Godly Witnesses For Christ

Hurting Others Through Gossiping

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Tracy K

Have you ever thought about what gossiping is and how it affects others. Gossip is defined as idle talk or rumor, especially about personal or private affairs of others. Another way to define gossiping is to the deliberately and intentionally spreading of dirt and misinformation about others, as (for example) through excited discussion.

First think of the person you are gossiping about. Whether what you spread is true or not true, gossiping can hurt someone in more ways than one. First consider the thing you are spreading to others. Could it be a viscous lie? Then if you are spreading this gossip, you are maliciously spreading lies about someone. Spreading lies and rumors about someone else, can hurt that person mentally and hinder their spiritual walk. Gossiping comes from Satan and is used to hurt someone’s testimony or affect their lives in a negative way. It is done spitefully by someone and is viciously done to wrongfully slander someone in a mischievous way.

Spreading lies and sowing discord is something the Bible speaks negatively about. It clearly states that the Lord hates this. Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us things the Lord hates. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren is listed in Proverbs 6:19.

Gossiping about others is a form of bullying. Read this post about this topic: https://godlywitnesses.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/bullying-must-stop/

Related Scriptures:

1 Timothy 5:13 -And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

2 Thessalonians 3:11- For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Proverbs 6:18,19-An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Psalm 58:3 -The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Job 11:2,3 –Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

Psalms 62:3,4 –How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.

Job 27:4- My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

1 Peter 3:10- For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

James 1:26- If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged backbiters, backbiting, busybodies, deceivers, false acusers, gossip, gossiping, lying, malicious, slanders, speaking lies | Leave a comment

What Does the Lord Require of You?

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Tracy K

Many people go about their everyday business without considering what God expects of them. So I ask you to consider, “What Does the Lord Require of You?” In Deuteronomy 10:12,13,18,19,20 we learn that God gives explicit instructions on what he requires of man.

To fear him
Walk in his ways
To Love him
To Serve him
To keep his commandments
Love others including strangers
Give unto others
Cleave unto the Lord

The Bible says that “The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalms 111:10). To truly love God, we must fear him. He owns the heavens and the Heaven of heavens, and the earth also (Deuteronomy 10:14). To walk in his ways we must understand what his ways are. His holy Bible teaches us of his ways; he gave us commandments and statutes to live by.

The Lord requires you to love him. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3). One thing Jesus instructed us to do was to love others. 1 John 3:23 says, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” Then Jesus told us to “Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again” (Luke 6:30). The words give & giving are two of the most widely used terms in the Bible.

Last of all, if you love God and want to follow him, you must cleave unto him as your God. To cleave to something means to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly. What does the Lord Require of you? The Lord requires your whole-hearted service. Serving God requires loyalty, love, adherence, devotion and unwavering obedience.

Related scriptures:

Leviticus 25:17-Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 6:2-That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Deuteronomy 8:6- Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

1 Chronicles 16:25- For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 111:10 -The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

1 John 4:12- No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:20- If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Amos 5:17- Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

Luke 6:35 -But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Proverbs 4:2- For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Micah 6:8 -He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Luke 6:38- Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Deuteronomy 30:19,20-I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

https://godlywitnesses.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/choose-whom-ye-will-serve/

https://godlywitnesses.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/worshipping-false-gods/

https://godlywitnesses.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/the-season-of-giving/

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, children of God, Christ, christian, faith, forgiveness, giving, God, Heaven, Jesus, love, what does the lord require | Leave a comment

Choose Whom Ye Will Serve

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Tracy K

Today I ask you to choose who you will serve. You are either for God or you are against him. There is no middle ground. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). Most people say that they know God but refuse to serve him. God tells us in Revelations 3:15-16, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” By reading this scripture, I understand that it’s not good to be a lukewarm Christian.

We are in the last days. Jesus will be coming very soon. Now is the time to repent for what you have done and serve the Living God. I tell you these things because I do not want anyone to perish and burn in an everlasting fire. For those that reject Christ will not be able to enter Heaven into an everlasting life with Christ. Instead these people that reject Christ will go to a place of torment called Hell. The Bible says that you are either for God or you are against him. By not choosing God you have decided to serve Satan. This might be a harsh statement, but it’s true.

Every work that you do for the Lord counts toward a reward in Heaven. Matthew 6:20 says, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27).

Related Scriptures:

Matthew 12:30 -He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Matthew 5:13,14 -Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:20- For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Joshua 24:15 -And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Luke 12:10 -And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Jeremiah 10:10 -But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

Matthew 7:21- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

2 Corinthians 10:5 -Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17- For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Matthew 10:32,33 -Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Deuteronomy 5:8-10- Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

Matthew 13:49,50 -So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Joel 2:11 -And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Worshipping False Gods

God’s People are Called for Service

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, children of God, choose, Christ, christian, Church, faith, God, Heaven, Jesus, living God, rewards, righteous, salvation, servants, serve | 1 Comment

Worshipping False Gods

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Tracy K

Are you worshipping a false god? God gives us a great commandment in his word, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). This commandment is the first commandment from the ten commandments that God gave Moses when he was on Mount Sinai.

You might ask, “What is a false god?” A false god can be an image, a deity, or object of worship that is illegitimate or non-functioning in its professed authority or capability and is considered an “idol”. What is an idol? An idol is an image or other material object or thing representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed. An idol can be a person or thing regarded with admiration, adoration, or devotion.

What is a devotion? A devotion has two meanings.

a feeling of strong love or loyalty : the quality of being devoted
the use of time, money, energy, etc., for a particular purpose

There are some that openly worship false gods today. There is only one true God, which is the God of Heaven (Deuteronomy 10:17). There is nothing that is hid from God. Psalm 69:5 says, “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.”

Then there are those that worship or devote their time and energy into something to a great extent; therefore serving it more than God. This can be your business, your sports team, your riches, or you might actually worship an object. Perhaps you have a million dollar home or a car that you love more than God. Anything that you serve or love more than God is your Idol.

Our children are taught about Greek Mythology at an early age in school. “Greek mythology is teachings that belong to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices (Wikipedia). “It has been adopted into the culture of ancient Rome, and have been frequently incorporated by Western cultural movements and been incorporated into Renaissance art, English poems, film, literature, songs and commercials. There have been movies about false gods which have blinded people’s eyes to the true God. God is not pleased with anyone serving or honoring a false god in any way. God deserves all the honor and praise.

In Daniel Chapter 3 we learn of three men that stood up against a king. King Nebuchadnezzar commanded the people that everyone was to fall down and worship the golden image that he made, when they heard music. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and worship the golden idol. So King Nebuchadnezzar instructed his men to heat a fiery furnace seven times more than it was ever heated. The Kings’ men threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace but the Lord protected them and they didn’t die —neither was any part of their bodies burned, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire upon them.

In 1 Kings 18:24-27, the prophet Elijah put the false prophets of Baal to a test. They wanted to serve their false god instead of the living God. He told them to cry aloud to their god and see if he would answer them. Then he called aloud to the God in Heaven and God answered him. Four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal were killed that day.

In Matthew 4:8-10, we learn how Satan tried to tempt Jesus with all the riches of the world, so that he would worship him. “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

One day every man will give account of the things that he has done whether good or bad. Romans 14:11,12 says, “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” We must repent of these things and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Related Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 10:17 -For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

Genesis 2:4 -These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

Revelations 17:14 -These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Leviticus 19:4 -Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.

2 Kings 17:12 -For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

Nehemiah 9:16-18 -But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;

Revelations: 16:10,11 –And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 -Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

1 Kings 18:22-27 -Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged devotion, false god, God, idol, image, loyalty, money, mythology, serve, worship | 6 Comments

What is Baptism

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Tracy K

Water Baptism is an ordinance of Jesus Christ for the church. The first recording of Baptism was when John the Baptist baptized in the river Jordan, in Bethabara beyond Jordan. John was born to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. Zacharias, his father and his mother were both righteous before God. Zacharias served as a priest in the days of Herod. He walked in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Luke 1:6). An angel appeared unto Zacharias to tell him that he would have a son. Luke 1:17 says, And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John baptized and preached about the coming of the Lord. Then Jesus went down to the river to be baptized so he could set the example for us. John 1:28-34 says, These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

“The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the candidate to be immersed, either totally (submerged completely under the water) or partially (standing or kneeling in water while water was poured on him or her” (Wikipedia encyclopedia). When a person is Baptized, it represents a new person being raised from the water, and the sinful nature buried with Christ. Romans 6:4 says, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 1 Peter 3:21 says, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Other scriptures:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 3:5,6 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Mark 1:4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mark 1:4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mark 1:5
And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mark 1:7-9 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Mark 10:39
And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Matthew 3:13-17 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Acts 9:17-18 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 8:36-38 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged baptism, baptist, baptized, Jesus, new creature, ordinance | 2 Comments

Sin & Death

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Tracy K

From the beginning Adam and Eve had fellowship with God. God would go to the Garden of Eden and talk with them (Genesis 3:8). But, when Adam and Even took of the fruit of the tree that God told them not to eat, sin entered the world. God told Adam and Eve that because of their sin, they would one day die. “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19).

What is sin? Sin is the act of violating God’s will. It can also be viewed as anything that violates the ideal relationship between an individual and God (Wikipedia- online encyclopedia). The Bible tells us in James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Sin separates us from the love of the Father.

Why must a person die? Romans 5:12 says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Therefore because of man’s sin, we must die to enter into fellowship with God. Romans 6:7 says, For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 5:18,19 says, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

How can a sinful man become clean before God? For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Jesus free gift of salvation justifies many from sin, if they call upon him. Romans 6:23 says, “For death2 the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Revelation 1:5 says, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”

Can we continue in sin? Romans 6:11,12 says, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:16 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” So if we yield to sin, we become the servant of sin, not the servant of righteousness or God.

Related Scriptures:

Isaiah 1:18 -Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Matthew 12:31 -Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Romans 3:23 -For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:14-17- Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Romans 6:13-15 -Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid

Read these important post:

https://godlywitnesses.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/the-death-of-the-cross/ or

https://godlywitnesses.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/saved-by-the-blood-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-24

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged corruption, death, deliverance, Grace, justification, redemption, sin, unrighteouosness | 2 Comments

Justified by Faith, Not by Works

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Tracy K

Some may ask, how can we enter into Heaven? If you have not received Christ into your heart, then the answer is that you will not enter Heaven. Your sins are unrighteous and full of corruption; therefore you cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works. Therefore a man must come to Christ to receive forgiveness and enter into Heaven. There is nothing a man can do alone, without Jesus, to be considered righteous before God. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in the eyes of God (Isaiah 64:6).

When we accept Christ, we are considered clean and righteous because Jesus cleanses us from sin by his own blood. Revelation 1:5 says, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Why is the Blood necessary? Go to this post to read. Saved by the Blood of Jesus

Related scriptures:

Titus 3:5 -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;

Ephesians 2:13 -But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Galatians 2:16 -Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Romans 4:5-7- But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Ephesians 2:8- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 9:31-33 -But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1 Peter 2:21-24 -For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Romans 4:25 -Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 5:16 -And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

Romans 5:18 -Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, blood of Jesus, faith, forgiveness, Heaven, Jesus, religious, righteous, salvation, savior, works | 2 Comments

The Way to the Father

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Tracy K

If you are searching for ways to become closer to God, then I hope this post will help you. I have learned that the best way to find God is by Seeking him. To truly seek God, you must have a desire to seek him. Then you can find him through prayer and by reading your Bible. To develop a closer relationship with God, you need to set aside a time everyday to seek him. Find a quiet place in your house to pray, where there are no distractions.

A person who seeks the Lord, must learn who he is. The only way to understand God is by searching things about him. Read his word, the Bible. If you do not understand it, pray and ask God to reveal things to you. If you draw nigh to God, he will draw nigh to you (James 4:8). Another way to understand God’s word is by going to church and listening to the preacher. If you are unable to go to church, then listen to preaching on the radio or television.

God is waiting on people to seek him because he wants to have a closer relationship with us. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. This does not mean sit down and say a quick prayer. To seek God you must seek him with your whole heart.

To find the Father, you must seek him often. 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually. Then prepare your heart to seek the Lord. A person who continues in sin doesn’t want to find God. To find the Father, you must repent of your sins and ask for his forgiveness. Then, seek him with your whole heart through prayer.

If you haven’t accepting God as your Lord and Savior then I suggest you pray and ask him to enter your life. He is waiting on you to call upon him. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6). God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God (Psalm 53:2).

Related scriptures:

Romans 10:14 -How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Hebrews 11:6 -But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2 Chronicles 12:14 -And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.

Acts 17:27 -That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Job 8:5,6 -If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Psalm 63:1 -O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Isaiah 58:2 -Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Matthew 6:33 -But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bible, Father, forgiveness, love, prayer, righteous, searching for God, seeking God, way to the Father | Leave a comment

Jesus died for the Jews and Gentiles

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Tracy K

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a city known as the birthplace of Jesus and King David. It is a predominately Christian Palestinian city just south of Jerusalem. Therefore he was not a White man, African, Indian, German, Spanish man. He came from Israel which means he was of that descent. So I ask you the question, Are you prejudice? Do you think your nationality or race is better than someone else. Have you found yourself talking badly about another race.

There are so many different nationalities in the world but Jesus died for all. If you think you are better than someone else, then you might want to consider that Jesus was born a different race than you. Do you find yourself looking at someone’s skin color? If you have received salvation then we are all of Christ. If you cannot accept someone for their race, then you might be held accountable by God. This is not something to look at lightly. Jesus loved all and showed compassion for all the people, even when others looked down on him. Look at the Samaritan woman. She asked, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9). He didn’t care about her race but her soul. Jews looked down on people who weren’t of their race and they called them Gentiles. They considered them unclean people.

Prejudices are a form of pride. God hates pride and he says it is from the devil. 1 John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

Related scriptures:

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Acts 20: 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:4-7 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

Isaiah 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

Acts 11:1-3 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Psalm 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christ, gentiles, israel, Jesus, jews, nationality, prejudice, pride, race | 4 Comments

Jesus Our High Priest

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Tracy K

Not one person on earth is clean and pure before God. We are all unclean and our righteousness is as filthy rags in the eyes of God (Isaiah 64:6). There is nothing hid that has not been manifested or revealed to God; but all things are naked and opened unto him (Hebrews 4:13). So I ask you “How can we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) We can be redeemed and forgiven because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Romans 3:24,25 says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”

If we believe in Christ, then we have a great high priest, that is passed into the Heavens which is Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14). “We have a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). For he is our mediator between us and God. 1 Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Beginning at the time of the first Passover, a blood sacrifice had to be made to offer an atonement for sin (Exodus 12:27). Then as a part of God’s commandment, they had to eat unleavened bread for seven days. If they did not follow the Passover, then all the firstborn in the land of Egypt would die. Now we do not have to follow this ordinance because Jesus became our sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Hebrews 9:11-14 says, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Related scriptures:

Hebrews 7:26-27 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 3:1 says, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Titus 3:5,6 5 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;
Hebrews 9:28 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.
Hebrews 5:5,6 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:22-27 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.