Serving Others

The bible is very clear that the way to be happy and to be like Jesus is to serve others.  In John chapter 13 is the story of how Jesus laid aside his garments and girded himself with a towel and washed his disciples feet.  He did this to show us how to have humility and care for other people.
John 13:1: Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2: And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3: Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4: He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5: After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

So here was Jesus, the very Son of God, God in the flesh, who has all the power in the universe, and yet he humbles himself and washes his disciples feet.
John 13:12: So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you.
13: Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14: If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15: For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you
16: Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17: If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

So you notice how he says he did this to give us an example, that if he washed his disciples feet, then we should also wash one another's feet.  It doesn't mean that we should actually literally wash one another's feet, but the meaning is that we should care for and serve others and not ourselves, and he says that this is the way to be happy.  The world has it all backwards; they think the way to be happy is to be served, but the exact opposite is true for the Christian.  For the Christian the way to be happy is to serve, not to be served.

Also, another thing about serving others is it must be done with love and from our heart.  I Corinthians chapter 13 is what is called the love chapter of the bible.  It talks all about charity, which is another word for love.  If we do anything without love it is useless to us.
I Corinthians 13:1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 
2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 
Notice how it says giving all your goods to feed the poor without doing it with love, it profits you nothing.

A well known example of someone who served others was the story of the good Samaritan.
Luke 10:30: And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31: And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32: And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33: But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.
34: And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 
35: And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
The priest and the Levite saw the wounded man and just passed on by him; they didn't care about him, but the Samaritan had compassion on him and took care of him. The ones who passed by him are like the way of worldly people; they only care about themselves, not others.

Also, the bible says we should be given to hospitality.  Being hospitable means to care for others; that is where the word hospital comes from, bringing people in under your care for them.
Romans 12:13: Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  
Being given to hospitality means that it is part of who you are, part of your personality, that in being like Jesus you are constantly seeking to meet the needs of others and help them, especially your brothers and sisters in the Lord when you see they have needs. That is why is says "distributing to the necessity of saints" (saints means Christians).

And to sum this all up, always remember what the Lord told us in Acts 20:35: I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
The whole purpose of our Christian walk with the Lord is to live like Jesus and to care about people. That is the whole reason why Jesus died on the cross and suffered for our sins, because he cares about people and doesn't want them to go to hell.  So in like manner, we should care about people too, and the most compassionate thing you can do for people is to tell them about Jesus and how to get saved.

People Who Are Reprobates

The bible teaches that there are some people who can never be saved, it is too late for them.  It is not that God didn't want them to get saved, and it is true that Jesus did die for everyone and these people did at one time have a chance to be saved, but they crossed a line and now it is too late for them; they can never be saved.  They are doomed to hell and will go there as soon as they take their last breath.  The scriptures teaches us in Romans chapter one about these people and they are called reprobates, which means they are defiled, filthy, and disgusting, haters of God. The word reprobate also means rejected. The people God is talking about are homosexuals and God has rejected them.

Homosexuality is not just a normal sin, like lying, or sins like that, that everyone is tempted to do; it is a sin against nature because the bible even says in Genesis chapter one that God created people male and female and told them to be fruitful and multiple.
Genesis 1:27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  29: And God blessed them and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply.  So you see then how homosexuality is a sin against nature; it goes against God's whole plan for humanity when he made people male or female and told them to be fruitful and multiple.  Male and female is the only way to multiple.

Some people will say, well it's a sin, but we're all sinners.  No, this is much worse than normal sin.  Not all sin is equal.  You cannot say that stealing a pencil is as bad of a sin as murder, etc., but being a homosexual is so bad that the bible says that God gave up on them (reprobate - rejected).  Homosexuality is worse than murder.  In the bible there are many people who were saved that murdered, but there is not even one instance of a homosexual ever getting saved. Also the bible says in Genesis 13:13: But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.  Sodom and Gomorrah was a city that God destroyed with fire and brimstone because it was filled with homosexuals.  So we may all be sinners, but we are not all sinners exceedingly.  This is also why homosexuals are called sodomites in the bible.  They should not be called "gay" because gay means happy, not being a pervert.

In Romans chapter one the bible tells us how these people became reprobates.
Romans 1:28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. 
Do you see how it says God gave them over because they were so against him.  Here are other verses about God giving them up.
Romans 1:24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Romans 1:27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  
God recompensates these kind of people with diseases such as AIDS.

The bible also says that these kind of people became this way because their heart has been darkened. Romans 1:21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Again, the bible says that these kind of people are sinners of the very worst kind as here described.    
Romans 1:29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.
These reprobates are so bad that they are filled with ALL unrighteousness, every thing on this list.  Notice how it says "proud".  That is where their gay pride parades come in.  They are boastful about their wickedness and sin.  A normal person would have some of these sins listed here, but not filled to the brim with all of these.

These people are filthy, vile, and haters of God.  Normal unsaved people are not necessarily haters of God; they are just unsaved, and there is still time for them to accept Jesus before they die because they have not been given over to a reprobate mind yet.  The thief on the cross got saved right before he died and I know someone who got saved right before they died from cancer, so obviously, there is still hope for most people, just not for reprobates.

The clear teaching of the bible is that these people can never be saved because they have crossed the line and the bible says that God gave up on them; he gave them over; it's too late for them; they can never be forgiven.  That is the reason why we should stay as far away from these people as possible while going about our life here in the world.  Obviously, there are some occupations where you will need to interact with them, such as being a doctor or a nurse, but that is only to do our job, not to be friends with them.  You cannot win them to the Lord because they will never be saved.  In truth, if God already has given up on them, and he has, then there is nothing we can do to get them saved.  Did Jesus die for them?; absolutely.  They had every chance that anyone has to get saved before God gave them over to a reprobate mind, but now it is too late.  The reason they are reprobates is because they hardened their heart against God and did not like to retain God in their knowledge.  Just like when a person dies without being saved it is too late for them, also it is too late for some people even before they die.

The world tries to tell you it is an alternative lifestyle, but it is not an alternative lifestyle, it is a wicked sin that God says should be punished with the death penalty.
Leviticus 20:13: If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.       
The God of the old testament is the same God of the new testament. What was wicked then is still wicked today.  God says it is an abomination.  An abomination means something that God hates greatly and abhors.
Romans 12:9: Let love be without dissimulation, Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  We should definitely hate and abhor what God hates and abhors.    
Psalm 139:21: Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 
22: I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

So what should we do then about the sodomites in the world.  We should not try to hurt them in any way, we should just ignore them and not be friends with them.  The bible says our closest friends should be Christians living for the Lord anyway because they are our very brothers and sisters in Christ. We are in the same family as children of God. The only reason to be a friend to an unsaved person is when you are trying to win them to the Lord and witness to them, hoping they will get saved, but people who are reprobates cannot ever get saved, so there is no need to be friends with them.  Besides that, because they are so vile and filthy and disgusting, we will not even want to be near them because they are repulsive to us.  Sometimes you will hear people say, "Well I know people that are gay that are nice people", but that is not what God thinks of them.  God says they are filthy and brute beasts.
II Peter 2:7: And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
Jude 1:8: Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
II Peter 2:12: But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Just because a person seems nice doesn't mean that they are not wicked.  Look at all the mass murderers that people thought were such nice people, like Ted Bundy for instance.  No, God sees homosexuals as very wicked and filthy the bible says.  Another thing people say is "Well some people have been saved out of that lifestyle", but that is not true biblical salvation, which is being saved from going to hell.  All these testimonies I have read about a homosexual supposedly getting saved say "I repented of my sins and sinful lifestyle", which is not even how to get saved because getting saved is by believing on Christ and putting your faith in him, not by repenting of your sins.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  I have never read even one testimony where the person said they believed on Jesus alone for salvation and put their faith in him alone.  The reason why is because they cannot "believe" because in Romans it says God gave them over to vile affections and a reprobate mind.   Homosexuals will also lie about getting saved because they want to infiltrate churches where they like to prey on children and molest them.  The bottom line is homosexuals cannot be saved because of what Romans chapter one states, and so all of these so called "testimonies" are just bogus and fake. It is true whosoever believeth on the name of Jesus will be saved, but they CANNOT believe.  Besides that, Jesus didn't come to save people from a wicked lifestyle, he came to save people from going to hell.  Of course, Jesus' blood cleanses us from sin, but that is Jesus doing the cleansing, not us repenting of our sin.  The only way to be cleansed is by believing on Christ, and the sodomites cannot believe because they have a reprobate mind.

Another argument people like to use about homosexuals being able to get saved is in:the following:  :I Corinthians 6:9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 
10: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sancified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Then they say, see the effeminate got saved, but effeminate is not the same thing as being a homosexual.  Being effeminate means acting or dressing girlish or like a sissy.  Of course it is a sin to be effeminate, that is why it is listed here. I know men who dress like a sissy, but they are not homosexuals.  The same goes for women, with some dressing like a man and having a man's haircut, but they are not a homosexual. Of course, the corrupted NIV version says this:
I Corinthians 6:9: Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, etc. So they change the word effeminate to men having sex with men to change the whole meaning of that verse to make it sound like homosexuals can get saved.  That is why it is so important to stick with the KJV.  It also wants to make it sound as if it is just another ordinary sin, like drunkenness, fornication, adulterers, etc., but homosexuality is not just another ordinary sin; it is much much worse; it is a sin against nature.  Any normal person would be tempted with the ordinary sins listed, but to a normal person, the act of homosexuality is repulsive to them, sick, and gross, not something they would even be tempted to do.

The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was so great and was such a great abomination that God actually destroyed the city by raining fire and brimstone on it.
Genesis 18:20: And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous:
21: I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
Genesis 19:24: Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven:

Also, another verse in the new testament that talks about Sodom and Gomorrah is in Jude.
Jude 7: Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 
Going after strange flesh is what they did in Sodom and Gomorrah by being homosexuals and God uses them as our example of them receiving eternal fire.  That is why in the bible the word for homos is "sodomites", as in the following verses.
I Kings 14:24: And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
I Kings: 15:12: And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
I Kings 22:46: And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.
I Kings 23:7: And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
You see how God said to take the sodomites out of the land; he didn't say to evangelize them or try to get them saved because once you are a sodomite it is too late, and God tells us to separate from them.
II Corinthians 6:17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Of course, most all of the modern corrupt versions of the bible, such as the NIV and others, take out the word sodomites and changes it to male prostitutes, which is not the same thing at all.  They also don't want you to think about Sodom, which God destroyed with fire and brimstone because it was full of homosexuals, so they don't want to use the word sodomites. The corrupt bibles over and over again change key important words to change the whole meaning of the verse.  That is why it is so important to read the KJV, which is God's preserved word and totally accurate.

Another argument people like to use is about loving your enemies.

Matthew 5:44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. This verse is actually talking about loving your own personal enemies like people who hate you and treat you badly.  For instance, you may have an enemy at work or school where someone is out to get you, cursing you, etc., or persucuting you for being a Christian.  I don't know any homosexual that is my enemy personally. So the point is we should love our own enemies, but we are not to love God's enemies; that is the difference.  In fact, God is not pleased when we help his enemies.  

II Chronicles 19:2: And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehosphaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.  

That means if we help them that hate God, then God will punish us for it.  (The wrath of God upon us.)  

The world is getting wickeder and wickeder all the time. The bible even says the following:
I John 5:19: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
The bible also says that in the last days it would be like the days of Lot.  Lot was the only righteous saved person living in Sodom at the time and God pulled him out of the city and then destroyed it.  That is the same way it will be when Jesus comes again and takes us out of this wicked world and we go to heaven with him.  He will take us out and then he will destroy this wicked world.
Luke 17:29: But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30: Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

II Peter 3:10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons out ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
12: Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

So, therefore, it is clear that God wants us to live a godly and holy life in this wicked world that we live in and to keep ourselves separate from all the filth and pollution that is in the world.

Also, remember that just because the government of our country makes wicked and immoral laws such as same sex marriage and abortion, which is the murder of babies, God's law is always greater than the sinful world's law.  God's law is to be first place above all else. Acts 5:29: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. That is why I said that the world is getting more and more wicked all the time.  Fifty years ago homosexuality was illegal in our country and most of the world, but God's law never changes with the times.  Just because the world is getting more wicked, doesn't mean we have to agree with the changing of the times.  The bible says the world would be like this in the last days, but just remember we are going to be delivered from this wicked world when either we die and go to be with Jesus in heaven or Jesus comes in the clouds to get us and takes us to heaven.  In the meantime, we need to keep busy living for Jesus, which he calls occupying till he comes.  Luke 19:13: And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy til I come.  

The bible evens says that the last days will be perilous (dangerous) times to live in.
II Timothy 3:1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.
3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.

Even though the last days will be wicked days and a perilous time to live in, we can still have peace with Jesus, and he actually tells us to not be troubled.
John 14:1: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.
3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Someone may read this and say, "Yeah, I know the bible says that, but I still think homosexuals can be saved."  Then what they are saying is that their opinion is more valid than God's word, but the bible is what is true, not someone's opinion.  Romans 3:4: God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar:.... 

What To Do When Tempted

Being tempted is when the devil tries to get us to do something wrong or to sin. Jesus was tempted by the devil in Matthew chapter 4, but he never ever sinned. But since Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted, he can help us when we are tempted.  

Matthew 4:1: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 

2: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3: And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

So the devil was tempting Jesus when he was very hungry, to put physical food ahead of spiritual food, which is the word of God, but Jesus quoted scripture to the devil and told him it was written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  He was teaching us that we should always put the word of God first in our life.

Later on in the chapter is where the devil is tempting Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, like great wealth, huge rich buildings, material riches, and fame and power on the earth, but Jesus said we must only worship God and him alone.

Matthew 4: 8: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them: 

9: And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 

10: Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

This shows us that we must always put God first and live only for him, even though we are tempted to want the things of the world.  It is much better to be poor on earth and rich in heaven, where we will be forever.  Jesus even says in John 14:2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare f place for you.  There are also steeets of gold in Heaven.  Revelation 21:21: And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.  So if you see people with earthly riches and great houses, and you are tempted to wish you had that, just remember what a great mansion you are going to live in forever in Heaven someday and it will be far more greater and wonderful than anything on earth.  Also, in Mark 8:26, the bible says: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Jesus has compassion on us when we are tempted.  Hebrews 4:15: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  In other words, Jesus can sympathize with us when he are tempted because he was tempted also, but yet without sin.

Hebrews 2:18: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.  Succour means to help us and aid us, and carry us through.

I Corinthians 10:13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So there is a way to overcome temptation, and that is to pray and ask God to deliver us from temptation, even as it says in the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen

Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  (Remember the spirit is our new nature, the one that wants to do right, but the flesh is our old nature that is sinful.)

Also, when we pray and get delivered from temptation, the bible says we will receive a reward in heaven called the crown of life .

James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

II Peter 2:0: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.....

So, remember, whenever you are tempted, just call upon the name of the Lord to deliver you.

Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Forgiveness

The cross is all about forgiveness.  When Jesus was dying on the cross he looked at the people who nailed him there and said "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do."
Luke 23:34: Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  
Jesus is the greatest forgiver there ever was.  If it wasn't for his forgiveness of our sins, we would never be able to go to heaven because God cannot let sin into heaven.  Since Jesus has forgiven us, we should forgive one another.
Ephesians 4:32: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

Some might say, but you don't know what they did to me.  I was mistreated and I don't deserve that. Was there ever anyone who was as mistreated as Jesus was, and yet he forgave.  He didn't deserve to be beaten and have his beard pulled out and have a crown of thorns placed on his head, and he didn't deserve to be nailed to the cross.  Being unforgiving is not being like Jesus.

The bible also teaches that if we do not forgive one another, then God will not forgive us.  In Matthew chapter 6 is the Lord's prayer, and it talks about forgiving.
Matthew 6:12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 
Matthew 6:14: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
So these verses make it very clear that if we do not forgive others God will not forgive us.  I certainly want God to forgive my sins, so I must forgive others, and if you want to be forgiven of your sins, you must forgive others too.  The bible is crystal clear on this: you don't forgive others, God will not forgive you.  There is plenty of sin in all of us to need God's forgiveness.

Another reason to forgive others is so God will hear our prayers.
Mark 11:24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26: But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
So if we go to pray and have unforgiveness in our heart towards anyone, God will not hear our prayer.  He will only listen to the prayers of someone who totally forgives other people.  I don't know about you, but I want God to hear my prayers and answer them. Unforgiveness is like a road block that blocks our prayers from God.

Someone may say, but I've already forgiven him hundreds of time and he keeps doing the same thing, I cannot forgive anymore.  But the bible says we should always forgive, no matter how many times it is.
Matthew 18:21: Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22: Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

The following parable in the book of Matthew tells the story of a man who had been forgiven a great debt, but when a fellow servant owed a small debt to him (a small offence), he would not forgive him and God said that he was a wicked servant for not forgiving him and so he would not bless him because of it.

Matthew 18:23: Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24: And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25: But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26: The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27: Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28: But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29: And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30: And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31: So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32: Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee:
34: And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35: So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

What the bible is teaching us in this passage is that since God has forgiven us so much and has forgiven us such a huge debt, it would be wrong and very wicked not to forgive our brother or sister for any kind of wrong they may have done us, which is very very small in comparison to what God has forgiven us of.

So in conclusion, it is very important that we forgive others so God will forgive us and also so he will hear our prayers.  It is also very wicked to not forgive others since God has forgiven us so much. Most importantly, is that we forgive people because forgiving is to be like Jesus and Christians should always strive to be like Jesus, our saviour and our great example.

Putting God Before Family

A lot of people think to be a good Christian means to put your family first, but is that really what the bible teaches.  The bible actually says that if you put mother or father before Jesus or if you put son or daughter before Jesus, then you are not really following Jesus or living for him.  Matthew 10:37: He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Luke 14:26: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Of course, God does not want us to hate our mother and father and sisters to wish evil upon them or to want to do harm to them.  Of course we should love our parents and obey them and respect them, but this verse means that our love for Jesus above all else will be so great that our love for them will seem like hate compared to the love we have for Jesus.

It also means to love him more than your own life (denying your own wants and wishes and surrendering your whole being to Jesus and what he wants to do with your life for his glory).

James and John are examples of people who left their father and their fishing business to follow Jesus.
Matthew 4:21: And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22: And they immediately left the ship and their father,and followed him.

A great example in the old testament of someone who put God first over his family is that of Abraham offering his only son Isaac, and laying him on the altar of sacrifice to obey God.
Genesis 22:12: And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me
Genesis 22:15: And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time.
16: And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiple thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.

Furthermore, the bible teaches us that our true mother, sisters, and brothers are people who are doing the will of our Heavenly Father, and true born again believers in Christ who are being his disciples. We can be so close to other Christians that are living by the bible and love the Lord Jesus like we do and are serving him like we are, that we have a very close kinship with them.
Matthew 12:46: While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47: Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 
48: But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49: And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50: For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

And remember not everyone that goes to church is Jesus' disciple.  Many people who go to church are living very worldly lives and not living for the Lord, and the bible says that people who love the world do not love the Lord.  I John 2:15: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  To be a disciple you must put Jesus first, above everything, even members of your own family.  And we are also to be separate from this world and live a holy and godly life.
Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Not being conformed to this world means you don't do what all the unsaved people of the world are doing, not dressing like them, not acting like them, not watching TV shows or movies that they are watching, not being wrapped up in money and material wealth and possessions and things that won't last very long.  For the bible says to lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth. Matthew 6:19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The whole point of living the Christian life is to live for things that are eternal, not things on earth. It is to try to be like Jesus, and we know that Jesus' whole mission was to save sinners. The unsaved people in the world have no concept of eternity, they think that this life here on earth is all there is, so they live for pleasures and fun, but Christians know that after this life on earth we will be living eternally somewhere.  For us it is in heaven, but for unsaved people it is in hell to be eternally tormented, and that is why we try to get people saved.

So, in conclusion, if you live out and out for Jesus and put him first in your life, even your own family may ridicule you and think you are weird and strange, but you must put Jesus first no matter what, and God will bless you for it and give you great rewards in heaven one day.

One prime example of putting the Lord first above your family is choosing to go to church rather than choosing to go to a family party or gathering.  Church is the place where you can learn the bible, hear a good message from the Lord that will help you grow in your walk with the Lord, but a family party will just be having fun with your relatives. There is a place for family parties, but it shouldn't be placed above church.  You have all the other days of the week to do things with your family.  Also, the best way to have family time is the whole family going to church and sitting in the same pew together and singing the same hymns together and hearing the same sermon together.  It is called having priorities, knowing which one comes first, God or family.  Again, we love our families and they are a gift from God to bless us and make us happy, but when you put it in the wrong place it is  sin because the bible makes it clear that God is supposed to be first. And if we do put God first, he will make us love our loved ones even better.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit makes you love people more.  It is just like having a diamond ring, it looks beautiful on your finger, which is where it is supposed to go, but if you put it in your shoe it is not so good and will make your foot hurt.  God must be first because it is God who gave us our families in the first place.  If it wasn't for him we wouldn't even have our families. Of course when you are a kid you don't get to decide where you go, but you can definitely put God first in your heart, and love him most of all.

In conclusion, what Jesus requires of us to be his disciple is that we forsake all and follow him, just like James and John and Peter and Andrew did when they left their boats and father and followed Jesus. Luke 14:33: So Likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

It sure is worth it to live out and out for Jesus.  You will be so blessed in this life and in the life to come when you go to heaven.

Poetry About Jesus And Salvation

Praying

The word pray actually means to ask.  We can talk to God and thank him for everything he's done for us and praise him for his goodness and greatness, and of course, God wants us to thank him and praise him, but that is not praying; praying is asking for things from God.  The bible has much to say about praying and asking for things we want and need.
Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

So you see then that the way to receive things from God is to ask.  God wants to give good things to his children.  Just as our earthly parents want to give us good things, God, our heavenly, Father, even in a greater way wants to give us good things for he loves us and cares about us.
Matthew 7:11: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
I Peter 5:7: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
God will provide all we need while going through this life on earth; he only wants us to ask so that he knows that we are looking to him to supply all our needs and not depending upon ourselves.
Philippians 4:19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

When we pray, though, we must pray with faith and believing that God can answer our prayer.
Matthew 21:22: And all things, whaosoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
James 1:6: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (meaning doubting), For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Mark 11:23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

I Timothy 2:8: I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Also the bible teaches that we should ask in Jesus' name and stay in His word,  reading His word continually.
John 14:13: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14: If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 15:7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Many times the reason we don't receive things from God is because we don't ask.  That is why in the bible we are encouraged to ask.  Receiving answers to prayer brings great joy to our hearts.
John 16:24: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Though sometimes we pray with other people, the bible teaches us that we should also pray when we are all alone and only God knows about it.  Matthew 6:6: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

So what if you pray for something you want and you believed God would answer your prayer and you had faith, but you didn't receive the thing you asked for exactly, does that mean God didn't answer your prayer - absolutely not.  God said he would answer and he will.  Sometimes he makes us
wait so he can give us something even far better than we could even dream.  God is great and knows how to answer our prayers in the way that he sees fit and for our best interest and also so that his name can be magnified and glorified.
Ephesians 3:20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
God also wants us to learn to be patient and wait for him.
Lamentations 3:25: The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

So the things to remember are to ask the Lord, trust the Lord, and wait for the Lord to answer.
Psalm 37:4: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Finally, if we pray for things that are selfish, sinful, or trying to make ourselves look good and get the glory, God will not answer that kind of prayer.
James 4:3: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
In the old testament, Abraham is an example of someone who had great faith, but the bible says he gave all the glory to God.
Romans 4:20: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21: And being fully persuade that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

What Does It Mean To Walk In The Spirit

God commands us to walk in the spirit, so it is important to know how to walk in the spirit.
Galatians 5:16: This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  
Galatians 5:25: If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  
The bible also calls walking in the Spirit as being filled with the Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the spirit.

So first off we know that to walk in the Spirit must mean that we have the Spirit living inside of us. Unsaved people do not have the Spirit, only saved people have the Spirit.

The bible says that when we trust Jesus in our heart to be our savior that he imparts to us his Holy Spirit.  John 3:8: The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  The bible says we are born of the spirit when we get saved.  The spirit is just like the wind, we can't see it because it is invisible, but we see what it is doing when we see the tree branches blowing around, etc., and we also feel it blowing on us like a cool breeze or also see the force of it such as in a hurricane. The wind is gentle and it is also powerful at times. In the same manner, when we are filled with the Spirit, we see what it is doing by seeing the fruit of the Spirit in our life.  Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23: Meekness, temperance: When we have those things listed above, it is the Holy Spirit working in us.

Furthermore, the Spirit is a person, for the bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as "he," and he teaches us and guides us.  John 16:13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  He, the Spirit, is part of the Godhead, which is God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Also in John 4:24 it says "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. You can only serve God effectively when you are filled with the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit also comforts us and teaches us the bible.  John 14:26: But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

So, all saved people have the Holy Spirit inside of them which they received the moment they got saved, but not all Christians are filled with the Spirit. Not being filled with the Spirit is called walking in the flesh.  We have two parts of ourselves living inside of us, the Spirit and the flesh.  The flesh is the part of us that lives just like any unsaved person lives, but the Spirit is the part that wants to live for God and do everything for his glory.  So to be filled with the Spirit you have to pray and dwell in God's word to know what God wants you to do.  Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Poetry About Jesus And Salvation