1. We have a GUARANTEED RELATIONSHIP with our HEAVENLY FATHER! (Rom 8:15)

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

We have a NEW FREEDOM!

We have a NEW FAMILY!

We have a NEW FAITH!

2. We have a SWEET FELLOWSHIP with the HOLY GHOST Of GOD! (Rom 8:16)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

The Holy Ghost comes IN and the devil goes OUT!

3. We have a GLORIOUS CITIZENSHIP with JESUS CHRIST our Savior and Lord! (Rom 8:17-25)

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

We have a BRAND NEW outside!

1. Because of the “TEMPTATION of PROCRASTINATION”! (Luke 9:59-61)

“9And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.”

2. Because of the Unbeliever’s “FINAL DESTINATION”! (Luke 9:60)

“Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

After hearing about the spiritual needs of India, the secretary of the meeting remarked: “There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the center of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?” “I will go down,” said William Carey, “but remember that you must hold the ropes.”

3. Because of Jesus’ “INVITATION”! (Luke 9:57, 58)

“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

• Hurting
• Lonely
• Grieving
• Discouraged
• Lost
• Tired
• Sick
• Hungry
• Helpless
• Thirsty
• Unfulfilled
• Hopeless
• Vision less
• Apathetic
• Backslidden
• Empty
• Directionless
• Powerless

4. Because of the “Great TRANSFORMATION”! (Luke 9:62)

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

From the INSIDE to the OUTSIDE, Jesus changes us.

5. Because of the Earth’s “EVACUATION”! (Luke 9:62)

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Conclusion: We have only one shot at this thing called “life”!

Introduction: Do you make it a practice to “PRAISE the Lord” daily? We could all probably use a little improvement in that area. This devotion is intended to encourage and challenge you to work harder at “Praising our Lord.” He certainly is worthy!

Why not take a “PRAISE BREAK” right now?

1. How can we PRACTICE to let the PRAISES Go Up so that the Glory Comes Down? (Psalm 135:1, 3)

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD…. 3Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.”

How can we PRACTICE Praising the Lord?

• By clapping your hands! (Psa 147:1)

“O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

• By singing and shouting! (Psa 147:1)

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”

• By lifting up hands! (Psa 134:1, 2)

“Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”

2. Where can we PRACTICE to let the PRAISES Go Up so that the Glory Comes Down? (Psalm 135:2)

“2Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.”

Where can we Praise the Lord?

• At Church! (Psa 100)

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

• At sunrise and sunset! (Psa 113:3)

“3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.”

• In Good times and bad times! (Psa 34:1; 149:5, 6)

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

“5Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;”

3. Who can PRACTICE to let the PRAISES Go Up so that the Glory Comes Down? (Psalm 135:1)

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.”

Who can Praise the Lord?

• Hannah Praised the Lord! (1Sam 2:1)

“1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.”

• Jehoshaphat Praised the Lord! (2Chron 20)

“7Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. 29And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.”

• Paul & Silas Praised the Lord! (Acts 16:25)

“25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

Conclusion: When the Praises Go Up….the Glory Comes Down! C.H. Spurgeon used to say “Prayer and Praise were cousins.”

In GOOD TIMES and BAD TIMES, the name of Jesus is to be PRAISED!

1. A CHILD of GOD will not Wallow in Sin! (1John 5:18)

“18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

• The word “know” is οἶδα, which means I know, remember, appreciate.
• The words “born of God” is γεννάω, which means I beget (of the male), (of the female) I bring forth, give birth to.
• The word “sinneth” is ἁμαρτάνω

Why does a CHRISTian not “live” habitually in sin? Because he or she has been made a new creation. (2Cor 5:17)

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2. A CHILD of GOD will be Protected by God! (1John 5:18)

“18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

• A CHILD of God will have OVERCOMING Power over the WORLD! (1John 5:4,5)

“5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Power over the WORLD! 4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

• A CHILD of God will have OVERCOMING Power through prayer because of Jesus Christ! (1John 5:14,15)

“4And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

3. A CHILD of GOD will not be possessed by the devil! (1John 5:18)

“18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

• A CHILD of God will have OVERCOMING Power over the devil because of Jesus Christ! (1John 3:8)

“8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

The devil’s grip has been broken by Jesus! (Col 2:13-15)

Introduction: Can you picture an army of locusts? History records devastation and destruction when locusts attack. Yet, as Joel visualizes as well as articulates, there is HOPE in the Lord!

The book of Joel was written from both a historical and prophetical perspective. From the historical, Joel’s vision reveals the Assyrians would invade Israel from the north. This was fulfilled in 722 B.C. Not only did they invade but they led captives away from their homeland.

From the prophetical point of view, Joel’s prophetic (futuristic) events will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ comes in His second coming. According to Zechariah’s prophecy at Christ’s second coming, His feet shall stand upon the Mt. of Olives, which will split in half. Consequently, a battle in the Kidron Valley will take place, which will be the geographical location of Joel’s prophecy. This will lead up to the battle of all battles in the Jezreel Valley….called Armageddon.

1. The INVASION of the enemy! (Joel 1:1-6, 2:1-11)

“1The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 2Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 4That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. 5Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. 6For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.”

“1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it.”

2. The PERSUASION of the prophet Joel! (Joel 1:13-20, 2:12)

“13Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. 14Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, 15Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. 16Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. 18How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. 19O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. 20The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.”

“12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

God’s remedy for both Israel back then and the Church right now is to REPENT and RETURN to the Lord.

3. The INTERVENTION by the Lord! (Joel 2:18-28, 30-32)

“Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. 28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

Most conservative Bible scholars acknowledge that this prophecy of Joel has not been fulfilled in the day of Pentecost. Rather, it will be completely fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus Christ (see Matt 24:29-31). This is a time of judgment.

4. The CONSUMMATION of the Lord! (Joel 2:18-28; 3:1-21)

“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. 4Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; 5Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 6The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. 7Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: 8And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it. 9Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.”

Conclusion:

Introduction: Are you carrying a burden right now? Is it heavy? Wearing you down? Too much to handle? Can’t fix it? What can you do? In Psalm 55, we can find sweet “RELIEF” from overwhelming burdens.

1. What do you do when problems happen you can’t control? (Psa 55:4-8)

“4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.”

Let’s face it. Some things are out of our control!

2. What do you do with  people you can’t control? (Psa 55:9-15)

“9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.”

People – we can’t control, but God can.

3. What we can’t control, our Lord can control! (Psa 55:1, 2, 22)

“22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

Either the Lord will take the burden away, or give grace to endure.

Conclusion: Since God is in control, then why not let Him take control? Will you take your burden to the Lord & leave it there?

1. By “GRACE”! (Eph 2:8)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Definition of GRACE:
God doing for us what we do not deserve.

G- God’s
R- Righteousness
A- At
C- Christ’s
E- Expense

God’s GRACE is….
Amazing (Eph 2:8)
Available (Tit 2:11)
Abounding (Rom 5:20)

2. Through “FAITH”! (Eph 2:8)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith;”

Definition of FAITH:
Faith is taking the Lord at His Word.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
(Rom 10:17)

“1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
(Heb 11:1)

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
(Heb 11:6)

3. Unto “GOOD WORKS”! (Eph 2:10)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

James clears up any confusion concerning being saved but not having any WORKS.

“14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26)

Conclusion: Praise the Lord for His perfect will in forgiving our sins because of His “GRACE” and our exercising “FAITH” in His Word! This results in “GOOD WORKS”!

Will our Lord one day INSPECT our, “GOOD WORKS”?

Text: Proverbs 3:33

“The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”

Introduction: Do you have a BLESSED home or CURSED home? How can you tell?

1. C-U-R-S-E 

C – Controlling

Manipulating, deceiving, conniving

2. C-U-R-S-E

U – Unforgiving

Bitter, resentful, critical 

3. C-U-R-S-E

R – Retaliating 

Angry, mad, get even

4. C-U-R-S-E

S – Shaming

Cut down, judgmental, flesh filled 

5. C-U-R-S-E

E – Ego centered

I’m right, what’s in it for me, my way

1. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

B – Baptized into the body of Christ 

(Gal 3:27)

“27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

2. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

L – Love with God’s “agape” unconditional love

(Rom 5:5)

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

3. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

E – Encourage each other 

(Heb 3:13)

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

4. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

S – Spirit-filled 

(Gal 5:16)

“16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

5. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

S – Self worth in Christ

(Eph 1:6)

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

6. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

E – Expectations realistic 

(Eph 4:32)

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

7. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

D – Dedicated to fulfilling your God-given role

(Rom 12:1,2)

Conclusion: Is your Home CURSED or BLESSED?

(Prov 3:33)

“The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”

Why not make your acrostic for the words? 

C                                                 

U                                                  

R

S

E

D

B

L

E

S

S

E

D

If we want our homes “BLESSED” by the Lord Jesus, then we must INVITE Him as our Honored Guest…..really Host!

“UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT”

Introduction: Do you want to hear some “GOOD NEWS”? First, the BAD NEWS. Speaking of Good & Bad News, I heard about two CHRISTian brothers who loved playing baseball. They agreed if one died before the other, the other would somehow let him know if there was baseball in heaven. One passed away. He sent word through an angel that he had both GOOD NEWS & BAD NEWS about baseball in heaven. The angel explained to the brother on earth. He said…”First, the GOOD NEWS….there is BASEBALL in heaven! The BAD NEWS is… said the angel, to the brother…..”YOU are scheduled to PITCH tomorrow night!!”

1. First, the BAD NEWS of Gods “CREATION” as a witness of man’s sinfulness! (Rom 1:18-21)

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.”

2. Second, the BAD NEWS of Man’s “CONSCIENCE” as a witness of man’s sinfulness! (Rom 2:12-16)

“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

3. Third, the BAD NEWS of Man’s “CHOICE,” a witness of man’s sinfulness! (Eph 2:1-3)

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

From the beginning of time, man has been determined to do “his own thing”…. called disobedience… sin.

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (Gen 3:1-7)

4. Fourth, the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ “sacrifice on the cross”! (Isaiah 53:4,5)

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

5.Fifth, the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ “resurrection from the dead”! (Rom 4:25)

“25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1Cor 15:3, 4)

6. Sixth, the GOOD NEWS of “repenting and receiving” Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior! (John 1:12)

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” 

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30)

7. Seventh, the GOOD NEWS of being “forgiven, and assured” a home in heaven by Jesus Christ! (Rom 10:9-13)

Conclusion: There is the BAD NEWS and GOOD NEWS!

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

We’ve got GOOD NEWS!
Let’s GO & TELL!!

The last words of our Lord on earth to His disciples…
(Matt 28:18-20)

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

1. UNCONDITIONAL Love & Acceptance! (1Cor 14:4-7, 13)

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

“13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

This LOVE is possible because of the LOVE (agape) of God!

“7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

We can express UNCONDITIONAL LOVE to others as a result of God’s LOVE thru CHRIST JESUS in our hearts – flowing out by the Holy Spirit of God.

2. CONFLICT RESOLUTION! (Eph 4:26-32)

“6Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil. 28Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Since we have been released or forgiven, then we have the capacity and power to “LET GO” the wrongs that have been done to us by the power of the Holy Spirit!

(Philemon 1:18,19)

“If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.”

“25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

3. COMMUNICATION! (Prov 18:21)

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

In communicating, several factors must be considered.

First, learn not to INTERRUPT!

Second, get to the POINT!

Third, choose your WORDS wisely!
(you may have to EAT them!!)

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
(Col 4:6)

Fourth, learn to LISTEN!

Fifth, do not be QUICK to JUDGE!

Sixth, try NEGOTIATION!

Seventh, being RIGHT isn’t always RIGHT!

4. CORRECTION! (Rev 2, 3)

Jesus loved the Church. But please do not misunderstand. That kind of LOVE means sometimes there needs to be some CORRECTION.

(Rev 3:4,5)
“4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

(Rev 3:19)
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

(Prov 13:1)
“1A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.”

(Prov 16:24)
“24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

5. COMMENDATION! (Prov 12:25)

“5Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”

Words of AFFIRMATION are extremely important. We really have to work at this…..without crossing the line into flattery!

Conclusion: Since strong RELATIONSHIPS do not just happen, that means these “biblical” principles can be practiced!

Review all 5. Take time to reflect and pray over each one. Then trust the Lord to make the changes that are necessary.

When all is said and done, we will see our Lord BUILD RELATIONSHIPS that LAST!