May 2012
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When is being good not good enough?

27. April 2012 by admin.

Earlier in the week I stopped by to see my mother. She lives in an assisted living home, and all the staff just loves her—she never complains and always has a positive attitude. Her mind is still as “sharp as a tack,” but her body is bent and twisted by osteoporosis. She will soon be ninety-four years old. I’d like for her to live with me and my family, but she says she is happy and doesn’t want to be a burden.

A couple of weeks ago her roommate with whom she shared a common area passed away. I took the opportunity to ask mom if she had any special funeral wishes when she passed. Of course, I already knew what her request would be as she had told me before, but I felt it would be an opportune time to once again ask her about where she would like to spend eternity.

Her funeral arrangements are simple. No people, no preachers, no songs, no prayers and no cremation. Just lay her in the ground in a wooden box and cover her with dirt. I told her that friends might want to pay their last respects, and her comment back was, “If they wanted to see me they should have come by while I was still living.”

Following up on her response, I asked if she still believed in life after death. “When you die, she said, that is all there is to life. Streets paved of gold, whoever heard of such. Who would want to walk on streets of gold? If I had a choice I would rather walk in a grassy meadow. No, there is nothing after death,” as she mimicked a slight, almost indistinguishable, grin.

I reminded her that her mother was a church member and that her father had been saved prior to his death. Do you remember telling me about “walking the aisle with your cousin Beulah and your brother George? “Beulah said it would be OK if we went with her and we did,” responded mom. “You know, many church members are not any better than anyone else. I didn’t know how mean some people could be until I came here and got to know a few. You just need to be a good person or good enough. Your father and my father were good men. Have you been a good man? Sometimes church members are not so good,” added mom.

Now, my mother is a good actress and likes to joke around so I take her words and actions sometime with a “grain of salt.” She is so convincing when she talks about there not being an afterlife that I question whether she has truly been saved. Sure, I could just come right out and ask about her true Christian beliefs, and I have, but when confronted about any issue, she will tell you what you want to hear instead of what she truly believes. She once told my brother, “When you die you become a star in the heavenly sky.”

It is my firm belief that there is an eternal life after death for all who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That life cannot be earned by doing good works, being good or being good enough. It is simply a free gift. Jesus paid for your eternal life with His—His shed blood on Calvary, His death, His burial and resurrection. All anyone has to do to gain eternal life is to accept through faith His personal sacrifice for their sins and follow Him. Have you accepted His offer?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son,” John 3: 16-18 NIV.

I cannot save my mother, only God can. She may never reveal her true convictions but short of harassment and intimidation, I’ll seek to discover her true belief in a gentle and loving way: “Mom, I know you have heard the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ many times. If you truly do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior will you listen for His voice and confess Him before your life’s journey ends? It is never too late until your heart beats that last beat.”

What about you? Do you have the assurance of an eternal life with Jesus Christ? If not, accept His calling today.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Man’s Choice of Evil

20. April 2012 by admin.

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” is a well known advertising slogan. So I ask, “Why do so many waste theirs by allowing the forces of evil to control their very thoughts and actions?”

I know why! God gave man the freedom to behave as he desired. In so doing, “man chose to become fools and chose to worship and serve created things instead of worshiping God, his Creator.” Man, since his fall in the Garden of Eden, will always choose to worship idols made of gold, silver, carved wood and other created materialistic images that delight the eye rather than honoring God.

Man’s eagerness to engage in practices of willful defiance of God’s Commandments can only be controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit man will surrender to his bodily passions and seek worldliness through acts of:

· Sexual impurity: “The degrading of one’s body by engaging in sexual exploits with others of like mindedness.

· Shameful lusts: “Women exchanging natural relations for unnatural ones; men committing indecent acts with other men.”

· Depraved minds: “Man’s minds become filled with every kind of wickedness—evil, greed, depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slanderer, God haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventer of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.”

NOTE: Bullets and other quotes above paraphrased from Romans 1:18-32. For additional insight read the whole chapter. You will not, however, understand its application to your life if you are not being led by the Holy Spirit.

Man readily rejects the teaching and salvation offered by Jesus Christ but eagerly embraces evil and the lust of his eyes. How about you? Have you unknowingly joined with others who are controlled by satanic influences whose actions will only lead to America becoming like the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Even condoning or turning your back to evil makes you just as guilty as the worldly who engage in acts of depravity.

Trust and accept the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ and the “blinding scales of Satan” will be removed from your eyes. You will then see the evil that surrounds you, and you will truly be set free from the coming wrath that God has declared for those who call “evil good and good evil.”

Trust the Truths of the Holy Bible—man’s mental and physical health book—given to him by his Creator. The worldly ways seem pleasurable but in the end, they lead only to judgment and the damnation of one’s soul and spirit.

Let God show you the way for “there is no other way.”

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in America, God's Spirit | No Comments »

He is Risen Indeed

8. April 2012 by admin.

“…if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. “…If only in this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” —1Corinthians 15:14 and 19 NIV.

Jesus Christ’s tomb is empty and today Biblical Christians around the world, as they have for over two thousand years, worship the risen Savior. On this Resurrection Day it is my prayer that you also worship the risen Savior.

If Jesus is your Savior, let you lifestyle so reflect your belief in Him that others might see Jesus in you. By your witness and the power of the Holy Spirit, lost souls may claim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and through their expression of faith in Him exchange eternal death for eternal life.

Only in Jesus can one find forgiveness of sins, and only in Jesus can eternal life be found.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in God's Forgiveness | No Comments »

Unanswered Prayer

6. March 2012 by admin.

Unanswered Prayer

The past several weeks have not been weeks I would want to repeat; I am talking about the bad parts, of course. If you have ever suffered with a kidney stone you “know my pain.” I’ve been trying to pass a stone since Valentine’s Day, and we are now into March and it is still with me.

I will have to admit that during one of my severe pain episodes, I did find myself asking God to give me healing. My support group is also praying that the stone will soon pass. Although there has yet to be an answer to our prayers and I have not been miraculously healed, one might think that it would change my belief in God. It has not and will not because I know that God exists. My life is a testimony to His existence. As I see it, no answer can be an answer as I’m led to a deeper understanding of the real pain and suffering that is being experienced by those throughout the world.

How about you? Do you ever call upon God? I personally believe everyone calls out to their own idea of a god—either praising or cursing—at some point when confronted with sickness, danger, family or financial problems just to list a few examples. You know the routine; “God/god, if you will only heal me I’ll … or god, why did this happen to me, it’s …” and so on and so forth. It is just natural. When man has an inner need he cannot handle on his own he reaches out for spiritual help. An Atheist may disagree but deep down within their psyche they reach out for something and that something is their god.

I take solace in the fact that I have always believed in God, the God of the Bible—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and that His Holy Spirit indwells and protects me from all evil. I wish that everyone had my belief and security but unfortunately most do not. I plan to spend eternity with God—the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. My ticket to eternity was guaranteed by Jesus Christ when He gave His life to save me from myself and I accepted His Grace and forgiveness.

Medicine can heal the physical human body, but medicine cannot heal the spiritually aspect of man. Only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ can man’s spiritual body be healed. This fact has been known by man since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but man’s fascination with his own concept of reality and the hereafter keeps him from accepting Jesus.

If you are suffering and you are crying out to the True God, He will hear. He patiently waits and calls your name until you surrender to His sovereignty and claim His Son as you Lord and Savior. Why not surrender today if you hear His call? Your life would be so much more satisfying, rewarding and eternally secure.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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The Sleeping Church

6. March 2012 by admin.

The Sleeping Church

Christians of America, why do you not fear God? Could it be you do not truly believe in the God you claim to worship? You take Jesus from His tomb once a year and celebrate His resurrection but then you quietly return Him to His tomb and resume your “daily materialistic living” without Him.

The church in America is comfortable, complacent and asleep. There is activity in most churches—a lot of running “to and fro” from here to there. But where is Jesus in all the activity? Does the Christian Church even honor or respect their God? Yes, there is activity and a lot of works are done in the name of God but where is the worship.

So Christian, are you indwelled by the Holy Spirit? Are you “standing on the promises” of Jesus Christ, your confessed Lord and Savior? Are you doing all that the Holy Spirit is asking you to do or only part? Are you looking forward to Jesus’ Second Coming or are you doubtful there will be a second coming?

While Bibles gather dust, Christian brotherly love is just a rote saying repeated in Sunday fellowships without true meaning, understanding and application. Where has the love for your fellow man gone?

Will the true worship of God return to America? Will you not allow revival to take place in your hearts? Give it serious thought and prayer. America needs Godly men, women and families to stand and make their presence known.

Are you willing to stand?

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Spirits of Satan

15. February 2012 by admin.

Spirits of Satan

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” Psalms 51:10-12 NIV.

At times a spirit of Satan attempts to invade my soul and spirit—a sudden disheartening spirit of condemnation or guilt that makes me question my own worthiness in myself and in God’s eyes. “Where are your friends,” the spirit asks? “No one is interested in what you have to say, what you have written or what you think,” whispers the spirit’s voice.

Perhaps you too have encountered these invasive and destructive spirits. They are real. Remember, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” John 4:24 NIV. Man’s battles are against evil spiritual dimensions that most do not even recognize or consider as “dark forces” in their daily walk.

Do not even consider that evil spirits are allowed by God to temp you. God’s Spirit does not work that way. As it is written, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” James 1:13-15 NIV.

I no longer allow these thoughts to linger in my mind as I did prior to my allowing the Holy Spirit permission to live and rule within me. Now, when an evil spirit tries to enter I immediately reject its message through the power of the Holy Spirit. To live for Jesus Christ you must do the same.

The continued rejection of evil will lead to fewer and fewer attacks. Although the evil one never gives up completely and lurks just a thought away always prepared to launch another attack, the power of God’s Spirit within you will guard you if you obey His commands.

Do not ever think that you can play around with evil. Lowering your guard for “just a little flirtation” can lead to an uncontrollable lust of the flesh. As it is also written, “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first” Luke 11:24-26 NIV.

For our modern generation, “Twittering” with God in prayer everyday should become routine. Your daily tweets will guard you against the forces of evil and protect you from yourself and its humanistic lusts and desires.

May God bless you today and every day from the forces of evil. Amen.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

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The Twenty-first Century Church

31. January 2012 by admin.

The Twenty-first Century “Christian” in America, along with their “church” (in Jesus’ name only), has failed to keep God’s requirements and to follow His Biblical mandate. That mandate is to come out of the world and to set themselves, and their church, apart from the worldliness and their worldly participation in idolatry, witchcraft, drunkenness, sexual immorality, and other vile and sinful practices of the ungodly.

Instead they have become as the world and have failed to uphold the standards that the God of the Bible—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—commanded. They have allowed themselves and their church to be morphed into an apostate religious system that denies Jesus Christ as the head cornerstone; in many, the deity of Jesus Christ is even being denied. Most of today’s “Christian” are not Biblical Christians who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God, and therefore do not understand that to be a follower of Jesus Christ they are to be in Christ as Christ is in them.

The Apostle John in the Biblical book of Revelation described the Laodicea church of his time and in so doing also described the 21^st Century church of America. Laodicea was one of seven church “types” Christ revealed to John that were representative of First Century churches of the time and also would be representative of churches that would appear throughout the church’s history up until the time of Christ’s second coming. Read about it in Revelation 3: 14-21. Jesus described the Laodicea church as being “lukewarm” and because it was “neither hot nor cold” He would “spew it out of His mouth.”

The people of the “Christian Church” of today, as were the people of the Laodicea church of the first century, are “wealthy and rich in materialism and in need of nothing,” not even Christ Himself. Laodicea, an ancient church located in “Asia Minor”, is described to John as “wretched, pitful, poor, blind and naked”—a church with a form of Godliness but without the Spirit of God. What a descriptive way the Word of God is used to describe the Christian church of today.

“How can that be,” you ask? Many church leaders of the “modern Christian church”, most of whom have never been indwelled by the Holy Spirit, are leading their congregations into the darkness of Satan’s world and ultimately to the pit of hell for eternity. Satan has deceived the church body into believing his lies; do you recognize any of them in the following list (a clue: they are all lies)?

· Good works will get you to heaven, not faith or belief in Jesus Christ alone.

· The Bible is not totally without errors. Truth is what you believe. Do whatever you feel is right in your own eyes.

· Homosexuality is not wrong; God created homosexuality. Only the homophobic believes homosexuality is wrong or is a sin.

· Abortion is not wrong. A fetus is just a blob of flesh that a woman is entitled to abort if she has accidently “screwed up.”

· Hollywood’s immorality does no harm, it is solely for entertainment. Sexually explicit pictures are just real life examples of how people are living out their lives.

· It is everyone’s right to be fed (social entitlement), whether they are willing to work or not.

· You do not have to follow Jesus. You can also pray to Mary and to angels.

· Your body is not God’s temple; enjoy alcohol, drugs, and sexual promiscuity in moderation as you do with food and exercise. It is your body. Do with it as you please.

· Traditional marriage is passé; be what you were “created to be.”

· Divorce does no harm to children; they’ll survive unscathed.

· Government is the answer for today’s generation, not religion.

In the Book of Isaiah, God describe Israel’s religious leaders as wicked. His denunciation is also applicable to today’s church leaders and also its membership. Consider, if you will, Gods words: “Israel’s watchmen (ministers, religious leaders, laypeople—author’s emphasis) are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark (they cannot discern the truth and warn their flocks of sins and degradation, see list above—author’s emphasis.); they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain. ‘Come,’ each one cries, ‘let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better’” Isaiah 56:10-12 NIV.

“Jesus Christ stands outside the church door and knocks.” He is asking to come in and restore His Holy Spirit to the Church. Do you hear His knocking and are you willing to let Him in? If not, America will continue to rot and decay in materialism and immorality and will ultimately deteriorate into a nation of empty churches much in the same way England and Europe have evolved without Christ’s Church and in most cases without Christ.

To change the world you must change the hearts and souls of people. To change the hearts and souls of people can only be done through the Grace of Jesus Christ. It is as simple as that.

I implore everyone who has “tasted the fruits” of the Holy Spirit to testify to His Truth and to tell others of their choice to serve Jesus Christ. There must be revival in America, and it must start with each individual. I made the choice to serve Jesus Christ and Him only. I willingly obey His commandments, adhere to His directions and serve no other gods and to proclaim His Gospel Message. Will you?

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, accept His calling while there is still time. I can guarantee that your acceptance will change your life and in your changed life you will find peace.

It is your choice. Choose life today while there is still a today. Your death or the rapture could occur at any time. Come to the Cross of Jesus before it is too late.

It’s time! Do it today!

// A cautionary note: “Chrislam,” a combination of Christianity and Islam, is gaining momentum in the “Christian” churches whose members know about Jesus but do not know Jesus. High profile ministers of apostasy, “dressed in sheep’s clothing” are seeking to infiltrate churches across America and spread false teachings and hypocrisy. Your church could be in danger of adopting the values of this new religious teaching that on the surface may seem to be benign but deep within is Satanic in nature. Be always prayerfully vigilant and alert. //

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Your Christian Testimony: Hot, Lukewarm or Dead

18. January 2012 by admin.

Your Christian Testimony: Hot, Lukewarm or Dead

“Nor 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?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!,’” Matthew 7:21-23 NIV.

Do you have a Biblical Christian testimony? How about any religious testimony?

My view of Christianity and its practice by those who claim to be Christians can be described as either Worldly or Biblical. Both claim the Bible as their source of Truth, yet Worldly Christians do not totally agree with all that is written whereas Biblical Christians do. Which camp do you fall in? Your eternal life is at stake so be sure you pick the correct one.

Worldly Christianity is denominationalism (Baptist, Methodist and etc.), a cornucopian, smorgasbord of beliefs that suit a particular lifestyle—Jesus Christ may or may not be the Son of God; the Bible may contain errors; there is more than one way to heaven; Jesus does not have to be the only Lord of one’s life; there may or may not be an indwelling Holy Spirit. There is no peace in the life of a Worldly Christian just as there is no salvation, redemption or mercy.

Biblical Christianity is a belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; the Bible is the inerrant word of God written by men through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; The Bible is Truth; there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Lord of their life and the Holy Spirit of God indwells them. There is peace, salvation, redemption and mercy in the life of a Biblical Christian.

In the paragraphs above, I have simplified for brevity some of the differences between what I believe are Worldly Christians and Biblical Christians. In which category do you live? Do friends, relatives, acquaintances, and even strangers see the peace of God in your life so much so that they want to have what you have (Christ’s peace) in their lives? When was the last time someone asked you about your “Christian” belief—today, yesterday, last week, last month, last year, never or you cannot remember?

Think about it. What is your a testimony. Do you worship the living God as revealed to you by the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit or do you worship a manmade god of your own intellectual creation. Will God recognize you as a “good and faithful servant” and say to you, “…Come, you who are blessed by my father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world,” Matthew 25:34 NIV or will He say, “…Depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” Matthew 25:41 NIV.

America is in a state of moral, economic and political decline. Immorality and godlessness is everywhere and the vast majority of people, both Christian and non-Christian who would describe themselves as moral and compassionate will not speak out against evil. In fact, Worldly Christians have condoned and accepted the lifestyle of materialism, greed, and lust and are often not viewed as being as good or as moral as the non-believers of the world.

A revival must happen in the hearts and souls of all Worldly Christians for America to be saved. If the Worldly Christians will get right with Jesus, the un-churched may become willing to listen to the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, a revival cannot happen until each Worldly Christian or each non- Biblical Christian is willing to repent and rededicate their life to serving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Will you do it today? It will mean giving up the worldly pleasures of this world and if you do, you will come under persecution for your new stance for Jesus. Are you willing?

The lost, those who do not know Jesus Christ, need someone to be a witness of what Jesus Christ has done in their life. Remember, all who claim the name of Jesus Christ are to be “Salt and Light” to the lost of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Will you be that witness? If not, you are just as dead in your sins as the lost are dead in theirs.

It is my prayer that today you will become that witness by rededicating your life to Jesus Christ and accepting the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Man’s Physical and Spiritual Security

4. January 2012 by admin.

It saddens me to see so many Christians whose faith is but an empty shell. They claim to have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but their lifestyles do not reflect that they allowed the Holy Spirit to indwell them. If they had, God’s Truth would have been revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. While their Bibles collect dust, they live as the worldly live trusting in their government and possessions to provide for their physical security rather than believing and trusting in God.

It is not their physical security that they should be concerned with. It is their spiritual security. If they do not know the Holy Spirit and are not indwelled by Him (Romans 8:9), they are dead spiritually and they will die in their transgressions. They will be raised at the Great White Throne Judgment at the end time and their soul and spirit will be judged and condemned to the Lake of Fire (Hell) where they will abide forever and forever (Revelation 20:11-15).

What about you? Are you a Christian? Does the Holy Spirit indwell you? If Jesus Christ is calling you, accept His calling now. Pray the sinner’s prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to enter and dwell within you. It would be a good way to start the “New Year.”

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday

23. December 2011 by admin.

As a Biblical Christian, I joyfully celebrate the virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during the Christmas Season. If you are a Christian it is my prayer for you that in the coming New Year your faith will be rekindled and that you will allow the Holy Spirit, by relinquishing your self-will to Him, to indwell you and to give you the ”…peace of God that transcends all understanding…,” Philippians 4:7 NIV. If you have not found this peace it can be found through repentance, belief and faith in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the cleansing of your sins and through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

If you are not a Christian and you have no sure hope for an afterlife then it is my prayer that you will answer the voice of God if He is calling you and accept His offer of grace, forgiveness and salvation. You may have never heard His voice, but it is there in the silent moments of your inner thoughts at those times when you have pondered on the meaning and purpose of your life. Answer that calling by acceptance, repentance and faith in the person of Jesus Christ for it is written, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved,” Acts 4:12 NIV. Surrender to Jesus Christ and allow the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to work His miracle of redemption in you.

Whether or not you choose to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday, I believe, is not a scriptural command of Jesus Christ and only serves as a distraction perpetrated by an anti-christian spirit to restrain those who do not know Jesus Christ as a personal savior from seeking Him. If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior you know the Truth and you have been “set free” to live a spiritual life in Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, you can worship whatever you like, i.e., a tree, money, immorality and etc., as your spirit belongs to Satan, the god of this world to unrepentant man.

There is a decision that must be made in everyone’s life—You must surrender to Jesus or you must surrender to Satan. There are no other options! Completely remove God, Jesus and the Holy Scriptures from history and consider what life on earth would have become. It is unimaginable but that is what the ungodly desire for this world through their reliance upon the human nature of man.

It is up to you. What will be your choice? Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday! It is my prayer that it will simply be, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.”

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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