July 4th

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

11 THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD STANDS FOREVER, THE PLANS OF HIS HEART TO ALL GENERATIONS. 12 BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD, THE PEOPLE HE HAS CHOSEN AS HIS OWN INHERITANCE.

13 THE LORD LOOKS FROM HEAVEN; HE SEES ALL THE SONS OF MEN. ~ Psalm 33:11-13 NKJV

“BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD!” ~ How do we know if a nation belongs to the LORD? What exactly does a “nation” look like whose “GOD IS THE LORD?” Does it only matter if the president claims to be a GOD -fearing CHRIST-follower? What about congress, the senate, supreme court judges, governors, and mayors? After all, our money still says, “In GOD we trust,” right? Maybe… it’s the journalists who report the news? Or, could it be the entertainment industry that sets our moral standard? I doubt it…

We might say, “It’s ‘the nation’ which is ‘the people.’” I agree, but how many people must believe in GOD and live for HIM? Is it a vote that needs 51% to win the election? Let’s consider the exclusive statements of our LORD JESUS CHRIST: HE said, “I am the only way…” (John 14:6a)

9 that if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ~ Romans 10:9-10

I am confident that the GOD who wants “all to come to repentance…” (II Peter 3:9b) has a different standard. HE searches one heart at a time! That’s why each of us must choose to make OUR “HEARTS CHRIST’S HOME.” Thus, we begin the study today leading one heart at a time to surrender, confess, and follow JESUS by giving HIM every area of our lives: one room at a time. HE’S at the door… will you respond? 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that YOU, O LORD, are GOD and that YOU have brought them back to YOURSELF.” ~ I Kings 18:37

The Battle for the Souls in a Nation! ~ When you travel to Israel and reach the top of Mount Carmel, you’ll find a compass overlooking the surrounding areas and cities. It was atop this mountain that THE LORD GOD shocked the nation of Israel with consuming fire. Imagine waiting all day for something spectacular to happen as hundreds of people put on their very best show. For hours, the prophets of Baal were chanting, singing, and dancing. These magicians, dramatizers, and actors put on the best show they could muster for all the people of Israel. Around lunchtime, the show grew old.

At this point, The Prophet Elijah challenged these four-hundred fifty prophets of Baal and four-hundred prophets of Asherah by asking them where their god was. He asked if he was too busy to listen to them ~ not omnipotent. He asked if their god was too far away to hear them ~ not omniscient. Then, he asked if their god was asleep or merely daydreaming. Finally, he told them that their god maybe in the bathroom on the toilet ~ not a god at all. They did not take this humiliation well. These prophets began to cut their bodies and mutilate themselves until blood coated the altar. THE WORD OF GOD says that there was “no sound, no reply, and no response.”

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else.” ~ C. S. Lewis

As we celebrate our national freedom, let’s remember the cost of our spiritual freedom ~ JESUS! Make no mistake, GOD is at work just as HE was on Mount Carmel that day. HE is proving HIMSELF to you today. Be very careful! It’s easy to be like one of the Israelites who said they believed, but there was no living-proof of that belief. Real Christianity results in life-change! Remember, JESUS is the ONE WHO gave HIS life for you. HE is the ONE WHO is actively leading ~ The Battle for the Souls in a Nation!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

readyforafreshstart

Bold thoughts from a bruised theologian with a touch of balderdash

BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD!

THE BATTLE FOR THE SOULS IN A NATION!