The Call of God to Salvation

To those who are called of God, the good news in Jesus Christ is the power of God. If you are called of God, you know it.  It is a matter of pure experience between you and the risen Christ.  The true believer can declare, “Now I know in whom I have believed.”

C. H. Spurgeon said, “Ah!  What a mercy it is that it is not your hold of Christ that saves you but His hold of you!  What a sweet fact that it is not how you grasp His hand, but His grasp of yours that saves you!  Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  “But we preach Christ crucified… to those who are called, both to Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23a, 24).

“To those who are the called… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  On occasion Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

There is the general call through the preaching of the Gospel to all who will come and listen, but there is also an effectual call when the Holy Spirit speaks to the individuals and they respond by repenting of their sin and believe on Christ as their personal Savior.

The school bell rings at 8 a.m., and it is a general call for all students to be in their classroom ready to begin their studies.  However, when the teacher says, “Wil, come with me.  We are going to the principal’s office,” that is a special call.

When the apostle Paul said, “We preach Christ crucified…to those who are called,” it is always a special call.  It is the sharp, hot arrow of God’s Word piercing into the heart bringing conviction of sin and saving faith in Jesus Christ.

The effectual call of God is when the Holy Spirit whispers your name and says, “Come to Me.”  The word comes into the soul, and there is no resisting it.  God speaks.  Jesus said, “All that the Father has given to Me shall come.”  That is the effectual call.

The believer is saved by the effectual grace of God.  Saul, the persecutor of the early church, heard the effectual call of God saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). Saul could go no further on his way, and a radical change took place in his heart.

Zaccheus saw Jesus coming down the road and climbed up into a tree so he could get a better view.  As Jesus walked He looked up into the tree and called to Zaccheus, “Zaccheus, come down today.  I must abide in your house.”  Zaccheus heard his name called and he could not stay up the tree.

The effectual call of God comes as we listen to the gospel being preached, and there is the power of God drawing the person to repent and believe on Christ.  It is the effectual call because those who hear it respond to God’s free grace and are saved.

The preaching of the cross is a thing of power.  “I have felt it here, in this heart; I have the witness of the Spirit within and know it is a thing of might because it has conquered me; it has bowed me down,” wrote Spurgeon.

It is a thing of power that does it. It is the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Have you experienced it?  I have.  It is my prayer that you will respond to the good news that Jesus Christ died for your sins on the cross.  Can you say in your heart, “Jesus died for me.  I know the blood of Jesus has washed me of all my sins.  God has saved me for all eternity by His cleansing blood.”

Christ to me is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

       “Were the whole realm of nature mine,

       That were a present far too small;

       Love so amazing, so divine,

       Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

This is the response to the effectual call of God.  “To the rest of you who are called, I need say nothing,” Spurgeon said.  “The longer you live, the more deeply Christ taught you are, the more you live under the constant influence of the Holy Spirit, the more you will know the Gospel to be a thing of power, and the more also will you have understood it to be a thing of wisdom.  My every blessing rest upon you; and may God come up with us in the evening.”

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006

Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s written consent

Is the Challenge Of

Old age is the challenge of stop desiring for things of the earth and long for Heaven where there is no pain and no sorrow of watching friends and family leave of their eternal journey. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

The Biggest Threat To

 “The biggest threat to the discovery of God, and to productive truth seeking more broadly,” “is blind faith…. Seek truth. Follow the evidence. Align with reason…. You may come to discover that the foundation of reality is greater than you had imagined.” Josh Rasmussen

If You Have no Faith in The

If you have no faith in the future, then you have no power in the present. And you do not believe in Jesus or that He will guide you through it. Joseph a son of Jehovah

Is it Not Logical That

You are not a God who is pleased with the wicked; you do not live with those who do evil. Those people who make fun of you cannot stand before you. You hate all those who do evil. You destroy liars; the Lord hates those who kill and trick others. Psalms 4: 4-6 The Holy Bible The New Life Version

Another word for not pleased is very angry.

Is it not logical that a God of love and justice be very angry and those who are selfish and corrupt, the two go hand in hand?

Does not The Holy Spirit dwell in those who belong to Christ?

Then how can He dwell in those who are following satan to Hell?

Do not the stupid, and to reject Jehovah has to be the stupidest thing anyone can do, laugh at Poppa and His children?

Because Poppa is a God of Justice do you not think the wicked are going to suffer both in this life and in the eternal one for their vile deeds?

History dictates that they will.

Seleh- stop and think about it.

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Elohim Shophtim Ba-arets (Psalms 58:11 GOD that Judgeth in the Earth ) that You are a true God of Justice. Thank you that the wicked shall receive what is their just due while the righteous will be rewarded for their due. I praise You in the Righteous name of the Supreme Judge, Jesus Christ. Amen

This photo and article @ Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah 2023

Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine

God does not intend for His saved child to live the Christian life without the blessed assurance of eternal life.

The apostle Paul had a profound conviction that nothing will be able to separate the believer from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:31-39).

Jesus spoke of double assurance or security for the believer when He said to His disciples: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand . . . and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:27-30).

We have “been born anew to a living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3-5). We are guarded by God’s power through faith for salvation. Because the new birth has taken place in our lives, we have the presence of the Holy Spirit within us (Rom. 8:23). He is called the “first fruits,” the initial promise and pledge of a greater harvest to follow. The Holy Spirit does a work in our lives producing His fruit that is characteristically different from our human nature. The Holy Spirit is evidence of assurance because “we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His own Spirit” (1 Jn. 4:13).

The ascension of Christ to heaven to be our advocate is another great assurance for the believer who has been saved by grace. Jesus “ever lives to make intercession on our behalf” (Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn. 2:2). He is our great God and “He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through Him” (Heb. 7:25). Do you have an intimate love relationship with your Savior? Are you abiding in Him and He in you? Spend time with Him every day. Learn to go into His presence throughout the day and make yourself available to Him all day long.

God’s sovereignty gives assurance to the sinner saved by grace that “all that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will not cast out” (Jn. 6:37). Have you taken these words of Jesus to heart and believed on Him alone for your salvation? God’s eternal purpose of salvation is such that He will accept and forgive all who trust Him for salvation.

Have you taken John 3:16 seriously? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Every person who hears His voice and follows Him will never perish or can ever be snatched out of His hand. And they can never fall out of His hands because Christ has His hands securely around the believer and God the Father has His hands around His Son! “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all” (Jn. 10:29). How big is you God? Is He as big as Jesus claimed His Father to be? A God that big can provide eternal assurance for the weakest believer who is acutely aware of his sins and weaknesses. Have you confessed your need for Him to save you and keep you saved? Have you asked Him to save you? Are you trusting in Him alone for salvation?

If you are trusting in your good works to save you, then you should be filled with anxiety regarding your salvation. How can you ever have assurance that you have done enough good works, or are good enough, or perfect enough to be saved? Such presumptive pride should cause you to tremble before the Lord God (Matt. 7:21-23; Heb. 3:12).

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9). Will you now put your faith and trust in the finished and all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ to save you for all eternity? When you do you can find eternal security. “He who begin a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

SELAH! Pause – reflect- just think of that!

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006 Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s written consent.

Is Not at All The

“To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.”- G. K. Chesterton

That is the Best Medicine

 I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, You alone keep me safe. Psalms 4: 8 The Holy Bible The New Life Version

No matter what the stressful situation every time I take it to Poppa, He blesses me with assurance, comfort and peace. That is the best medicine to take. You do not need to see a psychiatrist or start popping poison called pharmaceutical pills which only get you addicted and breaks down your body so you have to take more poison. Yeah the pharma shareholders like it but your body sure does not.

Now of course the second part of the equation is that we must have faith and obey what Poppa instructs us to do.

So we will say you have gallstones and Poppa instructs you to cut back on your coffee.

Your reply is up yours.

Then you cry because you have gallstone.

Duh?

This morning, I prayed because my cat ( my comforter which is needed because of the challenge of being a live in care giver which is the most stressful thing I have ever done ) due to concerns he was still having elliptic seizure even though he has started taking medication. Because I love him there was a concern of putting him down because I do not want him to suffer.

I left the choice in Poppas loving hands and trusted Him while having rivers of tears flowing down my cheeks.

When I got on the internet later in the day, He guided me to a site that explained the medication much more in depth and that it would take a while for the medication to take effect. I greatly praised Him as now my heart beats with joy again.

The reason worriers die sooner than non-worriers is because we have peace of mind that can only come from trusting Jehovah in every aspect of our lives. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

Prayer: Thank you Jehovah Jireth (Genesis 22:14 The LORD Shall Provide ) for blessing me with the medicine to help my buddy and the knowledge that everything will be alright and it will just take a while. I praise You in the name of He who raised Lazarus when the time was right, Jesus Christ, Amen

Seleh- stop and think about it.

This photo and article @ Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah 2023

Teach Me to Be

 “Bless me Lord, with quietness of mind; Teach me to be patient and always to be kind.” Joseph a son of Jehovah

It Empties Today of Its Strength.

Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength—carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.
Corrie ten Boom