The Strategy is Often the Same

Satan is very clever. Always his strategy is to confuse reality, to make evil seem good. He knows Eve is living in all the splendor of Eden, with all of her needs met. How do you get at someone who is contented with good?

The serpent has a plan. He approaches the woman with a theological discussion about God. That is a safe subject; she likes to talk about God. The serpent queries, “Did God really say, ‘ You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The serpent makes an overstatement that he allows Eve to correct, but in doing so he makes her aware of a restriction. God is keeping something from her.

The woman corrects the serpent. “No, God isn’t like that….” Then she makes her own overstatement of what God has said (Genesis 3:3). Yet, instead of declaring that the garden is lavish in its provision for her need, and that one tree doesn’t make all that much difference, the woman lets the serpent trick her. He focuses her attention on the one forbidden tree, suggesting that God is keeping something good from Eve. He casts doubt on the character of God. Doubting God makes it easy to “take and eat.”

Eve’s attention is riveted to the tree– not the garden full of goodness, not God’s gracious fellowship and provision. Just the tree. It looks good; it pleases the eye; it is desirable (Genesis 3:6). The more she looks, the more appealing it becomes. It’s always that way when Satan gets us to concentrate on the temptation instead of on God.

I suppose the temptation has been replayed again and again in the history of the human race, and probably in each of our lives. The specifics are different, but the strategy is often the same. How many times has the serpent tempted you to think, “A good God wouldn’t keep me from this, would He?”

The serpent won his encounter with the woman. She took the fruit and gave some to her husband. It will be a long time before another One will say, “Take and eat, ” and this time He will provide His own body and blood as a ransom for their sins.

from: Women’s Devotional Bible

Although God would put enmity between Satan and humanity, and between the Seed of the woman and that of the serpent, a Man would be appointed by God to bruise the serpents head, and remove God’s curse forever, although God’s chosen Saviour would Himself be bruised in the process. But the death of the ONE would triumph over the power of the other, death itself would lose its sting, and Satan himself would be vanquished forever.

One result of their sin would be a perpetual struggle between the satanic forces and mankind until its final completion, and Christ becomes all in all. But until that time, there will be ongoing hostility and bitter enmity between the woman and her human offspring, and Satan, his demonic forces, and all who choose to serve in the kingdom of darkness.

Satan and sin was defeated at the Cross by the death of Christ and His shed blood. Two thousand years ago the promised Seed of the woman crushed the head of the serpent and defeated man’s bitter enemy at the Cross, where His heel was bruised on account of our iniquity and sin. BUT His blood cleanses sin for all who believe in Christ as Saviour. Praise His holy name.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/genesis-3-15

God’s Presence thru Jesus

What a wonderful feeling waking up and God speaking to my heart. What a voice of peace whispering in my ear that He is near. He has a marvelous way of extending His desire to be shared in this world that He created. Remember not to worry is His tune; always seek the Kingdom of Righteousness to prepare for the glorious eternal moments that no earthly eyes have ever seen or imagined! He reminded me that He is forever my Shield, my Protector, my Healer, my Refuge, my Comforter, my Companion, my Provider and my Counselor. How good of a feeling that through Jesus, I am privileged to be gifted with His Holy Spirit that enabled me to hear clearly the voice of the Almighty One. What a GIFT, that many people are missing out, just because they do not believe in the story of the Cross at Golgotha.

the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was located at Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified

No matter how we tried to live a life sans Jesus Christ, that life is not a peaceful one but it’s an empty existence. Without Jesus, we tried to cover up that hole in our hearts with thoughts of having it all in life. A process that have been proven futile, useless or in vain. Party here, party there! Live life to the fullest- eat, drink, travel and be merry. Would God say in your Judgment Day, since you party hardy, drink, eat plenty and live life to the fullest, you are welcome in heaven?

God will judge us base on what we did for His Kingdom. If we didn’t serve Him (https://www.gotquestions.org/well-done-good-and-faithful-servant.html), we will be judged by the Ten Commandments.

Did you use God’s name in vain, did you steal, did you lie, did you get envious of other’s wealth and popularity, did you have sexual relationship before marriage or with a married person? James 2:10 said: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point (command) is guilty of breaking all of it. Are you going to heaven or hell? God is just and fair and He is Holy. There’s no grey matter in His Kingdom. He is either black or white in His Judgment.

The reason why Jesus put forth this very disheartening story of ^{The Rich Man and Lazarus}  “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’  But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’  He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

We are nothing without Jesus in our lives

So heart provoking if you seriously think about it. Jesus said yet again on Luke 12:19-21: “And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Give us wisdom to realize how short our lives are

When we realize that our life is short, we should also realize and be concerned, as to where this life after death will spend eternal life in the eternal hemisphere.

No one can see heaven nor God without going thru Jesus. Church cannot save us, good deeds cannot take us to heaven, being a good person will not open heaven’s gate. Only through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ can God allows for us to be with Him. Because thru accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He will give us the Gift of Grace that has a transforming power that would totally change us to be like His Son as we seek and study Jesus’ life and God’s true nature. With it comes the gifting of the Holy Spirit that would reside within us. It’s so powerful! Don’t miss out! Your eternal life’s destiny depends on this Truth.

“So how do we follow Him today? The same way the disciples did long ago. They heard the words of Jesus and believed them. They took His words and obeyed them. They confessed their sins to Jesus as their Lord and God. They believed that He died to take the punishment of their sins and rose from the dead to give them new life. They followed His example and command to tell others the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment. When we follow Him in “the way,” we can be assured of following Him all the way to heaven.” GotQuestions.org

And this is what God this morning nudges me to write. Share God’s good news of Salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) shall not perish (go to hell) but have eternal life (heaven).” John 3:16

Where is your sting?

Another chapter in my life is besieged with news of death of a long time friend last month, 23rd of July to be exact. After two people I’ve known had gone ahead to eternal life, I was again mourning the passing of this friend who was dear to my heart. Again, I was looking back to the past. It has a way of pulling you back, throw back the years gone by. Days of recollection of the good old days. It played in my mind how busy the years were, that when I got reconnected with these group of friends outside work; they have all been family oriented and with kids to boot. Those days of carefree life among them stayed in my old video tapes, played again after hearing of this friend’s death.

I just recently recovered from the passing of a friend from work; and facing again this dilemma of heartbreak of losing another friend, it’s been tough. When she finally was laid to rest and the coffin was lowered down to the grave as shown by a live streaming video on Facebook, I was exhausted from mourning. I had to deactivate my Facebook page again just to take a breather. I decided to intentionally stay away from Messenger as well to clear my mind. My friends from this group were so nonchalantly telling me that people they know, related or not, died like flies in recent months. Young and old alike are passing away. The funeral homes are inundated with funeral services even to this day. They are hopelessly overloaded, the reason it took 17 days for the viewing of my friend’s remains. At least she was buried on her birthday the next day. This is the reality of the ongoing pandemic of Covid 19 and its variants.

Who knows if these people are passing away, not necessarily of Covid infections, but the effects of Covid vaccinations that trickled to the body’s organs and cells that causes illnesses and deceases. No one knows at this point of the pandemic until maybe years from now.

What’s top my list moving forward is to go back to stress reducing ways. Resume with exercises, sleeping well, healthy diet and meditation. With these sad news of deaths, close in proximity, among friends and relations, it takes a toll on your mind. I have to tell myself, these people are gone. The Holy Bible scriptures describe their state of mind as asleep knowing nothing anymore about this present world. I need to remind myself, to help me cope, that their spirits have gone back to God and their everlasting souls either stayed with God or Hades. Wherever their souls reside, they no not of us any longer. They don’t know anymore how we feel about their passing. They are like vapors that are now gone. We are just torturing ourselves getting emotional in recollecting the memories about them. We should have actually enjoyed and have spent time with them, in any shape and form, while they were here on earth, communicating with them when they were alive. That’s the valuable facts that no one pays attention to when these loved ones were alive. When they want to communicate, communicate back! You will be sorry if you don’t when they pass on. And when the opportunity arise, don’t miss out sharing and telling them about Jesus eternal SALVATION.

According to Ecclesiastes 9:5 of the Holy Bible: “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The Living and Eternal God

Through the Scriptures, God has revealed to us what He is like. He is not, as some describe Him, an impersonal force. God possesses all the qualities of personality–intelligence, emotions, and self-determining will–in their ultimate and infinitely wonderful forms.

Though immeasurably greater than we are, He can relate to us and we can relate to Him with our minds, hearts, and wills.

God is eternal. His value is seen in the truth that He is “from everlasting to everlasting.” Unlike any other being, He never had a beginning and He will never have an end. He is, for every generation of worshipers, the Ever-living One.

God is spirit. Jesus taught us that God can’t be contained or limited by physical places, forms, or buildings. He is spirit and does not exist in a body that can be seen or touched. Therefore, He must not be reduced to a physical image of any kind.

God is all–knowing, unlimited in His knowledge calling each of the innumerable stars “by name.”

He knows everything there is to know about us, our world, and the universe. His knowledge is not hindered by locked doors, darkness, or distant places.

God is all-powerful. He can do anything He chooses to do. No army, government, or civilization can frustrate His purposes.

God is everywhere-present. There is no hiding or escaping — no way to avoid the all-powerful One. No locked room or secret meeting place can keep Him out. No matter where you go in the universe, God is there.

God is sovereign. Regardless of the apparent turmoil, confusion, or chaos in our world, the God we worship is the One who does all things according to His own will and purposes. He is, has been and always will be in control of all history. Nothing can escape His ever-present hand.

God said to His prophet Isaiah on verses 46:10-11

In His character, in His purpose, and in His ability, God never changes. He has never been nor ever will be less good, less loving, les true, or less powerful. The God that Abraham praise and relied on is the same God we worship.

God is good. “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”

Because of His goodness, He gives blessings and joy to His creatures.

His goodness to us should cause us to offer our praise to Him.

God is righteous and just. He deals fairly with all His creatures. Because of His perfect knowledge, love and holiness He is absolutely just.

“Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure– You, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. My shield is God Most High, saving those whose hearts are true and right. God is a righteous Judge, a God who displays His wrath every day. If a person does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He will bend and string His bow. He will prepare His deadly weapons and shoot His flaming arrows. Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves.” Psalm 7:9-15

Because of His perfect knowledge, love, and holiness, He is absolutely just.

Not only is He the one true God, but whatever He says is true. We can trust all of His promises and His principles.

John 17:3

God is holy and completely free of any moral defect, compromise, or contamination.

Because He is the standard of all excellence and honor, He deserves our unending praise.

We worship God because of who He is! We also worship Him because of what He has done.

Excerpts from: What is Worship? Living in Response to God/JAMES PITTMAN/Discovery Series

His Faithful Promises

On October 12, 2018, one of the Bible verses that God wants me to remember and to always keep in my heart is Psalm 91. Little did I know then as to why He wants me to remember it. Fast forward to 2020, the Corona Sar Virus 19 would become the center of people’s everyday existence. A plague or pandemic that has gotten contagious in the form of a new variant named Omicron as we start year 2022. Just this month, there are many known people, vaccinated and boosted and all, that are infected. It is so contagious according to the news that Omicron surges so fast and seems unstoppable. Many stories of Covid cases that are coming out nowadays are those who got boosted, then got the symptoms of Omicron. There are no stories about the unvaccinated who are getting the Omicron and suffered severe infections. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated are getting mild symptoms, unless they have underlying health conditions. Very few death counts. But I hear more of those who get their booster shots and then developed the Omicron infection syndrome.

Psalm 91 has been my go to scripture verses since the start of the pandemic, every time I get anxious and fearful. Psalm 91 makes me remember what God said that He did not give a spirit of fear to those that follow Him and His commands and love Him with all of their hearts, mind and might. Instead He said He has given the followers of Jesus Christ power through the Holy Spirit to overcome all the trials, struggles in life, including this Covid 19 virus.

“Come, my people… into thy chambers. As when a storm comes, prudence counsels men to seek shelter (Exodus 9:19), so now the prophet advises his people to put themselves under cover during the coming tempest. His meaning, probably, is that they should retire into the privacy of communion with God, withdrawing from public affairs and the distractions of a worldly life. Shut thy doors about thee (comp. 2 Kings 4:33; Matthew 6:6). For a little moment (so in Isaiah 10:25; and again in Isaiah 54:7, 8). God’s estimate of time, we must remember, is not as man’s (Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). Isaiah 26:20″

When I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you (Exodus 12:13), for the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross has saved and reconciled them with Father God, those that love Jesus and believe and accepted the indwelling of His Holy Spirit within them that Jesus promised to His faithful followers. Those that believe His death and resurrection and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior and surrender their will and life to Him; and worship God.

Reference: “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” Exodus 12:12-13

History Repeats.

One of God’s promises to those that love Him through His Son, Jesus, is NO PLAGUE will touch you.

When God sees the Blood of Jesus covering you

I will continue to remember God’s promises. Many times in the Bible, He said “Do not fear, for I am with you.”

To Whom you show extravagant Devotion…

… determines where you will spend eternity in the afterlife.

“=

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” To glorify God– that’s worship! To enjoy Him forever–that’s the all-encompassing reward! Whatever life brings, whatever the outcome of our daily journey on earth, having a personal relationship with God will give us joy, peace and contentment.

Let’s glorify Him for our Creator deserves worship for the wonderful things He has done for us; countless awesome goodness and love for us, sacrificing the death of His Son, Jesus, to save us. And there are benefits to worshiping Him here on earth and we will carry it through when we step in to the afterlife spending forever with Him, when we make Jesus our Savior and Lord. To worship Him is to give Him honor, respect and devotion.

Benefits of Worshiping God:

FORGIVENESS** True worshipers recognize God’s holiness and accept His forgiveness. Thru worship they are purified.

GUIDANCE** Those who honor God will be given wisdom and will receive His guidance day by day.

PROVISION** Jesus said that God will meet our material needs if we give Him first place in our lives.

LOVE** The love of God is experienced in the hearts of all of those who are true worshipers of God.

POWER** To all who give God the glory He deserves, He gives the enablement to do the things He requires of them.

PROTECTION** He faithfully watches over all who acknowledge Him, and He keeps them in all of life’s changing circumstances.

GLORY** All true worshipers will one day be glorified. They’ll inherit a new heaven and a new earth and join a company of believers and angels in perfect, uninterrupted worship.

Excerpts from Our Daily Bread/WORSHIP

Royalty!

“Do you know, you are royalty?!”

This is what the powerful, almighty God placed in my heart one night when I was ready for bed. My heart skipped a bit and started to realize God was revealing Truth, which I never thought of before. Powerful revelation from a powerful and magnificent, awesome God!

God created the world and what’s in it. Who can do such an accomplishment but a powerful King of the Universe!

Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Isaiah 37:16

“All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen One who never dies; He alone is God. Amen.”

How awesome to realize and understand how my relationship with Him has made me His child, co-heir with His Son, my Savior and Lord, Jesus the Messiah!

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

Jesus Christ and God are not only one and the same, Jesus is God Incarnate. God through Jesus came down to earth to be with His creation-humanity! The owner of the heavenly kingdom mingled with ordinary and mundane of the earth!

God, the King of the Universe wants to save His creation, the people a little lower in rank with the heavenly angels. “Scripture reveals that humans are made lower than the angels when the book of Hebrews says that Jesus Christ, who became a man, was made lower than the angels. YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS . . . Hebrews 2:7″

The King of the Universe walked the earth with Adam and Eve and all the animals He created, until sin entered Eden and separated us from the most Holy One, the King of Heaven! But through His saving Grace and Salvation, Jesus reconciles His followers to the true King of Kings, Lord of Lords and believers of Jesus become children of the Creator of the world! What amazing truth!

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, (John 1:12)

What an AMAZING Revelation straight from God!

Making Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I can hope for a bright, eternal future in being able to see and live forever in the KINGDOM of GOD in one of the heavenly mansions Jesus Christ has prepared for those who live on earth for Him!

When Jesus says, “The one who endures to the end will be saved” ( Matthew 24:13 ), He is speaking of those who are truly born again, whose lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Simply put, the Bible declares that the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, a being with a mind, emotions, and a will. The fact that the Holy Spirit is God is clearly seen in many Scriptures, including Acts 5:3-4″

“The Holy Spirit also helps Christians in their weakness and intercedes for them. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s thoughts, teaches, and guides believers into all truth , including knowledge of what is to come.”

“In the beginning God… Then God said,… (Genesis 1’1-5) In the beginning the Word already existed… God created everything through him… John 1:1-5) God’s kingdom has absolutely no boundaries. That means that the kingdom of God is big and broad. and beyond our wildest imaginations. Its fullness can never be completely understood by us. Its resources are never depleted. Its season is never over.”

The Promises of God

Since last year, I have never lived my life so in tuned with Psalm 91 as I am so now. Every word in this scripture has come to life and has been staying active in my entire being. I feel like God is directly speaking to me and reminding me each day that He is guiding me and my family.

“I have commanded you, ‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'” Just like how God guided and protected Joshua when He declared these words on Joshua 1:9; it is the same in my life. God is instilling these precious promises in the deepest crevices of my heart.

“You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.”

God is my SAFE HAVEN, my SECURITY, my SANCTUARY and in His SHADOW, under His CARE, lovingly covered by His PROTECTION.

God has been Faithful since the day He made Himself known to me;
and declared that He knew me even when I was not even been born! (Jeremiah 1:5)

“Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.”

I believe in God and what He promises. When I prayed for protection, He is quick to remind me that Nothing is impossible with God. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23)

“Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

Angels take their orders from God. They guide Jesus Christ’s believers on earth to protect, help and prepare them for eternal life in heaven.

“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
    “I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
    if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
    I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
    give you a long drink of salvation!” from The Message

Faith and Belief in Him hold a great factor in God’s heavenly government. When we come to Him humbled and our desire is to know Him and pursues close relationship with Him, He never fails to get His Bible promises in action in those that love Him. The Holy Bible is mainly about His love for mankind, to save them and for them not to perish in hell. Thanks be to His magnificent plan of giving us His only Son to save the world from their sins.
Through Jesus we are saved.
Through Jesus we have eternal life.
Through Jesus we are sons and daughters of God
Through Jesus we have access to God
Through Jesus we have forgiveness of sins
Through Jesus we have been reconciled to God

It’s God’s favor to give us Protection from the evilness rampant in our dark world. His Mercy and Grace come abundantly guiding and protecting those who are lovingly devoted to Him.