Like a Fire

When our Father uses the word “argue," clearly, He’s not implying we’re to verbally fight with Him to have our own way. For its every evil thing, NOT YHWH, that dwells with strife and self-ambition. (James 3:16) Instead, we’re to “plead and argue” our case with Him just as attorneys do in earthly courtrooms. And since we know attorneys need to research the world’s laws before arguing their cases, how much more should we research YHWH’s Laws before arguing a case before Him? For example, can we successfully argue in Heaven’s Court that the curse of poverty, disease, or confusion is bound (declared unlawful) in our lives, then loose (declare lawful) YHWH’s Laws of prosperity, health, and wisdom? Yes! Those Laws to name a few are found in: Matthew 18:18; Galatians 3:13-14; Deuteronomy 28; 1 Peter 2:24; Jeremiah 30:17; James 1:5; and Colossians 2:2-3.

But remember, we must always remain careful in our representation of the Kingdom of Heaven; we should never use our Yah-given power to “bind” and “loose” in vain by commanding laws that He DID NOT give, nor for our own selfish reasons. Otherwise, then we become the one who is actually illegal and, thereby, become exposed to all the wiles of the devil without the protection of YHWH’s Word to stand on. If the Judge of the Universe is to rule in our favor and grant our petitions, He must first determine that we are in compliance with His Law. Therefore, because YHWH watches over HIS Word, not ours, to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12), let us first research His Word for all the Laws, He’s given that specifically apply to whatever case we’re bringing before Him, then line up our prayers to agree with them, line upon line and precept upon precept. (Isaiah 28:10)

We cannot imitate what we do not know, and what we do not know has the power to destroy us. (John 7:49; Hosea 4:6) However, by studying and imitating the example Yeshua, The Word of YHWH (John 1:14; Revelation 19:13) came to give us, we’re able bring our case before His Throne of Grace EXPECTING to be proved right! And even if a case should prove to be too hard for us, never fear. For our merciful, loving Father is Elohim, Creator and Judge of the Universe, and has promised to argue that one for us.

[Tracie Justice]

Deuteronomy 1:17  ... Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Isaiah 43:26 ...  Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. ❤

A New Name!!

Elohim gave Gideon a new name. Instead of naming him according to how he appeared at that precise moment, which was “scared man hiding in the winepress”, the Creator of Heaven and Earth called Gideon by the name befitting His calling and destiny for his life, “mighty man of valor”.

Have you ever noticed the personality transformation of someone who’s been given a new name? It happens in the workplace all the time; a grocery store “manager” no longer resembles the carefree kid who was first hired as a “bagger”, nor does an impressive, successful “businessman” act like the reckless “class clown” he once was. And how about all of us who transition from “single” to “married” and, eventually, “mother” or “father”? These are just a few examples of how a life can be transformed once receiving and rising up to the higher standards of “a new name”.

As born-again children of the Most-High, Abba-YHWH, we’ve also been given “a new name”—a written, secret name our Father has given each and every one of us. It’s not a common name like John or Mary, but one which denotes Elohim’s specifically designed purpose for each of our lives. Furthermore, because it’s a secret name, it is a name that no one else knows or can even understand except the Father who gives it and His child who receives it.

Therefore, let us come boldly to Abba-YHWH’s Throne of Grace asking Him to reveal His new name for our lives that we may begin to mature in it, too, rising up to meet its standards just as Gideon did, in the Name and by the Blood of Yeshua Ha’ Mashiach, Messiah Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.

[Tracie Justice]

Judges 6:12 ... And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Revelation 2:17 ... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. ❤

Kingdom of Christ

As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday this week, we reflect on God’s providence and blessing on this nation over the past two and half centuries. And while America has been a blessed country, it is like any other nation that will rise and fall. It is up to the Lord and His sovereignty if the United States will last another 250 years. He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations and leads them away. (Job 12:23)

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries. (Acts 17:26)

But the good news that we have is that the kingdom of Christ will last forever. We do not have be so concerned about our nation, our government, or even our politicians. They will all let us down at some point or another. And if this great country falls away one day, the Kingdom of Christ will remain.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14)

And one day, all of the kingdoms of world (including America) will eventually be gone forever. I pray that as we celebrate the big 250 this week, that we do not lose focus of our eternal hope!

                                                             christianphotoshops.com

Revelation 11:15 ... And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. ❤

Choose Jesus!

When it's difficult.

When it's easy.

When it's chaotic.

When it's peaceful.

In Joy and in Sadness.

Keep choosing Him.

[message from the Internet]

Deuteronomy 30:19 ... I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ❤

Could You Be?

 Would you call beloved departed believers back to earth again?

Would you wish them back, back from the presence of the Lamb?

Back from the sweets of glory to the bitterness of time?

Back from those rivers of pure pleasure which flow at God's right hand--to the muddied streams in this valley of sorrow?

After they have reached the haven of rest would you recall them to struggle again with the storms of life?

Could you be so selfish and so cruel?

[G. Whyte]

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Revelation 21:3-4 ... And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Psalm 36:8 ... They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

Psalm 16:11 ... Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. ❤

The Sorrow of The World

Just as surely as happiness is the attendant of holiness so misery is the certain result of sin. The sorrow of the world is not occasioned by mourning over sin as sin but over the punishment which sin brings.

The sorrow of the world does not arise from just views of sin, nor does it proceed from any concern that God has been offended. It does not lead the soul to God in true penitence, nor to turn to Him for consolation.

When the worldling's dream of earthly happiness has been dispelled by misfortune, he feeds only on the sour bread of self-pity.

The sorrow of the world debilitates the body, disturbs peace, and brings complaining and despair. There is no contrite seeking of God on the part of the suffering one but only a fretting and murmuring against Him.

[A.W. Pink]

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2 Corinthians 7:10 ... For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Revelation 16:10-11 ... And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.❤

Holy Longings

There is no truer test of the state of the soul, than its deepest longings and desires. Outward conduct may be restrained by fear, reputation, or habit. But longing true, inward, unforced longing reveals the condition of the heart. As a person longs in secret, so they truly are.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God's presence?" (Psalm 42:1-2) This is not casual interest. It is desperation. The deer in a drought-stricken wilderness, will not be distracted by secondary things it must have water or it will die. In the same way, the regenerate soul longs for Jesus. Not merely for blessings, not merely for relief, but for God Himself.

Longing for Jesus. Conversion is not the addition of religion to a busy life; it is the creation of new desires. The Spirit removes the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27) Wherever there is saving grace, holy longings are born.

Psalm 63:1 says, "O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water." Notice the intensity. Saving faith is not a cold mental assent to doctrine though doctrine is essential; it is a living hunger for the living Jesus.

The believer says, "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!" (Psalm 73:25-26) This is the language of supreme affection. "On earth I desire no one besides You." Jesus is treasured above all competitors. When flesh fails, when earthly joys fade, when strength diminishes then God remains as "the strength of my heart and my portion forever!"

Examine yourself here. What do you most deeply desire? Wealth? Fame? Lust? Or Jesus? One of the surest evidences of regeneration is this: when stripped of everything else, the soul still says, "Give me Jesus!"

Longing for Heaven. The Christian is, in a profound sense, a stranger here in this wilderness world. He is a citizen of Heaven, living temporarily on earth (Philippians 3:20.) This poor world cannot satisfy the renewed heart. "Arise and depart; for this is not your rest, because it is polluted." (Micah 2:10)

Thus, believers groan for glory (Romans 8:23) They do not merely fear Hell; they long for Heaven. They yearn to see the face of the One they now know by faith. Heaven is precious, not because of golden streets, but because Jesus is there. When the heart whispers, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20), it reveals allegiance to another kingdom.

Whenever saving grace comes, it creates heavenly longings; desires which the world cannot understand. The saints crave Heaven, and thirst for the presence of God. Such longing marks them as strangers and pilgrims in this present world. "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!"

The righteous long for holy living, because God Himself authors those desires. What He intends to give, He first teaches us to crave. Spiritual desires are the buds of coming fruit. Do you long to conquer sin? That longing is evidence of spiritual life. Do you grieve your remaining corruption? That grief signals regeneration.

May your soul pant for Him. May your heart cry, "Whom have I in heaven but You?" May your deepest desire be Jesus now, Heaven soon, and holiness always.

The unconverted regret the consequences of sin, but they do not hate sin itself. The believer sighs to be free from sin altogether.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Proverbs 10:24 ... The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

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The Ten-Cent Store Jesus ...

Unfortunately, the ten-cent-store Jesus being preached now by many is not the Jesus that will come to judge the world.

This harmless, plastic, painted Jesus who has no spine, nor justice, nor wrath but is a soft and pliant friend to everybody; if He is the only Christ, then we might as well close our Bibles, bar our doors and make a bakery or garage out of our church buildings!

The popular Christ being preached today is not the Christ of the Bible, nor the Christ who will be our final Judge.

Jesus Christ our Lord, the Judge with the flaming eyes is the one with whom we must deal. We cannot escape it.

[A. W. Tozer]

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Revelation 1:14-16 ... His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 

Revelation 6:15-17 ... And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? ❤

Jesus is LORD.

 Whether you accept Him or not and whether you believe or not, Christ is LORD.

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Philippians 2:10-11 ... That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 10:36 .... The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Psalm 14:1 ... The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Revelation 17:14 ... These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. ❤

Eternal Fountains

Numerous are the sources of sorrow here on earth but God will dry them all up in Heaven.  There will be no mourning Christian to drop tears there, "for all sorrow and sighing shall flee away!" There is nothing in that happy residence to distress or annoy.  Jeremiah will utter no plaintive language there. Transgressors will grieve the holy no more. Bartimaeus is the poor blind beggar no more. Lazarus's sores have been replaced by immortal beauty. The weeping widow is no longer crushed to the dust by the heavy hand of poverty. The orphan child is no longer forsaken and homeless. Pinching poverty and wasting disease are unknown. 

The distressing complaint will never accost the ear, "I am sick!" The sting of death and the terrors of the grave will never present themselves there. There are no graves in the land of eternal life. There is no death of friends there. Martha and Mary go to no beloved brother's grave to weep. 

Yonder, there is no deceitful heart, no secret foe, no fascinating world, no artful Satan! The former things have passed away, and the era of immortality has arrived.  God shall give them everything calculated to secure, continue, and increase their happiness. "He will lead them to springs of living water," which shall never be exhausted. A spring is termed living water, because constantly bubbling up, and running on. These "springs of living water" indicate endless sources of happiness, which Christ will supply to His redeemed people from His own infinite plenitude. 

These eternal fountains will make an infinite variety for the enjoyments of the blessed. There will be no sameness, and therefore no weariness to the spirit. Every moment will open a new source of pleasure. And as God is infinite, so His attributes are infinite, and throughout infinity more and more of those attributes will be unveiled and the discovery of each will be a new fountain of enjoyment. These sources will be ever opening through all eternity and yet, through all eternity, there will still remain in the absolute perfections of the Godhead, an infinity of them still to be opened! 

[William Nicholson] 

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Revelation 7:17 ... For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Psalm 36:9 ... For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Philippians 1:23 ... For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: ❤

Loving and Hating What He Does!!

God's people are called to rejoice in His vengeance upon the wicked, as it displays His justice "Rejoice over her, O Heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! For God has judged her for the way she treated you!" (Revelation 18:20)

The saints in glory will rejoice in God's perfect justice, including His righteous judgment on the wicked.

The redeemed in Heaven shall be free from all sin-tainted sentimentality and hence will regard the doom of the ungodly from the standpoint of God's righteous government. The just punishment of the finally rebellious, will cause them no anguish.

They will praise God for executing justice upon the wicked. "After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in Heaven shouting, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are His judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of His servants. And again, they shouted, Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever!" (Revelation 19:1-3)

Believers in Heaven do not rejoice in human suffering itself, but they rejoice in the manifestation of God's perfect justice and holiness. The damnation of the wicked is part of God's righteous rule and in eternity the saints will fully align with God's will, loving all that He loves, and hating all that He hates!

On earth, our emotions are mixed with sin, sentimentality, and clouded understanding. But in Heaven, we will have glorified minds and hearts, perfectly aligned with God's will. When God, in His perfect holiness, decrees eternal punishment for the wicked, the redeemed will fully agree and delight in His righteous decision.

The eternal punishment of the wicked stands as an everlasting testimony to God's justice; just as the eternal salvation of the godly stands as an everlasting testimony to His mercy.

The final judgment is not merely about rebellious sinners receiving their due, but about God being glorified in all of His attributes His holiness, justice, wrath and righteousness.

God is so holy that He will not spare the guilty. He is so just that He will by no means clear the impenitent. The Judge of all the earth must do right. Though Hell is dreadful, it is not unjust.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Romans 12:9 ...  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

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The Saints Marveling at Jesus!

My imagination can hardly bear to gaze upon the glittering ranks of white-robed saints, who have come out of the great tribulation. They are now standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Their unified testimony is, "We have washed our filthy robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!"

Like all of mankind, they were once dead in trespasses and sins, and heirs of wrath. They had all like sheep gone astray and turned to their own sinful ways. But see how Jesus has saved them, washed them, cleansed them, and perfected them! His power and wisdom, and grace, are seen in each of them.

In each one, the memory of the horrible pit from whence they were drawn, and the miry clay out of which they were uplifted, shall make them extremely astonished at their Savior.

Some were supremely stubborn; their neck was as an iron sinew and yet Jesus conquered them by love.  Others were densely ignorant, but He opened their blind minds.  Others were grossly infected with the leprosy of lust, but Jesus healed and purified them.  Others were held captive by Satan, but Jesus freed them from the bondage of the devil. Others were drunkards, but Jesus made them into saints. Others were blasphemers, but Jesus turned them into loving disciples.  Others were persecutors, but Jesus taught them to everlastingly sing, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

All these saints now made perfect in Heaven, would have been in eternal Hell had it not been for the sin-atoning sacrifice of Jesus. We will remember this the more vividly, because we will see multitudes of others damned for the same sins which we were once polluted by. The crash of vengeance upon the ungodly, will make us magnify the Lord the more, as we see ourselves delivered from eternal wrath!

Perhaps the chief point in which Jesus will be glorified, will be in the absolute perfection of all the saints. We shall then be without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. We have not experienced what perfection is, and therefore we can hardly conceive of it; our thoughts are now too sinful for us to get a full idea of what this must be.

But dear brethren, we shall have no sin left in us, for we shall be without fault before the throne of God!  We shall have not even have any remaining propensity to sin.

There shall be no bias in our WILL towards that which is evil, but it shall be fixed forever upon that which is holy, and righteous, and good.  Our AFFECTIONS will never again rove after forbidden lusts.  Our UNDERSTANDING will never again make mistakes. We shall never put bitter for sweet, nor sweet for bitter. He shall be perfect, even as our Heavenly Father is perfect. We shall forever marvel at and adore Jesus, for what He transforms us into.

O mighty Master, with what a strange moral chemistry did You work, to turn that bitter and morose man, into a mass of love! What a marvel that You lifted that selfish Mammonite up from his hoarded gains, to make him find his all in You. How did you contrive to overcome that proud spirit, that lazy spirit, that lustful spirit? How did you extirpate the very roots of sin, and every little rootlet of sin, out of your glorified people, so that not a tiny fiber can be found?

This is but the beginning, however. There will be seen in every saint, in that last wondrous day, the wisdom and power and love of Jesus, in having sustained them through all the trials of their dangerous earthly journey. He kept their faith alive, when otherwise it would have died out. He held them fast in their integrity, when temptation solicited them, and they had almost fallen.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Revelation 1:5-6 ... And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 John 3:2 ... Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2 Thessalonians 1:10 ... When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. ❤

Names Written in Heaven!!

This blessed title the Savior gives to his disciples, is above all present gifts in value. They returned with joy from a successful exercise of their ministry. He lifted their minds to a higher privilege than that. He himself rejoiced over their possession of this privilege. It was the father's gift. It was a special gift to his elect. The Lord knew those who were his. Their record was on high. 

But it belongs equally to the whole church of the firstborn. They are all written in heaven an imperishable record the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27) They are called by his Spirit on earth, according to this record. They are acknowledged, when their earthly pilgrimage is passed, as the children of God, thus chosen and registered. He will own them as his, when he makes up his jewels. (Malachi 3:17)

It is an inestimable privilege a glorious prospect! Am I one of this recorded company? If I believe in Jesus, and love him, and follow him, I am. And how great are the blessings of it!

[Unknown Author]

Luke 10:20 ... Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Hebrews 12:23 ... To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Psalm 87:6 ... The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. ❤

Death is Defeated!!

Originally painted this image back in 2019 during the week of Easter. My goal was showing the victorious lion of Judah standing over the empty tomb, having defeated death and the grave. It is interesting to note that both Jesus and Satan are referred to as lions in the New Testament. (Revelation 5:5 and 1st Peter 5:8) 

You could say that the Lion defeated the lion. And the irony is that the Lion used the strongest weapon that the lion has to defeat him: Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil. (Hebrews 2:14) 

Through the cross and empty tomb, Jesus took away the biggest power that the enemy has: the sting of death. But in order to take it away, Jesus had to first succumb to it. He went through the sting, so that we don't have to.

[Kevin Carden]

www.ChristianPhotoshops.com

1 Corinthians 15:55 ...  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ❤

Ready For the Bridegroom?

The Christian should be prepared for all that can happen.  As one that is dead to the world, and risen with Christ, as one that is united to Christ, and living in fellowship with Christ; as one that witnesses for Christ and is to share in the coming glory of Christ, he should be ready for anything, and everything. Especially should he be ready for the coming of his Lord. 

His life, in one view of it, should be a going forth to meet and to welcome his Lord; that so when he comes he may share in the happiness and honor of the wise virgins, of whom we read, "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut!" (Matthew 25:10) 

THE EVENT. It is called a wedding banquet, one of the most joyous events among men. Jesus has married our nature, when he took it into union with himself, in the womb of the virgin. So that now he is one with us, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh. God and man are one Christ. He has betrothed our persons, this was done through the gospel, and by the agency of the Holy Spirit. We are solemnly engaged to him, and he is pledged to us. We are to be his and his forever. He is to be ours and ours to all eternity. He will come to be publicly wedded to his glorious and glorified church. Then shall she be beautiful and glorious indeed. Then as represented in the song, she will look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun. Then he will display all his riches and honors, shining forth as the heir of all things, as the brightness of glory, as the image of the invisible God. Then, all his beloved people, will be filled with joy unspeakable and pleasure inconceivable. O it will be a glorious day, when Jesus looks upon the Church he has loved, and for which he laid down his life, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing the perfection of beauty, the very counterpart of himself. 

THE HAPPY VIRGINS. They were ready. As cleansed from all sin in his precious blood and purified from every stain by the operation of the Holy Spirit. As clothed with the magnificent robe of the Savior's righteousness, and the beautiful garments of salvation. As anointed with the holy unction, or the Spirit's grace and gifts. As adorned with all the virtues that can beautify humanity, and the graces that can dignify the Christian name. Having a well-trimmed lamp, shining with the light of knowledge, supplied with the oil of grace. Thus, washed and robed, anointed and adorned, and letting their light shine before men they were ready. Therefore, they went in with him to the wedding banquet and enjoyed what they had long wished and prayed for a full sight of him in all his glory and beauty! It was now their privilege to stand before him accepted, approved, and blessed. They were now acknowledged as his and honored as his beloved bride. They were now to be everlastingly shut in with him, free from sin, and filled with holiness, while sorrow, sickness, pain and death, Satan and every foe are shut out! Full of holiness, light, and love they are happy; perfectly and eternally happy.

THE DISMAL DOOM OF ALL BESIDE. "The door was shut!" Saints are shut in. Sinners are shut out. All within are safe and safe forever. All without are miserable eternally and unspeakably miserable. Forever excluded from God's presence, shut out from the Savior's wedding feast, they can never take part in the celestial service. Worse than this; they are shut out where hope expires, and black despair forever reigns; where rest can never be enjoyed, or comfort be ever tasted. They will be shut in with devils, and the souls of the damned, and shut in with them forever! How sad, to be so near to Christ and yet to be separated from him forever!  To be so near, even at the door of the wedding chamber and yet never allowed to enter it. 

How searching is this subject, how it urges upon us the duty of self-examination, and presses home upon us the solemn question, Am I ready? How glorious, how unutterably glorious, it will be, to be admitted with Jesus, to share in all the happiness and the honors of Jesus, and to be forever with the Lord. Holy Spirit, am I ready? Am I prepared for an event so solemn, so sublime, so glorious? Heart searching God, search, O search my heart, and see if all is right there, and as a display of your infinite grace, prepare me for that glorious day, so that when Jesus, as the Bridegroom comes I may be ready and go in with him to the marriage, before the door is forever shut. 

If anyone reads these lines, who is not ready, O Lord prepare that soul and let not one of my readers come too late, and find the door shut and shut forever! 

[James Smith]

Matthew 25:13 ... Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 24:44 ... Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Revelation 19:7 ...  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ❤

Twice Born ~

 The once born will die twice.

~ AND ~

The twice born will die once.

[A. W. Tozer]

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Revelation 20:6 ... Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 21:8 ... But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Romans 6:10-11 ... For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ❤

Our Unsaved Loved Ones

Will it cause distress in Heaven, to know that our unsaved loved ones are forever lost? The only way of solving this difficulty, is to realize that a perfect knowledge of God, and of the wisdom and justice of all His designs and operations, will constitute a chief part of the happiness of Heaven. 

We shall be so convinced of the equity of His dealings towards the wicked, so divested of all the weakness of 'human sentimentalism', so absorbed in the love of what is right and just, that the absence of our loved ones from the world of glory, will cause no interruption of our heavenly bliss! 

[J. A. James] 

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1 Corinthians 13:9-10 ...  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Revelation 19:1-3 ... And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. ❤

Finally Free!!

A living, breathing relationship with the Savior of the world will drive porn out of your life quicker than anything else. When you turn your eyes to Jesus, there isn’t room for anything else in your heart because He fills it up. When you open the blinds of a pitch-black room, the sunlight drives away the darkness. 

[Heath Lambert]

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Galatians 2:20 ... I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 5:5 ... And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1 John 1:9 ... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 3:20 ... Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ❤

"The Crown of Life"

It’s easy to want to graduate without taking the required classes. But without taking the classes there’s no way to be ready for the tests, and without a test there’s no graduation. As in academia, so in our faith: it would be foolish to think that we can graduate to maturity and completeness in the Christian life before taking the courses and going through the tests. When James writes about the believer who “has stood the test,” he uses the word dokimos, which refers to someone who is tested, tried, and approved. This kind of person has the seal of God’s approval on their life, and that becomes clearer and clearer through their perseverance. 

The “crown of life,” or, more accurately, the crown that consists of life, is “a picture of eternal life, which God promises to His people. It suggests the idea of God welcoming us at the finish line and crowning us with honor, blessing, and life that is everlasting. So, the duration of the test is the duration of our lives. Our test lasts until Christ returns or calls us home and so here is a call to remain steadfast to the end. It is this perspective and this promise that transform how we meet the most difficult times of our lives. 

We’re often tempted to regard individual trials as intruders rather than welcoming them “as friends.” But when we understand that the whole of life is a series of tests, that can reassure us, giving us an opportunity to think seriously and realistically about what we go through. We can know with confidence that ahead of us lies the crown of eternal life with Jesus, and that our trials are opportunities to learn perseverance and grow in Christlikeness, proclaiming to the world that the one whom we are walking toward is sufficient not just for life but also for joy. 

The Christian life has no simulation phase to prepare us for the real thing; it is a real-time experience all the time, every day. We’re not afforded the opportunity to find out exactly how we will parent our children, deal with the sudden loss of a loved one, or react to whatever else might come our way until these things actually come our way. These are the real-life courses we must take to graduate on to spiritual maturity. What trials are you walking through today? These are the classes, unchosen by you though they may be, which the Lord knows will enable you to persevere and will prepare you for your crown. As, by His grace, you remain steadfast in the storms today, remember that you are “blessed,” not with the false blessing of an easy life now but with the eternal blessing of the “crown of life” to come. 

[Alistair Begg]

 

James 1:12 ... Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Revelation 2:10 ... Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.❤

One Hour in Hell ...

Imagine what it would be like, to be in Hell for an hour! What a sobering call to reflection! Even a fleeting thought of an eternity under the wrath of Almighty God, ought to arrest our hearts and awaken our consciences. Hell is not a metaphor or a scare tactic--it is a real place, a place of justice, a place prepared for the devil and his demons, and for all who die outside of saving union with Christ. To be in Hell for an hour, would be to taste the outer darkness where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth! (Matthew 22:13) 

It would be to feel the full force of God's holy hatred for sin, without a drop of mercy to soften the blow. In this life, the wicked sip from God's kindness, sunshine, breath, family, pleasure. But in Hell, all these common graces are forever withdrawn. It is to be shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power (2 Thessalonians 1:9) to face the righteous punishment for every evil thought, word, and deed! 

One hour in Hell, how unbearable! Yet Scripture speaks not of one hour, or even one lifetime, but of eternity. The punishment does not purify; and it does not end. It is "eternal destruction" (2 Thessalonians 1:9) "eternal fire" (Jude 7) and "eternal punishment." (Matthew 25:46) The worm never dies. The fire is never quenched. (Mark 9:48) And the soul, still conscious, bears the weight of God's vengeance, without hope of relief. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Why did Spurgeon urge us to imagine such a thing? Not to cause despair, but to magnify the Gospel. When we glimpse even faintly, the horrors from which we have been rescued the grace of Christ shines all the more brightly. Jesus endured the wrath of God at Calvary so that His people would never taste a single second of Hell. He drank the bitter cup of damnation to the dregs. He was forsaken, that we might be brought nearby. 

Christian, you will never know what it is to be in Hell for an hour not even a minute. Because your Substitute suffered once for all you will be forever in Heaven with the Lord. Let such mercy humble you. Let it fuel your worship, deepen your repentance, and compel your witness to the lost. 

"Lord, awaken my heart to the dreadful reality of Hell, and to the infinite worth of Christ who delivers from it. Thank You for saving me from what I deserve. Give me a deeper love for Your mercy and grace. Let the shadow of the cross remind me daily of the judgment I have escaped and stir my soul to worship You with trembling joy. Amen." 

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Revelation 20:10 ... And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 ... For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. ❤