THANKSGIVING

It is interesting that in general most people complain all year long but then a National Holiday calls us all to be thankful and then there are numerous facebook posts about how thankful we are. Well this is a great reminder for all of us to be thankful all year long regardless of our circumstances. I know for me personally that one of my businesses has been hit very hard because of the economy and it would be very easy for me to worry and be anxious but that would be sin. I am taking the right actions I need to and be responsible with what God has given me but the bottom line is that God has given me exactly what HE wants me to have not only financially but in everything.

Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

Giving thanks is a determined exercise by us that is a discipline. Just think about the most important thing you have to be thankful for - the fact that Jesus Christ (God Himself) lowered Himself and took the form of man to redeem man from His sins and to input His Righteousness (applying His perfect fulfillment of God's requirements for you to be saved) to you. Think about it - He does not redeemed the fallen angels but He did that for those He has CHOSEN TO SAVE - Yes make no mistake my friend - YOU DID NOT CHOOSE GOD - HE CHOSE YOU. Now that is something to be thankful for if you are one of HIS. If you are apart from Christ - today is the day to repent of your sins and stop putting your trust in your works and put all your trust in Christ and HIM ALONE.

Have a great thanksgiving but don't stop giving thanks all year long.

ALL TALK NO WALK DOES NOT WORK

Hebrews 13:15-16

"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

It is all over the Scriptures. That is right - obedience to the Lord is the evidence of a transformed life. How did we as a Church ever get to a place that so many deny this clear teaching from God's Word? In our zeal to see people saved we end up watering down the Gospel to make it more pleasing - shame on us for disparaging God's Word in that manner.

It is so easy to say with your lips you love the Lord but actions must follow what you say with your mouth. Try telling your Spouse that you love them and then let your actions be rude, inconsiderate, abusive, neglect etc... and then ask them if they really think you love them. Are you out of your mind? NO WAY WILL THEY THINK YOU REALLY LOVE THEM. Then why do you think it would be any different with our Lord Jesus Christ?

Please listen - I am not teaching perfectionism which if you believe that false doctrine it is a sad day for you. Perfectionism just relabels sin as mistakes - which then I guess you dont have to repent of - THAT IS FALSE TEACHING. The Believer still sins after he or she is saved but that sin becomes less and less as the obedience to the Lord becomes greater and greater. It is called progressive sanctification - simply put - becoming more like Jesus every day.

So here is the way God grows us - We repent of our sins - putting our trust in HIS Work not our own for our salvation, We study HIS Word - the HOLY SPIRIT (who lives in every true Christian) takes that WORD applies it to our lives and brings fruit out of our lives (Gal. 5).

If fruit of the Spirit is absent in your life then you MUST examine yourself and see if you are in the faith. My prayer for each of you is that you are not self deceived and on a broad road that only takes you to hell.

ARE YOU TRULY A CHRISTIAN?

It is sad to me to see people on Facebook and other social media venues that call themselves Christians and yet just from what is on their accounts you have to question where they really are at. And then to see other professing believers that are their friends not calling them to repentance at all just adds to the condemnation of both. Matthew 7:20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits." The fruit of the world is a loose living, vulgarity, courseness, and self pleasure just to name a few. It saddens me to see people that call themselves Christians living a life of sexual sin and self pleasure and then are offended when you question if they are a Christian or not. Unfortunately the Church is not far removed from the World. WAKE UP CHURCH - We are to be diffferent, holy in ALL AREAS of our lives. A life void of obedience to Christ is a Christless life. If you are a true believer first examine your life and make sure you are not in a habitual sin and then call your professing brothers and sisters around you to repentance and holiness. Let sin be kept far from you and dont give the devil opportunity to sift you.