Sat, Dec 31st - 2:08PM

Brothers and sisters, the secular world falsely paints the nativity scene as one of a nice clean stable, sparkling with light. The secular world celebrates the nativity as only being about a little baby, about one day out of the year.

As believers, we know it is about so much more than just one day in the year. Jesus came as a baby, but He is not a baby anymore. Through His birth, He would later bring many, many others to be born of God through His final, finished and complete work of salvation.

However, brothers and sisters, the truth is that a stable is dirty, smelly, insect infested and dark. With all that hay and valuable animals the light would be kept minimal. At night all the animals have to be brought in and they excrete on the floor of the stable. There was no room in the inn so Jesus had to be born in a stable.

The shepherds were the first to be told by the angels that Jesus had been born. They were the first to see the babe. The great Shepherd of the flock chose to reveal Himself first to those who believed on Him and would be found acceptable  to be under shepherds to the flocks of His kingdom. They worshipped Jesus in that dirty, smelly stable, unmindful of it in the presence of all that is pure, clean and holy for all eternity.

Jesus proved His love and humility by coming to a lost and dying world in a stable. He chose to be born there as an example of humility for all the ages. Unlike human royalty, there were no special linens, silk covered bedding, fancy garments, everything sparkling and clean.

The wise men came later when Jesus was now around two years old living in a house with His parents. They came with their swank, precious oils, and gold etc..  they knew who Jesus is and what He came to do for them, that His birth was just the beginning, and Jesus would also finish it to the end.

The wise men knew that without Jesus, they would die and go to everlasting punishment and damnation. They knew the gifts they brought to Him even though it was the best of all they had, were mere trinkets in the sight of God; that the true gift is Jesus, God's gift given to them. Here God presents to the rich too, that the wealth of the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ is to be desired above all earthly riches.

Jesus left the splendor and glory of the Father, and came to this sin soaked earth to do His Father's will. The very ones Jesus came to save tried to kill Him, insulted Him, plotted His death, falsely accused Him and put Him to death on the Cross. But no scheme, plot, wicked plans, conspiracies, nets cast, or ditches dug by them who hated Him could keep Jesus from going to the cross out of love for His creations.

He could have asked His Father to save Him, and God would have. Instead Jesus gave up His life for the very ones who hated Him.  No one took His life He gave it all for us out of love for us to save us from our sins, and make us children of God. He suffered and died a horrible death for us to pay for our sins, of all who will believe, so we would not have to die for our own sins and go to everlasting damnation.

As we go into the New Year, let us too go with grateful hearts,  continually knowing who Jesus is-our eternal and sole Risen Saviour for the whole world. I pray that as we go into the New Year also brothers and sisters, that it will be with the knowledge that  even all of our best gifts and sacrifices to the King of Glory are mere trinkets, for it is through Jesus that we have all received redemption through His Blood for all eternity- JESUS IS THE BEST GIFT OF ALL. KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND BE CAREFUL TO OBEY HIM OUT OF LOVE FOR HE ALONE IS WORTHY FOR ALL ETERNITY.

We are no better Christians if we celebrate this day, and no worse a Christian if we do not. Nevertheless we all have a life time in which we can all celebrate the eternal truth of the gospel in everything Jesus, in worship, prayer and witness to a dead and dying world that Jesus is the sole sinless Saviour and the sole source of salvation for all who believe on Him.

love

serola

Fri, Dec 30th - 7:36PM

Some might ask, how do we know that those who have obtained the mastery and control over their own appetites won’t slip back into their old destructive eating patterns?

They will not slip back, brothers and sisters, because they fully accept, understand and believe that God has given them the victory and they are free to eat all that they need as opposed to all that they want. Furthermore, firmly convicted, convinced, and fully persuaded that God cannot lie and only tells the truth, they refuse to violate His laws of nature that He has established for all men to wit that:

Calories are an important part of our daily diet; calories come from food and are the energy found in different foods. People's bodies need energy for normal everyday functioning, this is a natural truth, that holds true for all peoples. We easily see that God has even given us nature to teach us how we should handle food. Ignorance and or willfully ignoring what nature teaches us about over or under eating, will not stop the destructive consequences of our actions.

Because it is impossible for God to lie they overcome who trust, believe, and understand that our Creator, who created all of us, designed us so that habitually over consumption of food is stored for use as fat in our bodies to be used later in case or times of famine, or when food might be scarce. Of course, when a person is in lands where food is plentiful, this stored fat is not used, therefore the person who over eats will continue to get fatter and fatter with its attendant ills to the body. Contrariwise the person who chooses to eat little or nothing when food is plentiful will find that their bodies will begin to strip itself, vital organs and bones for the nutrients so desperately needed to survive, weakening the body as a whole.

This particular law of nature, once again, holds true for all mankind. It is not merely a rule that one can choose to ignore without consequences. Those who gain the mastery, believe God and avoid the violation of His natural laws gladly, willingly out of love and obedience to Him. Ro. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

(17) A general reason, and the foundation of the entire argument: the kingdom of heaven consists not in these outward things, but in the study of righteousness, and peace, and comfort of the Holy Spirit. 

love

serola

Wed, Dec 28th - 11:21AM

For the Christian, the secular or worldly understanding of food must be forever shunned out of love and obedience to God.

There are those brothers and sisters who are very quick to hear and quick to understand and obey the word of God, and have now, without a doubt overcome the sin of gluttony, or under eating. In victory through Jesus, they have truly repented, have lost their fear of food, gained solid self -control, and have a well-stocked pantry of such things as they enjoy. They thrill with victory seeing their Provider as they sit down and eat a meal for nourishment and pleasure without overeating nor under eating. They brush away quickly any temptations to eat more than their bodies can use. They fully accept, understand that the consequences of the sin of over or under eating is ultimately not God honoring and destructive to their own bodies. In their obedience, out of love for God, He has empowered them to overcome, and take authority over their own flesh or old nature, and put to death the sin of over or under eating. These have obtained the self mastery that only God can give. Yes, there are some of our brothers and sisters who are no where near gaining this victory. Yet, and still victory is for them (you) too, therefore, do not be disheartened, do not give up, put your trust in God.

love

serola

Sat, Dec 24th - 5:58PM

Jesus asks:-

If you never felt pain, Then, how would you know that I am a Healer?

If you never had to pray: How would you know that I am a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial: How could you call yourself an overcomer?

If you never felt sadness: How would you know that I am a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake: How would you know that I am a forgiver?

If you knew all: How would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you never were in trouble: How would you know that I will come to your rescue

If you never were broken: Then how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem: How would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering: Then how would you know what I went through?

If you never went through the fire: Then, how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things: How would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected, you: How would you know that I love you?

If you had all power: Then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect: Then what would you need me for?

With Love, Jesus Christ

 
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.   John 14:6  6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 love

serola

Sat, Dec 10th - 12:00PM

Brothers and sisters, let us take time to understand how God commands us, after salvation, to understand, and be steadfast in true repentance.

Not as some do in ignorance whom our Lord Jesus Christ speaks of as: Jesus Opens the Scriptures Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken. 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in ALL the Scriptures about Himself. (Berean study Bible)

Again, dear friends of Jesus, the sole basis for steadfast true repentance, after salvation, is the steadfast faith in the eternal TRUTH OF THE FINISHED, FINAL AND COMPLETE work of Jesus Christ in paying the full price to gain the eternal, atonement, forgiveness and pardon of all of our sins for all time, for all who believe, and do His will.

Therefore, when we come in true repentance to God, it must be as He commands, in complete steadfast trust and confidence in His Son, our sole Savior who comforts and assures us that: Heb. 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

 Heb. 10:17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Steadfast, true repentance after salvation then, is for all Christians not to come to beg our Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness over and over, but to come in steadfast faith that through faith in Him, we are forgiven peoples for all time.

In this we fully understand, embrace and turn away from self and sin to steadfast true repentance, quickly, gratefully accountable, and responsible for our conduct; willingly correctable by and to God and to one another.  

However, as for those who willfully reject the final, finished and complete work of the sinless blood of the New covenant of Jesus Christ, know that God sees all such as His enemies. His enemies deny the power of the cross and heap to themselves damnation. Be sure that such shall not escape the wrath of God for He has said: 

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Rev 14:10 Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

love

serola

Tue, Dec 6th - 11:12AM

We go, brothers and sisters, to the only place that Christians can go- to Jesus Christ, to learn of Him through the Bible, correctly understood. It is time to look to Jesus, because without Him none of us can do anything anyway.

To the brothers and sisters who, thank God, have no problems in this area, and might find this study rather repetitious, thanks for your patience. However, this is needful because it is directed to our brothers and sisters many who have had a destructive problem in this area, some for many years. So yes, find things repeated in different ways so that all can reach a sound biblical understanding in this matter, and thereby gain the victory so desperately longed for- some for years.

Once again, some might say, well, o.k. so how does it help me to know that God wants me to eat? That is my problem! No, brothers and sisters that is the basis for your answer.

Lesson number one, because God has given you food to enjoy and eat- IT REMOVES THE TEMPTATION OF OVEREATING, BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING THAT GOD GIVES TO YOU, FIRST FOR NOURISHMENT, AND YES FOR ENJOYMENT TOO. In this way, we knock out the temptation arising out of our own lust. Why? There is no need to overstuff oneself as though there is no tomorrow because we can plan to eat what and when we want, but never solely to ourselves. We always have God at the dinner table too so that when we eat we are never to forget the Provider, we are never to give the glory to a plate of food, always all glory goes to God.

We must note too, brethren, those who maintain their weight by near starvation who are almost never seen without a cup of coffee, or some super low caloric  something to ward off the natural appetite. They are just as much in need of coming to the right biblical understanding as our obese brethren, as to how God wants us to eat and view food. Starving, malnourished and damaged joints and organs can and do result from this practice and is no more God honoring than those who also cause injury to themselves from over eating.      

FOOD IS NOT OUR ENEMY!

Lesson number two: we lose the false perspective of eating food solely as a secular act between us and the dinner plate, thereby redeeming and restoring it to its rightful place of giving the glory to our Provider and Maker God. Our true Repentance raises this to its rightful first place in our lives, as number 1.

1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

kat-akh-rah'-om-ahee; from G2596 and G5530; to overuse, i.e. misuse:—abuse.

love

serola