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BE SAVED

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BE SAVED

By Rick Mathes

Acts 16:30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

What successful words can you ever expect to hear but, “What must I do to be saved?” My heart pounds at the prospect of leading my next soul out of the clutches of Satan into the loving arms of Jesus. Here is a simply plan of salvation:

  • Acknowledgement:     Lk 18:13
  • Repentance:               Lk 13:3
  • Confession:                 Rom 10:9
  • Forsake:                      Isa 55:7
  • Believe:                       Mk 16:16
  • Receive:                      Jn 1:11-12

I had a Roman Catholic mentality and convinced myself that if I could deal with Satan here could deal with him there. I knew I was going to hell and I accepted that as a given. When I learned the word “Tetelestai” (it is finished) I turned startled to my pastor and asked, “Is it really true? Are my sins all forgiven?” He assured me they were and I cried like a baby. I had been saved right on the spot. What is it to be saved, you ask?

My tool-box was emptied. I couldn’t handle my old problems in the old way. Although my sinful past came crushing down on me, I was, so I thought, defenseless and it was painful. In fact the year after this experience with the Holy Spirit was worse that the year I was born again. What I hadn’t learned was that my new Daddy had it all in His hands. He proved His love to me and “It came to pass” became my favorite KJV verse. AMEN?

This blessing continued and I learned the salvation process continues. I had been saved from the punishment of past sins and now I was delivered from present sins. I learned to love the Lord more than the sin. It took and continues to take some spiritual weight lifting but I am having the time of my life pursuing the way, the truth and the life.

So at my advanced age now I look into the future and I can see it holds a life without even a temptation or sin. Rest assured, had there been any way but Christ that I hadn’t taken I would have tried it. Jesus said it best when He said, “No one comes to the Father but through Me.” That says it all: are you reaching out to be saved? Then accept Him as your Lord right now!

ATTENTION SINNERS!

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ATTENTION SINNERS

By Rick Mathes

1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB77) 15   It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

Civilizations in every age back to Adam have demonstrated in every nation of people without change to ratchet up the decrees of their actions continue without change to where sin is normal and bad has been accepted as good. You need to search long and carefully to find a penitent when you are the chief and worst of sinners.

Some truths are never learned and yes, history repeats itself. For example, many professing Christians confess Jesus is Lord but don’t always confess Jesus as Lord. They have intellectual ascent but have not surrendered to lordship salvation. Justification without sanctification is a fraud or akin to talk without walk. You can’t be part pregnant. You can’t get part of you into heaven.

On and on, one after another are convinced by the devil an the Roman church (or do I repeat myself) that you can be saved from hell by your good works; that you can be self-righteous and stand in the presence of God. Hogwash! You cannot make yourself savable than you can breathe under water unaided by a respirator. You need your Savior, walk your talk, believe-obey and make Him your Lord: your Master. When you do, the Word will flow through your veins like fire and you will openly confess Christ to others.

I strongly suggest that you join a Bible believing church that confesses Bible only, Jesus only, Faith only, and Grace only. They will guide you in reading and studying God’s Word correctly. All other churches that the true church will have something to add to add like Pope, tongues, sacraments, confessionals, rosary, second baptism, Apocrypha, etc. These churches have a demon in the pulpit!

The true test of your commitment will be your desire to spend time with Jesus in prayer. He loves to hear your voice and learn about all those things that are a part of your life. He loves you dearly and if you put your hand in His, you will walk in His footsteps, on His path to be again in His will as it is on earth and in heaven. So listen up and pay attention, bone head!

AT HIS FEET

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AT HIS FEET

By Rick Mathes

Hebrews 2:8 (ASV) Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.

The word “Tetelestai” means “It is finished!” Jesus spoke this from the cross, gave up the ghost and died. I did too. My knees hit the ground and my soul soared in glory and submission to His Lordship at that moment I heard the word. And even to this day, my heart beats close to His and my spirit comes under His authority: at His feet.

All unfortunate sinners such as those suffering are reaping the reward of their disobedience. They must turn from the flaming king of this world and turn to the everlasting King of this universe in repentance and prayer.

Wayward children afflict fathers with shame and give good, praying mothers much sorrow and grief. No amount of crying and begging forgiveness will bring relief to their distraught parents or sin sick children but the blessing and forgiveness of our Lord. He said for us to bring our burdens to Him and He would give us rest.

The crowd that gathers at His feet frequently includes sinful women who do unnatural acts with each other and sell their sexual favors to the highest bidder. Women, made virtuous as an example of God’s purity rule; live and employ themselves with men that step fresh from the garbage and refuse of humanity.

A mission field that is frequently encountered in third world countries are those struggling with demons of alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness and other supernatural attacks from hell. Those countries must infiltrated by Christianity are most i9nclined to hold off Satan’s demonic arrows so the father of hell goes to the weakest link which are those most inclined to fear the underworld and the attacks of the devil.

But the number one enemy and priority target of the devil is those who are seeking the truth because it’s the tuth that clearly defeats the devil. This truth is only found at the feet of the Lord. And let’s not forget the bereaved Christians in the weakness of their sorrow or the reverent worshippers in the weakness of their vulnerability or being out on the water. It’s at the precious feet of our Savior in respect and adoration that we are more than conquerors.

ANOINTED

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ANOINTED

By Rick Mathes

Luke 4:18 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN,

The biggest assurance I have of being saved from sin is my conviction of sin. Satan would not nag me to repent so it must be the Holy Spirit within me. Only the offended can demand restitution form the offender. And only a sinner who has a Savior can respond and be regenerated and baptized in holiness, not of ourselves but the holiness imputed to us from the final sacrifice of God’s Son and our Savior on the cross that was risen from the dead.

I thank Jesus with all that is within me that He left His Holy Spirit behind to teach and guide me and to intercede when my sinful knees hit the ground and my soul aches for only the salvation Christ can gift us with.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit fills us with His righteousness and cause to rise on behalf of the King. From the top of our head to the soles of our feet we are committed to the cause of Christ. We put on the armor, lift the sword and dig in our cleats to keep the faith, fight the good fight and finally finish the race.

The best analogy of being Spirit-filled is being in love. You can’t see it, you can’t hear it, you can’t taste it, you can’t smell it but you sure can feel it! You start out being the hand and the blood of Jesus becomes the glove that protects the hand: that’s justification. Then you exchange places. You become the glove and your skin covers our Lord who becomes your hand. Then you go about the Father’s business with Him working it out through you.

The witnesses of Father, Son and Holy Spirit agree that you are theirs and sealed until that last day when you will be released: like a caterpillar into a butterfly, from black and white to color. He indwells in you and when people get to know you they get to know Jesus.

Once born-again and exchanged for Him we are endowed with all the blessings of our first nature to walk in the coolness of the evening and have communion with the God of our creation on earth as it is in heaven.

AND THEN

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AND THEN

By Rick Mathes

2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB77) 13  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.

What does a hopeless unbeliever expect will happen the moment after their last heartbeat? It musts be scary. How about expecting to fry in the flames of Purgatory for thousands of years like the Roman Catholics believe or soul-sleep nothingness of the Jehovah’s Witnesses? At least the Mormon men believe that they will become a god on their own planet! You can’t make this up. Thank you Jesus the God-breathed words of God assure us otherwise.

The blessed hope evangelists live for is drawing near when we will step into the presence of the Kind of this universe and our personal friend Jesus the Christ. It’s a sure bet because it’s the Word of God and He keeps His word. It would be contrary the very fiber of His being to be mistaken or unknowing or eternal things.

The Word of God washes and purifies the soul. Holiness is a rush if only for a moment so you can imagine how it will e in glory when we are wholly His!

What price would you put on comfort or contentment? I had the wife of a famous millionaire call me and ask what I need and she would write out a check for it. It was the first time I realized that I didn’t need anything. Imagine that! Having a clear conscience and clean record is priceless; no amount of money can buy it. Our Lord promised our needs would be met and they are.

A hope of eternal life in heaven sustains a taste of heaven here on earth. Consider that it all was created for our pleasure and we were created for His. He’s coming back and in fact very near at this moment. We are about to embark on an adventure beyond compare so fasten your seat belt and hold on!

How satisfied can one get, to know that now and forever He will never leave us nor forsake us? We will soon see Him as He really is and receive our reward: now that’s what I call total satisfaction no matter what I had to go through to get there. We surely will be blessed: that is, we will be happy beyond words or any joy we have ever experienced. It’s all about Him and His return that anchors us in the Faith.

 

AMBIENCE

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AMBIENCE

By Rick Mathes

Acts 28:2 the natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

There is a special comfort in building a campfire to gather around in Christian fellowship. The chill of the winter air is so refreshing but the crackling flames, songs that fill the air and wholesome laughter transform both body and soul. Such is the emanation from Holy Spirit from the pages of God’s love letter to us. The Bible brings an enlightenment that awakens a love within that only His cross could provide. It embraces our body, mind and soul in a rush of His resurrection and the enablement of the Holy Spirit to step forward as an ambassador of the King, in peace.

Prayer is that special ability to bridge the gap from the created to the Creator: this is a privilege for believers only. In private, we can dialog with Jesus our deepest secrets and fear without restraint. It’s a social intercourse that words sometimes cannot capture. The Holy Spirit intercedes, the Lord brings our praise or petition to the Father and He nods His approval. Think of what can be accomplished in our church society if we would all point our swords in the same direction: that’s when the warming assurance and comfort comes up on the Body of Christ.

We then lift our spiritual ears to the heavens and have that special communion and fellowship with Jesus. Meditation is the lesson we receive from Him often prompted by our prayers. For a seeking sinner or forgiven saint, it’s a big bear-hug from our best friend, Jesus. If you are astute and have your spiritual antennae up you feel that in the fellowship of like believers. The Body of Christ, the church, the visible and invisible engulf our very being when this experience occurs with a repentant heart.

The fellowships of Christians help us to return to our first love, to worship and enjoy our Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit invites us to join Him in the friendship and love of fellow believers. This is a fulfillment of returning to our first nature of actually being love in His Shekinah light: perfecting once again an ambience that only a submission to Him can provide in holiness.

AM I?

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AM I?

By Rick Mathes

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NASB77) 28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

The actual words of God say, “A man ought to examine himself.” When God speaks, we listen! So, let’s have a go at it. As I quiz myself why don’t you join me and do the same?

Let’s start with the foundation of all sin. Am I self-sufficient? I remember like yesterday how exasperated my wife would become as I paraded through our house singing, “I did it my way!” It’s enough to make you gag. But that’s how it was until I made Him my Lord. Now I’m in the process of exchanging all I am into all He is. I’m becoming lesser so that He can become greater. The question now is, “Do people get to know Him when they get to know you?”

Am I self-serving or self-sacrificing?” As I exchange all I am for all He is, we exchange places. He becomes the hand and I become the glove. This way He can go about His business for the Father in my skin; to be effective though, ghere needs to be an “ouch” to give it value. When you reach beyond your grasp it is painful but that’s where He begins: when there is no pain there is no gain.

How deep is your love? The Bible is deep enough to drown an elephant but shallow enough for a baby to splash in. Am I still a baby? Do I still impress non-believes with Romans 10:9 and Psalm 23? Maybe it’s time to jumpinto the deep end of the pool. What do you think?

How about “spiritual constipation;” are you all bound up in the law? Are you driven by grace or works? I have learned the hard way that I can’t do enough to “wash away my sins.” There is always a residue and more filth and decay on the way. You can’t walk through a coal mineof laws in a white suit without getting dirty from violations.

God is in the process of rebuilding our form and life-style but not hyper-sensitive because perfection in this lietie is not possible. We can be too hard on ourselves and not get a real sense of “Who I am?”

 

ALL TOGETHER

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ALL TOGETHER

By Rick Mathes

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

Peter stood with a sword to fight an army to protect his friend Jesus only to collapse in curses because of a servant girl’s accusations and then dropping to his knees when the Lord forgave him. As he was volatile and bore his strengths and weaknesses, so do we in our everyday lives.

Unbelievers look in and see with natural eyes and marvel that even though we have many denominations, we have one Lord, one faith, one Bible and we are in one accord in the same baptism. Our unity as a family, as brothers and sisters in Christ is baffling to those without any objective truth.

The vocabulary of Christians has been twisted and distorted by the devil so completely that we, believers and unbelievers can use the same words while having two different understandings of each other. This has caused the majority of onlookers and seekers to despair and revert to relativity: this is what I believe. With all our outward appearance of dispersion, the Body of Christ undamaged, fully armored and battle ready. When the right moment in his-story arrives, rest assured our swords will all be pointed in the same direction; at the demons.

So many doubt that we are one body and in one place: holy ground. We have always been scattered throughout the nations of the world. We have only one flag and an allegiance to the only King, Jesus. No country has any grip on us more powerful than God’s hold. There is this beautiful blue pearl hanging on nothingness that is our temporary home untiiil He makes it new again.

Sadly, to our shame, some mock us and we often deserve the ridicule. Slowly but surely the demons have slipped into our tent and have made laughing stocks out  of us on their wide-screen IMAX theatre in Hell. While we have been re-arranging the deck chairs the ship has continued to go down. They don’t understand that we have been filled to the brim with the same Holy Spirit into one filling: one baptism.

Now the evidence of this radical conversion is that we are all together and repenting of our sins. This is repulsive to the lost. We have been baptized into the oneness of the Triune Godhead: one God-Jesus. And as I write this, you and I are receiving to this moment the teaching and illumination that all believers are blessed with together in unity of being all together.

A SPECIAL BAPTISM

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A SPECIAL BAPTISM

By Rick Mathes

Luke 3:21 (NASB77) 21 Now it came about when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also was baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,

Let’s join for a moment and take in the wonder of why our Savior would willingly experience the outward manifestation of baptism by immersion. Jesus was sinless, so what was the significance of this unique event?

First of all it was to equip, anoint and strengthen the manhood He has clothed Himself with and secondly to demonstrate obedience, humility and prayer to all generations that would follow.

What an astounding set of circumstances that clearly brought together the visible and audible Trinity of the gospels. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit all sharing truth in a single verse. How blessed is the Word of God to us as it shares this precious and golden moment, never to repeat itself in the infinity of time.

What a wonderful seal of approval for our God-man to launch His ministry of salvation and begin His death walk to the Cross, one firm step following another. From this point forward, He never looked back. Oh, how I wish we could do the same and not ever be ashamed Him with our doubts and fears. Just to put on the armor of God, lift up the sword of the Word and firmly place my feet on holy ground is my fervent prayer!

The dove quietly settled in peacefulness, not known to mankind until that moment. The gentleness of the flight, the landing and the harmlessness of the message of affirmation: the Holy Spirit had arrived to anoint Christ the man for the timeless message of the ancients who spoke of Him in times past.

The voice rang out to a startled universe of angels and every devil shook in mortal terror. God became man on a mission that only the Triune god could ever accomplish. In an eye-blink, salvation arrived with healing and deliverance in the wings of a dove. The provision of love for His elect and eternal doom to those who would reject and murder His Son as your sin does to this very moment.

Submit to the reality that you are owned by the Father, saved by the Son and anointed by the Holy Spirit and you too will have that once in a lifetime special baptism a was demonstrated by our Lord Himself. A moment that will change a lifetime of eternities if only you will accept and savor the fullness of the Trinity of which you were made in Their likeness: body, spirit and soul.

A CALLING

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 A CALLING

Ye call me Master                and obey me not;

Ye call me Light                   and see me not;

Ye call me Way                    and walk me not;

Ye call me Life                      and desire me not;

Ye call me Wise                   and follow me not;

Ye call me Fair                     and love me not;

Ye call me Rich                    and ask me not;

Ye call me Eternal               and seek me not;

Ye call me Gracious            and trust me not;

Ye call me Noble                  and serve me not;

Ye call me Mighty                and honor me not;

Ye call me Just                     and fear me not;

                                                If I condemn you Blame Me not!

FAITH:

  • Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.
  • Faith is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable, and bear the intolerable.
  • Faith is ideal when circumstances are right, only when they are adverse is one’s faith in God exercised.
  • Faith, like muscle, grows strong and supple with exercise.
  • Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.
  • A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.
  • Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will!
  • Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.
  • Faith in God is indispensable to successful statesmanship.

Arabic Proverb

He that knows not and knows not that he knows not:

He is a fool; shun him!

He that knows not and knows that he knows not:

He is simple; teach him!

He that knows and knows not that he knows:

He is asleep; wake him!

He that knows and knows that he knows;

He is a wise man; follow him!