FEBRUARY 2020 NEWSLETTER



DISCOURAGEMENT --TRIALS
How to keep Joy
I am in the midst of a trial in my life that is causing disappointment, and I am like an old dog that has just finished a battle and wags his tail and licks his wounds. I am God’s child and happy to be able to call him my Jehovah (THE GOD WHO SAVES), I have Joy in my heart, and I am not going to hell when I die. How do I keep on keeping on the joy in midst of disappointment and trials? I dwell on the good things God has given me, and daily I put on the Truth and die to self (me); Jesus is the truth.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”’ John 14:6
In our modern world, think of all the ways we “are told to relate to begin” truth”: study the truth, find the truth, explore the truth, know the truth, discover the truth, revealed the truth – and the list goes on.
But before we can put any of these words into action, we must answer the question raised by Pontius Pilate when he questioned Jesus of Nazareth: “what is truth?” (John 18:38). We can only study and learn that which we can find and identify.
Had Pilot known Jesus better, of course, we would have known that Jesus had already answered that question when He said, “I am . . . The truth.” is a description of truth as one of the elements of the Christian spiritual armor brings us to a conclusion: Jesus Christ is, in every dimension, the believer spiritual armor. Paul says in Romans 13:14 that we are to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” When he put on (believe in, submit to, embrace) Christ who is truth, we cloth ourselves with truth; we protect ourselves from Satan’s lies and deceit. It makes me joyful to be close with Christ, and his word today, I am close in truth, defended against the subterfuge of Satan. R.C.Sproul says, “the truth of Scripture demolishes speculation.
Hell is a real place. NOT A CUSS WORD. No, I’m not of explaining it away, or no argument can do away with it. Hell is a real place and awaits all who reject Jesus Christ, or neglect so great a Salvation. We find it mentioned 53 times in the Bible.
Sheol is found 31 times in the Old Testament and Hades 10 times in the New Testament. Both mean, a place of departed dead, or a place where you go when you die. For the Saint, that is Heaven; for the sinner, that is Hell. Gehenna, the word used by Jesus 12 times, means a place of torment and misery. The word Tartarus is used once it means Infernal region. No matter what word is used, you do not want to go there. Why do people go? Not by chance, not by predestination, not by desire. Then why?
1. Because sin must be punished. Today it is: eat, drink, and be merry as you do your own thing, BUT payday is coming. That payday is described in Revelation 20:1- 15.
2. Because they love sin. John 3:19-21 teaches us that Jesus did not come to condemn, but men loved darkness (SIN) because their deeds are evil. They love and hold on to sin until they find themselves in the Lake of Fire.
3. Because they reject the message of the Bible, ignoring Romans 10:13 and Acts 16:31 the same as in Noah’s day.
4. Because they will not come to Jesus. John 5:40,” yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” The opposite of this is Psalm 9:17,” the wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.”
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE. . . .
When we count our blessings, we are sure to discover that we have far more than we thought we did. In fact, when we focus on our blessings, something wonderful and encouraging usually occurs. God gives us more! Yes, indeed, he does it one we are thankful and joyful with the abundance he has provided for us. He loves it even more, when we joyfully share our blessings with those around us, spreading the good without asking for anything in return. Our appreciation makes God smile, and then we receive even more blessings to be grateful for.
Blessings don’t have to be significant. In fact, the most treasured blessing often comes to us in the form of love from the people in our lives, as well as kindness from strangers we meet. Often blessing comes from what we give away, rather than what we receive. From homes, we live in and in the things they surround ourselves with to the greatest gifts of faith, hope, and love, we are in the measured and abundant city of blessings, more than we can ever count. For those who have, more shall be given. And when we ask, we shall receive. So, look all around you right now at this moment, and count your blessings, big and small. Then watch as even more blessings come into your life and the most amazing ways. A grateful heart makes you happier and makes God happy, too. ––









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