Who Are the Children of God?

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke

the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed.

They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches,

I command you to come out."

Seven sons of Sceya, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

One day, the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know

about Paul, but who are you?"

Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered

them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked

and bleeding. 

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,

they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

(Acts 19:13-17)

 

"Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, BUT WHO ARE YOU?"
  (v.15)
In this passage of the Scriptures "WHO ARE YOU?"
In this case scenario it means that the devil doesn't know anything
about these people, the false witnesses of God, because they do not
have the Spirit of Christ in them.
Have you thought about this verse? The Devil knows more about
Gods people (those who received Christ and Lord of their lives)
more than the lost, rebellious, or wicked person.
So the devil actually focusing more on the people of God,
the devil know you more, your name. You are his target, concentrating
more and chased after those people who are in God's business. Be aware!
(1Peter 4:8-9)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like
a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him standing firm in the faith.

 

Watch out also that those who called themselves Christians are not all Christians,

Those who are religious (showy, actors like the Pharisees) and not having the

Spirit of God in them, only human made effort.

Jesus said in Mathew 7:21-23

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, 

  but only HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven.

  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name

  and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 

  The I will tell them plainly, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU. AWAY FROM ME YOU

   EVILDOERS!"

 

So Let's regard the name of the Lord with high honor, respect and in fear as the

people in Ephesus learned and heard about in verse 17...

They were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

The most important lesson to learn about in this chapter is our true relationship

with the Lord. Those who hear God's voice and obey are his people! 

"I KNOW MY SHEEP AND MY SHEEP KNOW ME."  (John 10:14)

 

Weigh Your Hearts

Where do you base your security on?
Do you have a possession that you hold so dearly and you won't let it go?
Do you love your career, blooming business, money, fancy car, luxury house, etc...
although there is nothing wrong with all of this material possessions as long
as you are humble and not forgetting about God and you may say to yourself,
"My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.
 But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability 
 to produce wealth.
 (Deuteronomy 9:17-18)

Let us learn from what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon
when his heart was proud and how God deals with Him?

(Daniel 4:29-34)
As the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said,
"Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, 
 by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"
The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven,
"This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar:
 Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from
 people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle.
 Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High
 is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."

Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.
He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle.
His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like
the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven,
and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and
glorified him who lives forever.
...At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor
  were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.
  My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne
  and became greater than before.
  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven,
  because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.
  And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.  (v.36-37)

(read the full story started from Dan.3:4-27, so you can have a clear view
 on how this came about what happened to Nebuchadnezzar comes true).

Isn't the Proverbs 30:8-9 say,
"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, 
 but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and 
 disown you and say, "'Who is the Lord?'
Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

So be careful and don't let your heart be proud but fear God..
If you have this issue pray and repent these things to God.

The Words Of Faith

What God has provided for us to receive this gift of salvation is finished and fulfilled,
All we have to do in response to it, is this:

(Rom.10:6-13)
But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart,
'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is to bring Christ down) "or
'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
 But what does it say?
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, 
 the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 
 "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, 
  you will be saved.
 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your 
 mouth that you confess and are saved.
 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trust in him  will never be put to shame."
 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all
 and richly blesses all who call on him,
 For "EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants
the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

As spoken by the prophet Joel 2:28-32 when God says,
"I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophecy,
 your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit 
 on those days.
 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire
 and billows of smoke.
 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the
 coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
 AND EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED;
 for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said,
 among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

What Is Your Excuse?

Some of the many reasons why they will not come in terms to believe in God or to
acknowledged Him:

Daniel 5:22     "Though you knew all this. Instead you have set yourself up
                       against the Lord of heaven."

Romans 1:20-24,25 
                          For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--
                          His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen,
                          being understood from what has been made, so that men
                          are without excuse.
                          For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as
                          God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became
                          futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
                          Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and
                          exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made
                          to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
                     
                     ... They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped
                         and served created things rather than the Creator--who is
                         forever praised. Amen.


My prayer is that people may come to repentance and every hearts
may be open to receive you and acknowledge that God rules and that you have the power
of life and death. Amen.


Let the Glory of the Lord Rise Upon Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqA7cjGWsZk

A New Year And A New Beginning

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord.
 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white
 as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be 
 like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will 
not be your downfall.
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, 
and get A NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT.
...For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares 
   the   Sovereign Lord.
   REPENT AND LIVE!  (Ezekiel 18:30-31)

May this New Year brings more people to repentance and more blessings and fruitful
pilgrimage as we continually seek the Lord and His will for our lives!

The Savior Is Born Who Is Christ The Lord

Did you know when Israel were under the tyranny of Rome? 
Things were very dark, long silence from heaven, 
no prophets can be found, no visions from God. 
Four centuries had passed, "400 silent years," (that is what 
they often called) 

Then suddenly the promised of the coming Messiah came!

(Isaiah 9:2)

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the

government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (v.6)

The Power Of Prayer

Prayer is a powerful weapon. It can reached God's ears and 
soften His hearts. It can change the course of events. 
Like the example of King Hezekiah, king of Judah. 
One day God told Him through Isaiah that He will not recover from
his illness. Instead of giving up he prayed and asked God to remember 
how he walked faithfully before Him. (Isaiah 38:1-6)
What is God's response to Him? God changed his mind and sent Isaiah 
back to tell him that he will recover from his illness and God added 15 years 
to his life. That is how God works is...through PRAYERS. 

And also in James 5:16 said, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

I pray that this message may give us encouragement in this time of needs 
as we are facing difficult times ahead.