Tag: hope

Eternity

On By SkyIn hope, Uncategorized2 Comments
“No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.”
(Revelation 22:3, NLT)

I’ve thought of the Revelation 22:3 verse before and I pondered on the fact there will be no curse. It says there will be no curse on anything. Which goes to show that this curse is not just on mankind but it is intertwined through most things on this earth. Which is why even creation groans for the new to come. Even creation anticipates God’s promises (Romans 8:22). Also thinking about that this sin caused a curse… makes you realise a lot of the things that trouble us or upset us are not only temporal but are they even really a reality or truth? When you think of someone putting a curse on something its a spiritual thing for sure. An invisible action that caused a physical change.  It reminds me when God says in the future He will bring the people a strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:11) and they will believe a lie. This sounds like a curse no? Curses are more common that we perceive. Yet when we will be present at the throne of God and of the Lamb it will no longer exist. What a breath of fresh air that will be in itself.

“Hope, in the biblical sense, means certainty and assurance. It is the firm, unshakable, indomitable belief that we will be raised from the dead (as Jesus was) and will be welcomed into out eternal home. That’s enough to put joy in our heart and a spring in our step this day!”

David Roper from Our Daily Bread
“And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.”
(Romans 8:23, NLT)

So we have an amazing hope! Hope is defined for us in Romans 8:25. Hope is looking forward to something we don’t have yet, and because we don’t have it yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. Although, do we do this? Do we wait for our hopes in this fashion? I don’t really think we do. We moan, we get tired, and we complain. A few days ago, a friend Hannah and I pondered a thought, “Once we’re in heaven, we’ll wonder why we weren’t even more excited about going there.” I think that’s why God often commands us to be joyful in hope. It often seems hard to celebrate, but when we focus on eternity on high versus temporal down low, it will become a good habit to exhibit.

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
(Colossians 3:2, KJV)

God says it best in His Word,

“For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.” (Colossians 3:3‭-‬6).

I encourage you all to read and pray over this chapter of Colossians. May God bless you and grant you His peace, mercy, and love.

Repentance

On By SkyIn Bible study, Faith, Hardships, Uncategorized5 Comments
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord: Make His paths straight’.”- John the Baptist

Repent.

This is the word the Lord has given me. It must be important to Him, therefore it has become important to me.

What does it mean to repent? The term metanoia is a Greek translation which means change in ones ways, or change of heart.

Do we have to repent? The answer is in the Word of God:

but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Jesus Christ ; Luke 13:3
“If you see one hurrying on to destruction, use the utmost of your endeavor to stop him in his course.” -A.W. Tozer

It is clear that repentance is a necessity.

Within the book of Luke it describes in further detail of these necessities:

“thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations“ (Luke 24:46-47)

To become a born again believer, to be saved by His stripes, our end is much more simple than the cross that Jesus bore for us.

You may be familiar with the ABC’s:

A– Admit you are a sinner, in need of saving.

B– Believe and trust in Jesus Christ.

C– Call on the name of the Lord.

Romans 10:13 (KJV), For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

All of this is good to do. Although I believe emphasizing on repentance and what it is makes it all more worth wild.

Jesus doesn’t just want you to say what people want you to say or read off pages of any book and be done with it.

He desires you to do more than that. He desires not only your words but He desires truth behind the words you are saying to him.

He wants to be able to change your heart, but He cannot do this unless you truly repent with your ~ H e a r t. You have to mean what you say.

“There must be true and deep conviction of sin. This the preacher must labor to produce, for where this is not felt, the new birth has not taken place.”- Charles Spurgeon

Who can be saved?

ALL who call on the Lord. Even you if you are here reading this and you haven’t confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord, yet.

Even the one’s who crucified Jesus were told, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

& this is a Promise that God will not break.

Truly these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness.

Acts 17:30-31, NKJV

Read the above passage from Acts carefully. For so long, God has overlooked the ignorance of the people. For so long, people have even claimed that the wicked will just continue on without repercussion. God on the other hand, has a different plan than what was assumed. He will not overlook forever. The world will be judged, and that time is coming.

He has commanded us to repent.

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21, NKJV)

If you love your Father in heaven, you will return to your first love, and obey His requests.

(See: Revelation 2:4|Mark12:30|Matthew 6:24|Psalms37:27)

Pastor Tim Dilena from Times Square Church made a good point from II Chronicles 7:14, it’s not just about coming to God and talking the talk. It’s more than just doing the first part of what it says, but doing what the ENTIRE verse says. The part that many overlook: “turn from their wicked ways“.

You must be willing to surrender. “then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land“. Are we a perfect people? No. God is working through us everyday.

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

BUT that does not give us the excuse to not try.

Jesus is the only one who can blot out your sins. Jesus is the only one who can make you new.

Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Acts 3:21, NKJV

God is a God of new. Restoration is His goal. To restore something or someone, One must fix or repair. Although, God cannot do this for you if you do not come to Him and look at the reflection of yourself that you face everyday. His other goal? To reestablish His kingdom and throne.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Why not turn that fear into hope?

Repent today.

Verses to consider on your own time:

  • Exodus 20:6
  • Deuteronomy 5:10
  • James 1:12
  • Revelation 2:5
  • Romans 8:28
Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. (Ephesians 6:24, NKJV)

Prayer

On By SkyIn Uncategorized1 Comment
“Prayer ushers you into a relationship with your Creator that impacts and reveals who you are as a person at the most profound levels.”- Charles F. Stanley

There is so much one could say about prayer. Prayer can do big things, or small. Prayer is also connection. Connection with the most important Being in the entire universe. How ever big that even is.

With prayer, comes humility. It allows us to lower ourselves and come to a God that is so much more than ourselves. It detaches us from the bustling world and brings us to a quiet space of intimacy.

You may know of the frequent times Jesus had often wandered away to do just that.

“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”

(Luke 5:16, KJV)

From The Gift of Prayer by Charles Stanley, he says it perfectly, “Your life was made to be an earthen vessel that shines forth His glory (2 Corinthians 4:7). And the more you know Christ and are unified with Him, the more He lives His life through you, giving you His power and revealing His plan for you.”

You see, prayer isn’t just a time for you to ask for all the things you desire. Prayer is a way for you to have the most important relationship of your life! Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” God and His kingdom come first! Did you know as a child of God you are already a citizen of His kingdom? You no longer belong to the worries of this world.

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.“

(John 18:36, BSB)

& although this kingdom Jesus speaks of is not of this realm, we have access to it everyday. Jesus tells us so, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there’! For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21,NKJV)

“What other creature exhibits such a capacity or has been given such an honor?”- Charles F. Stanley

Are you in awe yet?

You should be.

I am showing you this passage because it glorifies the LORD. It illustrates His essence. A snippet of who He is and what He has done/does. Isn’t it just beautiful how some One so extraordinary and unfathomable would genuinely want a loving relationship with you and I? What is man that You are mindful of him (Psalms 8:4)? For we are just dust (Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:19; Genesis 13:16; Genesis 18:27), yet you cover us in your blood (1 John 1:7), and cloak us with robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5)

My message for you all today is, be an opportunist. An opportunist is simply someone who takes on an opportunity. You take the chance that is given to you and take it. Luckily for us, right now we have every single day to seize the opportunity at hand.

P R A Y

Get to know God. Even more deeply than you do now. God insists that you do. He says in Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight”, says the Lord.” <- That is who He is and this is what He wants!

As for myself, I have been exploring my personal relationship with our Father. More so lately. The things I wonder about Him, I seek. The questions I have for Him, I ask. The worries I have, I lay them all at His feet. For He truly cares.

“He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,

He shall see His face with joy.”

(Job 33:26, NKJV)

Taking on this challenge with God has done more than just be therapeutic for me. It is a continual learning process. I am learning how God speaks to me individually. I am learning how He speaks in general. Of what exactly He wants from me while we are here, and becoming more expectant to what He may reveal. It will not come all at once, as we may prefer (see Psalms 37:7), but I hope that this encourages you to maybe reach out to God on a new level. Fight against the distractions, the doubts, lies, or even laziness that is hindering your relationship. Trust your walk, trust where you are, and trust where you are going, because you are in safe Hands (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalms 46:10).

So as my journal says….

“Pray It Forward”