Mini "SERMONETTES"- #1

1) God does not save us IN sin; He saves us FROM sin (If we sin, we are to be sorry from the heart, and R-E-P-E-N-T). However.... none of us are morally perfect, but we are promised that as our faith is IN CHRIST & HIS BLOOD, (the) SIN (nature) shall not have dominion over us! (See Psa. 38:18; Prov. 28:13; 1 Jhn. 1:8-10; 2:1; Rom. 6:1-2,14; Rev. 12:10-11)
Our performance of "spiritual disciplines" (such as prayer, Bible study, fasting, etc.), though of great benefit, CANNOT help us to be set apart to live for God in holiness- to be "Sanctified". Nor can "will-power", punishment, psychological counselling, programs, and so forth.

2) In terms of "righteousness" (our manner of behavior to be right morally with God), it is either "SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS" or "THE CROSS". The first is based upon WORKS AND LAW (by us), the second based upon GRACE THRU FAITH (in CHRIST & HIS BLOOD SACRIFICE). The apostle Paul knew, lived, and preached this incessantly (see Phil. 3:9; 1 Cor. 2:2).

3) Daily faith in Christ & "the Cross" (His Blood Sacrifice) for Sanctification gives one God's GRACE AND BLESSINGS. Faith in one's own performance of works for Sanctification is "LAW", and invokes God's WRATH, AND A CURSE (see Gal. 3:10-14)

4) "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." -(Hab. 2:4)- The "lifted up", "PROUD" soul, will trust in HIS sacrifices for Sanctification, making him "unjust" in God's sight; While the humble soul will place his faith in CHRIST'S Sacrifice (ie" "The Cross), making ...him "just" in God's sight.
The first relies on his "do's and don'ts" ("LAW" and works), invoking the "law of sin and death" and stimulating "the sin nature" to send him on a downward spiral; while the second relies on GOD'S GRACE through FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, invoking the "law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus", affording him help by the HOLY SPIRIT, and ... See Moresecuring him "abundant Life " (Jhn. 10:10) and overcoming victory over Satan (Rev. 12:10-11)!

MOST will choose the FIRST; The "few" will choose the SECOND (See Matt. 7:13-14).

Which... are YOU ?

5) "GOD" is not religion, rites, rituals, or ceremony. "See now that I, even I , am He, and there is no god with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My Hand." -(Deut. 32:39); NOR is "CHURCH" a physical building, but rather a people one with their Creator through... surrender of self, and by the Blood of Jesus.
"(6) Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.
(7) And who, as I , shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.
(8) Fear ... See Moreye not, neither be afaid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is NO God; I know not any." -(Isa. 44:6-8)
(24) Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself;
(25) That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
(26) That confirmeth the word of His servant, and performeth the counsel of His messengers..." -(Isa. 44:24-26)
"(5) I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me:
(6) That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
(7) I form the light, and create (allow) darkness: I make peace, and create (allow) evil: I ... See Morethe LORD do all these things." -(Isa. 45:5-7)
(12) I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even My Hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded." -(Isa. 45:5-7,12)

6) "Religion" is quite different than "relationship". "RELIGION" blinds a person to God's Truth & reality as God sees it (Matt. 13:12-15; Rom. 10:3; Jn. 9:39-41). How do you know if YOU are "religious"? If you base your righteousness upon WHAT YOU DO (see Rom. 10:3-4; Gal. 3:10-11; 5:4; Phil. 3:8-9).
True Christianity is RELATIONSHIP with God, based upon what you BELIEVE (ie: FAITH); In which you know and fellowship with Him, based upon His GRACE, THROUGH your FAITH.... exclusively in Jesus Christ and His Blood Sacrifice on the Cross for ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, every single bit. And then your "good behavior" will be "developed supernaturally" (... See Morecalled "Sanctification") as the HOLY SPIRIT convicts you of your sins (and you... REPENT). It is a life-long process, and no one is "perfect" morally until the day we meet Jesus face to face. However, you must WANT to change and to please God, and according to HIS method, not ours.
I know what I've just said is astounding, and "radical" compared to the popular, modern concept of Christianity, which is based upon "do's and dont's". But this is what the BIBLE teaches (and not the "watered-down" versions", but the King James and New American Standard ones which come the closest to the original Hebrew and Greek.) Our do's and dont's will fall right into line if our faith is correct, in the right Object!
Righteousness is not something to be "earned". In fact, to try to attain your OWN righteousness with God is impossible. It is GOD'S Righteousness we need in order to fellowship with a perfectly Holy God, and this spotless Righteousness is freely "imputed" (given) to us as we exhibit faith in what JESUS did, on the Cross, as our sin substitute! ... See MorePRIDE will try to accomplish the FORMER; HUMILITY will accept the LATTER. "For God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." -(James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).

7) "The Law" requires MAN to act; It demonstrates man's impotentcy. "Grace" is the result of trusting (faith) in GOD to act; It demonstrates God's Power (The Holy Spirit moving). God HAS acted through the Sacrificial death of His Son Jesus on the Cross. Our faith in THAT activates this awesome Power on our behalf which b...reaks the yoke of Satan! (See Jhn. 3:16; 1:17; Rom. 10:4; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Col. 2:6; Gal. 2:16; 3:10-14; Rom. 8:1-2; Zech. 4:6-7)
To "walk after the Spirit" is like a man who is "right-handed" (representing the NATURAL way) learning to live "left-handed" (representing the SUPERNATURAL Way). It is totally different than what we are used to. A daily supernatural Life of (grace through) faith... exclusively in CHRIST AND "THE CROSS" (Christ's Blood Sacrifice there). It is a ... See Moreglorious manner of daily living which gives us "abundant Life" (Jhn. 10:10b). It take a while to get onto, but stay on this "Path of Life" (Psa. 16:11), and you will get there!
"But the Path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." -(Prov. 4:18)

8) "The thief (SATAN) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (through "the law of sin and death" -Rom. 8:2; 7:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:56b), but I (JESUS) am come that they might have Life ("the law of the Spirit of Life 'in Christ Jesus'" -Rom. 8:2; 10:4), and that they might have it more abundantly." -(Jhn. 10:10).
YES we are to keep the "law"; But it can only occur SUPERNATURALLY as the HOLY SPIRIT performs it in us, AS OUR FAITH IS EXCLUSIVELY IN CHRIST'S BLOOD SACRIFICE (IE: "THE CROSS) FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, BOTH TO BE "SAVED", AND ALSO TO..... BE "SANCTIFIED, AND LIVE FOR GOD"!!!! (That second part there being the Key for victorious Christian living!). If ... See Morewe revert back to law-keeping (ANY type of law) in self-effort, this nullifies God's grace, and the Holy Spirit is QUENCHED in our live (see Gal. 2:21; 5:5)!!
I do this and that because I WANT to (from the HEART), not cuz I "have" to; I AVOID this or that because I WANT to (from the HEART), not cuz I "have" to. This.... is what relatively few in Christendom seem to be able to comprehend: The ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in convicting us; Most think that THEY need to do the convicting of other people, and, of course, it will not (and CANnot) work. (Have you ever SEEN it work?).
It begins with a person from his heart, crying out to the Lord to reveal Himself to them, and to reveal His Truth. Then, wild horses could not stop God from answering that sort of prayer! Turn to Him, friend, with all of your heart, and HE WILL ANSWER. HE LOVES YOU !

9) "He that dwelleth 'in the secret Place' of the Most High shall 'abide under the Shadow' of the Almighty." -(Psa. 91:1); This "secret place" is "IN CHRIST" (Jhn. 15:6) through faith in the Blood of the Lamb (Ex. 12:13,23; Rev. 12:10-11).
Benefits of "dwelling in this Abode" (taken from Psa. 91): (vs. 3)- DELIVERANCE from "the snare of the fowler" (Satan), and from the "noisome pestilence" (calamitous diseases)..... (vs. 4)- His Truth your Shield.....(vss. 5-6)- No fear of terror, harm, pestilence, or destruction...... (vss 7-8) Protection that the wicked do not have....(vs. 10)- No... See More evil or plague coming close to your dwelling.....(vss. 11-12) Protected by God's angels....(vs. 13)- Demons subject to you.... (vs. 14)- Deliverance from being "set on high".... (vs. 15)- Answered prayer; Having the Presence of God in trouble; Being delivered and honored by God.... (vs. 16)- Long life; God's Salvation shown.

OH HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This MARVELLOUS Place, "IN CHRIST", is ...

- a REFUGE (Psa. 142:5; 9:9; 46:1,7; 48:3; 59:16; 62:7-8; 71:7; 94:22; Isa. 4:6; Jer. 16:19; Heb. 6:18).

- a HIDING PLACE (Psa. 32:7; 119:114; 31:20; Isa. 32:2; Col. 3:1-3).... See More

- a SECRET PLACE OF 'HIS PRESENCE' (Psa. 31:20; Rom. 8:9; Eph. 2:22; 1 Jhn. 4:13; 3:24; Jhn. 14:16-17,23,26; 15:26; 16:7-11,13-14; 17:23).

- a "DWELLING PLACE" (Psa. 91:9; 90:1) ....

- .... "IN LIGHT" (Col. 1:12; Eph. 5:8; Jhn. 8:12; Acts 26:18; 1 Jhn. 2:9-10; Ex. 10:23).

- a Place Where THE LORD IS YOUR "PORTION", AND YOU ARE SATISFIED (Lam. 3:24; Psa. 16:5; 73:26; 119:57; 27:4; 107:9; 23:1; Jer. 10:16; Phil. 4:11; 2 Pet. 1:3)

- a Place of GRACE THAT MAKES ONE STRONG & VIGOROUS (2 Tim. 2:1; Psa. 68:35; Eph. 1:19; 3:16; 6:10; Col. 1:11; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Cor. 12:9; Zech. 4:6-7; 10:12).

- a Place PROTECTED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, PRESERVED IN CHRIST JESUS, KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD! (Ex.12:13-23; Rev. 12:10-11; Jude 1; 1 Pet. 1:5)

HALELLUJAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10) The great Apostle PAUL.. was NOT all that popular in his day! He was whipped, beaten, imprisoned frequently, in perils of robbers, his own countrymen, the heathen, among false brethren, suffered hunger and thirst, homeless at times (2 Cor. 11:23-27). AND YET, in God's perfect will, saying "REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!"
The man, plain and simple, was sold out to be USED BY GOD, regardless if someone liked him,... or not! And you must admit... he WAS! I'm going to make a statement here: If this man would be here today, and did a circuit of preaching in all of our churches here in America, he would be KICKED OUT of most of them! Because his Message would NOT BE ACCEPTED, AND WOULD BE AN OFFENCE! (The offence of "The Cross"). ["Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it." -(Matt. 7:14)] This is because of religion/ legalism, plain and simple. Paul preached "grace through faith", and most churches today preach "law" (You gotta do "this", you gotta avoid "that"... to be pleasing to God.). And no... neither Paul (Rom. 6:1), nor I advocate giving a license to sin as much as we want. That is not the idea. The idea is... how do we DEAL with "the sin issue"? To overcome it. Paul's answer was that yes, we repent of sin, but then to place our faith EXCLUSIVELY in Christ's Blood Sacrifice ("THE CROSS") for ALL Righteousness. Our works then will then be a "by-product" of our correct FAITH. ...and "the Divine Nature" will rule in our lives as THE HOLY SPIRIT in us accomplishes this for us! Another person from the Bible who had tremendous difficulties from people, and unfairly, yet was in God's perfect will.... was JOSEPH (Gen. chpts. 37, 39-47). And of course, the most famous One was JESUS HIMSELF, Who was SINLESS, yet unjustly condemned to death (instigated by religious Pharisees), mocked, humiliated, beaten, and crucified, all... ... See Morefor YOU AND I, THAT WE MIGHT BE RECONCILED TO GOD, AND LIVE. The moral of the story? Just because a person experiences tremendous difficulties because of people, that does not mean that it is because of his sin!

11) The "Message of the Cross" never grows old. It makes our heart pure and KEEPS our heart pure as we daily place our faith SOLELY IN THAT BLOOD SACRIFICE OF CHRIST for HIS Righteousness... imputed to us! (See Psa. 32:1-2; Rom. 10:4; Col. 1:14; 2:13-15).
PRAISE G-O-D, He says "When I see the B-L-O-O-D, I will pass over y-o-u." !!!! Oh don't you SEE it, neighbor? We have NO righteousness of our own to protect us from "the destroyer", "the evil one"... Satan! It is only CHRIST'S BLOOD, and your faith in THAT, which makes you clean, KEEPS you clean, EMPOWERS AND PROTECTS you by........ THE HOLY GHOST!!!! OUR efforts are pitiful and ineffective; Satan just LAUGHS at them!

12) "Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadenth unto Life, and few there be that find it." -(Matt. 7:13-14)
"Jesus saith unto him, I AM the Way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." -(Jhn. 14:6)
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whoseoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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." -(Jhn. 3:14-16) (SPEAKS OF "THE CROSS")
(3) Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus), Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. -(Jhn. 3:3,6)
(23) And He (Jesus) said to them all, if any man will come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whoswever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. (25) For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast ... See Moreaway? (26) For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in his own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." -(Lk. 9:23-26)
"(37) He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daghter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. (39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it." -(Matt. 10:37-39)
Now we can SEE WHY that Way and Path IS narrow!: The Way to the Father God is JESUS, the Way to Jesus is through the CROSS, and the Way to the Cross is by the ABNEGATION OF "SELF".
BUT THEN.... you have..... "ABUNDANT LIFE" (John 10:10) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for you are "in Christ", and "in Him is LIFE, and the Life is the Light of men." -(Jhn. 1:4)!!
HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!