SALVATION—is it intellectual or heartfelt?  It was a Sunday evening in July, 1953; I was attending an evening worship service.  The sermon was on: “What is it like going to hell?”  By the time the service was over I was scared to death.  The minister asked if anyone wanted to stay out of hell they needed to come to the altar and pray.  I went straight to the altar fell on my knees and a number of Christians started praying for me.  I wasn’t as concerned about salvation as I did not want to end up in hell.

It was an intellectual thing, I did not want to burn throughout eternity.  Most sinners feel to some degree guilty.  If all they have to do is ask for forgiveness, accept Christ as their Lord and accept Him into their heart, they can be and are saved.  Once saved, they no longer are guilty and their life will be changed and better from then on.  It doesn’t always work that way.

I do not believe we place enough emphasis on repentance and what is required.  This is a changing of one’s mind about sin and a change in a person’s heart toward sin.  It is accepting the Holy Spirit into our hearts and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and check our behavior and belief system.  It is then pursuing a worshipful relationship with God and Christ through prayer and Bible study.  From that day on we live to please God in all that we say and do.  The more committed we become the more challenges we may face.  It is through problems and seeing God meeting our needs that we develop more faith, trust and belief.  Under the above relationship, I believe once you are saved you will always be saved.

I believe many people accept Christ as their Savior intellectually as I at first had.  They believe there is a God and that Christ can save them.  However, they do not take repentance seriously.  They do all that they are told to be saved but they make little, if any, changes in how they live.  They continue to live as the world lives and fail to seek a true relationship with God.  They may say a few prayers and occasionally read their Bible.  They may go to church each week and become involved.  But they never really become totally committed to serving God and living to please Him.

We are born self-centered.  Many are unwilling to become more God-centered and centered on others, a requirement.  So little change takes place in their lives.  I believe these people can backslide and lose their salvation and many do.  Satan can then deceive them into believing that no matter what they do, they are assured of going to heaven believing once saved always saved.

What happens after a person accepts Christ and becomes saved will probably determine whether they have accepted intellectually or heartfelt.  It is possible that many of us initially accept intellectually. But have we actually repented as described by Scripture?  Who is first in our lives and who do we focus on;    is it ourselves or Christ?  Are we living to please self or God?   It isn’t difficult to determine whether you have truly repented, changed your ways and are totally committed to living to please God.  It may be easier for others to recognize whether we have an intellectual relationship or a heartfelt one than ourselves.   But God knows and He is the important one!  What do we need to know to make sure our salvation is heartfelt?

The message of the Gospel was love.  A sinner’s love is normally selfish and perverted.  Whereas, God’s love is unconditional.  The Bible emphasizes a personal relationship with God and being able to have the same love for God and others as He has for us—unconditional.  Love permits freedom.  We cannot be coerced to love.  God will test our relationship with Him by our love and our love of others.  Love promotes ethical behavior.  It directs our motives, attitudes and relationships.  Love reaches out, having respect for the thoughts of others who may disagree.  It does not withdraw from society or civil concerns.  Love is caring.  Love is in joy, sorrow, frustration and every complexity of life.  A Christian’s love is generous.  Love must not be used to gain an advantage.  Our faith can come from love and our morals are a result of love.

We believe God created each of us to have a master.  He then gives us the responsibility to choose our master.  It was God’s desire that we chose Him.  Many may select money, fame, power or some other purpose.  Most cut themselves off from God and Christ.  They are more concerned about their own thoughts and loyalties.  Since we were created also to serve, many are more willing to serve self than God.  Does it make sense to choose one’s weak and imperfect self over the power of a limitless God?  Are we willing to giving up being fulfilled for the fantasy of freedom?  We must ask ourselves: is our heart right with God?  Are we willing to serve Him with reverence?  Is our heart right toward our neighbor?  Is our love shown by our deeds?

May we ask ourselves, is our salvation once saved always saved or do we have a salvation that can be lost?  Have you repented and has your love changed?

I wrote a blog: “Does your position or job determine who you are?”   A person having a prestigious position is treated differently than an individual who sells, for example, insurance or is involved in a pyramid organization.  The same is true, to some extent, if people know you have wealth.  I have known a number of individuals who were power hungry and their position or their wealth meant everything to them.  They used their wealth or position to impress others in order to get what they wanted.  There were times when people would ask where I worked and what did I do.  I would reply by saying I was a store manager.  It just happened to be one of the largest department stores in Las Vegas.  You could tell some would be impressed.  When I started my own business and became a consultant, people asked what I did for a living, I would tell them.   I quickly learned some will treat you differently.  It is actually very sad that we place a person’s importance by the position they hold.  It is just as wrong to measure a person by the amount of wealth they have accumulated, whether it is earned or inherited.

Philippians 2:3 – 4 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of us should look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

True humility is having the proper perspective of ourselves.  It does not mean we are to put ourselves down.  A humble person is always seeking the good of other people.  Christ was not only equal to God; He existed in the form of God.  He deliberately abandoned the glory and became a servant.  He did not give up His divine attributes.  He did not cease to be God.  He assumed being human without giving up His divine nature.  He came as a servant of God with a desire to do those things that He knew would please and give joy to God, His father.  We too were created and put on this earth that we may please and bring joy to God.  Unless that is our goal we may never sense fulfillment or satisfaction.  In giving pleasure to God, we fulfill the deepest and most basic needs of our own lives.

Luke 12:15 – “Then he said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” NLT – Luke 12:21 – “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

If we don’t have the right relationship with God and our heart is filled with greed, wealth can become an obstacle between us and God.  From the very beginning God required the giving of a tenth of what they had accumulated.

Genesis 4:2 – 5 – “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.  And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.” NIV

We do not know why God rejected Cain’s sacrifice.  It could have been Cain’s attitude was not right. He could have resented having to sacrifice or the sacrifice was not up to God’s standard.  However, the Bible is very clear; God expected His people to tithe the first tenth of what they had.  When they don’t it seems God is not pleased.  It affects our relationship with Him.

My wife and I have tithed for over fifty years.  There was a time when in 1987 I left a well paying job to start my own business.  The first couple of months my income was zero.  By the end of two years the only thing we had left was a very small amount in an IRA.  Throughout those two years we continued to tithe on what little I made.  Then my income became sufficient to meet our needs.  As the business grew and the income increased we feel it was what God allowed and provided us to have.  There is absolutely no doubt in our minds, God helped build our business.  Today it is supporting four families.

As we went through the two years of living from pay day to pay day we trusted the promises God gives in the Bible.  There was never a day or night worrying about how or whether we would make it.  We knew it would be just a matter of time until God would allow us to prosper.  I believe that trust came from the many years of tithing and studying to know that God would meet our needs. He did just what He promised He would do.  I didn’t want my relationship with God to be like He had with Cain.  If God requires the first tenth, I am grateful to live on the rest and it has been adequate.  If you do not tithe I hope our experience will encourage you to begin.   Otherwise, pray that God will give you the faith to trust Him.  Trusting faith gives hope and assurance that changes everything no matter what we must face.  It is also the knowledge of knowing the Holy Spirit is within us to assist, by guiding and checking our decisions.

Who is it who does not want to know and control their future?  A fortune teller who can predict with more than 80% accuracy of what happens in the future could have millions of followers–Jean Dixon comes to mind.  If I knew what the stock market would do this next year or what land would be worth two years from now, it would help in making investment decisions.  I may have a fifty percent chance of predicting for one year but what if I could predict it every year for at least the next twenty.  How many people would take someone’s advice with that kind of forecasting ability? Once their neighbors told them how much they were receiving each year from their investments and there was absolutely no risk, they would be lining up by the hundreds to invest.

Bernie Madoff who scammed billions from investors did so by returning excellent returns, in a Ponzi scheme, when others were losing.  Everyone wants a no risk investment that returns big yields and that is precisely what they thought they were getting.  Bernie’s investment forecasting plan got him 150 years in jail.  He gets out in 2137 on good behavior, provided he lives to over 200.

The Bible has made at least 40 Prophecies concerning Christ and they were all fulfilled.  Yet the majority of the world rejects Scripture.  However, one man predicts the end of the world and millions become concerned.  Why do so many people believe fortune tellers but refuse to believe the fulfilled prophecies of the Bible?

Isaiah 40:3 & 5 – “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’..…And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” This was predicted in 740 B.C.  Isaiah told people to prepare to see God prepare the way for a coming Messiah.  This was part of the prediction that John the Baptist would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.

Matthew 3:1 & 2 – “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”

Matthew 11:10 – 11 – “This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’  Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Note that Scripture not only told that there would be a messenger but that he would preach in the wilderness.  He did not go to the people, the people came to him to be preached to and baptized.  They knew the Old Testament Scripture and came to learn about the coming Messiah.

Approximately 400 B.C., Malachi made the same prophecy.  Malachi 3:1 – “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.”  This verse tells of two messengers.  We understand it to be John the Baptist and Jesus, the Messiah.

In about 1450 B. C. Moses made a prophecy.  Deuteronomy 18:15 – 18 – “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.  For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.’  The LORD said to me: ‘What they say is good.  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.’”

Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”  Immanuel means “God with us.”  What do you think the chances of these men making this entirely up and being right? There is no other recorded account of any virgin of any species, having ever become pregnant as Mary, who conceived by the Holy Spirit and not by a male.

Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.” They also wrote the place where Immanuel, the Messiah would be born.  A small insignificant city!

In 538 B.C. Daniel 9:25 – “Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.” After Jerusalem is rebuilt, in 483 years the Messiah will enter the city.  The actual figure was 173,880 days from records uncovered.  Jesus entered riding a donkey as prophesized.

The Bible is filled with prophecies and then fulfilled.  I don’t see how anyone could ever study the Bible and not be convinced by the fulfilling of prophecies that there is a God and He sent His Son Christ, to die for the sins of man so that man could be forgiven and receive eternal life with God.  But Scripture tells us a person’s heart can be so hard that they are blinded and will never be able to see the truth.  Satan is very deceiving and has convinced most to accept the beliefs of the world and deny Christ. Would anyone think men could have dreamed these things to happen hundreds of years earlier? What are the odds?

You can find over a hundred books on developing self-confidence.  There are a number of people, Christians and non-Christians, who could read every one of them and still lack confidence.  I hope my personal experiences will help build one’s confidence.

The thirteenth chapter of Numbers tells about the 12 spies Moses sent to scout out the land that God had promised them as they wandered in the desert.  They came back with glowing reports of the land.  However, ten said they could not take the land.  They said the men were bigger, stronger and the cities were too well-fortified.  Two said, with God’s help, they could defeat them and the land would be theirs.  I believe my faith and trust in God would have been sufficient to be one of the two because of what I have personally witnessed.

Having been in management for over 30 years I have assumed that out of every twelve employees, two would be positive and ten would not believe in themselves because of their lack of self-confidence.  I understand confidence can be learned.  Having been involved in sports from the third grade through college and then coaching in high school, confidence is as important as ability.  You will never watch a professional athlete who lacks confidence in their athletic ability.  Confidence can be had without one being arrogant or egotistical.  Tim Tebow comes to mind.

I don’t understand why many Christians are not more confident and they seem to have the faith of the ten spies.  When I am asked to sign our book: “God and the Bottom Line” I address it and write Phil. 4:13 and then sign it.  This is one of my favorite verses.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” KJV   That doesn’t mean that Christ will make us another superman or woman.  It means whatever Christ asks us to do He will give us the strength and ability to do it.

This was proved to me when I was chairman of the Relocation Task Force.  We were asked to purchase 80 acres for a new church when we didn’t have the money to buy it.  Once we found the land money came in to pay for it.  We were then asked to build a $22 million, 150,000 sq. ft. building when we did have the money to build half that size.  That was in 1991.  We have been in our present church since 1999 and have never missed a payment.  What if the Task Force had the faith of the ten spies?  Would our church be able to minister to 40,000 at Christmas time?

It is very important to realize God’s promises.  II Corinthians 3:5 – “It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.” (NLT)

Here are a few more Scriptures that tell us what the power of the Holy Spirit will do if we will allow Him.  I Corinthians 6:17 – Says we are not on our own we are with Christ in spirit.  I Corinthians 12:8-10 tell us the Holy Spirit gives to different Christians: wisdom, knowledge, gifts of healing and other miraculous powers. Romans – 8:15 – 27 – The Holy Spirit helps us to overcome fear and assures us we are God’s children and heirs.  Act 20:23 – Says the Holy Spirit will warn us.  Galatians 5:22 – 23 The Holy Spirit helps us obtain love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There are many more Scriptures that describe the power of the Holy Spirit that is available to each believer.  Is there any reason not to be confident and succesful?

I wonder if some Christian’s problems are a lack of trust or self-confidence because they never study or accept how Scripture applies to them.   A Christian’s self-confidence comes from our relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.  If you lack confidence do you need to become more spiritually mature?  Do you need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer?  Pray that God challenges you to do something for Him that you feel incapable of doing.  Then do it and see if He doesn’t give you the ability and willingness to accomplish His task.  Do this a few times and you will realize that confidence can come from God.   Then apply that confidence to other projects.  Think positively, tell yourself positive thoughts and you will become positive!  Allow the Holy Spirit to make you into a new confident and successful person as God intended and the Bible assures.

Many evangelicals believe that God chooses who our president will be. If we get a president that is not good for the country, then God is punishing us.  If He wants America to prosper He will give us presidents that will make the economy grow.

Based on Romans 13:1 – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Some interpret this Scripture to mean that if God establishes the authorities then we get who He wants.  Years ago most every insurance policy insured for everything, except “Acts of God”.  They defined those acts as any unusual weather change, earthquake or a hurricane.  That was an “Act of God” which man had no control over. In fact, most anything bad that happened was believed to be caused by God.  As a child I was told that if I didn’t behave God would punish me.

The more we have studied Scripture, the more capable we have become in understanding that there are times when we believe the Bible was incorrectly interpreted from the Greek to English.  Many no longer believe that every bad act of nature or bad president is caused by God.  We realize that God allows Satan to do evil things but God does not cause them.  In fact, is it possible that Satan now picks our presidents?  He entered Judas!  Could he not enter an evil president?

I Samuel 8:6 – 7 – “But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us,’ this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.  And the LORD told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.’”

The Israelites rejected having judges who received guidance from God.  They wanted to be like all other nations and have a king. They wanted laws, an army and a human leader.  They no longer wanted to rely on God and His appointed judges.  They thought a new system of government would improve their nation.  It was their disobedience to God that a king was allowed. Had the Israelites submitted to God’s leadership, they would have prospered beyond their greatest expectations.

Does this story sound anything like what we have seen happening in America the past few years?  Would you say that America has rejected God as our supreme leader?  Have we refused to let God lead us, our family and our government?   Are we living as the pagan world lives? Do we want to be more like European nations?  What difference, if any, do you see between the Israelites during Samuel’s time and Americans today?

I am one who believes that God allows us to choose any president we want.  If we chose a president that is as rebellious as King Saul, then we will get the same or similar results that the Israelites received.  So weigh all of the positives and all of the negatives.  Consider the consequences to all Americans when you make your choice.  Be careful that the values of others do not develop your attitude and your behavior.  When God’s people want to be like unbelievers, we are headed in the wrong spiritual direction.  Do you believe our nation is being led by God-fearing people or by leaders typical to what the I Samuel Israelites chose?

Acts 5:29 – “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings.”

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”  George Bernard Shaw

Our constitution promotes equal right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  It meant every person would have an equal opportunity to be successful and so rewarded.  Should the government help each person have the opportunity to become successful or should they make it possible for equal outcomes.  If you are one who believes the government is to equalize wealth outcomes and the redistribution of wealth, we could end up with the same governmental system as Europe.  Let’s keep our constitution as it is and what it was meant to do and not change it.  Then let’s get this nation back to being focused on Christ and dependent on God.  Can’t we learn from history?

Do you know of anyone who is not looking for happiness and joy in their lives?  If they are normal they are.  Then ask: “How many do you know who have found a lasting happiness?”  Happiness, joy and pleasures are usually a temporary state that we receive from favorable external situations.  Anytime these external situations become unfavorable we often become unhappy.

In sports we found that when we won we were happy but when losing we were unhappy.  We may become pleased when we receive recognition or a financial reward.  How long does that happiness last?  Ask those who have won the lottery or a large jackpot two or three years later?  We all know people who appear to have everything but always seem to be unhappy.

External situations change so often that many, wanting to remain happy will seek drugs, alcohol or overeating looking for ways to change their external surroundings.  The entire world is looking for happiness and joy in their lives.  Webster’s dictionary defines it as an emotional feeling of having good things, living a delightful life and generally having a feeling of gladness.  It may be a state of bliss or gaiety.  Many come to Las Vegas looking for that kind of happiness and pleasure.  How many find it and if they do how long will it last?

Most do not realize that there are two kinds of joy: worldly joy and spiritual joy.  It is unreasonable to think we will always be confronted with pleasant situations.  It isn’t unreasonable to expect and to always have joy.  There is a joy given by the Holy Spirit.  This joy is described as a “fruit” of the Spirit.  It is an inner spiritual joy that comes only from God.

James 1:2 – 4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Acts 13:52 – The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 14:17 – God fills your heart with joy.

John 16:22 – Jesus says, “No one will take away your joy.”

1 Peter 1:8 – (Commentary)  This spiritual joy possesses the radiance of God’s glory.  It is a joy that comes from heaven.  It is a joy that can only come from being in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The “fruit of joy” is always dependent upon living a vital relationship with Christ.  It cannot be fabricated for it is spiritual and comes from the heart.  Having this spiritual joy can keep you from seeking the world’s lusts and pleasures, which so many do.  Daily we must die out to this self-centered nature we all have.  Focus on Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to help each of us to totally surrender so that we can be filled with joy.

Do you know people who never seem to find the right career, who struggle meeting monthly expenses, who continually struggle wanting to find their purpose in life? Most people do not enjoy trials.  In fact, we may do almost anything to avoid the trials of life.  Yet, the Bible says we are to face trials with joy—pure joy.  We are then told that God wants to make us patient.  The more we wait on the Lord, God can do great things in our lives.  The only way the Lord can develop patience and character in our lives is through trials.  It is essential that we go through the difficulties of life, trust God and obey Him.  As we go through life’s external situations and face trials do we recognize that the Holy Spirit is guiding us through these circumstances?  Once we realize that God is allowing certain things to happen, to make us better or more spiritual, we sense the joy that the Bible illustrates.  Joy brings happiness and provides the pleasures that we are seeking.  This is the process to spiritual maturity.

The Apostle Paul says it was this inner joy that encouraged him during his times of imprisonment and his many trials.  It is this spiritual joy that encouraged Paul to press on and be enthusiastic toward the goal of living for Christ as he encountered difficult external circumstances. We can have the same joy that Paul had, a spiritual joy that keeps us positive through unhappy times.

A small farmer was asked by his wife if he would be going to church with them for the Christmas service.  As usual he said he had some farm chores that needed to be done.  The wife bundles up the children and off they drove to church.  The farmer sits in his chair by the fireplace and picks up a book.  He just starts when he hears a lot of thumping in the yard.  It was very cold and snowing outside so he gets his hat and coat and proceeds to see what is causing the disturbance.   Surprisingly, a flock of geese had landed in his yard and they were in serious trouble.  They were flapping their wings but could not fly.  It was so cold and the farmer believed that he had to get them into the barn if they were going to be saved.  He opened the barn door but they wouldn’t budge, they just kept flapping.  He went to the house and got some bread.  He started placing the bread in front of them and it led to the barn door.  They still refused to move.  He got a broom and tried chasing them into safety but they wouldn’t budge.  He finally gave up believing they did not want to be saved.  Then he thought: “I guess the only way I can save them is to become one of them and lead then into the barn for their survival.”  It then hit him; he probably should have gone to church.  

He goes into the house sits down and starts reading his book.  It begins centuries ago and tells of a small kingdom.  The king and his men left to attack another kingdom to obtain food, materials and slaves.  They are gone for about a month.  They came back with wagon loads of food and equipment plus a number of women and children ten years of age and younger.  All of the men and older male children were killed.  The only one they lost was their king who was killed. 

The next in line, for being king, was the king’s 17 year old son.  He called his father’s council together and asked for advice as to what to do with the loot that had been obtained.  They gave him advice and he followed it.  Anytime a serious problem had to be solved he gathered the council together to get their recommendations. 

In front of his castle he could stand on a balcony and look to his left and see a large orchard that supplied all of his fruit.  To the right were huge gardens that supplied the king and his staff with vegetables.  Far in the distance were farms that supplied all his meat and horses for his warriors.  There were small homes surrounding the countryside.  

Behind the castle was a balcony that overlooked a street that had peddlers.  People would come and buy their food, clothes and others items.  He could see and hear some of the people and their conversations.  There was one young lady that was very attractive and caught his eye.  She was helping her family by selling bread.  Day after day he watched and listened to her and became very infatuated.   As weeks went by, he felt himself falling in love with her.  He called his council together and asked them how he should go about making her his queen?  They told him that he was the ultimate ruler and anything he wanted all he had to do was ask and it would happen.  One advisor told him she then would be his slave for life.  He didn’t want a slave.  He wanted someone that would love him in return.  They then suggested that he bring her into the castle and give her every gift she could ever want.  What young lady wouldn’t be thrilled with that?  The one advisor said she may be happy but you will never know if she really loves you. 

It was then suggested that he take off his crown, lay down his scepter and take off his robe.  Dress as a commoner and ride your horse to where she is.  She will think you are just one of them.  So this is what he did.   After days together they fell in love and she agreed to marry him. 

Philippians 2:5 – 11 – “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

To lead us to safety and save our spiritual lives God’s plan was to become one of us.  All others methods had failed.  His people were given everything they needed and were extremely prosperous.  It did not work.  He tried using the broom to shoo them into safety by punishment but they would not be driven.  No matter what God did they were disobedient and rejected Him.  He then came to earth as a baby in order to become one of them.  He explained Who He was and provided information in order for us to know Him and to develop a relationship with Him.  He wanted people He could love and who would love Him in return.  He promised that if people would accept Him as their Lord and Savior He would change their hearts and place His Spirit within them.  Some accepted Him as the young lady accepted the king and gave their love and lived for Him.  God’s promise was that they would be protected by Him throughout eternity. The plan worked for many and some day they will live with Him in a new world with a new heaven.  They will live with a greater love, fellowship and prosperity than the queen would ever have had.     

It’s still time to accept Him if you haven’t!  (The above material was from a sermon by Todd Clark—12/17-18/2011.)

Lately, if you pick up the local paper you read about the number of people who have been convicted or indicted for fraud in the Las Vegas housing market.  Realtors, attorneys, prominent citizens, mortgage companies, HOA members and the list go on.  Have you wondered why prices skyrocketed up to 2008?  People were being encouraged to buy houses they couldn’t possibly afford. If you could breath and sign your name you could get a loan.  Plus, you have people buying multiple homes for the sole purpose to hold for a few months and then flip them.  The credit flood gates were wide-open and unscrupulous individuals took advantage and made, sometimes millions of dollars.  Society became so self-centered, greedy and immoral that it seemed anything goes.  What kind of a world are we leaving for the next few generations?

Isn’t it about time people start to change their previous behavior?  How do we start to change things?  If everyone in the world were like you, what kind of a world would we have?  Christ came to give us the example that would change the world’s attitude, principles and values and He did.  Now, it seems to be changing.  Christians should have a positive spiritual attitude which comes from knowledge and faith.  With Biblical knowledge comes spiritual wisdom.  The wiser and more informed a believer becomes, by understanding the Trinity, the more dependent we are on God, resulting in being more spiritual.  Christ asked that each Christian share the Gospel throughout the world.  Are we, as Christians, living as examples that can change the world?

Romans 8:5 – “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”  Isn’t this part of the problem?  People’s minds are focused on what the flesh desires and not on the Spirit?  If you were to check, what is it that you focus on?

Those without Christ are unable to subject themselves to God as God intended.  I Corinthians 2:14 – “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

Our mind-set and how we live not only determines eternity, but our quality of life on earth.  Those accepting the Holy Spirit can receive a life of peace and joy.  The Holy Spirit brings freedom and if we don’t have peace, joy or freedom then we are relying on ourselves and not trusting God for our needs.  The lack of peace, joy and freedom are missing in too many Christians.  You may have the Holy Spirit but may be allowing your self-centered nature to control you rather than the Holy Spirit.

How does the world really see us as Christians?  Do they see a Christian living a worldly life having little if any influence on others?  Or are we living as the Bible instructs?  Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our behavior and influence others at home or on the job?  Did you play, maybe an insignificant role in the Las Vegas housing problem and now find yourself tremendously underwater?   Now your dilemma is: “What is the moral thing to do”?

The Bible repeatedly tells us to take on a new role, in a new direction, with a new way of thinking, led by the Holy Spirit.  Just think—what if every new convert and every Christian had done as commanded and spread the Gospel. Could it not have changed the world?  This is why Christ formed the church, in order for God’s message to be shared with the world and the world could be filled with freedom, joy, peace, love and morality.  Christians and the church failed to complete their mission as Christ planned and instructed.  Satan and his churches may have done a greater job of rejecting Christianity and therefore, influencing the world against Christ and Christians.

Is it too late?  Is the world lost and without hope for God to intervene?  Or has Satan deceived and hardened the hearts of just too many? Have you recently felt unworthy because of some of the actions you have had to make when it comes to a credit problem?  Regardless, we must discipline ourselves and give up self-control, the likely thing that got us into trouble, and now start trusting in God.  We then must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.  There will always be a struggle between our self-centered desires and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  To some degree our failures and an unwillingness to give up control have stopped us from witnessing.  The result may have allowed guilt to keep us from testifying and sharing the Gospel with others.

While on this earth, as Christians, we have been commanded to share Christ with the purpose of changing the thinking and behavior of the world.  For years, our church’s mission was to evangelize Las Vegas and beyond.  No matter where you live, that is what we have been commanded to do as Christians.  We must change the world, one person at a time.  If you haven’t already started, it isn’t too late to start.  Always keep in mind that the world watches a Christians every move and we are to live to please God.  Otherwise the world will only get worse.

Christmas is a reminder of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.  But it is more than that.  Through Christ we become more knowledgeable of Who God really is.  It appeared to many that we have two Gods; one we learn about in the Old Testament and another God in the New Testament.  However, He has always been the same God. We just received a better picture and a clearer understanding through the life of Christ to the characteristics of God.

Many people fear God but Christ told us to revere or regard Him with reverence and not fear.  We then may ask why did God require the Israelites to wander forty years in the desert until those older than 20 could die before entering the promise land.  Why did God allow the Holocaust and six million Jews to die?  Why did God allow the hurricanes, the typhoons, the devastating earthquakes, the tornadoes, wars, starvation, etc.?  Why did God allow His Son to be rejected, denied, tortured and crucified?  Why did the Apostle Paul who wrote much of the New Testament become ship wrecked, stoned and beaten, driven out of cities, continually rejected and imprisoned?  Why do Christians have devastating health problems?  Could it be that a God who loves everyone yet, wants to make it very clear, when He says those who reject and deny Him and live in sin will be cast into the Lake of Fire on the Day of Judgment? He is very serious and does not want anyone to disregard or discredit His sternness.

Proverbs 8:17 – “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”  Continually, throughout the Bible, God talks about His love for His people.  Throughout the Old Testament through the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah God shared His love.  But there was always the people’s fear factor.  The only way we could truly know God was for His Son to live among us.  Christ’s birth and life answers many of our question about God.

Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, was given teenage parents who had little wealth.  God chose Jesus’ birth to be in the small town of Bethlehem.  He was born and placed in a manger in a stable.  God chose shepherds, they ranked very low in that society, that were tending flocks in nearby fields to be His witness and share the news.  God wanted us to see the importance of humility.

John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

Prior to Christ no one had seen or had truly known God.  Now that we have seen Jesus He has revealed God to us.  Exodus 33:20 – “’But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’” Greeks and Jews did not believe it was possible to see God and live.  The Apostle John reveals what God is like.  He tells us: if you want to know what God is like look at Jesus.  To this day, many cannot accept the fact that God could come in the form of man.  Therefore, most want to deny the deity of Christ.  By denying that Jesus is God, they can make the excuse that they are not sure what God requires to obtain eternal salvation.  They believe there are many paths to heaven and if you are zealous enough and moral enough God must accept you.

We know that God is omnipresent (everywhere), omniscient (knows everything), and omnipotent (all powerful) and Jesus, as a human, did not have these powers.  Yet, He was God in the sense that He had the mind and character of God and He is one with God.  Jesus was divine and to see Him you are able to see what God is. John, the writer, intends to demonstrate that Jesus is the Mind, the Reason and the Word of God Who came into this world in the form of a human person.  Without the life of Christ we could still see God as revengeful, angry, causing devastation and jealous as described in the Old Testament.  Had Christ not come as divine in human form, it is possible that the world would have become as corrupt as it was prior to Noah and the flood.  However, we read in Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Additionally, we read in Isaiah 65:17 – 19 – “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.”  Without Christ there would be no Christmas and we would not know the true God.

Denver wins another game in overtime this past Sunday.  Since Tebow became their quarterback they have won six straight games.   Some call their three overtime victories magical or miraculous.  Have you read a number of sports articles concerning the display of faith Tebow shows after touchdowns or winning games by kneeling for prayer or pointing heavenward?  Some call him, “The Mile High Messiah”.  Others call him names we won’t repeat.  Only Tiger Woods and Tim Tebow have polarized sports fans across the nation as loyal supporters or hecklers as these two have.  There are Tebow skeptics, doubters and those who do not believe he has the fundamental mechanics to be a NFL quarterback. They question his ability as a passer.   Yet, Denver just keeps winning.

Some believe winning is not about his ability but about his faith.  When interviewed he begins by praising God and Jesus Christ.  He may say: “Do you think God really cares about who wins a football game?”  It is just a game!  He proceeds to praise his team mates and that one person doesn’t win games.  He then may say: “If you believe, unbelievable things can be possible.”

I was a football, basketball and baseball coach in a Christian High School.  I used to tell our basketball team we always had an advantage.  There are six on our side and they only have five.  The sixth was the Holy Spirit as we all were followers of Christ.  Twice we won the state parochial championship in basketball.

I am a firm believer in having a positive mental mind-set and a strong faith ethic.  I believe God has given each and every one of us certain strengthens, talents and He expects us to use those gifts to the best of our abilities.  I believe the Holy Spirit, Who is in us, is there to help us do our best whether it is in sports, medicine, finance or any other areas of work.  However, I don’t think God takes sides, necessarily, to determine which team wins.  He may help us do our best but it is usually determined by who was most prepared and had the better game plan.  It also helps to have capable athletes at that time.  Yet, winning takes faith, persistency and believing.  Much of anything we do depends on how positive our attitude is.

Having a managerial background I’ve seen many different types of behaviors from everyone who has worked for me.  I am convinced that faith (confidence) and one’s attitude plays a huge role in people’s lives.  So much that I am a co-author of a book: “God and the Bottom Line”.  God did not create failures regardless of one’s abilities or talents.  It takes what we do as to how prosperous or how well we do in life.  For those who believe God is their Santa Claus usually end up never really reaching their full potential.  Preparation, hard work, persistency and a positive attitude gives the best chance for success.  One thing I have learned.  DO NOT IGNORE THE HOLY SPIRIT!  God gave His Spirit to help us have a better life.  Listen with spiritual ears as He guides and checks us throughout life.  You may be surprised what God has in store for you as long as you do your part.  When something really good happens in our life shouldn’t we thank and praise the Lord?  I support the testimony of Tim Tebow!