God calls you to himself

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Best of 2018   CURRENT TV SERIES Lifeworks

“For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” --Acts 2:39 More often than you might think, I meet someone who tells me they plan to get saved someday, just not right now. These people seem to think they can join the church like they’d join a club or organization. What they don’t realize is that they don’t have the luxury of coming to Christ on their own terms! Because the fact is, it is God’s divine prerogative to call us unto himself. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Be clear on this: Salvation begins with God’s invitation. This is why it is so critical that you not resist the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Do not blaspheme the Spirit of God by repeatedly saying “no” to him. Have you heard God call you? Has he tugged at your heart saying, “Come”? Don’t resist him. When he calls you, run into his open arms and rejoice that God has ransomed you with Jesus’ blood. Let him wash your sins away and establish you among fellow Christ-followers. WHEN GOD CALLS YOU, RUN INTO HIS OPEN ARMS.  HE HAS RANSOMED YOU WITH JESUS’ BLOOD!

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

The End of the Story

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Isaiah 9:6–7

The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was the beginning of His earthly life and ministry, but He existed from eternity, and He was always fully Divine. The arrival of the Lord on earth was the culmination of thousands of years of promises and prophecies, and every one of them was kept. The guarantee that we have for the fulfillment of promises that have not yet been realized is the nature and character of God. He has guaranteed to perform all that He has promised.

There is nothing that we could or need to add to God’s plan. He made the promise, and He did all that was necessary to ensure that it was carried out. Christmas is a wonderful reminder that all God says will come to pass. Corrie ten Boom said, “Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.”

The challenges and struggles of life can tempt us to doubt whether God is able or willing to back up His Word, but we must not fall into doubt. The ending of the story was already written long before we were born or this world was brought into existence. And God’s promise means that all will be as He planned.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Let God’s past fulfillment of promises build your faith for the future.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20