Don't Change The World

It's not your Job.

God did not tell Noah, "I'm sad I made you Humans. I want you to go out and change the World." No, He told Noah to build a Boat to carry Noah and His Family out from the World. God did not tell Moses "Moses, I am not happy with the way Pharaoh is treating my People. Go out and Change the World." No, He told Moses, "Bring my People out." As a matter of fact, Jesus, when Praying said this..

"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." {John 17:9}

Wait, Jesus said "I do not Pray for the World?" Wait. What is the Point then? I thought He came to Save the World. Actually, No. He came to Save YOU. Not the World. A little later He goes on to say this..

"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." {John 17:15-17}

Again, Jesus is NOT telling God, we must Save the World. He is not telling YOU to go out and Change the World. Remember what He told the Twelve when He sent THEM out?

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city." {Mark 6:11}

He did not say, Go out and Change the World. He said Go out and Preach the Gospel, and Baptize them. And whosoever does not receive them, or the Truth, then bad things are coming for them. They are going to Condemn themselves by their own choices.

To reject them is to reject Jesus.to reject Jesus, is to reject the ONLY Way, Truth, and Life. To reject the Way, Truth, and Life, is to Reject God and His plan and Purpose. In doing so, they then Condemn themselves to live as the World lives and die as the World will die.

Remember, all the times Jesus told us about the End Times and what was to come, He always said, Fear Not. For these things MUST come. Or these things WILL come. He never told us to attempt to stop them..

What about you. As an Individual?

"Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them."

Seriously? But you do not know how bad I have it... Keep reading...

"Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them." {1 Corinthians 7:17-24}

Why? God called you for a reason. I have shared this story before. But way back when I first got Saved, a friend of mine came to me and said... "I have some questions about this whole God Stuff." Something like that, and then he said "James told me to come see you." Now, James and Dwight, where the two Men that got me on my Spiritual Quest to begin with. James has gone to Church FAR more than me and knows FAR more about the Word than I did. Why is he sending him to me?

Now I went with it, and he came too my house. We talked the Ten Commandments. We talked Jesus. It was then I learned that to the lost, the simple things of God are no so simple. so time went by and my friend told me that he gave his Life to God on the top of a Mountain at like 4 or 5 am or something like that.. He ran like 10 miles a day. You see, He was a Professional Boxer.

Think about this. I would never have "Found God" if God removed Dwight or James out of where they were. I would not have been there, for my friend to come and "Find God" if God removed ME from where I was before this meeting took place. Then think about this.. I KNOW Pro-wrestling. I knew and still know a lot of the Superstars in the Business today. But I am NOT a big Sports Guy. I just never have been. I am NOT a Boxing Fan. I will go see my friend fight, but I am not going to be able to tell you all the Boxers and their Histories Wins, Loses, Etc. I will NEVER Meet most if any Boxers. I could not even tell you who the Champ is right now.

But you know what? My Professional Boxer Friend, CAN. He sees them all day every day. He is in that world. Now I can and do Share the Gospel wherever I am. Whenever God tells me to. But those in the Boxing World, will never hear my name, never meet me. will have no knowledge of me. Yet, follow this.. Dwight and James were where they were, went through the things they went through, to share with me. I was where I was to hear it. My Boxer friend was where he was to hear the Truth according to God, through ME, because I was there. Then all HIS friends heard the Truth because he was also there and they were there. Are you following???

I know I know. It seems compassionate to say, "We need God in the World again." I get it. I use to say this sort of thing all the time. We need God in America again. But the truth is, the World is what it is. What is going to happen, IS going to happen. What God is concerned with is NOT your Status nor the Worlds Status, but a one on one relationship with YOU. What He is concerned with about you, is that you, through one on one relationships, share the Gospel and lead others to the Truth. Let the World be the World, YOU be the Child of God, God wants you to be.

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 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 thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 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..

Faith or Works?

Contradiction?? 

So which is it? According to the Bible...

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." {Ephesians 2:8-9}

Then it also says this..

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." {James 2:17}

So? Which is it..

First, there are NO Contradictions in the Bible. No not one. There are misinterpretations, misunderstanding of Scripture, and willful twisting of Scripture. But there are NO Contradictions. Second, they are BOTH correct. It is not either or. Here is where misunderstanding comes in..

First..

"For by grace are ye saved through faith;" you are SAVED by Faith. There is no other way. One has to first believe..

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." {Hebrews 11:6}

If you have heard the Word, God so loved the World, He sent His only Begotten Son, the Gospel, and do not believe that Jesus came to earth and lived the way He did, and Died the way He did, and more importantly, raised from the Dead as He did, then you cannot possibly accept His Sacrifice for you and your Sin. You have to first hear and accept these things on Faith that they are true.

"and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: " You cannot do ANYTHING, or be good enough, to EARN your way to Heaven. It does not matter what you do. It matters what you believe. God gave the Gift of Salvation to ALL that ask Him. It is all inclusive, and very defined. Accept Jesus and live, reject Jesus and die.

"Not of works, lest any man should boast." Not of Religion. It does not matter what Religion you claim. It does not matter if you are a good little Muslim, Jew, Christian, It is not about Religion. It is about a relationship with God through Jesus the Christ. It does not matter what MAN says about anything. It is simply Faith that you are saved by the Grace of God.

Look at Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." {Ephesians 3:17-19}

Now AFTER you are Saved? Then....

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." {James 2:17}

Go to James 2. Start at verse 14

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." {James 2:14-17}

What good does saying you have Faith in a Loving, Caring, Saving God, if you have means to Love, Care for, and lead others to Salvation, and yet, you CHOSE to do nothing.. Jesus said this..

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." {Matthew 7:15-20}

When someone looks at you and your Life, can they tell the difference? Seriously. Look in the Mirror, I'm talking to Children of God here, look in the Mirror. DO YOU see any difference in you and the World? Do others? How are you living your life? What Fruit are you Producing??

Back to James 2

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." {James 2:18-26}

Even devils know there is a God. Think about that. Satan was there in the beginning. He knows God is there and real. He has seen Him face to face. He was there when the Bible was written. He can quote it Word for Word. Does this make him a good and Saved person? God gives us many examples of Faith in Hebrews 11. Noah building the Ark on a Sunny day, Abraham going out, Sara becoming Pregnant in old age, ETC. I encourage you to check out Hebrews 11.

See, Jesus gave us a way of escaping Sin and death. He gave us Eternal Life. He set us free. However, He also gave us The Great Commission..

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."{Matthew 28:19-20}

See, it really IS simple. Want more? Do more.The Law of giving and receiving is as real, and as constant, as the Law of Gravity. Want more money? Give more. Want more Wisdom, share that of what you know with others. Want more Grace? Give more. Want more Faith? Share more. Want more Blessings in all areas of life? BE a Blessing to others. Jesus told us plainly...

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." {Luke 6:38}

It is not now, nor has it ever been, about YOU. It is ALWAYS about someone else. God Blesses you so that you may Bless others. He fills you up to pour out onto others. He Planted His Seed in you so that you may bring forth a Harvest.

It was NEVER meant for you to believe, "I got mine, I'm good." The Word declare that you died WITH Him. You died with Jesus. Now you have been risen with Him, 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} It is not about YOU, anymore.

You cannot be Saved without Faith. There is nothing you can do to inherent Eternal Life. However, once you ARE Saved, you must not be content with merely that. Remember, Jesus even warned us that we will be Judged by what we DO....

"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." {Matthew 25:23-45}

Be careful Child of God, that not only to you BELIEVE and accept your Salvation, but that you also have Works to show for your Faith. Be the Good Tree. Be the Child of God you are. Once you are truly Saved, you should have a DESIRE to do good Works. Now go forth and do them..

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 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 thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 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.

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..

What Can The Church, God, Do For Me? Church Folks

Church Folks.

Then sometimes that question comes from someone in the Church itself. Someone that feels entitled. "I am a Child of God. I need not go through Trials and Tribulations. I am far better than those Sinners over there. Why is God not Blessing me? Is this all just a waste of time?"

"What can the Church, God, do for the Saved? Do for the Child of God? Why is it that they are being good little Christians, and yet, it seems that God is not Blessing them. They feel little different. However, they expect to be Blessed. They expect to be taken care of in the Church. The question is,or should be "What have you done for God lately?"

You see, He already did it. He came and died for you. He never said, "As long as you do this, or that, or don't do this or that. He came and died for you, WHILE, you were in the middle of your Sin.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."{Romans 5:8}

It was not then, nor is it now, exclusive. The Family of God is NOT a Club. It is not a set of rules and regulations. It is not a Religion over any other Religion. It IS a one on one relationship with God Himself. It is an Adoption, where by you may cry Abba Father. God doesn't care if you are a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Black, White, Rich, Poor, Male, Female, or anything else. All you have to do, is accept The Gift. Jesus IS the only way. Besides Jesus, nothing else matters.

Now having said that, we have to look to the Word to find out why, if you have done that, then why is it that it may seem God is not Blessing you? You already know that....

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."{Ephesians 2:8-9}

"So see? I do not have to do anything right? I accepted Jesus, now I get Blessed right?" Well, you were Blessed. You now have everlasting Life with God. "No, no, no. I mean, I should be Blessed Financially. I should be Blessed with Peace. I should be Blessed with Healing. I should be Blessed every day."

Well???

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"{James 2:14-20}

"See. There you go again. There is another one of those Contradictions that fill the Bible. Saved by Faith alone, and Faith without Works is dead. You can't have it both ways." First, there is not one Contradiction in the Bible. No. Not one. There are misinterpretations. There are differences in focus on the same subject by different Witnesses. There are intentional twisting to fit agendas or ideas. There are simple misunderstands. But not one Contradiction.

There is nothing you can do, to Work your way to Heaven. Not even in the Name of Jesus. Remember the Scariest Words in the entire Bible? At least to me. When Jesus said this?

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."{Matthew 7:21-23}

These are those that are fulfilling their "Religious Obligations." Those that Jesus was talking about when He said this...

"He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."{Mark 7:6}

You have to first know Jesus. Accept Jesus. Be Adopted into the Family. Without that.. "your religion is worthless" {James 1:26} You must be Saved by Faith that Jesus came and died for you. After that however?

"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."{1 John 2:4}

Remember Jesus's Command to His Disciples after His Resurrection?

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."{Matthew 28:19-20}

I have three Children. As long as they are under my Roof, I am there. I am there to Love them. Protect them. Bless them. I am always with them. As long as I tell my Children to do this or that, I will be there to assist them. If however, they decide to leave. If they decide to go their own way, and do their own thing, I can no longer help them. They are on their own.

When you are a Child of God, and you are doing your Father's Will, He will be there always. He will Love you, Protect you. He will Bless you. He will Pave the Way for you. However, if you decide to go your own way, and do your own thing, then He can no longer help you. You are on your own.

Does this mean that God no longer Loves you. No. Of course not. He loves you. He is waiting for you to come home. He is waiting for you to be obedient. If I tell my Boy Joshua, "Go here and do this, and I will reward you in this manor." And my Boy Joshua says, "You know what Daddy, I really don't want to go there and do that. But give be my reward anyway." The answer will be "No."

God is the same way. Remember Jesus told us this...

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."{Matthew 6:33 }

When you are under God's Roof, so to speak, He is there for you, always. Then you should say things like this..

James 4:

13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Want Financial Blessings? Are you Tithing? Want Emotional Blessings? Are you being a Comfort to someone else? Want Healing? Are you Praying for Healing for someone else? Want Blessings in your Life? Are you being a Blessing to others? Or is it as simple as you being a Wayward Child. A Child saying to their Father, "You know what Daddy, I really don't want to go there and do that. But give be my reward anyway." The answer will be "No."

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 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 thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 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}