Let's Get Real, Quenching the Thirsty

 Quenching the Thirsty  

Welcome. Today we are continuing our series, "Let's Get Real." We are currently going through the list of things Jesus told us plainly, that would be a measuring stick of sorts or a criterion of which we can see how God will see our lives at our time before Him. Here is the "list."

"I was hungry and you gave me food,"

"I was thirsty and you gave me drink, "

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me,"

"I was naked and you clothed me,"

"I was sick and you visited me,"

"I was in prison and you came to me.’

To those who do not gain entry to heaven, He said that they did not do any of these. See the whole conversation in Matthew 25:31-46. Today we will be discussing this one.

"I was thirsty and you gave me drink, "

What does this mean? Does this mean if someone is running a marathon and you give them a bottle of water? Yeah, it can mean that. What about blessing someone? Look how much Paul praised the Church at Macedonia for giving to the Saints who were there to preach the gospel.

"We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us." 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

What he is saying is that they, even when they had very little, gave what they had willingly, to the Saints, food, water, clothes, money, whatever the Saints needed while they were there. God wants us to do the same. Remember this passage in James.

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:14-17

I remember working for a place at one time where I have to work outside in the elements. One day, in the heat of the day, I was really feeling the heat. It was like 100 degrees out and I looked like I jumped in a pool. If there was one I may have. When this older gentleman came out of his house and blessed me with a Gatorade. Was this his last? Did he have more? Was he well off? Was he poor? I have no idea, but I know I was blessed and it really helped me to continue to do my job.

But just like food, God is not just talking about actual physical water. In His famous "Sermon on the Mount," Jesus said this.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6

So what is this water that quenches this thirst?

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:7-14

A little bit later we read this.

"Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39

Did you know that? YOU! Yes, YOU! You have " rivers of living water" living inside you.

"The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook." Proverbs 18:4

You have the same Spirit in you that raised Jesus from the dead. YOU have this river of living water in you ready to give out. You just have to give it out freely. Tell them Jesus is the living water. Tell them if they drink of Him, they will never thirst again. Tell them this. This could be their future.

"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”" Revelation 7:16-17

The world wants to buy this or that drink. They want you to buy more and more. Yes, the human body needs physical liquid for substance. But how much more do we need the living water that is Jesus? What does it really matter if we have all the water in the world? All the food in the world? All the riches in the world? If we do not have Jesus, we have nothing.

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36

You will see this sort of recurring trend of meeting people's spiritual needs even more so than meeting their physical needs throughout this series. For this is the reason Jesus came and the reason He gave us the "Great Commission." Everything here is temporal. The Word declares that our lives at but a vapor.

"yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." James 4:14

As a child of God, it is our duty to share with others what we have been given freely. Give freely unto others. Feed the hungry, quench the thirst of the thirsty. and share the good news, Jesus is Lord.

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 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 shalt 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 59

 Chapter 59

1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,

    or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

2 but your iniquities have made a separation

    between you and your God,

and your sins have hidden his face from you

    so that he does not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood

    and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies;

    your tongue mutters wickedness.

4 No one enters suit justly;

    no one goes to law honestly;

they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,

    they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

5 They hatch adders' eggs;

    they weave the spider's web;

he who eats their eggs dies,

    and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched.

6 Their webs will not serve as clothing;

    men will not cover themselves with what they make.

Their works are works of iniquity,

    and deeds of violence are in their hands.

7 Their feet run to evil,

    and they are swift to shed innocent blood;

their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;

    desolation and destruction are in their highways.

8 The way of peace they do not know,

    and there is no justice in their paths;

they have made their roads crooked;

    no one who treads on them knows peace.

9 Therefore justice is far from us,

    and righteousness does not overtake us;

we hope for light, and behold, darkness,

    and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

10 We grope for the wall like the blind;

    we grope like those who have no eyes;

we stumble at noon as in the twilight,

    among those in full vigor we are like dead men.

11 We all growl like bears;

    we moan and moan like doves;

we hope for justice, but there is none;

    for salvation, but it is far from us.

12 For our transgressions are multiplied before you,

    and our sins testify against us;

for our transgressions are with us,

    and we know our iniquities:

13 transgressing, and denying the Lord,

    and turning back from following our God,

speaking oppression and revolt,

    conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.

Judgment and Redemption

14 Justice is turned back,

    and righteousness stands far away;

for truth has stumbled in the public squares,

    and uprightness cannot enter.

15 Truth is lacking,

    and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him

    that there was no justice.

16 He saw that there was no man,

    and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

then his own arm brought him salvation,

    and his righteousness upheld him.

17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

    and a helmet of salvation on his head;

he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,

    and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

18 According to their deeds, so will he repay,

    wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;

    to the coastlands he will render repayment.

19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,

    and his glory from the rising of the sun;

for he will come like a rushing stream,[b]

    which the wind of the Lord drives.

20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,

    to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.

21 “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Let's Get Real, Feeding the Hungry

Feeding the hungry. 

Hello. Welcome, today. Today we are going to start our quest to "get real." to stop playing church. Pretending to be a Christian, or at least saying we are, without really knowing what that actually means. We are going to look more in-depth at this passage of the Bible. Remember, this is Jesus talking to people that thought they were Christians.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21

In another passage, Jesus speaks clearly.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

So for the next few weeks, we are going to examine Jesus's list of things He will bless us for, and hold against those who do not do them. Today we will start with the first. Jesus said this.

"I was hungry and you gave me food."

To those, He did not allow entrance into heaven.

"For I was hungry and you gave me no food"

Today we will discuss, feeding the hungry 

Now, of course, we can gather together some food, and go down to the inner city, or to places where there are those less fortunate than us and give them food. We can give it to a food pantry or a soup kitchen. Or? We can tithe. Yup. Tithe our ten percent so why?

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Malachi 3:10

Did you know that is one of the main reasons that we should be working, to begin with? Not just to pay bills and or get rich, but read this with me.

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Ephesians 4:28

It is not about you. First, God did not create our financial system. We did. We, humans, decided that this and that rock was worth this and that dollar. This paper once printed is worth this much or that. We created work for money. We created ways to exchange goods, Electric, Water, Food, for money. Since we did, God must operate in our system if He wants to bless us and or help us financially.

Used to be, God required Goats, Sheep, Grains, and Oils as tithes. Whatever it was you did, have a Vineyard? You tithed ten percent of your Grape harvest. If Wheat? Ten percent of the Wheat. Animals? You get the point. Now, in today's day and age, we tithe ten percent of our income. Why? So the church can buy food and help people with their daily needs which most times requires money.

Whenever you think you cannot afford to tithe? Read Malachi 3:6-12. Read Ephesians 4:28. Read what Jesus said in Matthew 19:24

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24

I know, I can hear you now. "I'm not rich. So this does not apply to me." Really? Actually, You ARE a VERY rich person. Yes, I am talking to you. Did you know this fact? If you make only $10,000 dollars a year, you are one percent of the richest people on the earth. Yup. Ten thousand dollars a year. That is roughly $800 a month Not a paycheck. A month. How much do you make?

Think about this. Most poor around the world have no home, no running water, no electricity. They do not have a ready source of food. They eat garbage, bugs, and dirt. Whatever they can find, or they DIE. Our poor? American poor? Here is the legal and actual definition of the American poor. People that make less than the following.

$12,486 for a single individual under age 65,

$14,507 a household of two people with a householder 65 years or older with no children,

$24,339 for a family of four with two children under age 18,

American poor, have a home, running water, and a ready source of food. We have a car, sometimes two, cell phones, laptops, access to the Internet. No one is walking around naked. No one is starving to death. In this country, if you do not work, the government will take care of you and your family. Other places around the world? They follow what the Bible says.

"For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10

So let's stop saying how poor we are. Let's start looking at ways to feed God's people. However, God is not only concerned with food that goes in the mouth. He is also concerned with you, yes you, imparting Spiritual food into the lives of others. Remember, Jesus told us this.

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:27-40

Now that is some good food. Seriously. Yes, of course, we all need to eat to sustain our natural bodies. But imagine this. If we fail to eat, we may die. But if we eat of the bread of heaven, or feed others of the knowledge of Jesus and His sacrifice, then they, like us will never die. We will live forever. Remember what Jesus told the devil when the devil was tempting Him?

" But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”" Matthew 4:4

He was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3

"And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

Here is a tip for you though. Trust me on this. If you are going to start giving out? You first have to fill up. Read the Word of God for yourself. Go to church and get fed the Word. Grow into a mature child of God. Eat the meat of the gospel and not just the milk only. Then, when you are ready, and God calls you to, you can go feed His people as Jesus repeatedly told Peter to do.

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. "John 21:15-17

God wants you to take care of the poor of course. But He also whats you to feed people with His words as well. Share the gospel. Share the heavenly bread that God gives to you. Be His vessel. Be His child. Are you ready to get real? Feed the hungry. There are many hungry people out there. Some do not even know how hungry they are. Be kind and feed them with bread they never even knew before.

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 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 shalt 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 58

 Chapter 58

True and False Fasting

1 “Cry aloud; do not hold back;

    lift up your voice like a trumpet;

declare to my people their transgression,

    to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily

    and delight to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that did righteousness

    and did not forsake the judgment of their God;

they ask of me righteous judgments;

    they delight to draw near to God.

3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?

    Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,

    and oppress all your workers.

4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight

    and to hit with a wicked fist.

Fasting like yours this day

    will not make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is such the fast that I choose,

    a day for a person to humble himself?

Is it to bow down his head like a reed,

    and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?

Will you call this a fast,

    and a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:

    to loose the bonds of wickedness,

    to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,

    and to break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

    and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,

    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

    you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

    the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry

    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

    and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the Lord will guide you continually

    and satisfy your desire in scorched places

    and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

    like a spring of water,

    whose waters do not fail.

12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

    the restorer of streets to dwell in.

13 “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,

    from doing your pleasure on my holy day,

and call the Sabbath a delight

    and the holy day of the Lord honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

    or seeking your own pleasure,or talking idly;

14 then you shall take delight in the Lord,

    and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;

I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,

    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Lets Get Real

Are you really serious? 

Hello. Welcome, today. You know, I was coming into the church building the other day and there was my Son and his friend, sitting on the floor of the lobby, and they were actually texting each other. Now I really want you to understand what I mean. Here is my 16-year-old son, and his friend, sitting on the floor, side by side, next to each other, texting, each other. What?

We have come into this era of convenience and comfort. Technology is just one little piece of this. It makes our lives so easy that we start losing stuff along the way. Money is another. Especially in our country. We are the richest people to ever walk the earth. Even our poor are rich. AC, self-driving cars, smartphones, and even smart houses. The problem is, sometimes, the smarter our technology gets, the dumber we get. As Covid showed us, we can even work, go to school, and even go to church, in our pajamas, never leaving the house.

It is time to get serious. It is time to get real. I understand that some of this series may seem offensive to some. I get that. That is not my intention. However, if you get offended, please take some time to read the Word for yourself. Research what I say for yourself. Pray about it. Ask God to show you the truth.

Are you a good person? I always thought of myself as a good person. If you ask, most will look at the question in an earthly, worldly sense. They would reason it out. "Let's see, I haven't been arrested. I love my spouse and kids. I give to charity, uh, when I can. I go to Church on Sunday, uh, most of the time. I try to never speak ill of anyone. Yes. I would say I was a good person."

I went to church. Sundays and Wednesdays, most of the time anyway. You know, life interrupts sometimes. I try to say my 3 to 5-minute prayer a day. I try. I do not think I am any less or more a "Christian" than anyone else. Let me ask you some questions.

Are you feeding Jesus? Did you give Jesus some shoes for His feet? When He was sick, did you visit Him and bring Him some Soup? Did you give Him your seat at church when He came in for the first time? Wait. I hope He was there at the church. But maybe He came in to sit next to you. What do I mean? Jesus said this.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-46

I believe that these may be a bit important to God. If your very Salvation depends on them. You see that right? Those that do such things, enter into heaven, and those that do not, do not. What does that mean? Does that mean that it is by doing these things, you can earn your way to heaven? No of course not. For the word declares this.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God," Ephesians 2:8

Without Jesus, you have no chance at all in entering heaven. Without His sacrifice and His death for you, you can never enter heaven. You know the passages,

“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." John 3:16-18

Without God, there is no way you can earn your entrance fee to go in. Your entrance fee is the very blood of Jesus. However, let's say you have accepted this. Do you call yourself a Christian? Now what? Is it ok to just go to church on Sundays if you have time and there are no other obligations? Well, lets' talk about this. Jesus said to the people that He allowed entering into heaven.

"I was hungry and you gave me food."

To those, He did not allow entrance into heaven.

"For I was hungry and you gave me no food"

But wait, do they both not think of themselves as "Christians," and do they, not both claim to be followers of God? Look what Jesus says here.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21

James tries to explain it to us this way.

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:14-17

Remember what Jesus said to the church in Sardis, last I checked, most people in a church see themselves as saved.

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Revelations 3:1-6

Yes, of course, you need Jesus. Without Him, there is no God, because He is God. How can you go to be with God in heaven if you leave out God Himself? However, it was never God's intent for you to go "Oh, I get it. Ok. Jesus came and died for me. Whew! I'm sure glad about that. So glad I do not have to go through all that. So glad I do not have to go to hell. Ok. I accept. Now I have a bunch of stuff to do so see ya next week.

I understand that to a lot of new "Christians" it can be a confusing time. What are God's plan and purpose for your life? Ask Him. What does He want you to do individually? Ask Him. But let's look at these statements from Jesus Himself.

"I was hungry and you gave me food,"

"I was thirsty and you gave me drink, "

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me,"

"I was naked and you clothed me,"

"I was sick and you visited me,"

"I was in prison and you came to me.’

Remember Jesus stood up in the midst of all the congregation and read this.

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:17-21

Then He gave us the great commission right before He left to go back to heaven.

"And Jesus came and said to them, “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

Doesn't sound too much like it was meant to be, just accept and live on. Does it? Join us for the next six weeks as we dive into these statements from Jesus, and try to get a better understanding of what they actually mean, and do not mean, and what can we do right from the beginning to try to get real.

Like my son on his phone texting to his friend who was sitting next to him, there is a better way. Get real. Put the phone down. Turn and look at each other. Talk to each other using WORDS. spent time with each other in reality. Are we playing church? Are we sitting on a floor and watching? let's get real.

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 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 shalt 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 57

 Chapter 57

Israel's Futile Idolatry

1 The righteous man perishes,

    and no one lays it to heart;

devout men are taken away,

    while no one understands.

For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;

2     he enters into peace;

they rest in their beds

    who walk in their uprightness.

3 But you, draw near,

    sons of the sorceress,

    offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.

4 Whom are you mocking?

    Against whom do you open your mouth wide

    and stick out your tongue?

Are you not children of transgression,

    the offspring of deceit,

5 you who burn with lust among the oaks,

    under every green tree,

who slaughter your children in the valleys,

    under the clefts of the rocks?

6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;

    they, they, are your lot;

to them you have poured out a drink offering,

    you have brought a grain offering.

    Shall I relent for these things?

7 On a high and lofty mountain

    you have set your bed,

    and there you went up to offer sacrifice.

8 Behind the door and the doorpost

    you have set up your memorial;

for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed,

    you have gone up to it,

    you have made it wide;

and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,

    you have loved their bed,

    you have looked on nakedness.

9 You journeyed to the king with oil

    and multiplied your perfumes;

you sent your envoys far off,

    and sent down even to Sheol.

10 You were wearied with the length of your way,

    but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;

you found new life for your strength,

    and so you were not faint.

11 Whom did you dread and fear,

    so that you lied,

and did not remember me,

    did not lay it to heart?

Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,

    and you do not fear me?

12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,

    but they will not profit you.

13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!

    The wind will carry them all off,

    a breath will take them away.

But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land

    and shall inherit my holy mountain.

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it shall be said,

“Build up, build up, prepare the way,

    remove every obstruction from my people's way.”

15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

“I dwell in the high and holy place,

    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly,

    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 For I will not contend forever,

    nor will I always be angry;

for the spirit would grow faint before me,

    and the breath of life that I made.

17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,

    I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,

    but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.

18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;

    I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

19     creating the fruit of the lips.

Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord,

    “and I will heal him.

20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea;

    for it cannot be quiet,

    and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

The Ten Commandments 2022, The Law of God, 9,10

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor

Thou shalt not covet 

Welcome back. Today we will wrap up our in-depth study of the Ten Commandments. These are the all but forgotten Laws of God. They are not something little Johnny and Suzy should learn how to say in order in Sunday School. They are not a nice Biblical story. When someone asks you, what are the Ten Commandments, you should not say something like, "Have no other God but God, Uh, don't kill, uh, don't cheat on your Wife. Yeah, that's a bad one. Uh, oh yeah, don't steal." You need to KNOW what these are. As a child of God, these are given to you, not to make your life more difficult, but easier, and to keep you from the snares of the Devil.

Today we will be talking about Commandments 9, and 10

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.

Then we will wrap it up, the same way Jesus did at the end. Let's get to it.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Exodus 20:16

Now first, as we talked about before, with Commandment 6, if you bear false witness against someone, not only can you hurt them, you can also cause them to be put to death. Look at what they did to Jesus.

Let's look at Deuteronomy 19

"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,  then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.  And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you." Deuteronomy 19:15-20

We can see all throughout the Word, of those falsely accusing innocent people. Adam accused Eve. Satan accused Job. The Jews accused Jesus. ETC. But false accusations are not the only way you can bear false witness.

Let's say you overhear someone talking about someone. They say this or that. You now without knowing if it's true or not, repeat that of which you heard, about that person. It's not true. Yet, now that person is hurt or has to deal with the consequences of the lie you took part in.

"Did you hear Sally is sleeping with the Boss?" What you don't know is, Sally isn't. You see, the Boss has a medical issue, and Sally has a relative with the same issue, and is very educated in ways to help. They became friends and Sally helps the "Boss" from time to time with his condition. There is nothing wrong or seedy about their relationship.

Now the rumor get's to the "corporate office" and both are fired. Or now the rumor gets back to Sally's husband or the "Boss's" wife, and it wrecks their families and their lives.

Never gossip. Even if Sally is sleeping with the "Boss," it's none of your concern. Deal with each other with love. Would you want others walking around talking about you? Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.  Exodus 20:17

So why is this important? Isn't "keeping up with the Jones" normal? Maybe. But why does God want you to avoid this? Because of what it can lead to.

"Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?”And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”  And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them,  they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.  And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”

As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”’”

Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.) 

And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house." 1 Kings 21:1-29

So Ahab coveted Naboth's field, which leads to bearing false witness, which led to the murder of Naboth.

In  2 Samuel ...

"In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”  So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”

So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.  When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died. Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting. And he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king, then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell. The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”

When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord." 2 Samuel 11:1-27

So David coveted Bathsheba, which lead to Uriah being killed for the sin of David. It also cost David the life of his son. You see, when you start coveting something, it then leads to other sins. This is why God told us

"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18

Jesus put it to us this way.

"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:35-40

In Romans...

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:8-10

I can almost hear some of you saying it now. You mean to tell me, that we could have summed all this up, this now Five-Part Series and all the pages were written, explaining the Ten Commandments, we could have summed it all up with.

"Have no other Gods but God."

"Love Thy Neighbor as yourself."

Yup. Then Jesus gave us a new Commandment. A bit of clarification if you will.

 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 13:34 

How did Jesus Love us? While we were yet sinners, He laid down his very life for us.

So now you understand why. If you have no other God before God, you will not worship before Idols. You will not take His name in vain. You will obey His commandments. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you will treat them how you would want to be treated. You would not steal from yourself, you would not lie about yourself. You would not kill yourself. You would be content with what you have.

You see, the forgotten Laws, The Ten Commandments, were truly NOT given to make our lives more difficult, but they were given to us to make our lives easier, and to keep us from the snares of the devil.

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 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 56

 Chapter 56

Salvation for Foreigners

1 “Keep justice, and do righteousness,

for soon my salvation will come,

    and my righteousness be revealed.

2 Blessed is the man who does this,

    and the son of man who holds it fast,

who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,

    and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,

    “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”;

and let not the eunuch say,

    “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4 For thus says the Lord:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,

    who choose the things that please me

    and hold fast my covenant,

5 I will give in my house and within my walls

    a monument and a name

    better than sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name

    that shall not be cut off.

6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,

    to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,

    and to be his servants,

everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,

    and holds fast my covenant—

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain,

    and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

    will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer

    for all peoples.”

8 The Lord God,

    who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,

“I will gather yet others to him

    besides those already gathered.”

Israel's Irresponsible Leaders

9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour—

    all you beasts in the forest.

10 His watchmen are blind;

    they are all without knowledge;

they are all silent dogs;

    they cannot bark,

dreaming, lying down,

    loving to slumber.

11 The dogs have a mighty appetite;

    they never have enough.

But they are shepherds who have no understanding;

    they have all turned to their own way,

    each to his own gain, one and all.

12 “Come,” they say, “let me get wine;

    let us fill ourselves with strong drink;

and tomorrow will be like this day,

    great beyond measure.”