No One Understands…

One of the worse feelings in the world is when we feel that no one understands us or the situation we are facing.  There are times when those who are closest to us seem to have no understanding of the pain, anxiety or fears that we have within us.  It is this very feeling of being misunderstood that accompanies depression, anxiety and, at the extreme, suicidal thoughts.



What is God’s message to His people who feel so very misunderstood and isolated?   You are not alone…Jehovah, the Creator of heaven and earth is a loving, kind and concerned God.  He cares about you and He understands you and your situation in life.  Listen to what the Bible says about how concerned He is about you…

THE SCRIPTURE:

Eph 2:10 (KJV)  10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Gen 16:13 (KJV) And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me…

Luke 12:6-7 (KJV)  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Exod 33:17 (KJV)  … for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Job 31:4 (KJV)  Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

Ps 56:8 (KJV)  Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?

2Kgs 20:5 (KJV)  …Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears:…

Isa 41:13 (KJV) For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

2Tim 4:17 (KJV)  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;…

Phil 4:19 (KJV)  19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

THE STUDY:

The Bible, God’s Word that He has given to mankind, reveals to us the following…

1. God has made you.  You are the unique creation of His hands. (Eph 2:10)


2. God sees you and is watching over you. (Gen 16:13)


3. God knows you so well that He has counted the very hairs on your head. (Lk 12:6-7)


4. God knows you by name (Ex 33:17)


5. God sees the path you are on in life and is watching your very steps. (Job 31:4)


6. God puts your tears in a bottle. (Psa 56:8)


7. God hears your prayers and sees your sorrow (2 Kngs 20:5)


8. God will take  your hand and help you (Isa 41:13)


9. God will stand beside you and strengthen you (2 Tim 4:17)


10.  God will supply all your needs (Phil 4:19)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

For those who are saved …

What a glorious message from God’s Word… no matter what you may face, no matter how often you are misunderstood by man… the Lord will always understand, accompany and care for you.  You are His, nothing can separate you from His love.

Rom 8:31-39 (KJV)

What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth.  Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For those who have yet to be saved...

God’s love was shown to mankind through the sending of His Son to come and die on the cross …

Rom 5:6-11 (KJV)

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Titus 3:4-7 (KJV)

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Won’t you turn to Christ and trust in Him for the forgiveness of your sins?  You will never be left alone nor misunderstood by Him.

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To see this lesson taught on video please go to my Video Blog at  http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.    I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.

Take A Look At My Wife’s Artistic/Scriptural Devotion Blog http://alivewithchristart.blogspot.com

Follow my Squidoo Instructional Lens “Presenting God’s Grace” “The Solemn Obligation To Present the Doctrines of Grace to the Lost and Saved Alike” http://www.squidoo.com/presenting-gods-grace

May the Lord bless your study of His Word.  Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”

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Christian Love For The Family Of God

The greatest display of love found in the Bible is Christ’s death on the cross for the sins of His people. ( 1 John 3:16, Rom 5:8, Eph 5:2, Rev 1:5)

Likewise, throughout the Apostle Paul’s ministry, he risked his life to take the gospel to the lost around him.  (2 Cor 11:23-28, Acts 14:19, 2 Cor 4:10-12).  This risking of “life and limb” is a wonderful living display of the love that Paul held for the lost. (1 Thess 2:13-16, Rom 10:1, Rom 9:1-3)   Being willing to die for those we love is the ultimate display of love.  (John 15:13)



Even though to be willing to die for another is the supreme display of love, in Rom 1:9-15, we find several other demonstrations of love being discussed.  Let’s take our time and study love on display based on Roms 1:9-15 ...

THE SCRIPTURES:

Rom 1:9-15 (KJV)

9) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;  10) Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11) For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12) That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13) Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14) I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  15) So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

 THE STUDY:

In these few verses, Paul shows us several indications of his true Biblical love for those in Rome.

1.     “without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;” – praying for others is a sign of our love for them.  Keep in mind, if we really love someone, we will ask the Lord to intervene on their behalf keeping them physically safe and making them spiritually secure and prosperous. (Matt 5:44, Rom 10:1, 2 Cor 5:20, Phil 1:4-6 etc etc)

2.    “I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.” –  being willing to give of our time and effort for others is a sign of love (Eph 5:2, 2 Cor 5:15, Matt 20:28)

3.    “For I long to see you” - wanting to be physically present with someone… missing them when we aren’t with them. (Phil 4:1, Phil 1:8, Gen 31:30, 1 Thess 2:17-18, 1 John 3:14)

4.    “that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;” - giving of ourselves for others to promote their spiritual growth and strength (1 Cor 4:14-16, 2 Pet 3:1-2, Roms 1:7)

5.    “that I may be comforted together with you”– wanting to give comfort after loss to others that we love (Gen 24:67, Gen 37:31-35, Job 42:10-11, Phil 2:1-2, Col 2:1-2)

6.    “by the mutual faith both of you and me.” – desiring to share our spiritual faith in the Lord which then allows fellowship among the brethren. (2 Cor 13:14, Eph 2:18-22, 1 John 3:23-24)

7.    “that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” – desiring to bear spiritual fruit (being a good witness and testimony) to others is a sign of biblical love. (1 Cor 13:4-8, Eph 5:2)

8.    “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” – seeing ourselves as indebted to the Lord and, therefore, to others, needing to do them right and help them. (Phil 2:25-30, Roms 12:1, 1 Tim 5:4, Eph 5:25, 1 Tim 2:1-3, 2 Cor 5:13-14)

9.    “I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.” – Wanting to share the gospel with others. (Matt 5:43-48, Phil 1:7-8, Phil 1:16-17, Eph 4:1-15)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

For those who have trusted in Christ.

To summarize our study…. A true Biblical love is shown by:

1. Desiring      to pray for those we love


2. Desiring      to sacrifice ourselves for those we love


3. Desiring      to accompany those we love


4. Desiring      the spiritual growth of those we love


5. Desiring      to comfort those we love during times of loss


6. Desiring      fellowship of the truths of God with those we love


7. Desiring      to bear spiritual fruit in the sight of those we love


8. Desiring      to help those we love during times of trial and need


9. Desiring      to share the gospel message with those we love

Are we exhibiting a Scriptural love to those who are around us?  This should be our daily desire.  If we find our love weak toward other Christians, it could be that we are forgetting that we are members of the same spiritual family.  We have the same Father, the same salvation, and the same eternal home.  Spiritually we are one with Christ.

Remember our love for others is a very important proof that our salvation is genuine (1 John 2:9-11)  If we cannot find love in our hearts for other Christians, it is a clear indication that we have never been saved nor adopted into Christ's spiritual family.

For those who have never trusted in Christ.

A Biblical love is a God-given grace. Withour Christ we cannot show love in our lives.   For us to receive the many graces of God, we must first come to a saving knowledge of Him.  Have you ever seen your need of salvation?  If so, have you turned from your sin and come to Jesus Christ?  Have you ever trusted in Him as your Savior and then submitted  to Him as your Lord?

If you have any questions concerning the way of salvation please feel free to visit or call a Bible teaching church in your area.  They will be happy to speak to you about the Lord Jesus and the salvation He graciously gives.

Or, if you would rather, feel welcome to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.  I’ll be more than happy to answer any question you may have.

Also, if you look at my blog page “How To Have A Relationship With God”.  On this page you will find several blog entries explaining the way of salvation.

Please visit the “Settled In Heaven Ministries” homepage –

http://www.settledinheaven.org

My Main Blog “Settled In Heaven” (updated twice weekly) – http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com

The following are other places you can find “Settled In Heaven” blog (updated once per month):

www.settledinheavenbibleblog.posterous.com

www.settledinheavenblog.blogspot.com

To see this lesson taught on video please go to my Video Blog at  http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.    I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.

Take A Look At My Wife’s Artistic/Scriptural Devotion Blog http://alivewithchristart.blogspot.com

Follow my Squidoo Instructional Lens “Presenting God’s Grace” “The Solemn Obligation To Present the Doctrines of Grace to the Lost and Saved Alike” http://www.squidoo.com/presenting-gods-grace

May the Lord bless your study of His Word.  Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”

The Sacrifice Of Love

John 3:16 is arguably the most familiar verse found in the Bible….

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In 1 John 3:16-19 we find another set of verses that contains the same basic theme…

“Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.”

“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

“And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.”



Let’s take a few minutes to study these two verses that address the Love of God which is shown to us by His acts of unselfishness and self-sacrifice…

THE SCRIPTURES:

John 3:16;  1 John 3:16-19;  Ephesians 5:1-2 ; 1John 4:9-11;  Mark 12:28-34; 1 Cor 13:4-12

THE STUDY:

Does God really love me?  This most important question has been asked by a multitude of people throughout the history of our world.  How can we really know if God loves us and cares about us and our needs?  The Bible gives us a clear proof of God’s love for us…. the sacrifice that He has made on our behalf.  Note our two texts….

John 3:16 ….

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In our first text, please note that the God’s LOVE was displayed through the GIVING of His Son, a true act of self-sacrifice on behalf of God for His people.  Why is the birth of Christ such an important and special act of God?  It is a clear display of His love on behalf of sinful mankind.

Please note our second text:

1 John 3:16-19 …

“Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?   My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.”

Here, we find that the way we can “perceive” (be aware, to see, to know assuredly) that God loves us is found in His act of self-sacrifice in giving of His life for His people.  Also, please note that in this second text, we find the Biblical mandate to make sacrifices for others in order to show our love for them as well.

True love involves self-sacrifice… a “love” that is selfish and demands only to receive is no love at all. Putting ourselves first, and others second, is turning love on its head, perverting the very nature of love.

Lets look at 1 John 4:9-11….

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

In this set of verses the word “manifested” means to “to take the cover off” or “ to reveal”.  How did God “take the cover off” His love for us?  By sending of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth.

Then Christ showed His love for us by giving His life for us.  He did this so that we, as sinners, could receive spiritual life.  The result of receiving God’s gift of love in our life, should be the showing of our love to others.

Ephesians 5:1-2 gives us more information about what Christ did for us…

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

Here, we are told that the death of Christ was motivated by His love for us.  We are also told that His death for us was both a “sacrifice” and a “offering”.  It was a “sacrifice” in the sense that He gave of Himself (to the point of death).  It was an “offering” which tells us He willingly gave His life for us.   Oh what great love… to be willing to partake of death so that others could escape eternal death.  In these verses, we are once again reminded to follow this great example of self-sacrificial love.  How are we to do this?  By loving others as Christ loved us… with a self-sacrificial love.

Mark 12:28-34 (KJV)

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.  And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.  And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him [any question].

Here we find the importance of love being clearly defined.  Our love (willingness to sacrifice ourselves) to God is described as the first and great commandment.  The commandment that should be our second priority is the command to love (be willing to sacrifice ourselves) for our neighbor.  Upon these two commands all the other laws are based.

If we love God and others as we should we will keep all the other commandments of God.  For example, if we love God as we should we will not take His name in vain nor would we worship other Gods,  if we love others as we should we would not steal from them nor would we lie to them.  This basic principle (supremacy of love for God and others) applies to all the commands of God.

Finally in 1Cor 13:4-12 (KJV)

“Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;   Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Please note, in the “love chapter” of the Bible, we find that every manifestation of love is an act of self-sacrifice.  Some examples of this include…. Patience, humility, contentment the list goes on and on.  In each of these cases, all of these flow forth from a heart of love and sacrifice willing to put others first and ourselves second.

Truly, the display of love, is based upon acts of sacrifice on behalf of others around us.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

For those who have trusted in Christ.

We are to appreciate the love that God has shown to us.  In doing so, we should be willing to follow His example and love others with a self-sacrificial type of love.

For those who have never trusted in Christ.

Please study the Bible to learn more about the great love that God the Father has shown to us in the sending of His Son to the earth.  Then learn more about the love of God the Son, as He gave his life on the cross so that we all might receive the forgiveness of our sins.  (to learn more about the way of salvation, you are welcome to read my blog page “How to have a relationship with God”, or you  can email me with your questions.  Also you can find any Bible-believing church in your area and contact them… I am sure they would be happy to help answer any questions you might have.

What great love…. What great self-sacrifice!  What a great Lord that we serve!

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My Main Blog “Settled In Heaven” (updated twice weekly) – http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com

The following are other places you can find “Settled In Heaven” blog (updated once per month):

www.settledinheavenbibleblog.posterous.com

www.settledinheavenblog.blogspot.com

To see this lesson taught on video please go to my Video Blog at  http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.    I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.

Take A Look At My Wife’s Artistic/Scriptural Devotion Blog http://alivewithchristart.blogspot.com

Follow my Squidoo Instructional Lens “Presenting God’s Grace” “The Solemn Obligation To Present the Doctrines of Grace to the Lost and Saved Alike” http://www.squidoo.com/presenting-gods-grace

May the Lord bless your study of His Word.  Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”

Why?

“Why is the sky blue?”  “Why does a dog bark?”  “Why is ice cream cold?”  The list goes on and on.  When we were much younger, we were concerned about all the “whys” of life.  Sad to say in the process of getting our answers, we drove our parents to the edge of insanity! 

 However, something happened to many of us as we grew older… the “whys” of life no longer seemed to be as important.  As we grew busier in our life’s activities, we no longer were concerned about “why”.  This change resulted in cheating us out of a greater appreciation of the world around us.

 When it comes to God’s Word, understanding the “whys” is an absolute necessity to grasp the entire truth that is being presented.  For this blog entry, I would like us to look at one example of this principle.   Let’s look at the answer to a very common question that is asked by many Christians…. “Why did the Lord forgive us of our sins?”

 THE SCRIPTURE:

 And you hath he quickened,… That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:1-7)

THE STUDY:

This Scripture text is basically answering two questions:

In verses 1-3 we have the answer to: “What was our condition before The Lord forgave me of my sins?”

In verses 4-7 we have the answer to: “Why did the Lord forgive me of my sins?”

Our study will begin with verses 1-3…  

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

Before the Lord intervened in our life we were “dead in trespasses and sins”.  In other words, spiritually we were separated from God and unable to help ourselves.  We could no more give ourselves forgiveness and spiritual life than a dead corpse can give itself CPR and bring itself back to life.

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

Before the Lord’s intervention, our lifestyle was one of disobedience and rebellion to the will and ways of God.   Although we may have lived moral lives, our morality was of no more value than that of filthy rags (Isa 64:6).   Why were they of no lasting spiritual value? Our moral actions were not done out of a heart of love for the Lord. 

“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;

Instead of our moral works being done out of love for God, they were motivated by the lusts of our flesh and mind.  In other words, our moral actions were motivated out of a love for self and pleasure.  Our entire lifestyle was one of living for self gratification.

“and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Our sinful nature, which we received from Adam, was deserving of God’s punishment.  We shared this same type of nature with all mankind.  Everyone, possesses this same nature within themselves. (1 Cor 15:22)

(Note on verses 1-3….Please notice these verses set the groundwork for the following verses 4-7.   Basically what we are saying is this…. Since I was in such a horrible condition (vs 1-3) why did the Lord ever make the time and effort to save me? (vs 4-7))

In verses 4-7…

So why did The Lord forgive us?

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”

Reason #1

We are forgiven because of His mercy and His love for us.   In other words, He is willing to withhold our deserved punishment from us (his mercy) because He so greatly loved us.

“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

 This is a quick review of our horrible condition before His intervention in our lives. This review is given to remind us that we didn’t deserve, nor did we earn, His love or mercy…. It is given entirely by His willingness to give us undeserved blessings.  These undeserved blessings include His forgiveness which saved us from the punishment of our sins.

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Reason #2

We are forgiven so we might live eternally with Him.  The Lord raised us from our spiritual death, so that we might share an eternity in heaven with Him.

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Reason #3

We are forgiven so that The Lord might be glorified.  From the moment of our salvation, the Lord glorifies Himself in the lives of those He has saved.  Anyone who is truly saved, becomes a new creature in Him.  Because of this great inward change, our outward lives change as well. (2 Cor 5:17) This change glorifies Him.

Also, throughout eternity, our presence with Him in heaven will be a continual testimony of His grace and forgiveness that He has given to His people. (Rev 4:10-11)

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION

For the Christian….

When Christians are asked “Why did the Lord forgive you of your sins?” their two favorite responses are… “Because He loved us” and “Because He wanted to go to heaven and not hell”.  In our above text, we saw both of these are true. 

 However, please notice the third reason why He chose to save us.  It is because He wants to glorify Himself in our lives.  This is so important for each of us to understand.  If we have been saved we are to serve Him with our lives.  By doing, this we are bringing to fulfillment His third desire … that He might be glorified.  (Eph 2:8-10)

 For those who have never trusted in Christ…

If you have never received the Lord’s gracious forgiveness… you can see your horrible condition without His intervention in your life. Turn from your sins and turn to Him in faith, recognizing He is your only hope… He will not cast you aside. (John 6:33-40)

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If you have any questions concerning this blog, or if you have a subject you would like discussed, please feel free to email me at settledinheaven@gmail.com.    I will answer all emails via my blog, email, or both.

Follow my Squidoo Instructional Lens “Presenting God’s Grace” “The Solemn Obligation To Present the Doctrines of Grace to the Lost and Saved Alike” http://www.squidoo.com/presenting-gods-grace

 May the Lord bless your study of His Word.  Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”

The Secret Millionaires

Who would not like to trade places with John Carpenter, the first million dollar winner on the TV show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTLnTK8qanw 

 Winning a game show or a lottery is the dream of a lifetime for many people.  The desire for huge amounts of money is a desire most of us have at one time or another.  

Ironically, this dream of earthly wealth is a desire for fleeting value.  If we received a huge amount of money how long can we enjoy and use this wealth?  Only for the length of our lifetime (maybe 50, 60, or 70 years max).  

Sadly, there are possessions of much greater, eternal value that we choose to ignore.  What is of greater value to us than money?  What can we truly “take with us” after we pass away?    We will see what this eternal wealth is in today’s study…  

THE SCRIPTURE:

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2:5)    

THE STUDY:

In the book of James, the apostle writes to Jews who had fled from their homeland due to persecution by the Roman Empire.   They were a discouraged, broken and POOR people.  In most cases, they departed with nothing more than the clothes on their back. They had lost their home, their livestock, their social standing, their savings, everything. This is the context of James’ message, he desired to encourage those who had lost all this world had to offer.  So what can you say to those who had “lost it all”?  

First, he reminds them that they are loved by God… “My beloved brethren.”  The love of our God is of far greater value than any riches this world has to offer.  It is because of God the Father’s love for us that He was willing to send His Son to die.  It was because of God the Son’s love for us that He was willing to bear our sin and die on the cross.  It is because of God the Spirit’s love that He lives within us, accompanying us and guiding us as we walk through this life.  If we only have God’s love, we are very wealthy indeed. (See John 3:16, 1 John 3:16 John 14:23)  But the results of His love for us do not stop there. Actually what He does for us cannot begin to be listed, the list would be endless. 

In our verse, James gives us two other products of God’s love… being “rich in faith” and “heirs of the kingdom that he hath promised”.   Both of these are eternal in nature… they will exist long after we have departed from this earth.  (1 Cor 2:9)

The value of faith cannot be underemphasized. It is directed to past, present and future time frames. God-given faith in Christ and His work, is an absolute requirement for God’s forgiveness and our salvation from sin (past).  (Please refer to 1 Pet 1:5-9)  Once saved, we continue to exercise faith in Him on a daily basis, looking to Him in all our decision making (present).  Also it is through faith, that we receive all of His future promises to us (future).

This brings us to the second great product of God’s love to us, the heirship of the kingdom that he has awaiting for us.  His kingdom, refers to all that He controls throughout eternity.   A heavenly home, living in His presence, rewards for our obedience, and the authority to rule with Him over the new earth are all a part of the life awaiting us.  

The results of our heirship go beyond our earthly understanding. In Revelation 21:-22: John gives us a limited glimpse of the greatness of our eternity awaiting us.  Beginning with personally walking with God, to living a life where pain, sorrow, and sickness no longer exist, ending with a dwelling place of pure gold, his account of our eternity is clearly beyond our understanding.  Our eternity is so great… it cannot be valued, nor understood, with our human reasoning (see 1 Cor 2:9).

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

There is no doubt that God’s love to us, far outweighs the fleeting riches of this world. For the saved, every second we live, every breath we take, is filled with His gracious presence, protection and sealing, giving us peace that we are one of His and heaven bound!   This is the “joy unspeakable and full of glory” Peter talks about in 1 Pet 1:8.  It is a joy that should constantly exist in our lives no matter what circumstances we are facing.  God’s love should motivate the Christian to have a continually thankful joyous heart for all He has done, and will do for us. 

For those of us who have not experienced the grace of God in our hearts, there is a void that cannot be filled apart from the love and joy only God gives.   Do you have that feeling of emptiness within you?  Have you been searching for that certain “something” that will make you feel whole and at peace?   Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can fill that void.  By trusting in Him and His work on the cross; by accepting Him as the Lord of your life and committing your life to Him, you will find forgiveness, peace, and eternal love and the fulfillment.

In other words, to become a secret millionaire all we must do is… look to Jesus and live… 

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb 9:27-28)

May the Lord bless your study of His Word.

Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”