Source of Salvation

Answer to the question of life is below, "How do I become right with God?"



Hebrews 5:9

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,



Who was made perfect, died for our sins, and defeated death? Why Jesus of course! The only way for eternal salvation. The verse doesn't end there though. Jesus said we must put out faith and trust in Him for what He has done, give Him our life, follow Him, and obey His commandments. Is this you? It takes more than empty words, and a life lived for self. That's not what Tom says but what the bible says.



Too many want to walk the fence...say the believe in Jesus but their life says different. Jesus wants a relationship with us not an occasional visit. When we truly surrender our life to Him it is obvious. For those who have, you have the abundant life Jesus promised! For those who have not sadly these words are in your future if you don't surrender your life to Jesus....





Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’



Jesus is our source of eternal salvation.....give Him your life and obey His Word! It truly is the abundant life both here and in heaven!



Tom

What are you striving for?

That may be a tough question to honestly answer. Most would jump right in and say serving God or something like that, at least those who claim to be followers of Jesus. Perhaps we can just look at a few things in our lives and get a pretty good picture of what we are striving after. Look at their facebook page, look at what they spend their time doing, what do they talk about most, where do they spend most of their time??? When we look at these things do they add up to striving after God or striving after things of this world? Look at these verses:



Hebrews 4:11-13

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.



Hmmmm, God says strive to enter His rest, or heaven. Now we know our faith rests in Jesus Christ alone, He is the only way to heaven. When we truly follow Jesus though our life will shout I AM LIVING FOR AND SERVING JESUS TIL I DIE! That is striving to enter His rest. If we are failing to do that we are disobedient.



The next part of the verse (12) is letting us know if we are in the Word it will let us know if we are following Jesus as He desires because the Word will convict (pierce) us deeply when are lives are not in line with what God expects from His followers. I am so glad for the Word, when I am in right relationship to God, life is being lived to the fullest and there is no greater joy or happiness than that! Nothing in this world can even come close to comparison!



Then verse 13 reminds us of our all-knowing, all-seeing God. We can't hid our disobedience. One day we will all stand before Him, to be judged. Are you ready? Are you covered by the blood of Jesus? Are you striving to enter His rest, heaven?



Let's think about what God has said today! May it burn within our hearts.



Tom

Ecuador blessings! Free from sins hold!

Well I returned from Ecuador late Thursday night. Once again God blessed the team in a mighty way. To be able to share God's Word and be the hands and feet of Jesus is such a blessing from the Lord. The Lord used us to plant many seeds and to help the Fly family accomplish some work around their home. I want to give God all the glory and praise for a safe and fruitful trip.



During my bible studies a verse was shared that has come back to my mind many times and I want to share it with you this morning. Here it is:


Micah 7:19

19 He will again have compassion on us,And will subdue our iniquities.

You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.



Such an incredible verse for us to meditate on. God has such compassion for us. Do we really understand that? He knows we make mistakes but he still loves us, matter of fact He loves us so much that He sent Jesus for us!!! The nest part of the verse confirms that God knows we make mistakes because it tells us He will subdue our iniquities (sin). God has done that through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Go not only subdued our sin, He takes it away!!! What's God do with that sin? He casts it away into the depths of the sea and remembers it no more! That is important to understand! He forgets about our sin after we repent of it, so if it keeps coming back to your mind it is not coming from God but the devil!!! Don't let the devil get in your mind like that, your repented sin is gone and forgotten by God! Look at this verse:



1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



We have a responsibility with our sin, to confess it to God! God wants us to realize our sin, admit it to Him, ask for forgiveness. He then takes it throws it into the sea, forgives us, and cleanses us from that sin, we are then to move on and sin no more! No condemnation for us! Wow is that freeing or what?



God forgets your confessed sin, so move on! You are forgiven, it is gone!



Tom

Get off that long black train!

Josh Turner's testimony spoke to me this morning...check it out here:



http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/josh-turner/



Here is the video for the song "Long Black train"....really listen to the words:






So true! The devil wants us to jump aboard his train of sin and destruction...look at the scriptures:



John 10:10



The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.That thief is Satan himself!!! Jesus gives you true life.



Jesus even warned about the path or gate that leads to destruction:



Matthew 7:13-14



13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.



Our victory over the devil and this life can only be found in Jesus!



1 Corinthians 15:57



But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Makes me want to shout!



Thank you Jesus for helping me jump off that long black train!



Tom

Give....not an option!

From the mouth of Jesus:



Matthew 6:2



2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.



Don't miss this: "when you give" ! Jesus expects us to give from what He has blessed us with to others. Let's examine ourselves and see when is the last time we helped the needy? From what I see from the bible it is not an option, we are commanded to do so!



When we do give it is to be kept quiet. It is not something to brag about because as we have seen it is our duty. God will reward us for our good deeds not man so we our pride in check, after all everything we give is God's anyway, right?



This is very simple teaching from our Lord, let's not let it slip by us.



Thank you Lord for your many blessings, help us to share them with others!



Tom

More Jesus, less me!

John 3:30

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.



When John the Baptist said these words above he was making a statement not only about himself but also for us to grasp on to in our following Jesus. In the context of John's life he had prepared the way for Jesus as God has called him to do and now Jesus was fulfilling what He came to earth to do. So John was to take a back seat and Jesus was taking over.



For us it has a similar meaning only in a different way. Jesus has finished what He came to earth to do, but He left us with a job to do. Our job is to die to self, follow Jesus, and to tell others about Him. Do you see the increase/decrease in that? When we die to self to follow Jesus we decrease, so that when we live for Jesus and tell others about Him, Jesus increases!



So this brings us to examination time. When you look at your life who is increasing....you or Jesus? On the other hand, who is decreasing you or Jesus? In the Jesus followers life it should be abundantly clear who is on the throne in ones life!



Oh Lord Jesus help me to make much of you today, to get myself out of the way, and to proclaim your goodness to all. For you alone are worthy of honor and glory.



Tom

Kids Camp-purpose #3

Once you become God's you have a purpose. Read these verses:


2 Corinthians 5:18-20

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.



Of course you first purpose is to glorify God with you life and live for Him each day. You second purpose is told in the verses above....to reconcile or bring others to Jesus. That is part of your purpose as a follower of Jesus! To bring to others what you have already got....JESUS!



So are you fulfilling your purpose? If you haven't there is no better time to start than now!



God bless! Have a great day!



Tom