TKC Ministries - Leon Hagins September 2015
Current topic: Your relationship with God
My Friends , let me ask you a question. What kind of relationship do you have with the Good Lord? Do you allow some time during your daily routine , to talk to him , pray or ask for guidance?
The more I talk with people the more I see that most folks have very little or nothing to do with God at all.
Many attend their local churches , yet I see no improvement in their behavior or attitude.
Things which I find important are less likely to strike up a conversation in the company break room , such as eternity , God's grace and mercy , the plan of salvation , questions like....are some of my friends , relatives , co-workers going to hell?!
Anyone professing to be a christian , and doesn't have a burden on their heart concerning lost souls , then I seriously question their motives when it comes to being a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Whenever I hear of a person who has died , whether they were just an ordinary person or a celebrity, or professional athlete , my first thought is, where are they now?!
Pastor Charles Lawson
Pastor Charles Lawson has many videos on , "youtube.com" , that deal with death and dying , and what happens to a soul when it enters into eternity. In Pastor Lawson's sermon "The horror of hell" he takes his text from Luke 16:19-31. In this passage of scripture Jesus tells the story about a rich man , and a poor man named Lazarus. Jesus describes what happens to these two individuals after their death's.
The poor man was carried away by angels to Abraham's *bosom (paradise) and the rich man went to hell.
Now let's make something perfectly clear , Lazarus didn't go to paradise just because he was poor , Lazarus fared well because he didn't allow his poverty to be an influence on his relationship with God. The rich man had no relationship whatsoever with God, and he wakes up in hell with .......no where to run ......no where to hide! It's quite a stunning story and should be read with great sincerity.
*Abraham's bosom (paradise) - Before the resurrection of Christ all righteous souls went to paradise where they were held captive by the devil against their wills. (Heb. 2:14-15) When Christ died his body went to the grave , but he went to paradise and liberated those rigtheous captives taking them to heaven with him when he ascended on high (Mt. 12:40 ; Eph. 4:8-10). Now when a christian dies he is no longer held captive by the devil in the lower parts of the earth , but goes immediately to heaven awaiting the resurrection of the body (2 Cor.5:8 ; Phil. 1:21-24 ; Heb. 12:22-24 : Rev. 6:9-11 Ref. Dake's Bible page 138 letter C
Mark 8:36-37 - For what shall it profit a man , if he shall gain the whole world , and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Zac Poonen
The following is from a sermon , "Knowing God and reverencing Him" given by Zac Poonen. Brother Zac says the following......
"There are two things that prove there is a God , first there is creation , Romans 1:20 ,
second there is your conscience.....which reminds you that you have to answer to someone.
The watch maker has a maker just like creation has a maker. The complexity of a watch just didn't come together by itself , so as did creation , and the watch can not keep as perfect time as the stars , nor do the stars need batteries. How can one believe that the watch has been made by an intelligent being and not creation?
If there is a God then we must make it the most important relationship in our lives. - Zac Poonen
Mr. Poonen continues with another question - If you are a christian and believe God wrote one book.........then why don't you read it? Why don't you study it? Why do you know more about other things than the bible? How in the world can a person who believes that this book is communication from God to man......and yet we don't read it? If we truly believe that God's word tells us how to live....then we should read it.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus saith the Lord , Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom
neither let the mighty man glory in his might
let not the rich man glory in his riches
But let him that glorieth glory in this , that he understandeth and knoweth me , that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness , judgment , and ritgheousness , in the earth: for in these things I delight , saith the Lord.
For me, life without God would be empty , hopeless and doomed for destruction. Mankind has gone way too far as far as the word of God is concerned.
Zac Poonen - This is why so many people are unhappy , why there are so many broken marriages , just think if both husbands and wives did what the bible says a husband and wife should be doing , then there would be a great decline in failed marriages. However this is not so because we don't read what the manufacturer says about how to treat your spouse.
God's wisdom is like an ocean , and my mind is like a little cup , how much of that ocean can I fit into it? - Zac Poonen
Just a few of the Benefits from a relationship with God
7 things God is to his people Deuteronomy 33:27-29
*Eternal refuge
- *Protector
- * Deliverer from all enemies
- *Fountain of life
- *Savior
- *Shield and defense
- *Sword of offense
These things God has been to his people in all ages and thus he will continue to be in the ages to come. Many times he has proved to be the only refuge , protector , sustainer , deliverer , and helper that man could find. (Ex. 6-12 ; Judg. 2:16-19 ; 1Sam. 14 ; Isa. 37:36 ; Heb. 11:32-40) He has always come on time to deliver the distressed ones. Refs. Dakes bible pg. 403
What happens when we don't acknowledge God as God? Romans 1:21-32....... These verses of scripture are quite chilling to say the least. Ladies and gentlemen these verses talk about a period of time when God says "OK that's it! I've had enough! and he gives , those who reject his word , worship idols , even after repeated pleading from God himself , he now gives them up! Romans 1:24 This means he permitted them to endulge in sexual perversions. Refs. Dakes bible pg. 280 letters C & D. It's quite unsettling to hear God say he's going to reach a point when he'll give up on a person.
What happens when a person continuosly refuses to believe the truth? 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 - And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion , that they should believe a lie: That they might be damned who believed not the truth , but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
I pray always and you shoud too......God have mercy on us!
My friends during thess troubling times let's not forget our heavenly Father's mercy and loving kindness. And although God's Judgments are real , so also is his love for all of us. But! you must be willing to just simply got to God and ask for that peace and joy and love and happiness that is missing in you life. There is no question that life can be troubling , frustrating , and heartbreaking. Death , financial problems , broken marriages and relationships are areas of much hurt and pain.
All I am saying is that it is more beneficial to have a good relationship with God , as we go through life and it's many challenges , it's many ups and downs.
God is a God who can be touched by our infirmities - Hebrews 4:15
He shows mercy unto thousands.....
Exodus 20:6 - And showing mercy unto thousands of them that *love me , and keep my *commandments.
(*please note the conditions for obtaining God's mercy......one must love him and obey his commandments) , also see Ex. 34:7 ; Deut.5:10
His mercy endureth forever.....
Psalms 106:1
Psalms 107:1
Psalms 118:1-4
Psalms 136:1-26
Psalms 138:8
My friends , in closing I can only ask and pray that you pursue a relationship with the almighty , it will be the most important decision of your life.
* 4 wings
* two amazing compound eyes
The feather is a masterpiece of strength and lightness combined in one thing. There is a series of little hooks and barbed wire type material that can zip together. The bird uses it’s bill to zip and unzip these little units. The feathers are various sizes along the wing which coordinate with the others. God has equipped birds with special air bags. These air bags are attached to the lungs and help supply oxygen to the bird’s body while keeping it light in the air.The feather is a masterpiece of strength and lightness combined in one thing. There is a series of little hooks and barbed wire type material that can zip together. The bird uses it’s bill to zip and unzip these little units. The feathers are various sizes along the wing which coordinate with the others. God has equipped birds with special air bags. These air bags are attached to the lungs and help supply oxygen to the bird’s body while keeping it light in the air.
