JULY 10

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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Matthew 26:64

‘Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Matthew 8:11

“And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

Luke 13:24

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Mark 14:62

“Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Matthew 24:30

“ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

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We are reading a book by Corrie ten Boom, with daily recordings she made to broadcast over Trans World Radio.  Her Dutch family  sheltered Jews during the Nazi invasion of Holland.  As a result, she, her sister Betsy and their father were taken to concentration camps in Germany. The Lord did many miracles to allow both Corrie and Betsy to bring the Gospel to the other women in their camp.   Their father was murdered in an extermination camp and Betsy was sick, dying just two weeks before Corrie and the rest were freed.  After her freedom, Corrie traveled the world, telling everyone even in remote areas, about salvation through Christ, besides radio and writing many books.  This one is entitled, “Not I, but Christ.”

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ARE YOU READY FOR JESUS’ RETURN?

In Luke 21:36 we read:

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

You can be ready, even if Jesus would come again today.  How is that possible?  We find the answer in the Bible, and we shall read it together.

I know there are people who say: “Many people believe that Jesus would come soon.  But they died meanwhile, and Jesus didn’t return.”

Jesus told us to watch the signs of the times, and talk like this is a sign of the times.  Peter said in 2 Peter 3:3-4:

“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,  and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Talking like that is a sign that we are in the last days, because the speaker is a scoffer, who does not long for Jesus’ return.  When we are placed before the Son of Man, our own desires can be a real stumbling block.  Perhaps you say:  “I have not gotten this far yet.”   You will of course understand that Jesus won’t wait till everybody has gotten this far.

He will come, and there will be a moment that everyone will bow before Him, everyone – whether he has gotten this far or not.  Then the matter will be whether you will bow your knees before your Savior or before your judge!  The Lord Jesus Himself warned us.

He longs for us to be ready, and therefore He says in Luke 21;36:

“ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The most evident sign is that the Jews returned to their country.  (which has happened).  But there are other signs of the times.  Knowledge will increase.  How much knowledge we have in our days!!!  (and she wrote this in 1983!!!!)

Revelation 22:11 tells us:

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

So now is the time to get right with God………..to ask Jesus to save you, to help you believe.

Everything is escalating. ….good and bad.  So it will be more difficult to believe when the deception gets even greater.

But enough about the signs of the times.  The question now is:  How can we be prepared?

Philippians 1:9-11 says: 

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,  that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Is that possible?  Love, so abundant in your heart and my heart?  We shall never be able to love like this.

No, you and I can’t, but the Holy Spirit can. 

Romans 5:5-6:

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath THROUGH HIM. (only those who are born again will be saved from the wrath of God at the end when He destroys the earth because of the wicked—even if you’re not wicked, if you aren’t born again and therefore don’t have the Holy Spirit, you will experience His terrible wrath for eternity.)

The Holy Spirit has been given to us.  Does the Holy Spirit have you?  Then you will be filled.  He is willing to fill you, just as the light filled your room when you opened the curtains.  The Lord Jesus wants to live in your heart and life through His Holy Spirit.  If  the door of your sitting room is open then you will not experience His victory in your office or in the kitchen.

Some people think that complete surrender is only possible for those who are in full-time gospel work – missionaries, pastors.  But everyone can and must be ready for Jesus’ return.  Everyone can live in complete surrender to the Lord – you too!

John says in 1 John 2:28:
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”

At this moment Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart.  Are you willing to say, “Yes, Lord, come into my heart”?  then He will come and prepare you for His return.  He longs for you.  He loves you.  He longs more for us to be ready than we ourselves long for and want it. 

John 15:5:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

But stop compromising.  In your heart there is a cross and a throne.  If your ego is on the throne, then Jesus is on the cross.  If Jesus is on the throne, then your ego is on the cross….and that is how it must be. …“deny yourself and follow Me.”

And He, Jesus, will establish you until the end, that you may be unblameable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Lord Jesus, thank You  that You are changing me from within, that You are willing to do so in each one who now says, “Yes, Lord Jesus, come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit, prepare me for Your return.  Take my life.”  How wonderful, Lord, that You will do it!  Hallelujah!  amen

WHAT A SAVIOR!

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