Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).
In the Christian life, endurance is essential for moving forward into the promises of God. Yet have you noticed how various obstacles can try to hinder your movement forward?
Shame, the past, current struggles, all of these things can be hurdles on the path before us. But no matter what you may face in the future, or are up against today, I want to encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus. He has overcome the world, and in Him, so can you!
Pentru a fi un adevarat credincios, pentru a fi un copil al lui Dumnezeu Fiul Sfant al lui Dumnezeu a fost parasit de Tatal Sau iar apoi zdrobit de mania pedepsei Tatalui Sau Tu zici: “O, frate Paul, acum prea ai exagerat.” Nu ati citit Isaia 53:10? “Domnul a gasit cu cale sa-L zdrobeasca.” Luati o piatra de 4-5 tone si puneti alta deasupra ei. Puneti un graunte de grau intre ele si vedeti ce iese la capatul celalalt. Ia un baraj inalt de peste 160.000 km si lat de mai bine de 160.000 km si lasa-l sa se despice in fata ta, iar in timp ce torentul de apa navaleste spre tine, spre a te-nvalui si a te distruge, deodata pamantul din fata ta se despica si inghite toata apa si nici macar o picatura nu-ti stropeste talpile. Tot asa Hristos Si-a ridicat mana spre cer si a luat El mania lui Dumnezeu, paharul acela mare, si l-a baut tot. Cand a strigat: “S-a sfarsit!” El l-a intors cu susu-n jos si n-a mai cazut nicio picatura. El a baut mania lui Dumnezeu si a implinit dreptatea si a potolit mania si astfel Dumnezeu poate fi acum drept si totodata ierta pacatosul. Aceasta a facut El. Asta a facut El.
Puritanii au vorbit mult despre pocainta nu numai de pacate, ci si pocainta de faptele bune. Imi vei spune: ”Ce vrei sa spui?” Pocainta este, in adevaratul ei sens, pur si simplu aceasta: sa renunti la a mai incerca sa te justifici singur, pur si simplu renunti. Vezi ca absolut fiecare din faptele tale cele mai neprihanite nu sunt decat niste haine manjite si le detesti si le azvarli la podea si stai asa inaintea lui Dumnezeu si zici:”Daca nu faci ceva pentru mine, sunt condamnat.” Si crezi. Crezi. Te increzi.
In biserica mea de acasa e un diacon, – o biserica mica in mijlocul unui lan de porumb – si-l iubesc pe acest om. El umbla cu Dumnezeu de foarte multa vreme. Si el isi aminteste ca mi-a spus… Odata mi-a povestit despre convertirea lui. A zis: “Eram un om de treaba, ca oricare altul. Dar pastorul a spus ceva in dimineata aceea si mi-a rascolit inima. Si m-am gandit: ”Ce inseamna sa crezi? Ce inseamna “a crede”? ” S-a suit in hambarul lui si se plimba de colo-colo pana ce – a zis el – in final s-a trezit ca statea cu talpile atarnand pe marginea hambarului. Statea acolo pur si simplu si mi-a zis: “Deodata, m-am luminat.” A zis asa: Doamne, ma voi increde, imi voi pune increderea exclusiv, numai in ceea ce a facut Fiul Tau pentru mine. Si daca insusi lucrul acela, daca ceea ce a facut El pentru mine nu este in stare sa ma salveze, atunci voi merge in iad, pentru ca eu nu ma voi increde in nimic altceva.
* Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and know that I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Amen.
– His Father had given Jesus total authority over the Church (Phil. 2:9-11)!
– His “teach all nations” means for them to preach the Gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:2-3)!
– Then they were to baptize all who believed the Gospel (Mt. 3:11; Acts 2:38, 41, 47)!
– Finally, believers were to be taught as new babes-in-Christ (1 Pet. 2:2)!
* Acts 2:41-47 – (When) they that gladly received (the Gospel), (they) were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ (teaching) and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.
* 1 Corinthians 1:9-10- God is faithful, by Whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
* Philippians 1:3-6 – I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
* 1 John 1:3-9 – (Him, Whom) we have seen and heard, we declare unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie…but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (But) if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Indeed, our GOD is great and awesome!
Being a good person will not get you into the Kingdom of Heaven! You need Salvation through Jesus Christ! No matter what you do you’re going to sin, you’re human after all. You only need think of something sinful to have committed the sin! Matthew 5:28 (KJV) 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. That is why Jesus died on the cross! So that He could take your sins upon Himself! So that you can enter the Kingdom of God! His death pays for all your past, present and future sins. All you need to is accept the gift He has given you! 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Romans 6:23 (KJV) 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Matthew 1:20-21 (KJV) 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. John 3:16 (KJV) 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. Mark 2:17 (KJV) 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Acts 16:31 (KJV) 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Admit you’re a sinner, repent on your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior!