Why Baptism is Important and Necessary

 Romans 6

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as 

were BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST 

were baptized into His death?

4 Therefore we are 

BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM into death: 

that like as Christ was raised up from the dead 

by the glory of the Father, 

even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been PLANTED TOGETHER 

in the LIKENESS of His DEATH, 

we shall be also in the likeness of 

His RESURRECTION:

6 Knowing this, that 

OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED with Him, 

that the body of sin might be destroyed, 

that henceforth we should not serve sin.

* This is why baptism is important and necessary.  

It represents being buried with Jesus Christ by baptism.  

1 Peter 3:21

The like figure whereunto even 

BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US

(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, 

but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) 

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Jesus instructed in John 3: 

5 ....Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water 

and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye MUST be BORN AGAIN.

Peter, taught by Jesus and supported by the Apostles, instructed in Acts 2:

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, 

lifted up his voice, and said unto them....

38 Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, 

and BE BAPTIZED every one of you 

IN THE NAME of Jesus Christ 

for the remission of sins, 

and ye shall RECEIVE the gift of the HOLY GHOST. 

39 For the promise is unto you, 

and to your children, 

and to all that are afar off, 

even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify 

and exhort, saying, 

Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that GLADLY RECEIVED THE WORD WERE BAPTIZED: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Have you repented and turned from your sins?

Have you obeyed Christ's and Peter's commands to be Born Again of water (Baptism in Jesus name) and of Spirit (being filled with the Holy Ghost)?

Have you received and obeyed the Scriptures with gladness?

Don't marvel that Jesus said we MUST be Born again.

Whose Child Are You? Love others

 Whose child are you?

1 John 3:10

In this the CHILDREN OF GOD are manifest, 

and the CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: 

* whosoever doeth not righteousness 

is not of God,

* neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 2:9-11

He that saith he is in the light, 

and hateth his brother, 

is in darkness even until now.

He that loveth his brother 

abideth in the light, 

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

But he that hateth his brother 

is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, 

and knoweth not whither he goeth, 

because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:14-15

We know that we have passed from death 

unto life, because we love the brethren. 

He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: 

and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life

abiding in him.

* hate is likened to murder and no murderer hath eternal life. 

1 John 4:20-21

If a man say, I love God, 

and hateth his brother, 

he is a liar....

And this commandment have we from Him, 

That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 3:23 

....LOVE ONE ANOTHER 

AS HE GAVE US COMMANDMENT.

Earnestly Contend for the Faith

 Jude 1:3

....it was needful for me to write unto you, 

and exhort you that ye should 

EARNESTLY CONTEND 

FOR THE FAITH 

which was once delivered unto the saints.

Earnestly  = with sincere and intense conviction

Contend = assert something as a position in an argument

You Shouldn’t Argue About Religion?

Many adhere tightly to the thought you shouldn't argue about religious beliefs. "You believe your way and I'll believe mine" is the motto many hold tightly to saying "I don't want to offend anyone." 

Paul didn't believe that. 

He went into the synagogue (the place of worship)  and spake  BOLDLY for 3 months DISPUTING and PERSUADING the things concerning the Kingdom of God.  (Acts 19:8)

Paul disputed and spoke boldly trying to correct false doctrine. 

Acts 19:9-10 says he DISPUTED DAILY for TWO YEARS. 

Sound Biblical Doctrine is important. 

Paul's actions proved that. 

What a person believes and follows determines where they will spend eternity.  

Jesus said we MUST be Born Again of Water (Baptism in Jesus name) and of Spirit  (receiving the Holy Ghost).

Paul came to understand Jesus' instructions after his Damascus Road experience.  Paul had fought this Way yet now he is found disputing and teaching it daily because he knew each of us MUST be Born Again or we cannot see nor enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  

That's why he asked these Disciples in Acts 19:1-6 if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed. 

That's why he RE-BAPTIZED them when he found out they had not been baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus  (vs 5).

That's why he laid hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost which they did evidenced as they spoke in tongues (vs 6).

Teach the Word.

Teach the Truth.

Teach it boldly.

Speak the Truth in love but speak - the - Truth without fear or favor of man.

Eternity is coming fast.

Souls are depending on you to show them the way.

Jesus instructed us to teach and make Disciples.

Pray for boldness and wisdom then Go make Disciples, teaching them to observe whatsoever things Jesus commanded.

Earnestly Contend for the Faith 

Jude 1:3

....it was needful for me to write unto you, 

and exhort you that ye should 

EARNESTLY CONTEND 

FOR THE FAITH 

which was once delivered unto the saints.

Earnestly  = with sincere and intense conviction

Contend = assert something as a position in an argument

The Longsuffering of God

 ...the longsuffering of God

WAITED in the days of Noe

While the Ark was preparing 

Wherein FEW (only 8 souls) were saved.

1 Peter 3:20

The longsuffering of God is still waiting 

While the warning signs are escalating everywhere 

Waiting for you to heed His Word 

And respond before it's too late. 

There were only 8 saved that day.

No one else believed or sought to respond 

Until it was too late.

Don't wait until it's too late.

God is not willing that any should perish 

But the choice is yours just as it was theirs. 

SEEK THE LORD TODAY 

WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND.

Jesus Taught Baptism

 Did you know? 

Jesus taught Peter and the Disciples how to baptize (John 4:1-2)

Peter remembered what Jesus said later on as recorded in Matthew 28:19 and yet he still commanded them to be baptized in the NAME of JESUS.

And yet....None of the other Apostles argued with Peter that it was not how Jesus said to baptize. 

Why? Because Jesus had already taught them HOW to baptize and WHO He was. 

They understood what Jesus was instructing in Mt 28:19 and knew that Peter instructed correctly. 

We do not find record anywhere that they baptized any other way than in the Name of Jesus.

Have you been baptized in the Name of Jesus?

Act 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the NAME of the Lord.

John 3:16

John 3:16

Everyone knows it. Most can quote it.

They hold tightly to it for it's the Words of Jesus. 

Yet so many overlook the Words that Jesus spoke in the preceeding verses. 

Jesus told Nicodemus and all the Disciples who were with Him that night:

Vs 3 - EXCEPT (unless) a man be BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT SEE the Kingdom of God. 

He went on to explain in verse 5 - EXCEPT (unless) a man be born of water (Baptism) and of the Spirit (infilling of the Holy Ghost), he CANNOT ENTER into the Kingdom of God. 

Vs 7 - Marvel not (don't be in wonder or amazement) that I said unto thee, you MUST BE BORN AGAIN. 

You MUST be BORN AGAIN of water (Baptism) AND of the Spirit (Holy Ghost) or you cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God.

Those words are just as important as John 3:16. 

John 3:16 is a summary of all that Jesus said in the verses prior - not to nullify them or for them to be ignored.

Whosoever believes in Jesus should not perish - because if you believe in Jesus you will read His Words, you will hear His Words, you will obey His Words. 

Jesus also said in John 7:38-39....

He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of Living Water. But this spake He of the spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus taught in Mark 16:16...

He that believeth AND IS BAPTIZED shall be saved; 

He continued in verse 17....

And THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW them that believe.... they SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES;

Have you been baptized since you believed? Have you spoke with new tongues since you believed?

That Promise is for you and your children and as many as the Lord our God shall call.  (Acts 2:38-39)

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? - Luke 6:46 

Are you doing the things which Jesus said?

Marvel not that Jesus said you MUST be BORN AGAIN as He instructed in John 3:1-7.  

Whoso curseth father or mother

Have you cursed your parents without realizing?

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.  Prov 20:20

That word "curseth" means: to despise, bring into contempt (meaning strongly disapprove of them), willfully disobey or disrespect.  (H7043)

Sometimes these feelings develop because the child is strong-willed.

Sometimes these feelings develop because the parent is unloving and abusive.

Yet I've even seen some of the best and loving parents cursed and despised by their child because an unclean spirit has taken hold of them.

Parents: as hurtful as it is, recognize the spirit behind their attacks, continue to love them and pray for them. 

Children (even if now an adult): it's hard to show honor to a parent who is spiteful,  hateful,  abusive, and unloving yet the Bible warns not to despise them. 

Seems a little unfair, right? Especially when you may have been severely traumatized by that parent.  God sees and keeps record.  Seeking to forgive and having a right heart is for your sake, not theirs - it frees you! 

Bitterness, anger, and hate puts YOU in bondage. It eats at you and destroys your joy, your peace, your happiness and can even destroy relationships. 

Seek to forgive. It's hard. The painful memories resurface as you wonder why they treated you like they did? How could they do that? It's not right! You didn't deserve it! Although oft times the victim is told they did. 

Seek to forgive - as hard as it is. Forgiveness does not mean putting yourself back in harm's way. It does not condone or justify wrong actions or words. But it frees you from bitterness destroying your heart and soul. 

Jesus forgave those crucifying Him. Oh, to be like Jesus.  

Don't let your lamp be put out into obscure darkness over your reaction to someone else's actions.  💔

And parent: if you have treated your child spitefully,  hatefully, and been abusive through actions or words, ask God tocreate in you a clean heart, repent, and seek reconciliation with the child you were supposed to protect and nurture. 

Time is winding down fast. 

Faster than many realize.  

NOTHING is worth being lost for eternity over. 

The God of Miracles

Testimony time....

Several years ago around mid November (i think?), my daughter, Tabitha, was having a lot of health issues. We had been to the doctor several times and could not figure out what was going on. Then, the doctor decided to run another test.

My kids left for a youth retreat so I was home alone. I ran to the store to pick up some things when I received the sobering call from the doctor.... "I'm so sorry to have to tell you (pause) your daughter tested positive for Lupus." My heart sunk and I fought hard to hold back the tears until I could leave the store. We had already had one family member die from this dreaded disease. And it hadn't been long before that we had lost the children's Dad.  My heart couldn't handle this news. 

I called several people and several joined me in fasting and praying over the weekend. Those that did = THANK YOU! 

On monday, I called the doctor back because I wanted to discuss the results more fully. She responded, "I'm sorry I had not called you back sooner.  I had them re-run the test and the second came back negative.  Tabitha does NOT have Lupus." 

PRAISE GOD!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!

I've held onto the memory of that miracle for these 10+ years. 

Monday,  as I was getting blood drawn, I asked the young lady for her expertise.  I asked her if when blood is drawn if it can show one result one day then a different result a few days later?  She said yes because the longer the blood sits, the more things can grow and develop in it. 

I asked, "but can it show positive for Lupus one day then a few days later show negative?"

She said "no.  It wasn't the blood."

I asked her what she meant.

She said, "it wasn't the blood.  It was the prayer and fasting that changed it." 

I've known and believed it was these many years, but my heart rejoiced again to hear it medically confirmed.  

Our God is still the Healer and Miracle Worker! ❤️

-------------------------------------------

Another testimony....

Many years ago when Tasha was little and just learning to skate on trainers: we told her to stay on the grass so she decided to cross the sidewalk to get to the grass on the other side.  

As she crossed it, her feet went out from under her and she went down with her arm straight, trying to catch herself.  The impact pushed the upper bone from her arm out of place and was jutting out over the elbow.  It didn't break through the skin but was evidently protruding.  

She immediately screamed out in pain. I ran over to her and immediately put my hand over that bone and hollered the name "Jesus!"  A friend came over and said as she saw it, "oh, Deonna, her arm is broken."

My mom was visiting and helped get the kids in the car and take us to the ER. On the way, God did a miracle.  By the time we arrived, seen the doctor and heard the results of the X-ray,  God had worked a miracle and set that bone back in place!!!  The doctor could not even tell if there was possibly a hairline fracture. 🙌

I know what I saw and felt that day as I laid my hands on that bone calling on the name of Jesus. It was witnessed by a friend. 

Until God stepped in!

The God we serve is a God of miracles!

 It's easy to see someone else in the message...

"I can't believe they did that?"

"Sis or Bro ______ needed to hear THAT!"

"I'm glad I'm not like that!"

And so on as the Pharisee did in Luke 18. 

But oh how much greater and wiser it is to examine our own hearts, asking God to turn the search light on, revealing any sin while humbly and sincerely repenting before God as the Publican did. 

Psalms 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

What are you getting closer to?

The closer a person gets to God

The less of this world they want. 

And sadly I've seen the opposite:

The closer a person gets to the world

The less of God they want.

What are you getting closer to?

Only the Strong Will Survive

"Only the string will survive what is coming on the earth."

These are the words a lady said the Lord spoke to her.  

PRAY more, FAST more, READ your BIBLE more than ever before. And pray that God will help you to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. It will only come by drawing closer and closer to Him. And cleansing hearts and homes of everything that is displeasing to God.

The downward spiral

The downward spiral....

Excusing, condoning, DEFENDing, or congratulating sinfulness.  And it's happening more and more within the Churches. These things ought not to be.

Paul rebuked a Church for condoning, excusing and sounds like they were even congratulating a couple's sinfulness.   The entire chapter of 1 Cor 5 addresses many things that were being allowed or overlooked within the Church. 

He said their glorying (rejoicing) is not good.  Instead of rejoicing,  they should be delivering them over to satan for the destruction of the flesh in hopes that it would bring repentance and their spirits be saved. (Vs 5-6)

A little bit of sin contaminates the whole.

Sin that is condoned, defended, applauded, and excused concerning one or more persons will spread like leaven or a cancer until it infects the whole Church.  Others will begin to think it's ok and follow suite as that ungodly spirit spreads enticing one after another to sin. I've watched it happen until spiritual authority was taken over it, sinfulness was no longer condoned, and those unclean spirits were cast out. 

Paul said PURGE OUT (cleanse thoroughly) that leaven (that sin) so the Whole can be clean. 

We are deceived if we think God will allow those who do unrighteous deeds to enter Heaven.  Be not deceived! (1 Cor 6:9-10)

We are to love them, but if God is not pleased or okay with something, then we are not wise nor helping anyone spiritually when we excuse, condone, defend, or congratulate any sin. 

The most loving thing we can do is warn a person away from sin. 

 Posted to fb 11-25-2020

I was not aware my husband posted this, nor was he aware of what I dreamed until after I began telling him my dream...he stopped me and read to me his post, and it lined up with my dream. 

I dreamed there were many people crowded up in a very large room with camp style bunk beds  all over. 

People were getting v ax ed ...I tried to warn them not to but they had already taken it.  They said they felt they had to because if they became sick they could pass it to someone else who may not survive.  

The room was dim as many who had just received it sat huddled together on the floor. Then a guard came to a door and said to everyone through the closed door for them to hold up the area where they had received the shot.  They did. To the naked eye nothing could be seen. But then he shined a light through the glass and on that area could be seen the words "Property of the government." 

The guard moved on and I sat in shock and sorrow that people would not listen.  There was a little more to the dream ( trying to save a family member from taking it) before I woke.

Very odd if this is coincidental. Not saying this upcoming  v ax is for sure the Mark (although it contains m R N A .....research what that is) but I can see how easily people will be deceived and convinced into taking the Mark. 

Jesus, help us. 🙏💔

Happy THANKSgiving

The world tries its hardest to remove Jesus from every holiday.  They haven't been able to commercialize this particular holiday other than the sale of an abundance of food. So, they try to remove the one word that directs our attention to God.... the word "Thanks".... and replace it with other words.  

This is not "Turkey" day (although many will be eating plenty of it.  It is not "Friends"giving. Or whatever other word they try to replace it with. It is THANKSgiving.

While we are thankful for our friends, family, and so much more, remember to direct that thankfulness upward and take time to say, "Thank You Jesus for your many blessings on me." It is because of Him that we live, and move, and have our being.  We are abundantly blessed because of our loving Savior.

We're unworthy Lord but you have blessed us anyway. Thank You Jesus! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!