Book of Isaiah, Chapter 29

 Chapter 29

The Siege of Jerusalem

1 Ah, Ariel, Ariel,

    the city where David encamped!

Add year to year;

    let the feasts run their round.

2 Yet I will distress Ariel,

    and there shall be moaning and lamentation,

    and she shall be to me like an Ariel.

3 And I will encamp against you all around,

    and will besiege you with towers

    and I will raise siegeworks against you.

4 And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak,

    and from the dust your speech will be bowed down;

your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost,

    and from the dust your speech shall whisper.

5 But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust,

    and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff.

And in an instant, suddenly,

6     you will be visited by the Lord of hosts

with thunder and with earthquake and great noise,

    with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.

7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel,

    all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her,

    shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.

8 As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating,

    and awakes with his hunger not satisfied,

or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking,

    and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched,

so shall the multitude of all the nations be

    that fight against Mount Zion.

9 Astonish yourselves and be astonished;

    blind yourselves and be blind!

Be drunk, but not with wine;

    stagger,but not with strong drink!

10 For the Lord has poured out upon you

    a spirit of deep sleep,

and has closed your eyes (the prophets),

    and covered your heads (the seers).

11 And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”

13 And the Lord said:

“Because this people draw near with their mouth

    and honor me with their lips,

    while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

14 therefore, behold, I will again

    do wonderful things with this people,

    with wonder upon wonder;

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

    and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

15 Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel,

    whose deeds are in the dark,

    and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”

16 You turn things upside down!

Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,

that the thing made should say of its maker,

    “He did not make me”;

or the thing formed say of him who formed it,

    “He has no understanding”?

17 Is it not yet a very little while

    until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,

    and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?

18 In that day the deaf shall hear

    the words of a book,

and out of their gloom and darkness

    the eyes of the blind shall see.

19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,

    and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

20 For the ruthless shall come to nothing

    and the scoffer cease,

    and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,

21 who by a word make a man out to be an offender,

    and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,

    and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.

22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:

“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,

    no more shall his face grow pale.

23 For when he sees his children,

    the work of my hands, in his midst,

    they will sanctify my name;

they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob

    and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

24 And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,

    and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

Unity in the Body, Division

 There is one reason to divide.

We have been talking about the unity of the body of Christ. AKA The Church. We have discussed the reasons and the importance of being of one mind, as we are one body. We talked about how we can, and often do, have some differences of opinion and or preference of styles of worship, yet these are not reasons to divide the Church over. This brings us to this. Is there any reason that the Church should divide over?

Well? I can think of one absolute. The Word declares this.

"But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough." 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Jesus IS the only answer to any question in any faith-based belief system. The Gospel is it. Not a form of the Gospel. Not a version of the Gospel. Not your opinion of what the Gospel means. THE GOSPEL.

God created all things. We sinned and gave our authority to the devil. God became man and walked with us. Here, turn to John 1: 1-4, 14-18

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Then?

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ From His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known."

Jesus. God, the creator of all things, became a man, His name with us was Jesus. Translated. He lived sin-free but became sin for us. He was slaughtered for us and raised from the dead, so that we may live. There is nothing else to it.

There was even division over Jesus back then. {John 7:40-43} 

Jesus IS THE "Lamb of God" {John 1:29}, THE "Living Water" {John 4:10}, THE "Messiah and Christ" {John4:26}, THE "Bread of Life" {John 6:35}, THE "Light of the World" {John 8:12} THE "Great I AM" {John 8:58}, THE "Good Shepard" "THE Gate, Door" {John 10} Which caused more division, THE "Resurrection and the Life" {John 11:25} Stop right there for a second.

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”"

We could go on and on. But we are warned that this time was coming. Jesus Himself told us this.

"“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15

We read this is in 2 Peter 2:1

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction."

Jesus is it. He is what the entire Bible, old testament and new, are all about. If you are in a church, and they start teaching acceptance of sin? I would think about talking with the Pastor and feeling out his heart. If they start talking about the "Prosperity Gospel"? Again, I would have to think about if that is a church for me. But if they are teaching Jesus, there is hope in the church. If not? RUN!.

There are differences in opinion and differences in styles of worship. Some are more supernatural than others. Some are more charismatic than others. Some have a belief in Biblical diets and some do not. ETC. Remember, Jesus said this.

"For the one who is not against us is for us." Mark 9:40

However? Without Jesus? There is no other way. There is no God without Jesus. He IS God. If you hear anyone try to tell you otherwise, remember this warning in Galatians 1:8

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."

Paul is saying even if we, the Saints, Paul himself, Peter, he said even an Angel, was to come to you and start preaching anything other than Jesus, they are accursed and should be seen as such. There is nothing without Jesus.

If you are in a church, and you are feeling like something may be out of place, I have a suggestion for you. Pray. Ask God if that is the church that He wants you in. Or is there another? But if the church you are in, or are looking to join, does not have Jesus as the cornerstone? RUN! Get far away. As fast as you can.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed that He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 28

 Chapter 28

Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem

28 Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim,

    and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,

    which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine!

2 Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;

    like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,

like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters,

    he casts down to the earth with his hand.

3 The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim

    will be trodden underfoot;

4 and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,

    which is on the head of the rich valley,

will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer:

    when someone sees it, he swallows it

    as soon as it is in his hand.

5 In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory,

    and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,

6 and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,

    and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

7 These also reel with wine

    and stagger with strong drink;

the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,

    they are swallowed by wine,

    they stagger with strong drink,

they reel in vision,

    they stumble in giving judgment.

8 For all tables are full of filthy vomit,

    with no space left.

9 “To whom will he teach knowledge,

    and to whom will he explain the message?

Those who are weaned from the milk,

    those taken from the breast?

10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,

    line upon line, line upon line,

    here a little, there a little.”

11 For by people of strange lips

    and with a foreign tongue

the Lord will speak to this people,

12     to whom he has said,

“This is rest;

    give rest to the weary;

and this is repose”;

    yet they would not hear.

13 And the word of the Lord will be to them

precept upon precept, precept upon precept,

    line upon line, line upon line,

    here a little, there a little,

that they may go, and fall backward,

    and be broken, and snared, and taken.

A Cornerstone in Zion

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers,

    who rule this people in Jerusalem!

15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,

    and with Sheol we have an agreement,

when the overwhelming whip passes through

    it will not come to us,

for we have made lies our refuge,

    and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

16 therefore thus says the Lord God,

“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,

    a stone, a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:

    ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

17 And I will make justice the line,

    and righteousness the plumb line;

and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

    and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled,

    and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through,

    you will be beaten down by it.

19 As often as it passes through it will take you;

    for morning by morning it will pass through,

    by day and by night;

and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.

20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on,

    and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.

21 For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim;

    as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused;

to do his deed—strange is his deed!

    and to work his work—alien is his work!

22 Now therefore do not scoff,

    lest your bonds be made strong;

for I have heard a decree of destruction

    from the Lord God of hosts against the whole land.

23 Give ear, and hear my voice;

    give attention, and hear my speech.

24 Does he who plows for sowing plow continually?

    Does he continually open and harrow his ground?

25 When he has leveled its surface,

    does he not scatter dill, sow cumin,

and put in wheat in rows

    and barley in its proper place,

    and emmer as the border?

26 For he is rightly instructed;

    his God teaches him.

27 Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge,

    nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin,

but dill is beaten out with a stick,

    and cumin with a rod.

28 Does one crush grain for bread?

    No, he does not thresh it forever;

when he drives his cart wheel over it

    with his horses, he does not crush it.

29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts;

    he is wonderful in counsel

    and excellent in wisdom.

Unity in the Body of Christ, Differences not Divisions

Things to not separate over 

Last time we talked about the fact we are one church. The Word declares this.

"I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:1-6

Now having said this, and all we talked about last time, we must also recognize that there are some differences. There are differences in worship styles. Music styles. Even Preaching styles. The Baptist may look totally different than the Pentecostals.

Here is a true story on my journey. I was approached by two men. Both claiming to be Christian. Both claimed they wanted to help me. And they did. Please do not misunderstand. They did both mean well. They did both want to see me saved. However? They both came to verbal blows on certain subjects.

"You must be baptized to be saved." "No. Baptism is nothing more than an outward public display of your faith." You must speak in tongues." "Speaking in tongues just mean talking in various languages." Oh, they could both pull out the Bible and show me what they claimed supported their side. Sometimes it got nearly physical when these two got together. So I agreed to go to both their churches.

First up? James. I was a guest of his at one of his services. Can you say "Blues Brothers"? I'm not kidding. We got there at 8 am and had donuts and coffee. Then it began with worship. Nothing wrong with that. Then people started dancing and shouting. The Pastor came up and slapped me in the forehead. Now I saw him do this to others and they fell down and started "chanting" or something. {I did not understand the tongue thing at the time.}When he did it to me, nothing happened. I was waiting to feel something. I got nothing. This went on until I had to leave like 1 pm to get ready for work.

Next up was Dwight. After a couple of weeks, I attended his service. It was as I remembered as a child. They sang from a hymnal. They stood up and sat down. The Pastor preached the Word. We went home. It was about an hour. All good.

I stayed at Dwight's which became my, church. I was baptized there. Nothing mystical or magical happened. I grew in the Word. Then came a turning point. I'm trying to keep this as brief as possible. But I experienced a miracle and the Pastor had a difficult time talking with me about gifts and such. So I ended up moving on. I started a quest to find the truth. How can all these different "churches" be so different, if all are supposed to stand for the same thing?

Making a long story a little less long, I started looking into all religions. I was not looked kindly on in a Catholic Church when I started asking why they did things that were clearly against the Bible. I mean, they were doing some things that the Bible straight up says not to do. I was told to leave a Synagogue because I was not born Jewish and I was "unclean." I learned about Buddha, Eastern Mythicism, and even learned that Jediism is an actual religion. This went on for a while and then I got this one day in my Spirit.

"Are you done?" I remember what I said out loud. Glad I was alone at the time. It went something like this. "Am I done? Yeah. I'm done. I'm even more confused now than when I started." Then I got this. "Good." "Wait? Good?" "Yes Good." "How is this good?" "You want to know the truth? Stop asking the creation, and start asking the Creator." So I did. One of the first things I learned was this.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kind of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."

I learned that we are one body.

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." 1 Corinthians 12:4-26

Then I learned this in Romans.

"For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:3-8

So how can I tell if the church I am interested in, is a true church? First, they must have Jesus at the center. Simply put, without Jesus, there is no God. You cannot get to the Father without going through Jesus. Second, look what Jesus told us here in Matthew 7:15-20

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."

What are they actually doing? Is the church growing? Are they serving the community? Are they feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, setting the captives free? What are they actually doing?

The truth is some people like dancing. Some people like the more, uh, spiritual sort of faith. Some people are more comfortable giving their tithes and going home. Was everyone in the Bible Black? Was everyone White? Is it ok for women to teach men? Is it not? Is speaking in tongues a heavenly language or just language? The Rapture? Is it pre, mid, or post Tribulation? Should you eat meat on Friday? Abstain from all alcohol? ETC.

These things can become a point of debate, but they should never become a point of separation.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Are there differences in worship, styles, and even maybe some minor points in the Word? Yes. Can some heal you with a slap on the head? I believe it is possible. Can I? Nope. Can some see visions? Yes. Can some interpret the visions? Yes. Are some gifted with the ability to serve in this capacity or another? Of course. Not all can deal with children. Some should only deal with children. ETC. But we are, or at least we should be, we are all serving one God. There is only one Truth, Way, and Life. His name is Jesus.

Are there some things that we SHOULD divide over? Absolutely. More on that next time. Pretty simple but can be hard for some to accept. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He raised from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 27

 Chapter 27

The Redemption of Israel

1 In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

2 In that day,

“A pleasant vineyard, sing of it!

3     I, the Lord, am its keeper;

    every moment I water it.

    Lest anyone punish it,

I keep it night and day;

4     I have no wrath.

Would that I had thorns and briers to battle!

    I would march against them,

    I would burn them up together.

5 Or let them lay hold of my protection,

    let them make peace with me,

    let them make peace with me.”

6 In days to come Jacob shall take root,

    Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots

    and fill the whole world with fruit.

7 Has he struck them as he struck those who struck them?

    Or have they been slain as their slayers were slain?

8 Measure by measure, by exile you contended with them;

    he removed them with his fierce breath in the day of the east wind.

9 Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be atoned for,

    and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin:

when he makes all the stones of the altars

    like chalkstones crushed to pieces,

    no Asherim or incense altars will remain standing.

10 For the fortified city is solitary,

    a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness;

there the calf grazes;

    there it lies down and strips its branches.

11 When its boughs are dry, they are broken;

    women come and make a fire of them.

For this is a people without discernment;

    therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them;

    he who formed them will show them no favor.

12 In that day from the river Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt the Lord will thresh out the grain, and you will be gleaned one by one, O people of Israel. 13 And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

Unity in the Body of Christ, We are One

 We are one. 

Welcome today, today we will start a new series entitled "Unity in the Body of Christ." We will discuss three points in this concept, that should be a reality. Thankfully, for the most part, it is. However, there are a few times when the church has no other choice than to divide. We will discuss.

We are One.
Differences, not Divisions.
Time to Separate.

First of all, we are one. It does not really matter if you call yourself a Baptist, Pentecostal, Protestant, or "Non-Denominational." If your core belief is that Jesus, being all God, came to earth in the form of all man, and died, rather was risen again, for you and your sins, you ARE a Child of God. Simple. The Word of God, AKA the Bible, IS your handbook for life. We are brothers, and sisters, mothers, and fathers, to each other. We ARE the body of Christ. We ARE the Church.

Paul said this in his letter to the Church at Corinth.

"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." 1 Corinthians 1:10

In one of Jesus's own prayers, He prayed this.

"I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world." John 17:23-24

We read this about the Church in Ephesians 2:19-22

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him, you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

Again, If Jesus is your cornerstone, if He is the center of your "religion," then you are a child of God. Plain and simple. If you do not have Jesus, you have nothing. I know you know this, but let's read it again together. John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

There is no other way. Jesus tells us plainly, He is it.

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

There are no exceptions. It would be like me building you a big beautiful house. I design it with only one door. There is no other way in or out. I hand you the key. Then you say. I do not want the key. There must be other ways in. I will do whatever I want. Uh, no. There is only one door. Only one key. There is no other way. If you do not take the key or chose to enter through the only door, you will never get in.

Jesus is God. Sorry, not sorry. Without God, you cannot get to God. When Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me." He is saying it because "I and the Father are one." John 10:30 You cannot possibly get to God in any other way, because there is one God. His name is Jesus. Does this eliminate all other religions? YES! If they do not have Jesus, they are simply a false, man-made belief system. This includes Christianity as well, More on that in the weeks to come.

So what must we believe, as one mind, as one people? Jesus came and died so that we do not have to. All we have to do is believe in that fact.

"For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”" Romans 10:5-13

This is the message. This is the Truth. The only Truth. This is WHY the church, meaning, you, even exists.

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

We must be of one mind. There is only one Truth. There is only one God. There is only one salvation. Everything else? Well, that we will tackle next time. Some of the stuff anyway. Just make sure, that we, as the body of Christ, are doing what He asked us to do.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He raised from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Book of Isaiah, Chapter 26

 Chapter 26,

You Keep Him in Perfect Peace

1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city;

    he sets up salvation

    as walls and bulwarks.

2 Open the gates,

    that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

3 You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you.

4 Trust in the Lord forever,

    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

5 For he has humbled

    the inhabitants of the height,

    the lofty city.

He lays it low, lays it low to the ground,

    casts it to the dust.

6 The foot tramples it,

    the feet of the poor,

    the steps of the needy.”

7 The path of the righteous is level;

    you make level the way of the righteous.

8 In the path of your judgments,

    O Lord, we wait for you;

your name and remembrance

    are the desire of our soul.

9 My soul yearns for you in the night;

    my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.

For when your judgments are in the earth,

    the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

10 If favor is shown to the wicked,

    he does not learn righteousness;

in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly

    and does not see the majesty of the Lord.

11 O Lord, your hand is lifted up,

    but they do not see it.

Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.

    Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.

12 O Lord, you will ordain peace for us,

    for you have indeed done for us all our works.

13 O Lord our God,

    other lords besides you have ruled over us,

    but your name alone we bring to remembrance.

14 They are dead, they will not live;

    they are shades, they will not arise;

to that end you have visited them with destruction

    and wiped out all remembrance of them.

15 But you have increased the nation, O Lord,

    you have increased the nation; you are glorified;

    you have enlarged all the borders of the land.

16 O Lord, in distress they sought you;

    they poured out a whispered prayer

    when your discipline was upon them.

17 Like a pregnant woman

    who writhes and cries out in her pangs

    when she is near to giving birth,

so were we because of you, O Lord;

18     we were pregnant, we writhed,

    but we have given birth to wind.

We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth,

    and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.

19 Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.

    You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!

For your dew is a dew of light,

    and the earth will give birth to the dead.

20 Come, my people, enter your chambers,

    and shut your doors behind you;

hide yourselves for a little while

    until the fury has passed by.

21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place

    to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity,

and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it,

    and will no more cover its slain.

True Compassion is Loving the Sinner

 Not the Sin. 

Welcome, today. Today we are going to talk about a growing movement in some of our "churches." It goes right along with some of the information we talked about last time. People are seeking out, and being taught by like-minded individuals, what they want to hear. Which can be disguised as compassion. The word declares this.

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions," 2 Timothy 4:3

Romans 1 also warns us of this.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." Romans1:18-32

We are taught, falsely, that we need to have compassion for all. Who are we to judge? They chose to live one way and you chose another. Who really cares what they do? They do not affect you. Just love them.

This is false teaching, I will tell you, I truly believe is straight from the devil himself. It is just the way the devil works. He wraps it up and tries to present it as love and compassion. If you speak against it, you are told you are the one with the problem. Not the sin. Wait. Sin? Who said so? Who are you to try to push your morality onto someone else?

Now let me start off by saying this. We all sin.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23

We are warned by John that we should never think of ourselves as holier than thou.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

This is the whole reason Jesus came for us.

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

As a matter of fact, it was while we were in the middle of our sin, that Jesus came and died for us.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

This is NOT a sermon about telling sinners they are going to hell. This is NOT a sermon telling Christians that they are going to heaven. We are no better than the worse sinner, save one major difference. Jesus. Look how Paul introduced himself in his letter to Timothy.

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." 1 Timothy 1:15

Please do not misunderstand. This is not a "we are better than they" type of message. What this is though, is a warning. We must be careful. We must love the sinner. Have compassion for the sinner, but we must NEVER condone the sin. We must never justify the sin by failing to teach it is sin, in the fear of offending the sinner.

Is "Abortion" a sin? Yes {Exodus 20:13, Psalm 139:13-18, Exodus 21:22-25} Homosexuality? { Leviticus 18:1-5, 22-24, 29, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:49-51, Romans 1:18-32,} Many ways to heaven? {John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, John 3:18}

These are absolutes. Absolutely sin. Absolutely spelled out in the word as against God. There is no justification for these sins. Yet, many of our "churches" today shy away from, or water down their teaching about these, and many more, sins, out of fear of being labeled, or out of fear of offending those who are partaking in, or have partaken in these sins.

Julie got pregnant and had no business being a mother so she had an abortion. It is legal. It is a "medical procedure." It is no big deal. Just love Julie and keep your opinions to yourself. What about the next Julie? Well, it is her body so her right. Just shut up about it.

I have a friend who happens to be a lesbian. I love her. She is like the mirror image of me. We have been friends for over 20 years. As long as we do not discuss politics or religion, we are great together. She does know where I stand on Homosexuality. I have talked briefly about it. She knows that I love her. However, she also knows I do not condone her lifestyle. Do we hate each other? No. We truly do love each other. Ultimately what she chooses to do in the acceptance of Jesus or not, is her choice. Just like mine is mine. I hope of course she does.

Grandma was a great lady. She fed the entire neighborhood on holidays and special occasions. Everyone that knew her loved her. However, she did not believe in Jesus. So whenever someone starts talking to me about Jesus, I think about Grandma. So you are telling me that this woman that was a saint on earth is in hell because she did not believe in Jesus? This or that religion says she is in heaven because she was a good person. There are many ways to heaven.

You get the point. As children of God, and especially if you are a leader in the church, you are obligated to teach the whole truth and to love the sinner. We must be careful to never accept or justify the sin. Sin is sin, and good is good. Remember the word warns us of the time coming, that I would suggest to you is already here. We are starting to call sin good and good sin. We must never do that.

What was sin then, is still sin now. it has not changed with the times. God did not change His mind. True compassion and true love are NOT watching someone walk into the pit, or the fire, but trying to warn them not to. Warning them they do not have to. Telling them there is a way out. His name is Jesus.

We must be careful, child of God, to never accept or justify the sin, in accordance with loving the sinner. Jesus said to the man who was healed, and the adulterous woman, "go and sin no more." {John 5:14, John 8:11} We cannot say. "Welcome, your sins are forgiven you, so sin on. We just will not talk about it." We tell the truth. Just like us when we hear the truth, must decide to accept it or not, they have to as well.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He raised from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!