The Gift Series, Part 1, 2020

 That IS what it is.

Picture this. "Daddy? Daddy? Dad? Daddy? Mommy? Mom? Mommy? Can I have this {This year must have} for Christmas? I really want it. I need it. All my friends have it. Please? Please? Pretty please? I love you. Can I? Can I? Mommy? Daddy? PLEASE?!?!?"

So what do you do? You save up some money. You go online and try to find it. Used to be that you would go out on Black Friday and stand in line at 3 am. You fight the crowds. There it is. Glowing brighter than anything. The gift. The thing your child wants more than anything in the world. The gift that will change their lives. The gift that will make you the hero. It is done.

You buy it, have it shipped, or bring it home. What do you say to your child? OK. You want the gift? Cut the grass with scissors, shovel the snow with a spoon, scrub the floor with a toothbrush, and comb the carpet. Then maybe you might receive it? Or? Christmas morning comes, they wake up, and find it under the tree?

They open it and celebrate. They laugh, cry, hug you. It is the greatest day of their little lives. They play/use it all day. Nothing else matters. The next day, the same. Then the Holidays end. They go back to school and tell everyone they know that they got the gift.

Then one day, you come home and notice that the gift hasn't moved from where it was from before you went out. Then, before you know it, there it sits. In a corner. Gathering dust. All but forgotten. After all, you went through, there it sits. Forgotten.

Well, Christmas morning is not about presents under a tree. It's not about signing Jingle Bells while roasting chestnuts on an open fire. It's not about sugar plum fairies and gingerbread men. It's about THE Gift. God did not tell us that if we cut the grass with scissors, shovel the snow with a spoon, scrub the floor with a toothbrush, and comb the carpet. Then maybe you might receive it? No. Christmas Morning came, and we found THE Gift in a Manger.

"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

Jesus put's it this way.

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:1-21

God so loved us, that He wanted ALL to be saved. He made it simple. He made it all-inclusive. It does not matter if you are rich, poor, black, white, male, female, ETC. It does not matter if you grew up in the Muslim religion, Catholicism, Hinduism. It does not matter if you are a Jew, Buddhist, or practice Shinto. It does not matter what you have done in the past. The good, bad, and yes, even the ugly. What must you do to be saved? Simply believe in Jesus. Allow HIM to be your salvation. Allow HIS blood to be your blood. Allow HIS death to be the final payment for your death. Accept the fact that He died, yet rather rose from the dead, so that you may live.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

There is no other way. Sorry. He is the key to the Gates of Heaven. HE is the only way to get there. Nothing else actually matters. Without THE KEY, you will by no means enter. "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Try to do it another way?

"But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." {Luke 12:7-9}

You see, HE is The Gift. HE is the greatest gift you will ever receive. It is that simple. God gave us that gift on the first Christmas Morning. We found Him in a Manger. Then 33 years later, we went to the Tree and did not find Him under it, but rather on it. He came, lived like us, and allowed us, His creation, to abuse, torture, and kill Him. For our own sake. We did not kill Him, He laid down His life for us.

"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" Matthew 26:52-54

He could have stopped it at any time. He rebuked Peter who cut off Malchus's ear when they came to take Jesus. Jesus then turned and healed Malchus, and then willingly walked to His abuse and death. He allowed Himself to be put to death. It would be like a bunch of ants telling you they will kill you. All you would have to do at any time is simply step on them. Instead, you willfully walk to where they want to kill you, you lay down, and allow them to kill you. Knowing the whole time, you could destroy all of them with little to no effort. That is the love Jesus has for us. That God has for us.

It really is this simple.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

The Gift is there. Waiting for each and every one of us. God put it on the tree. All we have to do is go to the tree and get it. When the head of the household receives The Gift, the entire household does as well. It is about salvation and eternal life. Not about the traditions of men. But life everlasting. Adoption into the very family of God.

Just like you, being upset, sad, angry, ETC., when you see that Gift you got your child, sitting in the corner all but forgotten, imagine how God feels when you do it? He does not want you to receive it, knowing that you got yours so it's all good. He does not want you to put it in a corner and forget about it. He wants to show you what it means. Teach you how to use it. He wants you to get to know the value of it. He wants you to tell everyone you got The Gift. He wants you to always be prepared to share it with others.

We'll talk more about the fact your entire household receives it when you do if you are the head of household, and that He always wants you to be prepared to share the Truth with others, coming up in the next few messages. Have you received The Gift? Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? Have you been to the tree? 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 believe that He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is just that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you 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!

Who IS God?

 Who Is God?

Hello, welcome today. As we get ready to head into the Holiday season and get into a tradition here at TAG that is the "The Gift" Series, I thought perhaps it would be important to start out by going back to basics.

See, for many, Christmas, and Easter are the only times that they go to church. The only times during the year that they may even think about God or anything to do with Him. We all know, at least most in some way, that Christmas is all about "The Gift," Jesus, being born unto us for our salvation. But where does He come from? Who is God after all? Is He even real? Well?

"In the beginning, God"

To believe in anything greater than self, greater than what can be seen, heard, or touched, one must believe in God. To accept reality, one must believe in God. To believe in science and math, one must believe in God. To understand life itself, one must believe in God.

The truth is simple. There are two predominant theories of why we are here. One, evolution. The second, creationism. One is scientifically, and mathematically, impossible. The other, many say, it takes too much faith to believe in. I submit to you, that to believe in evolution, you would have to possess much more faith than to believe in God.

Evolution would have you believe that there was nothing. From nothing, came one single-cell organism, and that one single-cell organism formed into every life on the planet. Hot-blooded, cold-blooded, trees plants mosquitoes, man, etc. EVERYTHING.

Now science and mathematics both prove this false. Nothing from nothing is nothing. Nothing to nothing is nothing. You must first have something to be added. Second, DNA and other scientific breakthroughs prove that we are not all related. Hot, cold-blooded, trees, people, fish, ETC. We are all unique and can not have evolved from one cell. So to believe in evolution, you have to have faith that what science and mathematics prove false, actually happened.

So we have God. God said, BANG! There was life. God said, there is man. God created all that is, was, and ever will be. God IS. If God is, then we are nothing more than part of his creation and to truly be happy, must get to know who He is and what he wants for us. That age-old question. Why are we here? Who is God? What can we do, to get to know Him?

So let's look at God. God is not, some old man, sitting on a throne, demanding your respect, or he is ready to condemn you to everlasting damnation. Sorry. He's not. Let me introduce you to God. Not some form of God created by the traditions of man called religion, nor by the mind of some fiction writer weaving a story. No, I want to introduce you to the real God. The God who loves the world so, he gave his only begotten Son to die for all mankind.

God created us. We sinned and turned out backs on him. He wanted to wipe out all his creation for the second time, yet found ONE man faithful. Noah. Because of Noah, mankind was given a second chance.

"And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Genesis 6:13

Noah followed what God said, and we were all spared. Every time you look up in the sky and see a rainbow, know that this is God's Promise to Noah.

"and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh." Genesis 9:10-15

So having established a new covenant with the one man on earth, that God found faithful and just, God could by no way destroy us all. Even though, again, being all of one accord, one language, one mindset, we turned our backs on God again. We fell into the same temptation as Lucifer and attempted to enter into Heaven itself. It was called the Tower of Babel.

"Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth." Genesis 11:1-9

Ever since this time, Racism and division have existed. But this was still not enough. Man's heart was continually evil and the imaginations of it were as well. God gave us the Ten Commandments not to make our lives more difficult, but to keep us safe and in good graces, with Him and the ways He established for us. We forgot these Laws. So he sent profits to warn us. Entire Races of people ignored His will and reaped the fruits of their disobedience. Then, he decided there was only one way. Jesus.

God laid down His Godhood and became flesh.

"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

John 3:16?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Keep reading...

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

See we see signs in sporting events. On TV. All over the place. John 3:16. But most of the time. That's where it stops. You see this is true. God loved the world so. Did many things to attempt to save us from ourselves. The only thing left for him to do is to pay the price for us. So he sent Jesus, God in the flesh, to suffer all sin and death, that we may live. However, in this very simplicity, mankind still finds a way to get lost. They seem, many, to think, it can't be this simple. But it is. Again?

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Notice it does not say, God said, believe in Jesus or be sent to hell. No. It says, believe in Jesus, and be saved. There is a big difference. You see, God does not say, believe, or else. He says believe or else there is nothing more for you to do. You are ALREADY condemned. You Condemn yourselves, by not accepting the gift.

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Let's say you are in debt. You are about to lose your home. I come in and say, I understand you are in debt. You are about to lose your home. You owe a price you can not pay. Here I am. I will pay it for you. Take this briefcase full of money. There is more than enough to pay your price and even make the rest of your life one of ease.

You have a choice to make now. Say yes. Take the gift. Save your home and live at ease. Or? Say no. Do not take the gift. You lose your home and suffer many things. Did I condemn you to this? No. You CHOSE it. By not accepting the gift I have for you. What was about to happen, happens. I do not hate you. I am not vengeful toward you. I'm not punishing you. You CHOSE to reject my gift.

Look at the hot stove. You are cooking. Your child comes up and goes to touch the stove. You tell your child, "No. Do not touch it. If you touch it, you will be burned." He touches it. He gets burned. Did you burn him? No. You simply told him what would happen because you wanted to spare him the pain.

God is the same. Look at Romans 8

"What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

So it is God who justifies who you are. It is God who sees your heart and knows your mind. He is the one that makes you whole, and pure. Able to accept the gift of salvation. Does it then mean it is God that also condemns? If you do not do what he says, he will throw you in the lake of fire? No. What does it say?

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

You see, God condemns no human. He created Hell for Lucifer and the third of the Angles that followed him.

“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." Matthew 25:41

In Isaiah 14:11-13

"Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;"

Revelations 12:8-10

"but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God."

And in Revelations 20:9-10

"And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever"

Hell was never intended for man. It was created for and exists for the devil. However, we all have free will. We can choose to accept the gift of life, which is simply accepting Jesus, or we can choose not to. If we chose not to, then we go down the same road. We chose the same path. We reject God. He does not reject us. It is by our own actions that we are condemned, or it is by the grace of God, through the blood of Jesus, we are saved.

Continuing in Revelations 20:11-15

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence, earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Again, who is it that is written in the Lamb's Book of Life? Those that accept the Lamb. Those that accept his sacrifice for their lives. His death that they may live. God is a God of Love. He created you out of love. He will not condemn you, of which he loved so, he gave Jesus to suffer all that is. Did He do this just to justify sending you to everlasting condemnation? Everlasting torment? He has given you the simplest way out. He has even paid the price for you. All you have to do is accept it.

So the next time you hear that God is a God of hate, and vengeance, just waiting to condemn anyone that does not obey him to everlasting torment, know this. It is a lie. Understand who God really is. The only way to fully understand God is to get to know him. The only way to get to know him is to accept the gift that is the Christ Jesus and his sacrifice for you. Whereby you can then receive the Spirit of Adoption, and cry Abba Father.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:14-15

If you are hearing of these things for the first time, please, take a second. Say this prayer in your own words.

"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 believe that He came to earth to die for my sins. I believe that He raised from the dead. 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. You have just become a new creature. You have just been adopted into the family of God. Get to know him. If you do not have a church, ask Him to lead you to the one HE wants you to be a part of. Get Baptized as an outward profession of your faith. Get to know His Word, and keep it. For it will keep you.

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, God Bless, and Jesus IS Lord!

The Way

 Not the Religion

As we get into the Holiday Season, October 9th I was at a Big Box Store and they already had their "Holiday Section" up and running with "Holiday Trees" Lights, ETC. Let's set aside that it was October 9th for a second. "Holiday" this or that.

Here is the thing, it really is Christmas Time. I do not care if you are Jewish, or Muslim, or even Christian, it IS Christmas. It is a time to celebrate and rejoice in the fact that.......

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." {John 3:16}

We are remembering what the Angel said.....

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." {Luke 2:10-14}

So why does it offend some, or why out of FEAR of offending some one are we no longer allowed to call it Christmas? While you hear songs playing in the background with these very words, you are told that you cannot say Merry Christmas?

Let me ask you this, if enough people said it offends them to call it Chanukkah, should we change it to being a Architect Appreciation Celebration? Or if we say Ramadan offends us, shall we change it to be Celebration of Writers?

Point is, it is all Religions that consistently argue and in the name of Religion, are most people Offended and or go on the Offensive. Whenever someone like me stand up and says, ENOUGH! It IS called Christmas. It is called Ester. There is only ONE God and ONE way to get there, and His name is JESUS!!! People attack.

"What makes you so sure your Religion is the right one and all others are wrong?"

First?

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." {John 10:7-10}

And this...

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." {John 14:6}

Also this?

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." {Acts 4:12}

You see, being a "Christian" is not about following this or that Tradition. It is not about going to this or that Building on Saturday or Sunday, for an hour or two. It is not about Singing Hymns and shaking Hands. It is about a one on one relationship with God Himself, that you can only have through Jesus..

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." {Romans 5:1-2}

As Paul wrote in Romans 8 "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." If we are not walking in the Spirit, given to us by Jesus, we are in the Flesh. It does not matter how many Hail Marys you say. It does not matter how many times you go to Church, Temple, Synagogue, Hall, or anything else. As Jesus said, you can wash all the pots and pans you want, doesn't mean you are Saved.

Even back in the Old Testament, God was not pleased with "Religion" alone...

"A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" {Jeremiah 5:30-31}

I've shared this a few times. But I really want you to think about this. What if I'm Wrong? Well, I try to live my life according to my Faith in Jesus, I try to follow what The Word of God tells me. I serve others before myself. I,,,,,,

Do not have any God before God.
Do not commit Idolatry.
Do not take the Lord's name in Vain.
Try to remember the Sabbath/
Honored my Father and Mother.
Do not Murder.
Do not commit Adultery.
Do not Steal.
Do not bear False Witness.
Try not to Covet

Then when I die, what? Nothing? I just fizzle out. Just go to sleep and nothing? OK. Then I'm no longer here. I have no idea that I'm even dead. I'm just nothing. So what did I lose living my life in Faith of God?

Now let's say I'm right. God is real. Jesus is real. God's Word IS His Word. and I live a selfish life. One where I am out for me and me alone. One that I use and abuse people for my own gain. Then I die and stand before God??? Actually, Jesus even warned us about this..

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" {Mark 8:36}

I'm not sure about you, but I think I would rather believe in going to God through Jesus and come to nothing, than to believe in nothing and come to Jesus.

You see, we call it Christmas because that IS what it is. It does not matter if someone is offended or not. It is NOT about Religion. It is, right date or not, a time we set aside to remember and give thanks to God for His ultimate Gift. The Gift of Grace, Forgiveness, and Eternal Life..

Are you in "The Way" or are you following Religion? Are you living a one on one Relationship with God? Or are you waiting on someone else to tell you want to do. 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..

Love Not The World

Nor the things in it.

Is it normal? Human Nature? To LOVE the World. To LOVE the things in it? To dream of having more and more of it? Money, Things, Lusts, Living Life "To the fullest." "Hey, you only got one life. Live it up." Right?

Well, Yes. Yes it is Human Nature. Yes it is normal. We are born into and of the World. Of course we want it all. However, if you are now a Child of God, you are no longer OF the World, but merely in it. Remember the Tenth Commandment?

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." {Exodus 20:17}

Ahab coveted Naboth's field, which lead to bearing false witness, which lead to the Murder of Naboth. 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. Thoughts, Deeds, Death.

Jesus warned us of this as well..

"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." {Luke 12:15}

And plainly,

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." {Matthew 6:24}

This is why John warns us....

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." {1 John 2:15–17}

He was most likely touching on the Parable of the Rich Man who was building Barns to keep all his stuff. Jesus told us this is a world concept, but one that makes no real sense at all. Remember, Jesus told us this..

"The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" {Luke 12:16-20}

You know that old saying? "You can't take it with ya." So "He who dies with the most toys wins?" Uh, no. When he dies, his toys become someone else's. Jesus tells us that instead of Coveting what is in the World, we should be storing up "a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth."

You see, the World is carnal. We are in the Flesh so that we can operate, live, in this carnal World. However, we are no longer bound to this World. As a Child of God, we have been lifted above the World. We are Strangers in a Strange Land. We are Princes and Princesses of Heaven. We are Children of God.

We no longer have to walk according to, or in, the flesh. We have a better way..

 "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

SO?

"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." {Romans 8:5-8}

We need not Covet. ALL things are God's. We are the Children of God. We are heirs of EVERYTHING. We shall inherent ALL things. And greater things we cannot even comprehend. There is nothing in this World that is worthy to be compared to this fact. Jesus asked us this question. Think about it for a second..

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" {Mark 8:36}

Our time on this Earth is like a Vapor. A blink of an eye. We are here, then gone. But we ARE Eternal Beings. We will live forever. Do you want stuff that will pass away with the Earth? Or do you want Eternal stuff. Do you want the stuff that is here today, and gone tomorrow? Or do you want the stuff that is ALWAYS there waiting for you. Trust me, when your time comes, when you go to stand before God, the last thing on your mind is NOT going to be your big screen TV.

It is true. I have seen it, heard it, first hand. You have heard of it as well. What happens at the end of this life? More times then not, the regrets that most people espouse is that they didn't love more. Have more time with Children or Family. That they did not give back more. That they were not happy. Even if they were Billionaires, many die heart broken.

Why? Because this is when they finally realize, they can't take it with them. They realize, now too late, all that stuff is meaningless. They realize that they missed out on what matters the most. Love. True love. See, the World will move on. Their stuff will belong to someone else. What do they really have, now at the end?

Now that we are in the Holiday Season, now is a great time to take this advice to heart Child of God..

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." {Colossians 3:1-4}

Sounds better than that new Blender, does it not? Better than that new Big Screen TV. Does it not? Better than that must have Gift this year. Does it not?

Oh, speaking of that. Parents? Think about this also. You go through all you do. You save. You work extra hours. You lose sleep. You go out on the busiest Shopping day of the year...You know I did that once. I did. I went out on Black Friday. It was not pretty. People were running over each other, pushing and shoving. I even saw an actual fight over some "Thing." Not pretty. But you go through all this for your Children.

Well? What extreme lengths do you go to, to ensure that your Kids get the GREATEST GIFT Of all? The Gift of Salvation. The Gift of Jesus. The Love of God? The Gift that will never run out of Batteries, break, rust, where out, get stolen, or even be out grown? Think about that honestly..

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." {1 John 5:21}

What about 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 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..