Alter Calls are nice.
Prayers of Salvation have pretty words.
But, why won’t you be baptized by immersion in the name of God into his family?
Mark 16:16 KJV says, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
I just watched an Adventist show, Beyond the Search, promoting the worship of the Lord on Saturday. I largely agreed with it, especially with the historical investigation on how a counterfeit Sunday took it’s place.
So what day should I worship? Is it Saturday or is it Sunday?
My answer is: wouldn’t it be nice if we met to worship the Lord seven days a week? And kept the Sabbath? The Sabbath is actually to be celebrated Friday eve to Saturday eve. Leviticus 23:32. If you ever desired to keep the Sabbath, a perfect keeping is described in Isaiah 58:13-14.
I was once interested in joining the Amish. I read an article where an Amish writer said if you want to live as the Amish do – go ahead and do so. You don’t need to come and join an Amish community. What’s my point? You don’t need to join the Seventh Day Adventists to observe the Sabbath. If you wish to continue church services on Sunday, you can still honor the Lord by keeping his Sabbath on Saturday and worshipping on Sunday.
Did you know some Bible scholars don’t know why we pray in Jesus name?
Can you imagine appearing in an earthly courtroom without an attorney?
1 Timothy 2:5 KJV says, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
When we pray in Jesus name we appear before the Heavenly Father with Jesus by our side, an attorney that’s already paid for.
If you enjoy a more figurative explanation and biblical theme read the book of Esther and search the word sceptre in your Holy Bible. If you appeared unbidden before the King of Persia in Esther’s time he would hold out his scepter signifying life. If he withheld it from the petitioner it meant a sentence of death.
Jesus is the sceptre already held out by the Lord God Almighty. If you accept him you shall have eternal life.
With Jesus as our mediator each and every time, we may present ourselves before Jehovah, the Most High and Holy and live.
Religion and Relationship with God are synonymous. I am a Christian. It is my religion. How I follow Christ is my relationship with him, which is my religion.
When someone says we aren’t religious or we don’t believe in religion, we believe in relationship – often what they are really saying is we don’t believe in God’s rules. For them religion is synonymous with keeping the law and they want no part of God’s rules and regulations.
The truth is we must strive to keep the law if we want to make it to Heaven. Keeping the law is a critical part of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus said, if you love me keep my commandments. John 14:15.
He repeated it again in John 14:21 KJV: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
The Holy Ghost is called The Spirit of Truth. He is also called the Comforter.
So do you find the truth comforting? It is clear God intended it to be. In fact, it is the path to salvation.
If you aren’t comforted by the truth, it is likely you are not walking with God or having difficulty doing so. Most habitual sinners and criminals aren’t comforted by the truth with good reason.
Some people can’t hear the truth, some get angry at hearing the truth, Jesus and many others were killed because they spoke the truth.
1 John 1:7 KJV 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.
May you find comfort in the truth and walk in the light.
Of late I have heard a lot of self congratulations. We have beat the curve. We are well below the models. No one in the United States that needed a respirator went without a respirator. Who do they credit – the government, the mitigation guidelines, people heeding the government’s advice.
Since they won’t say it, I will.
Thank you God.
I have gotten tired of churches praying for first responders. Perhaps there is a tinge of jealousy present. Yet, I tend to think prayers and blessings should be reserved as precious. If I don’t know you, I’m not sure I should spend a prayer on you. And I’m definitely not going to bless anyone for a sneeze.
For years I have heard how we are blessed to have the right to assembly and freedom of religion.
This is what I have to say to preachers or churches that have closed their doors during this pandemic:
First responders understand DUTY, why don’t you? So, I reiterate all those years of prayers, God Bless first responders, health workers, police, grocery workers, food workers, supply line workers, and those churches which stayed open!
The Lord is our healer. He has given specific power to local churches to heal.
James 5:14-16 KJV
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. [16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The church has largely abdicated the power to heal to modern medicine. Sadly, I think most read the above passages and simply don’t believe.
In this time of Covid-19 many churches have also abdicated the duty (I say duty and not right) to meet.
May the Church believe! Lord help us with our unbelief.
I admit I don’t know all the answers, but I do recognize the test. Should Christians attend church or not?
To me and I suppose most people it makes sense that the government can request or order certain actions in times of great need. Public health can be protected they say with a stay at home order.
But let’s take a moment and examine what the Holy Bible says about the new coronavirus and attending church.
Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Matthew 18:20 KJV For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
And let’s not forget the cure: James 5:14-15 KJV Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
It seems like everyone has something to say about the new coronavirus. I hear messages on television, radio, and even my cellphone. It seems every company I’ve ever dealt with, plus some, have an email with a comment.
Here’s my comment and some questions from Malachi 4:5-6 KJV: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord : [6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Does this speak of a future event? I believe it does. It could speak of Jesus or it could speak of some other Elijah type, yet to come in the future. But what a monumental task. How do you strengthen the love of a family and prevent a worldwide curse?
Perhaps, perhaps – you make them stay home and spend time together as a family.
Saltwaterheart 