Did You Know
by Dr. Jack Hetzel
John 3:3 (AMP)
3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of G
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Did you know? How to be be born again?
John 3:15-16 (AMP)
15 In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
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Did you know that God never will send a person to Hell and if anyone goes to hell it is their choosing?
John 3:17-18 (AMP)
For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation—he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]
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Did you know that God only thinks good thoughts about you?
Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)
11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
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Did you know that God loves you?
Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
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.
Peace: And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” – Isaiah 32:17
When we are rejoicing in the Lord with gladness of spirit, God applies His righteousness to our life.
Faith: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:8-9
When our faith reaches out to our heavenly Father with Joy and worship it gives glorious joy to our life.
Victory: And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” – Revelation 15:2
We that are caught up upon the return of our Lord in a cloud of Glory we will be able to stand on the sea of glass and keep rejoicing in \
Him:
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. – Proverbs 16:20
Keep in mind that the word of God is never to be questioned, but believed and acted on, which causes happiness in life.
God’s faithfulness: Genesis 24:26-27 (ASV) And the man bowed his head, and worshipped Jehovah. And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Jehovah hath led me in the way to the house of my master’s brethren.
Because of God’s loving kindness to us, when we bow our head and worship Him, the Lord will lead us in the direction we need to go for victory and prosperity in life. Knowing that prosperity is not having, but it is a state of being.
THE CALL to FORSAKE ALL
by Michael Carl
What did it mean when Jesus strolled the shore of Lake Galilee and call those men to serve Him without reservation? Well, in one way or another, it meant a complete surrender to Jesus. When they heard Him say, “‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me'” (Mark 8.34), they eventually learned that He meant it.
For most of them, it meant dying for the Lord. We all know from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs that all of the original Apostles, second edition (with Matthias), except John went to a martyr’s death. Thomas, not realizing the full impact of what he was saying, said it correctly when he said in John chapter eleven, “‘Let’s go back to Judea so we may die with Him.'”
Yet, we have to ask today, what does it mean when Jesus says, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people”? Is there any real meaning behind Jesus’ own words, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me” for us today? Do we really believe this or have Christ’s own words simply become a romanticized exercise in a formulaic religious contemplation for today’s 21st Century North American Christian?
In truth, we have to come to terms with the reality that if we don’t really believe He means what He says in these Mark passages, then in fact we are denying the truth and efficacy of God’s Word. As one of my teachers along the way said, “We´re professing believers; but in fact, we´re practical atheists.”
The good professor was blunt, but brutally true. When it comes to obeying the Word of God, we don´t do too well with the passages requiring personal sacrifice.
Folks, this must change. If we’re ever to realize the depth and beauty of a vital relationship with our Lord, we have to let go and be willing to trust Him with ALL of His Words.
Are we willing to do that?
If not, then our practical doubts are going to rob us of the very meat and meaning for which we deeply long.
Let us resolve this day that we’re not going to be spectators; we’re going to take a step from the shore, wade in and fully become “a fisherman”.