Gifts from God, Forgiveness,

Life everlasting

As we enter into the holiday season, we start to think about gifts. What gifts we want, and what gifts we want to give to others. Our kids write letters and whisper in ears, "I want this and that." Then we see the holiday movies and tv specials come on. We see an increase in church attendance. Yes, we are in the holiday season.

The last time we got together, we discussed the second-best gift you will ever receive. Some of you are still contemplating how anything could even possibly be better than your very existence. That's right, your very life is the second greatest gift you could ever receive. After all, if you were never born, you could receive no other gifts. Although this is true, there is a gift even better than your natural-born life.

You see, everyone who has ever walked on this earth can lay claim to the fact that they received this most precious gift called life. All the saints, and all the sinners alike. After all, we were all created out of love.

God created everything that is, was, or ever will be. Then He created mankind and gave us dominion over everything God created. He gave Adam domination over all things, however, this did not sit well with Lucifer, now known as Satan so he came to Adam and tempted him with the same temptation that he fell to.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths." Genesis 3:1-7

Adam fell for the same sin the devil did. The desire to be God. He gave his God-given authority over to the devil and has been in charge of this world ever since. Just simply being born after Adam, causes us to be subject to death, which is controlled and powered by?

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil," Hebrews 2:14

The devil is real. He does have the power of death. Meaning he can end human life on earth. However, he is NOT what you may think. Yes, he is real. Yes, he is powerful. Look at this warning.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." 1 Peter 5:8-9

However, he is not a red wrinkly-faced, horned-head, tail-waging, pitchfork-yielding, demon from hell. The Bible calls him an "angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14 and the "prince of the power of the air" Ephesians 2:2 and the "Day Star, son of Dawn" Isaiah 14:12 Truth is if the devil himself was to open those doors and walk down the aisle, many people would fall to his feet thinking he was Jesus Himself. Or they would think he was some sort of angel, which is true. He IS an angel. He is the first angel. The fairest of all the angels.

Here is another very important part to remember also. He is not a god. He does control the physical realm. He does have the power of sickness and disease. He does have the power of death. He can and most definitely does tempt you. Whisper in your ear. Yet? He can not make you do anything.

Here is the thing though, he does not have to. I will say that another way. The devil does not have to do anything, for you to go to hell. Were you born into this world? Then you are on your way to hell. I know I know. I can hear some of you now. "Wait! I never killed anyone." It just doesn't matter. "I do not worship the devil!" It just doesn't matter. "Wait a second. I do good stuff all the time. I try to always be good to others." Have you accepted Jesus? "I do not believe you have to." Then it just doesn't matter.

"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

In case you still have doubts?

"This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:6–13

Jesus put it plainly to us when He said this.

"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

And here, for which they tried to stone Him.

"Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58

We just talked about how life comes about. Romans 8. God foreknows you. He creates you to fulfill a purpose and plan for your life, and then He calls you. This is when things change. Yes or no? The answer is yours to give. The gift is yours to receive. No? Ok. Live on. Yes? Ok, NOW God can bless you. He can and will justify you, and in the end, He will glorify you. Not all will just stroll into heaven. Look how Jesus tells us these things will come to pass. First He gives us a warning. 

“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

What is "The will of my Father?" We could always start here?

"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 his 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

Jesus is the greatest gift of all. Accept Him, and have forgiveness for all the sins you have, and will still, commit. Your life here on earth is good. Great. But it is temporal. It is brief. And in a mere second, you could find yourself standing before God almighty, and He will say what? Enter in? Or depart from me? Without Jesus? Nobody stands a chance. He is the forgiveness, key, door, gate, way, truth, and life. He is the Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the great I Am. God did not put Him under the tree for us. He hung Him on the tree for us. Jesus IS the Lord of Lords and the King of kings. Do you know Him? Have you accepted Him? 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

Spend time getting to know Him. Read the Word of God. Pray. Learn what He has planned for you and your life. Go about doing the will of our Father in Heaven. There is no greater gift you will ever receive, than the one you did when you said that prayer.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 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!

Gifts From God, Life Itself

 Life. You ARE Alive.

Hello, welcome today. Here they come. Are you ready? Ah yes, the Holiday season. Time to start looking forward to all the gifts "Santa" is going to bring you. Time for kids to dream dreams, and parents to try to afford and find in time. Even devout children of God get caught up in all the craziness. But have you ever stopped to think for a second, What gifts God gives His Children? What gifts God has given you?

For a few years, we did a "Gift Series" here at TAG. If you want, you can feel free to check them out. I was planning on bringing that back this year, but I feel that we need to do something a little different this year. This year we will only look at two. Yup. Just two gifts that we receive from our Father in Heaven. The sad thing is? Sometimes we fail to even recognize them.

Can you guess the number two most important and most valuable gift you received from your Father in Heaven? I know once we get into this, some of you may disagree. But it really is the number 2. What is it? Your existence. You. You are alive. You exist. Your very existence is the second greatest gift you have ever received.

There is a passage in the Word, that took me some time to fully get. But I have made it my own. It is one hundred percent true. Simply put "I am what I am." Why? God made me this way.

"But by the grace of God, I am what I am:" 1 Corinthians 15:10

We read this is Palms

"Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments." Psalm 119:73

And here is Psalm 139:13-17

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows them very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"

God tells us

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you," Jeremiah 1:5 

Jesus tells us that we should never fear. Not only does God love us, as His Children,

"Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." Luke 12:7

Think about that for a second. God "hast possessed your reins: thou hast covered you in your Mother's womb." "Your substance was not hidden from God when you were made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. God's eyes did see your substance, yet being unperfect; and in God's book all your members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

You are you. Why? Because God made you, you. You are as tall as you are. You are male or female. Yes, you are male or female. God does not make mistakes. You are black or white. You have blonde hair, or brown, or red. God made you who you are. You were "fashioned" as God saw fit. He even took the time to number the hairs on your head. There is only one of you, and God knows EVERYTHING about you. He loves you.

In Romans, we find the five steps of an anointed life.

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." Romans 8:28-31

Again, God,

1 "For those whom He foreknew," He knew you before you were even conceived.  He wrote your members in His Book. You were fashioned, or formed, the way God chose you to be.

2 "He also predestined," He set up a plan and a purpose for you to accept Jesus's sacrifice and be called into the family of God. He has plans for you.

3 "And those whom He predestined He also called," This is where you come in. God calls you. You are reading this for a reason. You accepted the invitation to go to Church with family or friends this or past holiday season for a reason. You clicked on that TV preacher while surfing for something to watch, for a reason. God is calling you.

He does not care what you think. He does not care what you have done. He does not care about what others may or may not think of you. He is calling YOU. The same eyes that looked into Matthew's sitting at the Table of Customs, Peter on the fishing boat, and Saul on the road to Damascus, are looking into your eyes right now, saying "Follow me." What is your answer? Yes, or No?

If you say No. Nothing will change. There will be no hail of fire and brimstone falling down on your head. No demons will be slithering up through the ground to suck you into Hell. Truth is, things will go on for you pretty much as normal. You will either fail or succeed in your life. You will still be the choices you make. However, there is a big difference at the end of your time here on earth. You will find that all you heard is true when you are standing before God Himself. Then it is too late.

Now, if you say Yes? Then,

4 "and those whom He called He also justified," Meaning,

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." Romans 8:15-17

Which is the last step.

5 "them He also glorified."God will glorify you in the end.

"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13

And 

"And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life." Luke 18:29-30

You see, Jesus knows that some will turn away when you become a child of God. Jesus even so much as told us that we would be downright hated by some. Even those we love may turn their backs when we start talking about God. Why?

"If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." John 15:18

Never care what others think of you. Only care what your Father thinks of you. People come and go. God is there, always.

Let's say that God puts it into your heart to be a business owner. You may have many people telling you, "You can't do that." Or a singer. "You can't do that. You are not good enough." Or a person with their own radio show. "Who do you think you are?" Better yet, what if God calls you to Preach? Then you may see those you love turning their backs on you a lot quicker. Truth is, the world loves its own. It HATES anything that is not.

Think about Moses, Jonah, Jeremiah, and Ananias, just to name a few. These were reluctant servants of God. They themselves did not think they would be able to do it. Forget about others. They themselves didn't think they were God's right choice. Ultimately, they were obedient, and everything worked out as God planned. Whatever it is, that God tells you to do. Just do it. Be you. Let others worry about themselves.

God created you the way you are, and He gave you certain gifts, to accomplish the plans He has for you and your life. If you do not know what those plans are, may I suggest that you ask Him? Pray about it. read His Word. Ask Him to show you what He created you for. There is a plan and purpose. You are not here by accident or happenstance. You are not an oops.

Just your very existence is the second most important gift God can ever give you. Wait? The second? Yup. See, God gave everyone that has ever walked this earth, this same gift. He created man in His own image. The next breath you take is because of God's will. His love. But this is NOT the most important. What is? Join us next time and find out.

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, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 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!

Gifts from God, Spirit

 Holy Spirit

We have been talking about the gifts that we receive from God when we first become a child of His. He gives us "Eyes to see" and "Ears to hear," so that we may be able to hear and see His words and His will for our lives. How does He do this? By giving us the greatest gift we could ever receive. "The Spirit to receive." The "Spirit of Life." The Holy Spirit. To fully understand how this works, you must first understand, who the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit, in some translations, the Holy Ghost, is not a spook. He is not a concept. Nor an idea. The Holy Spirit is a very real Person.

You accept Jesus's sacrifice for you. His blood for your blood. His suffering for your suffering. His death, that you may live. Then the Holy Spirit comes and adopts you into the Family of God. Jesus said.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." John 14: 15-17

He said we should not mourn Him not being with us, or long for Him to be with us, because He will ALWAYS be with us. In the very next verse, Jesus said this.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:18-21

Now even some standing there, listening to Jesus tell us this, did not fully understand. Read on. Verse 22.

"Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me." John 14: 22-24

You really need to understand what Jesus is actually saying here. Read on some more starting at verse 25

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

Who will teach us the things of God, and bring to our remembrance the Words Jesus has taught us? The Holy Spirit. However, to fully understand the reality, you must fully understand who the Holy Spirit actually is.

Genesis 1:1

'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

In the beginning God. God was in the beginning. Next verse.

"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

When there was yet nothing, The Holy Spirit was there. Do you see that? Then a little bit later in Genesis.

"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-27

In the original language, the word "our" means three or more. We are created in the image of God. We have our brain. or mind. Our knowledge and wisdom, will and emotions. Fashioned after God the Father. Our body. Fashioned after the flesh of God, Jesus, Our spirit. Who we really are, the thing that lives on. Fashioned after the Holy Spirit. We are three, yet one.

But wait, Where does it say Jesus was there?

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1: 1

A little bit later.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

God, The Word, {Which became Flesh, Jesus} and the Spirit was there in the beginning and have always been. Then to fully understand who the Holy Spirit is, we need to go back to John 14.

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

He said "I" shall come to you. He is already there? Of course. So what He is telling them, is that the Holy Spirit is Him, He is God. Three yet one. That when the flesh dies, and He goes to be with the Father, the Spirit, who never dies, will come and dwell in us.

"Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. "

Again, "I" in you. Not some spook. "I." Jesus. The Holy Spirit is equal to Jesus. He IS Jesus. Jesus IS God. Are you following?

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Read that again. "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and WE will come to him and make OUR home with him." What is He saying? Remember, OUR means three or more. Jesus said WE will make OUR abode with him. The very real person Jesus, the very real person the Holy Spirit, and even God Himself will live IN us.

Now perhaps you can fully appreciate this passage.

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."1 John 4: 4

Once you say the Prayer of Salvation, once you ask God to set you free from the laws of sin and death, the old you, the flesh dies. You are dead. You are then transformed into a new creature where the real you, the Spirit you, is now in total control. Second, The Holy Spirit comes down from heaven and dwells in you, with you. You now have the power of faith. You are now going to live on long after the body dies. Who is the Holy Spirit?? Think about that. The Creator of all that is was or ever will be is now living in you. This is why you can hear and see. This is why you can receive the things of God when the rest of the world cannot. They do not have the greatest gift. They do not have the Holy Spirit.

We all have that little voice in our heads. Most of us anyway. We know right from wrong. We know when we should or should not do, this or that. Some call it a conscience. As a child of God, you can call it the Holy Spirit. You could, and you would be accurate, call it God Himself.

If we have God Himself, the alpha and omega, The beginning and the end, the Creator of all that is, was and ever will be, living inside of us, He knows better than we. Does He not?

"And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. " Isaiah 30: 20-21

God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is with you always. Unless YOU chose to walk away. Unless YOU chose not to listen. Unless YOU chose to put the cares of this world over His Will. His plan and purpose for your life. He is with you always. Be with Him always. Trust in Him to know better than you. Learn to listen to that voice. Understand what that voice is. Who that voice is. He is there for you.

Hope you all have a VERY MERRY Christmas. If you have not said the "Prayer of salvation" yet, you can today. This very day. At this very time. 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!"

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!

Gifts from God, Ears

 Ears to hear.

As we enter the Holiday Season, we are discussing some very important gifts we receive from our Father. No. I'm not talking about the new gaming console or the newest must-have gift of the year. No. We are talking about gifts that we receive from God, that He only gives to His children so that they may grow closer to Him and become wise in His ways to do His works here on earth. Without these gifts, it would be impossible to even get to know God or any of His ways. We read this in His Word.

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not." Jeremiah 5:21

Jesus explain that this is why He spoke to people in parables.

“To you, it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears, they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:11-17

Last time we talked about the gift of "Eyes to see" Today we will be discussing "Ears to hear." We know that the Word declares that faith comes by what?

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

Remember, Jesus was talking to the religious leaders of the day when He made these statements.

"Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word." John 8:43

Why? He goes on to make it even more clear. Well, after He calls them the children of satan. He said this.

"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." John 8:47

God is the only one that can open your ears to hear His Word and His voice.

"The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both." Proverbs 20:12

Hearing God is not a natural state of man. We are not able to hear anything that is of God if we are not of God. It is impossible. Only by God calling us out, giving us "Eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to understand," we cannot even hear the words that are spoken.

When you read the Word and you see Jesus telling a parable, sometimes, you may even think that the people Jesus is talking to are stupid. It may be clear to you what He is talking about, however, to those He is talking to, it is far from clear. They are not stupid people. These were the rulers of the synagogues and the "experts" in the Bible. The Torah or the Law. They could quote it word for word, yet? Jesus called them the children of the devil and said they can not hear Him because they are not of God.

This is why some people seem to fail to understand you when you try to share the Word with them. I remember thinking to myself a few times, how can that person not understand these simple things I'm trying to share. It is not because they are stupid. It is because they are not physically capable of hearing what you are saying. It would be like someone coming to me and speaking Japanese to me. I will not understand what they are saying. Moreover, I will not even understand the words themselves. Why? I'm not Japanese.

When God calls us out of the world, we become His children. We become citizens of heaven. We can now understand heavenly language and we can now speak heavenly language as well. We can hear the wisdom of God that the world sees as foolishness.

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”" 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

God gifts us this very important and very precious gift of having ears to hear.

"For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

We are His children. Adopted into the Family of God. He gives us good gifts. He wants to have a relationship with us. He hears us. He wants us to have the ability to hear Him. The only way this is possible is that He opens our ears.

How do we receive these eyes to see, and ears to hear? It comes with the Spirit to receive. The Spirit of adoption. The Spirit of life. The Holy Spirit. More on this next time. Do you have ears to hear? Eyes to see? 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 has risen 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!

Gifts From God, Eyes

 Eyes to see

As we enter the Holiday season, we here at TAG did a sermon series entitled "The Gift." We have done this for the past few years. I encourage you to check it out if you wish in the archives. However, this year we are going to do things a little differently. This year we are going to talk about some of the, oh so many gifts, that we receive from God when we receive the Spirit of adoption.

Of course, the greatest gift we could ever receive is Jesus. Is salvation. Is the very Christmas story. With that though, comes many gifts and some, are of the uttermost importance for a child of God. As a matter of fact, the world cannot even receive these gifts.

Jesus tells us this.

He said, “To you, it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others, they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’" Luke 8:10

Jesus was referring to Isaiah 6:9

And He replied: "Go and tell this people, 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'

We also read this in Jeremiah 5:21

"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear."

The world cannot see the things we can see. Jesus put it this way.

"For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:17

We read this in 2 Thessalonians.

"And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Paul spells out how the world would become in Romans 1. He talks about God giving the people up to their own desires and lusts. All because they can not see, hear, or understand, the ways of God. But this is not you. No no no. This is not you anymore.

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:17-23

Without God, without Jesus, without the Holy Spirit, we can never see the things of God. Well, we can see them, but we cannot perceive them. We cannot understand them. We cannot accept them. Take the crucifixion of Christ itself. The Cross.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

We see the cross as our salvation. A new beginning. The world sees the cross as an end. The death of Jesus. We have been giving the gift to see Jesus rise from the dead. We see Jesus at the right hand of God. We see Jesus getting ready to return. The world cannot see Him. They cannot accept Him. They cannot believe in a God that would do such things as these.

We are given eyes to see God's hand in all things. We can see God move in situations where the world may call coincidence, happenstance, or even just plain luck. Jesus even told us that this gift, our eyes to see, will be given to us, so that we may be His witnesses.

"He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1:7-11

We are given eyes to see. So that we may share. For the? The glory of God. Yes, we have a great commission. We are to spread the gospel. We are to share the Word. We are to give God praise and glory.

Did you know many people have read the Bible? It's true. Number one bestseller in history. Many people over the years have read it. Some feel it is nonsense. Some feel it is filled with contradictions. Some feel it is just another "religious book," written by man, most likely to attempt to control the masses.

However, when you, with the Spirit of God, read the Word, you see it for what it is. It is the living word of God. It is an owner's manual for this journey called life. It is salvation. It is the absolute and final truth in all things. We have eyes to see Jesus in all the old testament. We have eyes to see God speak directly to us, as we go through the Word. Make no mistake about it. "Eyes to see" is a great gift from God that we should all be so very thankful to have received. As Jesus told us.

"For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:17

We are truly blessed to have eyes to see. Do you? 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!