Honest God Truth

 “saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬ The greatest event that has ever took place in all history is Jesus the Son of God dying on the cross as an offering like a lamb for the sins of all believers.  The penalty for sin is paid and we are justified and  will be glorified because of Jesus.  Lord help us to treasure your cross and worship and honor you today.  Amen 

  2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” This is a wonderful verse that we will receive a reward for the gift of God. All that we do and all that we have, including our faith, is a gift of God. Everyday we choose to love and follow Jesus. When we allow his Spirit to guide and direct us we honor him and glorify his name. When we choose to be selfish and fall into temptation and sin we run to Jesus mercy and grace and that glorifies him.  So what ever we do, by word or deed we must do to the glory of God through Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Then in heaven we receive a reward for being loved and obedient to Jesus.  Amazing grace!  Amen 

  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV) “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.” Lord Jesus come today please come today. You will take away all tears, pain and suffering!  I said that over 45 years ago and meant it. But oh how precious it is to know that Jesus has a perfect plan and will return at the right time.  My children and grandchildren now have the joy of longing for Jesus. In the time before he comes Jesus said he would never leave us along.  He sent his Holy Spirit to live in us now.  What a great God and savior we have. I love you Jesus and I pray I may glorify your name today. Amen 

  Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV) “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” How have you been hurt?  Did you not get what you deserved or did someone take something that was yours? Did someone break their commitment to you?  Or were you hurt spiritually or physically? Was it just unfair?  These and other things make us angry and mad which affect our thinking and behavior.  Jesus knows all of them and has permitted them into your life. He wants to make us  like him.  Love means to forgive. Jesus loves us and he shows it best by forgiving us. If we are to be like him we must forgive others.  It is not a suggestion but a requirement for becoming a child of God.  Holy Spirit help us to see like Jesus sees and be able to forgive...

  Mark 10:42-45 (ESV) “And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Jesus is God and he serves others.  Jesus made us in his likeness and when we are living in perfect obedience to Jesus we serve like he does. Oh the joy we will experience if we learn to love others more than ourselves. We must have our eyes open and our hearts moved to become like Jesus and love others.  When we do Jesus gets the glory and we get the joy.  Amen 

 “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬ What did Jesus mean to strengthen what remains?  Faith is like muscles if you don’t use them you lose them!  Faith is believing in and hoping for Jesus love and forgiveness everyday.  It is the only way we can walk with him and he will give us white robes to wear because our sins are forgiven.  Going through the motions of religion is like sleep walking.  We must be alert and have our eyes of faith open by prayer, reading scripture and obeying the Holy Spirit.  Jesus help us to wake up to your love today.  Amen 

 “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, And I will give him the morning star.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:26, 28‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Jesus is calling his church to endure and keep his works that he called them to do.  What are those works to love God and others.  Think about others more than yourself.  God’s will be done not mine.  The hope of future joy is truly overwhelming if we first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you.  Like the morning star!  Jesus himself in his glorified state.  Oh the joy we will have in Jesus.  Lord help us to strive to overcome for your glory and our joy.  Amen 

 Matthew 25:21 (ESV) “His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”  What does it mean to be faithful to what God gives us?  We know he gives us everything we have to be used for his glory. If we use our talents to glorify ourselves we are wasting them.  God made us to be light in the dark world.  If we love Jesus and use what he has given us to love others we make him beautiful and very attractive.  Let the light Jesus has given you shine so that the people you meet will see Jesus and glorify his Father in heaven. This is what we were made for and when we live shining for the Lord he gets the glory and we receive his great joy.  Thank you Jesus. Amen

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬ We are more than conquers through Jesus Christ our Lord.  We can over come fear, trials and tribulations because of the hope of eternal life.  This hope is the assurance that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead and sits on the throne of God.  This truth is sealed in our heart by the Holy Spirit and gives us the faith to live our lives as conquers.  We will overcome because if God is with us nothing will overcome us and we will live with Jesus forever.  All for your glory Jesus.  Amen 

 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Here Jesus connects love with works.  How important it is to know how love and works are connected.  Love motivates the type of work Jesus commands.  If you love me you will keep my commandments.  When you are working in your own power or not working at all, your love for Jesus is fading.  Read scripture, pray and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins.  He is faithful to forgive you and fill you with his Holy Spirit so your love for him will overflow into love and good works.  This is not an option but essential to our relationship with Jesus.  Help us Lord to love you more.  Amen 

  “These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there.” 1 Chronicles 6:31 ESV Some read the Bible and say it is just a fable, fairytale and someone’s imagination!  They could not be more wrong.  God is detailed and very precise and chooses people to do exactly what he wants them to do.  Even the choir was chosen to sing at the tabernacle!  It probably also had women in it! Just think, God wants worship to be full of praise and I am sure it was and will be glorious and full of awe.  Jesus you are amazing and your word reflects your glory.  Amen 

  Mark 1:35 (ESV) “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Our sinful nature wants to be self sufficient.  In busy times and boring times we look to our own resources to find comfort, help, relaxation and any other desire we may possess.  Oh Lord please let us turn to you for all our needs.  You are the source of all comfort, joy and peace. When we are busy look to Jesus, when we are lonely, look to Jesus and when we are joyful look to Jesus and praise him.  Jesus give us the joy of knowing you more each day.  May we rest in your love.  Amen 

  Mark 8:34-36 (ESV) “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross and its shame for us and for the glory he now has as Lord, Savior and King of all.  We have the promise of be the children of God and sitting with Jesus in heaven.  The joy is so wonderful it can’t be described in all its glory. Many people suffer for worldly treasures but we have to go through difficulty’s for an eternal treasure that will never end.  That treasure is Jesus who has now given us his Holy Spirit to live with us now.  There is no comparison of the trials now to the glory in heaven.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen

 “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬ The Bible over and over defines Jesus in many ways. This is because he is an infinite being and we can’t ever define him completely.  But what the Bible says of him is true.  We are most blessed to know some of who he is because then we will begin to know who we are and our purpose in life.  Jesus continue to open our eyes to see your glory so we can worship you and honor you everyday.  Amen 

 “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭52:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Is not this our goal to trust in the steadfast love of the God forever.  Trust is the byproduct of faith, believe and hope.  The more we know Jesus and see his good work for us, we trust him with our lives.  Reading scripture, praying for faith and stepping out in hope that Jesus loves us and is always with us, our trust in him grows.  Oh Lord Jesus let us be like a tree planted in you so we may trust in your steadfast love forever.  Amen 

  1 Peter 4:8-11 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” The joy of serving is something that you can’t see unless you do it.  You often don’t dream of serving others like going on a beach vacation!  The truth is serving others is serving God and when we glorify Jesus the joy he gives us is overflowing.  We were made to glorify the Lord and by serving we experience what we are meant to be!  So dream a vacation of serving the Lord each day.  Why deny yourself of great joy found in serving Jesus.  Amen 

  Colossians 1:27-28 “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Let us spur one another on to love and good works. The Lord blessed us so we can bless others. A great joy that Jesus has given us is the gift of sharing.  He said it is better to give than receive. Why, because joy comes in sharing.  Jesus help us to come to you daily to receive our daily bread so we can share your love and light to your present and future people.  For your glory Jesus.  Amen 

 “You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭145:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Only the Lord Jesus can satisfy our desires.  When we know that Jesus created all things that includes me and you, we realize that all our wants, needs and hopes are in and through him.  If we lose our joy because someone or something occurred, that was not in our plans, how should we respond?  Not my will but yours be done.  That simple prayer acknowledges that Jesus is God and we can trust him.  If God is for us then who can be against us?  “No One!”  Lord Jesus help me to see and understand that you are the treasure of all my desires.  To you all glory exists.  Amen 

  Colossians 3:16 (NIV) “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”   Do not neglect the gathering of believers it says because when we are alone we are more easily tempted. We are never really alone because of the Holy Spirit but we are made to fellowship and worship together. God is honored as believers come to meet and testify to Jesus's love, sacrifice and resurrection.  The joy and peace that God has available in the gathering of saints is amazing. Jesus gets the glory and we receive a blessing. Don’t stop meeting until Jesus returns in power and righteousness.  Amen 

Ephesians 1:22-23 (ESV) “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Jesus is the head of the church because he founded it and died for it and rose from the dead to lead it forever. He uses the Holy Spirit, the Bible and his people to run his church.  Jesus stands for truth, righteousness and love.  Leaders have to keep these three together at all times.  When it fails to represent Jesus it errors in one or more of the three.  Church leaders must pray, read scripture and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when leading Jesus’ church.  Jesus your will be done in your body the church.  Amen

 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ This verse convicts me more than most verses in the Bible.  It says that there is always a way out of temptation.  Therefore this tells me that I have not done the right thing over and over.  It tells me I am a miserable failure!  Maybe it teaches me how much mercy Jesus has but why can’t I choose better?  Why can’t I desire to be better?  Oh who can save me from this wretched body.  My only hope is in Jesus Christ and his righteousness.  Help me Jesus, please help me.  Amen 

  Ephesians 2:19-22 “So then your are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” God desires to dwell with his chosen people.  Israel had the privilege to have God be with them in the tabernacle. Moses and later the priests would go into the temple and represent the people toward God. Now by Jesus death and resurrection we who believe have received the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  God made us his dwelling place. This is truly amazing and as we gather together we are collectively His church.  Jesus help us to work out what we have in us, your love to others.  Amen 

 “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬ God does forgive us our debt of sin, because his law says that the wages of sin is death.  And if God does not forgive us of our sins we would never be able to pay for our debts.  Forgiveness comes by Jesus dying for our sins.  We will forgive others when we realize what great gift Jesus has done for us. If we struggle with forgiveness we need to look at our own sin.  For those who know they are forgiven will forgive others. Thank you Jesus for what you do for us.  Amen 

 “Give us this day our daily bread,” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Faith is believing what you can’t see but hoping it will be there tomorrow.  We have seen Jesus provide for us in the past and if today seems good we thank him for his provisions.  Faith demands us to trust him daily which means our future.  Jesus gives us what we need each day.  In our faith journey we start to realize that what we need most is him.  Jesus said “I am the bread of life.”  Open our eyes Lord we want to see Jesus today.  Amen 

  “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10   We must say as Jesus did,  not my will but your will Father be done.  When we look forward to trials and look back to failures we must trust that God’s will is being done and love and trust him even when it seems difficult.  Jesus forgive me of my sins, help me to live a holy life today and give me the courage to go through the tough times with you.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen 

 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (ESV) “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”   By grace you have been saved through faith and this is a gift so that no one can boast. We have been given the Holy Spirit so we can have a relationship with God the Father and Jesus our Savior.  Holy Spirit guide us to the truth, your word is truth. God is speaking to us in the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit we can learn to love God more and live holy, righteous lives that give Jesus all the glory.  You have given us all we need please help us to love and obey you today.  Amen  

  1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Thank you Jesus for rising from the dead and are seated at the right side of God the Father in heaven. Let our desire be to be with you in heaven and live with you forever.  Holy Spirit thank you for living in us now for you cause us to love and obey the Bible which tells us that our hope is sure and guarded for us in heaven.  Blessed assurance Jesus is mine!  Amen 

 John 16:7-11 (ESV) “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me, concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” We are so blessed that Jesus loves us so much that he and his Father sent us the Holy Spirit to live in us.  We have God in us to help us with our faith in Jesus.  We have everything we need to trust and obey Jesus when we read the Bible and learn to trust his word by the help of the Holy Spirit.  We are never alone.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen

  John 14:15-17 (ESV) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. Your word I hide in my heart that I may not sin against you.” David knew that the Word of God gives us the ability to stay close to the Lord.  Jesus came and is the Word of God made flesh. He brought the Word close to us. Now we have the Holy Spirit living in us so when we read the Bible we believe it and it gives us the power to understand and trust what it says.  We are so blessed that Jesus promised never to leave us because we have His Spirit living in us.  All praise and glory to you Lord Jesus the Christ. Amen 

  2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (ESV) “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” When God the Father and Jesus our Savior sends us the Holy Spirit we are truly born again.  When we are born a human God gives us a spirit but because of sin we can’t please God. When we receive the Holy Spirit we now can cry out Abba Father and bough down and worship Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Holy Spirit help me to see more of God in scripture and in the world so I might share your light of love and good works and glorify your name.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.  

 ““He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭ The joy of dying to sin and living for righteousness is great news.  The opportunity to do the right thing for God, for others and for ourselves is true victory.  When we can love others correctly by the grace Jesus gave us from the cross we are blessed and can celebrate and worship him forever.  Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a sinner like me!  Amen 

 John 3:16 “For God so loved the world,i that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  LORD God is Jesus the Christ and His Father who in miracle of miracles had a plan before the world began to come to the world He made by a virgin.  Jesus lived a perfect, righteous life, taught us how to live, performed many amazing miracles, offered up his body on the cross, die for our sins and rose from the dead.  Why did he do all that because God so loved the world that he gave us his Son that who so ever believes will have eternal life.  And he sent the Holy Spirit to live with us now so we believe this miraculous truth.  Oh how we praise you and glorify your Holy majesty name Jesus.  You deserve all the glory LORD God.  Amen 

 “then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8:57-58‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Solomon’s prayer sounded like the prayers of the apostles like 1John 1:9  if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Jesus paid for all the sins in the Old Testament and up to this day.  The cross is so much bigger than I can imagine.  Oh Jesus how wonderful you are in all your ways.  Amen 

 “Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:52-53‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Jesus has authority over the power of darkness.  When all Jesus teaching was done and his sacrificial death approached he allowed sin to do its work.  The wages of sin is death.  This power had its authority like all events by God’s permission and when the Son of God was to be killed for our sins, this evil happened. Jesus was not a victim but a substitute for us.  We can put our complete, certain hope in Jesus for he is God and layer down his life for us.  There is no power greater than God and the incredible truth is that he loves us and has revealed his love to us who have the gift of faith in him.  Thank you Jesus. Amen