Entering Into The Promise!

“Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief”( Hebrews 3:16-19 NIV).

In the midst of teaching about the bible, many have heard the sermons, the teachings, the instructions, the invitations and in spite of all that—rejected the promise of salvation. The promise through Moses was to go into the land of milk and honey—being saved from the harshness of what their lives once were. However, since many could not follow instructions—and rather chose to ignore the God who had brought them out of Egypt—and rebelled against all that Moses was trying to instill—they never saw the promised land.

We can look at this passage of scripture and see how things went awry then, but can we look at our lives and see the same thing happening? Why is it that so many who were taught, rebelled? Why is it that people some would rather promulgate sin than live a life that moves people into promised land—heaven? Now, we really need to think about what we do and how it relates to “entering into His rest” or living a life of turmoil and confusion.  Since we know that God is not the author of confusion (Satan is), all of the confusion in the world is a result of people living under the influence of the author.

God says: Give your all to me and live for eternity.

Satan says: Surely, God doesn’t mean what He says.

God says: I am a jealous God and I don’t want you to worship other gods.

Satan says: Build a monument unto me so I can cause confusion in the land.

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you.

Satan says: The minute you get in trouble, you’re on your own.

God says: I will always love you.

Satan says: What’s love got to do with anything?

God says: Your body is the temple where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Satan says: It’s your body. Do what you want with it.

God says: Think on all the things that bring honor and glory to Him.

Satan says: Here—smoke this, snort this, shoot-up this, drink this, use this and allow your mind to rise above your circumstances.

Satan knows that a mind is a terrible thing to waste, which is why he wants yours wasted and why he attacks the mind.

This conversation could go on for years, but I hope the point is made. Whatever God says, Satan always has something to say to counter it-the opposite and when we receive the opposite of God’s promises—we have only ourselves to blame.

God help us to recognize the tricks of the enemy. Help us to see the deceptions, the lies, the destruction he causes and joy he steals when all hope is lost. Help us to submit to You and resist the influence of all who don’t know You. Help us to recognize those who are sincere, from those who are simply posturing goodness—on a superficial level- so we may enter into the promise. We thank You for hearing and answering prayer.

 

 

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Great Love!

“For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead” (Psalm 86:13 NIV).

I encourage everyone to read this entire Psalm get a better understanding of the focus attempted here.

If it had not been for God’s great love for me, where would I be?  If He had not provided deliverance, through Jesus Christ, I would still be on the path to hell!

Not that I’m a perfect person now, but when I look back at the things that I did, and remember the way I sometimes treated people, I can honestly say that “heaven was not an option” for me, then.  I did not commit any murders–unless we count what I attempted to do to others by undermining their self-worth.  I did not commit grand theft–unless we count stealing hearts deliberately and then letting them dangle and rot.  There were days when I was not a very nice person.  I did what I wanted to do with little thought for how my actions would affect others.  I was on a mission to debilitate every male I met because of what had been done to me as a child.  I was so foolish that I thought I’d never live past 50 and when people told me I’d end up in hell, I’d say, “well, it will be a party because everyone I know will be there.”  How foolish is that?

But O how great is our God!  It was His love that saved me and got me on the right path. He put people in my life who would not give up on me and they helped me to see that “heaven was not only an option; it was assured.”

So, if I offend anyone reading by praising God–please understand–I have a right and I will praise Him with everything in me.  You don’t know like I know, what He’s done for me!  You don’t know how He set me free–from anger and bitterness and unforgiveness.  You don’t know how He saved me from the pit I was digging deeper every day for myself.  You don’t know!  I will praise Him every waking hour, in my sleep, online, in my books–wherever and whenever I can–I will praise His Holy Name.  I know without a smidgen of a doubt, that had I been the only person on the planet, Jesus would have made that great sacrifice–just for me! If He did for me; He’ll do it for anyone else who chooses to receive His love!  How great is His love towards us!  Hallelujah!  Thank God for saving me!