March 8, 2009

Acts 4:12

Going to Heaven?

Acts 4:12

Peter said, "There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."

Matthew 18:3

Then he [Jesus] said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 

John 3:3

Jesus replied, "I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God."

John 3:5

Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit."

John 5:24

I assure you [Jesus says], those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life." 

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Thoughts...

I ended last weeks scripture with the reference from Acts.  It is thought provoking.  I am compelled to consider it over and over, as I attempt to find a way to discuss God and heaven with Atheists.  Either of whom may be on their way off this earth.  I say it that way because they don't believe in heaven.  They don't believe in God!  Where will they go when they die?  Scripture tells us they won't go to heaven unless they believe in the God...our God...who made it. 

Billy Graham, quotes from Revelation chapter 3 (KJV) on Apostasy,  "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."  He goes on to say, "This whole chapter ought to be read and pondered--this 3rd chapter of Revelation.  It shows how Jesus views a compromising church.  It shows how He views a straddling, equivocating, self-satisfied, proud, blind, and poor church.  Even though professing wealth and broad vision, in the sight of God it is naked, shameful, and shameless, without the robe of imputed righteousness which is given only to real believers who have been born again and redeemed by the precious blood of Calvary."  Mr. Graham says, "you will be born again when you come to God through faith in Jesus Christ." 

Billy Graham refers to the Christian who is poor in spirit.  Essentially there are even those Christians who profess Christ as Lord, who do not honor him, and uphold him, obeying him as Lord.  They, too, are in jeopardy.  I hope you are not one of these.  To the one who does believe, but sins, their fate is judgement.  To the Catholics, this is pergatory.  For the Protestants (everyone not Catholic), this is judgement.  The Mormons believe that those who have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord go to a place of judgement to learn more and be given the opportunity, after death, to accept the Lord.  (Forgive me for any errors and please correct me, if necessary.)  To the Catholics and Protestants who do not believe, they go to hell, as do those who have once believed and cast our Lord away with continual sin.  Scriputre clearly makes a distinction between judgement, pergatory, and hell.  For the record.  I do encourage you to research and study this further. 

So, the bottom line is Atheists will go somewhere other than heaven.  Will they be given the opportunity to receive Him after death?  I don't think so..  What I understand...and believe...today, and have since I was about  5...I'm 56 now...is that it's now or never.  

Many people in the world are focused on 'the end times'.  What I tell people is that YOUR end time may come sooner than THE end times, and, you MUST prepare for your future now as always, only there is one future that is more important than all the others.  The future after death.

Some people may not think this is important.  Some may want to insure there is no tomorrow.  I cannot fathom why.  Especially when we know per scripture that there will be no suffering, no pain, nor sorrow in heaven.  We will be healed and whole.  There will be much joy!  On the other hand, in hell, there will be gnashing of teeth.  Jesus says this, "All right, I, the Son of Man, am the farmer who plants the good seed.  The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom [those who have accepted him as Savior and Lord of their lives].  The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.  The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the Devil.  The harvest is the end of the world, and the havesters are the angels.   Just as the weeds are separated out and burned, so it will be at the end of the world.  I, the Son of Man, will send my angels, and they will remove from my Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil, and they will throw them into the furnace and burn them.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then the godly will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand." Matthew 13: 37-43.

Looks pretty plain to me.  So now I have some basic references to share with my Atheist friends, as do you, to share with all those you love or know who do not know who Jesus is, or that he is, or how wonderful he is, and what he can do for them.  Once they know all this, they will want to do for him, just as we should.  It's a sad thought to know....KNOW....that those we care about will not be with us in paradise.  Our job...OUR job...our calling is to tell everyone about God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  I hope you will reach into your heart and mind and ask them to give you all they have to give you, so you, too, can share the gospel message that 'THEY live, and they can live in each one of us'.   

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Receive him today, if you have not.  If you have, and you count yourself among the worthy, you have a responsibility to share the gospel message.  Share the New Testament and its message with everyone you know.  Let them know what you do, help them to be received and loved fully by the Trinity today.  All are called to be ministers of Christ.  All are called to come to them.  Enlarge the family of believers.  And consider stepping into a Bible study this week.  It will give you a new world of good.  Many blessings. 

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Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, and Holy Spirt, I come to you today asking you to help me understand more and fully all you have to teach me...especially about the kingdom of heaven and how to insure I, and those I care about, get there.  Help me to answer your call and bring others to you.  Help me to say, "Come".  'Come to the table of mercy and receive the gift....of new life, of love, of mercy, of healing.'  Give me a new life in you and help others to have the same, as well as help them to go forth helping others the same.  Raise me to new heights, so that others can see your glory through me.  But always let it be your glory, not mine.  And thank you for showing me these things.  I love you.  Amen.    

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:16 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

 We have a family in crisis who could desperately use your prayers and support.  The Mom, a good Christian woman, is young still...she just turned 50, and she has 3 young children under 15.  She has just been diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.  Her husband died 3 years ago from Cancer, and her Mother, who has her own health issues, is trying to care for her and her children and help her along life's way.  They do not have enough money to meet their everyday expenses right now.  But I am confident that, with your help, we can find some balance for them.  If this touches your heart, we hope you will pray earnestly for her to be healed, and pray for her family.  And, if you would, please send any amount of money you can to help them.  Please note 'Elizabeth and kids' in your note line on your check and we will see that all funds go directly to them.  Please consider reaching out to help them.  I know they will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

Please accept our sincerest thanks....and may God bless you.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'

 "Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

Scriptures may be taken from the New Living Translations website.

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