What must we do?

 Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Acts 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Here is prophetic evidence that Jesus descended into hell,

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

He ascended and led captivity captive. Parading the vanquished enemy, satan and his demons, having victory over them by his death and resurrection.

1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Acts 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

This is the gospel message! That Jesus took our punishment for sin on the cross, and remained a perfect Savior through the whole ordeal - proved by His resurrection. He remained holy, even when taking on our sins.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Praise God for the conviction of the Holy Spirit!, yes ask questions, Jesus has the answer, he is the answer to every question. What shall we do? Praise God for that open door of opportunity. Never be afraid to answer this question. It is the entrance into salvation. We show them Jesus, his death burial and resurrection. This for all who will receive him and the forgiveness of sins.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The promise is to you and to your children, note that this breaks the curse they had, his blood removes the guilt and all curses. By not believing, you are guilty of his blood. For he died because of your sin problem.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

The exact words used to convince others is dependent on the Holy Spirit, there is no one way to convince another of their need of the savior. One thing is sure, we must come to Jesus and be separated unto him. Jesus has said:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Those who received were baptized, those who truly believed received the Holy Spirit, baptized unto Jesus. Three thousand souls were added this day to the kingdom. Here Peter had done a greater work as Jesus predicted.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus had completed all that was required to bring others into his kingdom. Others will bring in millions more. This is the time of the great harvest. There have been more saved in these last days then all the preceding years combined.

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

A soul is delivered from captivity, what greater joy is their then this? Praise God for our living Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

The true riches

A lot of people have had problems with thieves breaking into their homes when they were away; nothing is secure. We are becoming a nation of lawless people. Well, the Bible says that we are only stewards of what the Lord gives to us.

Luke 16:10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 
Luke 16:11  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 
Luke 16:12  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 

Luke 16:13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

A thief has not the favor of God. There are thieves who call themselves public servants, They are not fooling anyone.

1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 

1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

I want the true riches that are only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and in him I have eternal life.

Eaglewings Ministries

A little pruning

I wanted to prune back a big Pyracantha bush and Tuesday is yard waste pick up, so I began to prune and soon realized that there were much more pruned branches than my container could hold. I had a pick up load.  An earlier lesson was about conforming to Christ and removing things in our life that do not belong. Let's go to John 15. We may see a few twigs to prune in our spiritual life, but the Father sees a lot more that needs to be removed. We may not understand when hard things come our way, but it just may be the Father removing things in us or building something new from our roots in Christ.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

If the branch is no good, unfruitful, it is taken up, lifted up, taken away. A person who continues to walk in sin and will not repent, will be taken up; every branch in Christ that does not produce fruit, he takes away. Jesus earlier used the example of the unfruitful fig tree:

Mat 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Paul adds to this theme, concerning an unrepentant sinner being taken by death.

1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Note, that the destruction was the flesh, not the soul. This helps us see that it is Jesus' blood that saves; this person at one time had received the Lord, and only by God's grace in Jesus was he not totally consumed.

...and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

No one likes to have difficulties in life, but out of these we grow to rely on God and we become more like Jesus. The Father disciplines us. He purifies or prunes these branches.

He 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 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.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We like to think that living for Christ is all about prosperity. It is true that we receive all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. However, we must submit to his will and follow him. Our sanctification, our holy life, our godliness will bring persecution, but it will be worth it all when we see Jesus face to face. Let us allow the Father to prune us and we will conform to the image of Christ so when we are put to the fire we may come forth as pure gold. His love is pure in us.

Eaglewings Ministries

Funny Fawn

I came upon a young fawn last evening. She had two older sisters on the other side of us up on a higher hill. There were several families walking the trails with children calling to each other, swinging on old branches and exploring the outdoors. This youngster was exploring as well.

I walked slowly towards her, trying to focus the camera lens and to hold the camera steady in the dim light. Friend or foe? the fawn seemed to be thinking?

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 

Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 

Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

The fawn moved and grazed a little but when she saw me getting closer; on no! there was a look of astonishment or dread on her face before she ran into the thickets. I needed a closer look at this picture.

Psa 43:5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Countenance : pä·nēm, a face; an angels face, or an animals face.

The silly looking smile was an apple core that the deer found near the trail! An apple core smile, now that was something new and unexpected! I had misinterpreted her face. That happens to me all the time. May your smiles be real and your life a joy to the Lord and those who come your way. We are often making judgments on what we see, but appearances can be wrong. 

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

Late harvest

The last of the garden is harvested. I pulled up the pepper plants and the tomatoes are all through. Persimmons on the tree are bird food now. The lemon tree has fresh lemons and some that were left from last year are still on the tree the size of oranges.

I see the harvest of souls in our nation like this late crop. Some refuse to come to Jesus and are under the wrath of God, the birds devour them like the last persimmons. Some do not know what they need. Some are in addictions or just too much entertainment and cannot see the need, rotting on the vine. Others are family members with hardened hearts like a winter squash. These we pray to God for their souls to be harvested. Some in the church are looking for a great revival. If the church will be ready and be active in witnessing then the last of the crop will come in. I do not see a harvest field, but Jesus said it is ready for harvest; look up, he sees and will guide us to them.

John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 

Our prayers are needed to bring the last of the harvest to Jesus. Perhaps we should also be seeking the ones who have fallen back into the world?

Luke 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 

The devil will send his drones out to confuse the fruit and to block our way. Recognize this and use the sword of God's word; keep going and keep the faith.

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 
Psa 40:4  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

Simple truth

I believe that the simple things of life are most profound. Life is a gift nurtured by love. We are made to love God and one another. In the pursuit of "success" power or wealth, the simple things are often neglected, ignored or even walked on. When it is the final day what will you hang onto? Have you built a business only to see it decline? Have you had crusades like Billy Graham and in the final years see your nation in gross sin? Why look at the sin if you have people around you who love you and care for you? Isn't this the greatest success in life, and the eternal greatest thing is our love for God and his love for us.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

Paul was ready to die in Rome for the faith of Jesus Christ that he had faithfully proclaimed. He knew that he would receive a reward from Jesus for his service.

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

Paul, as a human at the end looked for the love and fellowship of friends.

2Ti 4:9  Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 

2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 

He was saddened by those who had fallen away and friends who were far away. Also people who betrayed him like Alexander the coppersmith in verse 14.

In the end Paul had only a few who gave him the love and fellowship he needed.

2Ti 4:11  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 

2Ti 4:12  And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 

Mark, who as a young man was rejected by Paul because he was not able to endure the hardness of ministry, now had become one of Paul's closest friends. It was faithful Luke and Mark who gave Paul love and fellowship at the end. Keep going, you may stumble along the way, but you are loved and God's love will carry you across the finish line.

Not I

We have heard of soul mates. I see the soul as the persons self, the flesh and the lusts of the flesh. The soul seeks another soul to control or to have it's needs met. The Spirit of Christ in us, seeks the things of God and is selfless. The mind of Christ seeks to do the will of God. I see that often there is a conflict between soul and spirit. 

Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

Our soul is who we are, but we are not all carnal, fleshly, the spirit seeks God. Jesus makes soul and Spirit one in him. Thank you Jesus for saving me from myself.

 

The mind of Christ in us, is good. We seek His thoughts, we read the Bible, we meditate on it, we do good things; but Paul says in the flesh there is evil. When we give ourselves over to the flesh , then we sin and sin by the law brings death. The bottom line is that the law is holy and good, but our flesh brings sin and death. The good news is that in Christ we are forgiven and we receive his grace. The mind of Christ is all powerful, but the flesh is weak and lazy. Again, we overcome the flesh by faith.

 

 Romans 8 gives us the way of victory.

 

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The Spirit requires us to walk by the will of God, he directs our lives and he loves us. Thank you Jesus.

The Eye of God

 

 

For those who want to remove God from our Christian nation, you have made yourselves the enemy of God. For there is no other God than the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The pride of man is his downfall, his devices will come to nothing and his secret plans will be exposed, repent and change your ways for God sees all.

 

Psa 33:11  The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psa 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 33:13  The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
Psa 33:14  From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
Psa 33:15  He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
Psa 33:16  There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
Psa 33:17  An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
Psa 33:18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Psa 33:19  To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psa 33:20  Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21  For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Psa 33:22  Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

 

Those who fight God, repent and return to the God of our fathers. If your heritage is marred come to Jesus and receive a new family of God. Our hope is in Jesus who paid the price with his own blood to free us from sin and death. If you desire to remove God, He will remove you from the Book of Life. Repent and turn towards truth and righteousness, come to Jesus for everlasting life.