust in God,
you can never go wrong knowing
that “We Can” Do Anything
But Fail with the Lord on our side!
I share again (re-inter-ate) : “Deuteronomy 31:6 New King James Version (NKJV) 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Here are some tips for Success…
Posted by: Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas
edt/may 25, 2012/WIFI ministries
[1] As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
“Don’t Look Down On A Man” – The Jackson Southernaires
Greetings to my WIFI subscribers, viewers, family and friends… This has been one interesting week, but I do know that God is in it every step of the way… As I thought about the society we live in and how the economy is the way it is, there are a lot of people that are secretly hurting, but you will never know just by the naked eye. As we open up and talk to one another, we find that most people are alike in a lot of ways… They may not be the same nationality, creed or economic status as you, but they still have the same desires and the same needs alike.. We all want to be loved, we all need to eat and have clean water to drink, clothes on our backs and shoes for our feet… With that in mind, all man kind deserves a chance to enjoy life no matter what level you live your life on…
As I’m reminded of the story in the book Luke about the poor widow woman that did not have much, but she gave out the abundance of her heart, and that’s all that really matters is that when we give, we give with sincerity and from our heart no looking for anything in return… As we look at the scriptures below, I want to let you know that no matter how small your contribution may be, God honors it, and will bless you for giving from the depths of your heart just like the poor widow woman with little..
As I study God’s word on this morning, he began to speak clearly the 23rd Psalms to me.
Psalm 23 (KJV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Luke 20:45-21:4
[45] While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, [46] “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [47] They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”
[21:1] As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
More than All the Others (21:3-4)
She gave a very small offering, perhaps, but I’ve known many, many people — much better off than the widow — who put in $1 when the plate is passed and feel good about themselves. But for the widow, this $1.50 is all she has.
“‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'” (21:3-4) This $1.50 represents buying her next meal. She is destitute, probably living off the charity of her neighbors. She has just a tiny bit in her possession, but she wants to give it. No matter that she won’t have food for the evening meal. She wants to give it.
People are watching the rich ostentatiously depositing their large offerings. But no one marks the poverty-stricken widow, who reached into her rags to withdraw these two thin copper coins and deposit them into the collection box. No one see the look of joy on her face as she gives to her Lord the little she has. No one sees. No one notices.
But God notices. God’s Son notices. And he says to his disciples — “Did you see that!?” They look over where he is pointing. All they see is a tired old widow shuffling away from the collection box.
“She gave more than all of those rich people put together,” Jesus tells them, and they look at him in astonishment. $1.50 vs. thousands of dollars? They don’t say it, but they must think that Jesus is seriously mistaken. Daft, maybe.
But he continues. “All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Jesus is thinking about proportional giving.
The word “wealth” (NIV) or “abundance” (KJV) is Greek perisseuo, “to be in abundance, abound.”[11] It is used in contrast to “need” (NIV) or “penury,” which translate the Greek noun husterma, “the lack of what is needed or desirable, frequently in contrast to abundance, need, want, deficiency.”[12] The word translated “live on” (NIV) or “living” (KJV) is Greek bios, “life” and the derived meaning, “resources needed to maintain life, means of subsistence.”[13] (We get our words “biology,” “biotics,” “biosphere,” etc. from bios.)
I see three lessons for disciples in the brief story of this simple, pious widow:
1. Proportional Giving. Jesus is teaching us that how much we give is related to how much we have. Earlier, Jesus had taught his disciples, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). This principle of proportional giving is at the root of the tithe (10% giving to the Lord) taught in the Old Testament. Paul reiterates this principle to the Corinthian church: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income…” (1 Corinthians 16:2).
2. Sacrificial Giving. Jesus doesn’t tell the woman to keep her money, that God doesn’t really need it. He lets her give and his heart swells with pride for this lady. If he stops her, he deprives her of the blessing of giving to God. So he lets her do it. We don’t win extra points with God when we give sacrificially. This is not a contest. But know that when you make sacrifices for God, he is watching. It doesn’t matter if no one else sees or knows. It is better that they do not. But you may count on the fact that God sees and knows your giving. Jesus promises, “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:4).
3. Faith-filled Giving. The third lesson I see here is that we ourselves should not despise our small gifts to God. Sometimes we fall under the worldly spell that “bigger must be better.” That’s not true of our giving to God. We are to give what we are able, whether small or great. If you’ve ever been poor, then you know that it is easy to feel, “My small gift won’t make any difference. It won’t matter.” But that’s not true. It does matter. It matters to your Heavenly Father who loves you.
It is also faith-filled when you give, not knowing exactly how God will provide for you after you give. I’m not encouraging foolish giving, but faith-filled giving, giving proportionately to your income and expecting God to meet your needs, with more-than-enough to be able to give again (2 Corinthians 9:6-11). The tithe is a good guideline for giving, if you are just getting started stretching your faith. And wonderful promises come along with this practice (Malachi 3:6-12).
Motivations for Giving
It is a fact, at least in the US, that the poor give a substantially larger proportion of their income to the Lord’s work than the wealthy? Why is this? I believe that the poor tend to give out of love, while the wealthy tend to give out of duty. The poor give when it hurts. The wealthy seldom give enough so that it ever hurts.
Comfortably wealthy people tend to see their “large” dollar-amount gifts as significant, and can use them as leverage for power. It is common to hear of so-called “church pillars” who withhold their giving to the church until the pastor begins to do things their way or leaves. Wealthy members can use their money to control a church. “After all,” they say, “if it weren’t for my giving….” They try to buy the pastor’s favor and so compromise the pastor’s integrity. But wealthy donors like this are no better than the Pharisees who give and pray in order to be seen by others. Manipulators, power-seekers, they can be a blot on the purity of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Wealthy people can, of course, be a great blessing to others, if they give out of the right motives. If wealthy people give sacrificially, they please God. If they give out of love, they please God. If they give in proportion to their income, they please God.
But if we think that the value of our gift is greater than the widow’s mite because it is a larger dollar amount, then we misunderstand the economics of the Kingdom of God. God does not need you or me to keep his enterprise afloat. He does not owe us. He is not beholden to us. The cattle on a thousand hills are his, and all the riches buried in the earth. He is fabulously wealthy.
On the other hand, don’t withhold your gift, don’t despise your giving just because the amount is so very small. God looks at your heart. God looks at your ability to give. And God desires to be proud of your giving, no matter how poor you are.
We don’t give because God “needs” our contribution. We give in order to honor him with our substance. Whether large or small, we give to worship God.
I remember one other comparison Jesus gave between the wealthy and giving all. Jesus told the Rich Young Ruler to sell all that he had and give to the poor, and then to come, follow Him. The man balked. But the disciples later asked, “Haven’t we given all to follow you?” And Jesus replied that those who give sacrificially will be richly rewarded — in this life and in the life to come. (18:18-30).
How about you, my disciple friend. Have you given God your all, whether large or small? If you have, then you know the racing heart of trusting God for the next step, the next meal, the next project. And you know the reward of loving God with a joy and purity that reward you with his glorious presence.
I need to see that widow giving her two thin copper coins. I don’t want to let her see me watching. But I need to see her. I need to see her to remind me once again what real love for God is all about.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I am more and more aware that those whom you will reward with the greatest crowns are not as likely to be the well-known Christian leaders, as the faithful men and women who regularly lay their whole life and livelihood on the line for you. I pray that I might someday you might count me worthy to stand among these ordinary Christian heroes. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
Key Verse
“I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:3-4)
Posted by Minister Evelyn Diane Thomas – President & CEO of WIFI Ministries
*Reference material in this piece is used from Bible gateway & Commentary references…
Psalm 95:6 (ESV) Oh come, let us worship
and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Bishop Paul S. Morton- Bow Down and Worship
Greetings to my World in Focus International Subscribers,
family and friends… “Greetings!!!!!”
I have nothing fancy to say today but “Lord I Love you Lord, and please know that My worship is for-real because God is so worthy Lord!!!! Hallelujah…
All I need you to know is that “My worship is foreal…” All, I can say is that you don’t really know my story and all the things that I’ve been through, and I know that you can’t feel my pain or know what I had to go through to get where I am today… Nevertheless, I “Thank you dear Jesus!!!” My worship is for-real… Lord, I love you!!! I don’t know about anybody else, but God has been so good to me and Jesus Christ have brought me over hurdles, and continue to make me leap over every circumstance that life presents.. Good, bad or ugly, God, he’s been right there and has never left me
or forsake me like man! All I can do on today is cry out ” Hallelujah” anyhow…
Yes to your will, yes to your ways because tragedy is common place, and people are slipping away.. I still say thank you Jesus… Knowing that I could have been dead sleeping in my grave, but you made my enemies behave!!! Your so worthy… That’s why I serve you everyday…. Hallelujah, and I lift my hands to you oh God even when I don’t feel like it because my worship is foreal…
You don’t know my cost of my anointing, but this one thing I do know that my worship and my relationship with God is for-real… I don’t mind talking intimate to God, and making love to God because he is my everything!!! Hallelujah!!!
Can I tell you all something? It really just hit me even harder this morning that one of my friends has really gone on home to be with the Lord.. Prayers going out to her family and friends… Nevertheless, I Pray God in Heaven that you continue to give us strength right now to get through all the different trials of life … I know that we all have special people in our lives that have gone home to glory and are no longer here on earth with us, but we thank you for all the precious moments you allowed them to be a part of our lives…. You don’t need “to know”, but just “know” those eyes saw more than we could ever imagine… In the place between heaven and mine .. I Still I hear you when you speak, I can still Feel you near me as my guide, and telling me that the the one’s that mistreat you, they don’t deserve you.. move on and keep it pushing… That meant everything to me, you just don’t know, and that’s why with the help that you always told me to seek from God, Jesus always stops by and show us his ultimate grace and mercy… On that note, I know that Jesus is able to heal every broken heart and every pain and misery you feel. Just hold on to God with everything that you have! He is able to do anything but fail, and I’m a living witness…
Here’s a song that will bless your soul, and I hope it blesses you like it did me… I’ve even enclosed the lyrics so you can really know that the words to this song is really real in my life on today… It’s not just a song to me, it’s a true reality!
Bishop Larry Trotter and the Sweet Holy Spirit Combined Choirs
Tell The Devil I’m Back – 2001
(Verse)
You don’t know my story, All the things that I’ve been through, You can’t feel my pain, What I had to go through to get here, You’ll never understand my praise, Don’t try to figure it out, Because my worship, My worship, Is for real.
(Bridge)
(Sopranos) I’ve been through too much, Not to worship Him…
(Altos) Much… Not to worship Him…
(Tenors) Much… Not to worship Him…
(Vamp) – Watch the director! Words may change!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, My worship is for real.
Thank you Jesus, Thank you Jesus, My worship is for real.
Lord I love you, Lord I love you, My worship is for real.
You’re so worthy, You’re so worthy, My worship is for real.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
But he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
And said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me,
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.
Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
“Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.
And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. …
But you shall fear the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel and say to them, ‘My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.’
Which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.
There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.
When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the Lordafflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths.
Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.
And many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of theLord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
“And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.
“Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy.
And many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. “When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
A Song of Ascents. When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.
What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of theLord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
John 14:6 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Hello to my WIFI subscribers, family and friends…
I’m lead to speak to the believer’s for just a minute… This may not be for everyone, but this is the word for the hour from the Lord that was given to me..
First of all let me define what a ‘Born again Believer is… “In Christianity, born again refers to a “spiritual rebirth” (regeneration) of the human soul or spirit, contrasted with the physical birth everyone experiences. The origin of the term “born again” is the New Testament: In the book of John 3:3 (NIV) says: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
This term is associated with salvation and being Saved and for folks who has accepted our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as their person savior. Individuals who profess to be born again have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the only way to be a born again believer…John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you are a born again believer.. We should know where and who to turn to when trouble rises, and when the darkest days come our way..I know you all might say, what is she talking about?.. Well, if you live this life, you will have some dark days no matter of your race, color or creed or religion… NO one is exempt… First of all, we should always pray, so without question, before you ask somebody else to pray, you should already be praying to God and pray that what you are asking God for comes to past off of your faith in God. I find it odd that the saints of God has turned away from prayer and upright teaching.. It seems as everyone has turned to drugs, alcohol sex, adultery, fornication, homosexuality and anything that defiles the temple, and then want to make excuses why the world is like it is.. God is not pleased… He is exposing a lot of stuff and a lot of people.. Just like back in the day when we did wrong, we had go before the church and and God and ask for forgiveness, or if you were wrong and you knew you were wrong, you either knew to step down, or be asked by an higher authority which should be your self conviction if you know you aint doing right, and you better not even think about touching the Communion on whatever Sunday it was served…(my God).. I guess I’m old… Let me tell you.. When I was in my mess, I did not get a gold medal when I committed my sins, I got my just reward from God.. Chastisement in the 1st degree, and it was good for me, because it has me where I am today, in a real relationship with God… No, my life is not perfect, but God is fixing it as we speak so I can be totally pleasing to God, which is the way we all should want to be..
Take time to study your bible, especially in the The Gospel of Matthew where it elaborates on the Kingdom of Heaven… Where we all are trying to make it to!
To be saved we must:
1.)Hear the “good news” of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:14)
2.)Believe (Hebrews 11:6; Acts 8:37; Mark 16:16; John 8:24)
3.)Repent of our sins(Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30; Mark 10:15)
4.)Confess faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:36-37; Romans 10:9)
5.)Be baptized (in water) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:37-41; 1Peter 3:21; John 3:3-5; Acts 22:16;
Romans 6:3-8; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:26-27; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:34-39; Ephesians 4:5)
6.)Remain faithful for the rest of our lives and carry our cross daily (Revelation 2:10;
Matthew 24:13; Luke 9:23)
We become saved (conversion occurs) and we come into contact with the blood of Christ (or enter into Christ), at baptism, after steps 1-4 have been fulfilled.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, …
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether. Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust? Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese? You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
