Warren Wiersbe said, “Heaven is not just a destination, it’s a motivation.” It’s good to think about heaven, it helps us to know that earth is not our home, it also moves us to reach out.
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Assurance of Salvation
Romans 8:16, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
How can we truly know we’re saved? Is it even possible to know for certain that we’re children of God? Absolutely! Three things stand out to me:
1. The Witness of the Word
2. The Outer witness
3. The Inner witness
The Witness of the Word (the Bible) is an understanding of the Gospel as given in Scripture. We read in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” John in his epistle elaborates on this in 1 John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” We can know we have eternal life…by believing the Gospel centered on Jesus Christ.
Secondly, there’s also the Outer Witness which is a changed life. Jesus said you will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:20). As C.H. Spurgeon said, “A faith that does not change my behavior, will never change my destiny.”
Thirdly, there’s the Inner Witness. When a person is born again and becomes a child of God (John 1:12-13; 3:3) the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 6:16). As we read in our passage for today, the Holy Spirit Himself bears witness from within. The witness of the Holy Spirit is powerful because He’s so close and personal. His witness may include communication and even feelings but it’s deeper than that, it’s fellowship. I know I’m a child of God because He lives within me.
Do you have that peace knowing you’re a child of God? Praise God if you do! If not, I would encourage you to draw near and search your heart. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” I would encourage you to talk to God, go to church, and maybe even speak with a pastor. We’re here for you. Our heart is that you would be saved and that you would be sure.
Your brother in Christ,
-Manny
Never Go Back!
John 6:66–69, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6:66. It’s tragic but true…it happens.
Over the years I’ve seen many of the “disciples” go back and walk with Christ no more, just as we read in this passage. One of the guys was a brother that used to teach our New Believer’s class at the church we attended. Shelly and I went through the entire course twice, we loved it, and we loved him. We even had him over our house, he taught a study in our home at one of our birthday parties.
But there came a day when he decided to walk with Christ no more. Was he ever really saved? Will he ever come back? Only the Lord knows. I do know he was a great guy and a great Bible teacher. But it’s interesting to read in our text for today how that after some of them left, Jesus questioned the 12, “Do you also want to go away?” Jesus seemed to be checking on them, their heart, their will…“is that something you want as well?”
Peter, who was usually the spokesman, spoke for the others, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Right on Peter! It’s 100% true, that even though there are those times in life we just don’t understand, we do understand this, that there is nowhere else to go. We believe in You Jesus, and we will walk with You for the rest of our lives.
Let’s do that! Love you guys!
Your brother in Christ,
– Manny
A Contemplation of Crowns
Revelation 19:16 (NKJV) “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Some refer to them as England, others as Great Britain, but the name most appropriate for today is the United Kingdom – all the above referring to a single nation, who is mourning the passing away of their dearly beloved, Queen Elizabeth. She was queen regnant of 32 different sovereign states during her life, and served as monarch of 15 of them at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch and the longest recorded of any female head of state in history.
I haven’t done extensive research, but I’m hearing through the gracevine that she had faith in Christ. Queen Elizabeth is quoted as saying, “For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.”
Franklin Graham posted the following on his IG account, “I’m especially grateful for the Queen’s friendship with my father Billy Graham. He cherished their friendship that was built on a shared love for Jesus Christ and belief in God’s Word. My father had the privilege of meeting with the Queen more than a dozen times, and she was a gracious host, inviting my parents to visit Buckingham Palace on several occasions. My father said he found Queen Elizabeth “to be a woman of rare modesty and character,” and made a pledge to pray for her and her family every day. He also appreciated how she often talked about Jesus Christ during her public addresses—there was never any question about where she placed her faith. Queen Elizabeth once said, “I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian gospel.”
We mourn the Queen’s passing, but find solace in the comforting truth that because of her faith in Jesus Christ, she is home in heaven forever.
All this leads to our passage for today.
Revelation 19:16 (NKJV) “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
England, a.k.a Great Britain, a.k.a. the United Kingdom has a new monarch, King Charles III. When I heard about it, it seemed almost surreal to me. Wow! A new king! It made me think how one day, and it could be very, very soon, at the passing of this era, the world will crown a new King, the King of kings, Jesus Christ. This will be the true and final “United Kingdom.” Just as the transition of power was inevitable, it was expected (Queen Elizabeth was 96 years old when she passed), so too this is inevitable, and the expectation mounts each and every day.
Are you ready for the coming of Christ? You can only be ready if you’ve placed your faith in Him and are abiding in Him.
Maybe this is a sign for us to see, a not so subtle reminder…the King is coming.
Looking forward to His return,
– Manny
More than Food? (Sowing and Reaping)
John 4:37-38, “For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
I’m not a farmer, per se, but I think I know how to plant seeds. Every once in a while, I’ll reap, I’ll pull a lemon, a kumquat, or different pieces of fruit off my friend’s trees, even though I didn’t plant those trees.
Well, just as that’s true physically, Jesus is saying this is true spiritually. We should be sowing and reaping for the salvation of souls.
Jesus went out of His way to win the Samaritan woman and then the subsequent village to salvation. This was His heart, His mission, His passion. He wanted His disciples to have that same heart, to the point that evangelism and soul-winning would be more important to them than food – that this type of activity would be their satisfaction and sustenance…but they needed to know about spiritual agriculture, the general pattern. Jesus told His disciples, “One sows and another reaps.” Jesus was sending them to reap in a great harvest, but others had labored and sown before them. I can’t recall exactly where I heard this quote, but someone once said, “This truth brings humility to the reapers and encouragement to the sowers.”
Christian friend, whoever you are, keep sowing seeds, loving on people, fishing for men and women, praying for their salvation, and don’t be discouraged if you’re just sowing seeds. If you do get to see some come to faith, stay humble, knowing that others have labored in the field of that heart before you, but praise God you were used by Him, for salvation is of the Lord.
Jesus has a heart for the lost – and He wants us to have that same heart. Even though we’re not all gifted as evangelists, we can all do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5).
Can you think of anyone in your life who needs to be saved? Is the Holy Spirit laying anyone on your heart? Are you looking for those “open doors” of opportunity each day to plant or reap? I hope so. I pray this would be more important to us than the very food we eat each and every day (John 4:32-34).
Until the whole world hears…your brother in Christ,
– Manny
An Invitation
If you’re hurting and without hope, of if you’re just not sure where you stand with God, here’s a simple invitation to come to Christ – genuinely, before it’s too late.
Happy New Year!
Wow – it’s hard to believe we’re in the year 2020! If you know me at all, you know that I’m weird in certain ways and 2020 evokes a couple of quick thoughts. First of all, a little superficial rhyme, I told my son the other day (from a Spiritual perspective of course) “Good and plenty in twenty, twenty.”
He rolled his eyes.
The other little thought was more of a prayer, “Lord, grant me 2020 vision from a Spiritual perspective.” I pray that I’d keep my eyes on Jesus all year long. This is what the author of Hebrews told us to do. We read in Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The Greek word translated “looking” (aphorao) literally means to “turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something else.” In this case, someone else – we are to turn away from all others, and fix our eyes on Jesus…that “2020” vision sure helps when things get tough.
According to this passage, Jesus endured the cross because He never lost sight of the joy that was before Him. What do you think that “joy” was? I believe that joy was reconciliation with the Father, and the salvation of the church. He was able to “see” you and me, free and forgiven, in heaven – with Him, forever. If we look to Jesus, we’ll find that in one one sense, He’s looking to us.
Friend, I pray that 2020 is a Happy New Year for you, but you know as well as I do that it will have its unfair share of challenges and heartaches. May we remember, the only way we’ll make it through with a smile on our face, or better yet, joy in our hearts, is if our Spiritual vision is 2020 – if we keep our eyes on Jesus.
Are you Ready?
1 Chronicles 22:5b, “So David made abundant preparations before his death.”
I know it sounds a bit morbid, but the truth is, we must always be ready to die. Over 151,000 people die every day, and unless we experience the rapture – – one of these days we too will be part of that 151,000!
We must always be ready and guard ourselves from the thought that it won’t happen to me, because it can happen to any of us, anytime (James 4:14).
I was reading a chart on the odds of a person dying based on age and gender – I found it fascinating. If you’d like to check out the odds, I’ve provided a link below, but keep in mind that odds are not gods, and the one living God has already circled the day of our departure on His calendar ‘cuz we all have an appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27).
Question: What will we leave behind and what are we looking forward to?
David is a great example for us in the way he made “abundant preparations before his death” (let’s take some time to ponder that concept).
You probably know the story, how David had it in his heart to build a temple for God – but he wasn’t allowed to because he’d been a man of war. God chose David’s son Solomon instead – but David didn’t get bitter, he got better and did all that he could to help his son and the nation of Israel to have a place where they could honor the Lord, David invested into their spiritual lives. What about us, what are we leaving behind for both family and flock?
And what are we looking forward to – Heaven or Hell? With or without God? (see Revelation 20:11-15). Not everyone goes to heaven, only those who are prepared by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. David was a true believer, he was ready to die, he knew he was going to heaven (Psalm 23:6)…how about us?
So…beloved, buy life insurance, settle those differences with loved ones, say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done. Leave godly things behind and look forward to God ahead – ‘cuz at the end of the day, it’s not until we’re ready to die, that we’re actually ready to live.
Your brother in Christ,
– Manny
Odds of Dying – Link
Blessed
November 30, 2018
Psalms 32:1-2 “A Psalm of David. A Contemplation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
Sometimes I sense that we as Christians don’t really realize how blessed we are.
I’ve been reading through the book of Romans and I came across this passage from Psalm 32 quoted by Paul in Romans 4:7-8 as one of Paul’s Old Testament examples of someone who was saved by simple faith. The salvation of David meant that his transgressions of murder, adultery, and so much more – were forgiven, his sin was covered, his iniquities were cancelled and not counted against him. That’s amazing! but not only were David’s sins forgiven, David had all the beautiful, wonderful, perfect and absolute righteousness of Christ imputed (transferred) to his own personal account.
In God’s sight, David was no longer in the hole, he was flawlessly holy.
Wow!
You would figure that Paul would stick with people like Job, or Joseph, Jeremiah, or Daniel – but David? David had a good heart (most of the time) but what he did to Uriah and Bathsheba – murder and adultery (see 2 Samuel 11) – how could he do that after all God had given him? David was so accountable as the king of Israel, a Bible writer to the world, the spiritual leader of the land, but then that fall – he fell so hard, so far!
How could he be a poster child for the church?
Here’s how…we’ve all sinned – and not just against Uriah or Bathsheba, but against God, and I know this is a hard one to swallow (get ready) – – – but we’re all guilty of murder and adultery (please see Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28; James 2:10-11).
We were all just as guilty as David, but now we’re just as innocent and righteous as the Son of David, the Lord Jesus Himself. Christians are blessed because we’re forgiven and given the righteousness of Christ. I hope you know that my beloved friend, just keep believing in Jesus – keep the faith, bask in the blessings and may His amazing grace and everlasting love help you walk in the newness of life.
Your brother in Christ,
– Manny