Word of Mouth

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!

  How are you at sales?  Do you do a good job?  Many major companies began with a few simple sales people going door to door, selling, and the product would tend to explode.  Not by the sales people, but by word of mouth about something that is good.

   You and I will talk about football, children, spouses, work, movies, and who knows what all.  BUT, when it comes to speaking and telling other about JESUS we slink back into a shell.  WHY?  

   Because we may offend?  Hmmm!  Because we are afraid of the rebuff?  Hmmm!  Because we don't know enough of the Bible? Hmmm!  And what other excuses can we dream up?  They are all BOGUS!!!!

   1. Give your heart to God by accepting the salvation Jesus offers.

  2. Read your Bible to help YOU understand more of what God is calling you to do.

  3. God calls, you accept, the Holy Spirit will lead the conversation.

  4. If a person needs prayer, PRAY RIGHT THEN!!! (don't slough it off by saying I will pray for you and leave)

  5.  Jesus only had disciples and word of mouth and has created the greatest dynasty of all mankind.

Do know that satan is alive and well and is constantly throwing doubt darts and obstacles out there to make you stumble.  It is okay to stumble because Jesus is right there grabbing you and not letting you fall.

  We live in a fallen world and many temptations will arise and try to take us to the secular world.  Trickery is a great tool of satans and we must be aware and guard against it.

  Share the knowledge of Jesus you have; carry the aroma of Jesus; be alert and spread (word of mouth) what Jesus has done for you in your life.  We all have a testimony. 

  Every word out of your mouth and every action you take presents a picture of Jesus Christ to others.  Your tongue is like a paint brush and each stroke means something; your actions are as in a movie and have an affect.

  You are ambassadors of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:20, and being reconciled to God we must spread the news; WORD OF MOUTH!  Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Matthew 22:14 Many are called, Few are chosen

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  For some unknown reason my daily are coming back with your email saying they are undeliverable.  If you do receive this please let me know. Also, you can go to mynewjesusblog.blogspot.com - which has all my posts. Thank you.

   There is one gate to heaven and that is through the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Some will be like the men going into a town which has a gate entrance.  They will say there is more than one way to get into the town.  Rather than traveling to the gate and receiving the pass to enter the city they choose to just jump over the wall and enter that way.  Why?

   Well, for one it is shorter, and 2, many do it.  So, we wish to take a short cut just because lots of other people do.  Does this make sense?  One day while traveling to Houston the travel became jammed and was barely moving.  I saw a couple of cars dart off the highway to the right, through the median area to the service road.  Well, I thought "hey, great idea to beat the traffic and go around."  Yes, just as I come onto the service road there was a sheriff's deputy.  He pulled me over and said I had exited illegally. My response, well I saw others do it.  No excuse---ticket time.

   This is how we so often do with God.  We want to take a short cut to get there.  I don't have to accept Jesus--there are other ways to get to heaven.  I do lots of church work (so did the Pharisees); I am a good person; I treat people fairly; there are more ways to get to heaven.  OOPS!!

   The Bible is very clean about the new covenant with Jesus being the truth, the way for salvation.  In Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

   Where are you today?  Trying to take the short cut because others say it is okay, OR, going through the gate which is Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour?

  To better understand read Matthew 22:1-14 - The parable of the wedding feast.

Where are you today friend?  Look in a mirror, reflect, do you see sin or Jesus? Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Our ancestry, the women involved, does it determine who we are or will be? Matthew 1

  Good morning to you all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. BLESSED!!!

   Where do we come from?  What is our ancestral history.  Do you come from drunks, drugs, prostitutes, thieves, bullies, murderers, petty criminals, or from high social standings?   But, let me ask----does it really matter?  Does our environment really dictate who we will be? How big an influence does our background have on us?  What about you?  From whence and whom did you come?

  In Matthew 1 the genealogy of Jesus begins with Abraham, the father of Isaac. From there is progresses, here is the genealogy Matthew 1.  Matthew tells us there were 14 generations from Abraham to David;  from David to exile to Babylon; and from exile to Babylon to the Messiah.  Some experts enjoy discussing this, but they were not there, just as Matthew was not. However, Matthew was closer to the times than current theologians are today.

  Seldom were women mentioned in the genealogy of ancient days, however, 4 women were mentioned in Jesus' lineage - Tamar, Ruth, Rahab, and her who had been the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba).  The mention of these women is significant, showing how God uses anyone.  Call does not call the self-righteous- but through HIS grace justifies us and makes us righteous. 

   Look at these women- Tamar - sold herself as a prostitute to her father-in-law Judah to bring forth Perez and Zerah (Gen. 38)

  Then Rehab, a Gentile prostitute whom God saved from judgment and a lifestyle of prostitution. (Joshua 2: 6:22-23)

  Next Ruth, a Moab gentile, until her conversion. (Ruth 1)

AND-----her who was the wife of Uriah--which we all know was Bathsheba.  However you choose to look at it she was an adulteress.  Out of her union with David came Solomon. (2 Samuel 11)

  Why are these women important in the lineage of Jesus Christ, our Messiah?  The purpose, in my opinion, was to show Jesus the Christ did not come from an aristocratic background, one with pomp and circumstance.  This shows us that through HIS genealogy Jesus can identify with sinners. 

     To quote Spurgeon: "Jesus is heir in a line which flows the blood of the harlot Rehab, and the rustic Ruth, he is akin to the fallen and lowly, and he will show his love to even the poorest and most obscure."

  These four women show there is a place for women in the New Covenant.  In the old covenant men had little regard for women.  Some theologians say that  often men would pray thanking God they were not slaves, gentiles, or women.

   The New Covenant is open to all mankind.  Then comes the fifth most important woman, Mary the mother of Yahweh, Jesus, the Messiah, our Lord and Savior.  And with Mary we begin another story. Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

"RE" your Bible Study by Erin Gerometta

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED!!

  My daughter shared the Bible study she is presenting and it so touched me that I thought I would share it with you.  She coined the phrase "JOY" with Jesus Over Yourself

REset

Proverbs 23:19 Listen and be wise and set your heart on the right path

REstart

Proverbs 24:16 for though the righteous fall seven times they rise again

REfill

Job 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy

Psalm 107:9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things

REfresh

Jeremiah 21:25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint

REfocus

Colassians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

REpurpose

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according  to his purpose.

Psalms 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

REnew 

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day

Ephesians 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds.

Matthew 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength.

JOY

Jesus over Yourself

Colassians 3:24 you know that you will recieve an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

BUT GOD.......

Psalm 66:19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; while we were sinners, Christ died for us.

Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead.

Proverbs 31 Woman

1) Trustworthy

2) Diligent

3) Shrewd

4) Generous

5) Guarding the Tongue

Colassians 3:23-24

Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not man. 

Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you "prostituting" your Christian walk?

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!

   What do we do in our Christian life to honor God?  Anything that takes the place of or interferes with our relationship with God is prostituting our relationship.  Let me explain.

  In a marriage we are expected to be loyal and dedicated to the one to whom we have said we will take him/her for better or worse till death do us part.  No where does it say we can venture outside the relationship for, if you will, sex.

   Now with God we have committed  and professed our life HIM and HIS service.  Yet when it comes time to pray - we have other things to do and "don't have time"; or to do Bible study - again, we have other things we "have" to do.  Yet, we will have time to read, to go to a movie, to meet friends for food and drinks, to take a drive, take a nap, do your hobby, and on and on.

   When we do this, we are, in my opinion, prostituting our relationship with God.  Jesus shed HIS blood and gave HIS life for you and for me.  If your spouse went out, had an affair, you would be hurt and possibly terminate the relationship.  Whereas God does not terminate the relationship, however, HE is sad and disappointed that we chose another god, the Baal, in lieu of HIM.

   He wants us to come to HIM, be faithful, and our ever longing should be to walk in HIS steps.    Micah addresses this in chapter 3, verse 11:

11 Her leaders judge for a bribe,
    her priests teach for a price,
    and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say,
    “Is not the Lord among us?
    No disaster will come upon us.” 

Here is all of Micah 3 and it is eye opening.  Please take a moment to read this scripture and take heed as you absorb the written page.  Thank you for being with me this morning. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

 

Are you paralyzed-----spiritually, emotionally, physically? John 5:1-15

Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!

   So many times we tend to be paralyzed.  Usually when we think of being paralyzed we think of someone in a wheelchair or confined to a bed.  However, often we become paralyzed because of our attitude, our past, our thoughts.

   We paralyze ourselves because we THINK -- yes -- think thus and such.  I would do better if my family.............   I would study the Bible if.............  I would be a better Christian if............  My husband/wife holds me back because..........  My children don't.............   I would attend church if...............

   The man who was paralyzed 38 years was asked a simple question by our LORD Jesus Christ-------"Do you want to be healed" -- The man was paralyzed by his past.  No, not because of his legs, but because of his past.  His response should have been YES or NO, instead he gave the paralyzed excuse- 'I have no one to help me in the pool'.

   We become paralyzed physically, mentally, and emotionally because we do not totally turn it over to God.  When God tells us "I GOT THIS" we will believe it is our own thoughts OR we will totally ignore what God is telling us.

   It is important to take time to commune with God, be on the same page and listen to God.  Look at why you are paralyzed; here are a few questions:

   Why don't you pray daily to start your day?

   Why don't you study your Bible or go to a Bible study?

  Why do you deal at an emotional level and not a spiritual level?

  Why do you have excuses about not going to church, Bible study, fellowship?

  Why do you think you are spiritually paralyzed?

Jesus told the man he was healed, to get up and TAKE HIS MAT with him.  Why take his mat?  Because if he left the mat there, then there would be the idea he may not be completely healed and would have to come back to it.  NO, we have to eliminate the psychological mindset, physical mindset, and spiritual mindset that all these problems may come back.

   By leaving the mat, this would have been a stumbling block, just as we let our past, our current situation be stumbling blocks for us.  I would do ........if only this would happen.  QUIT IT!

  Stand up on the promises of God and stop being paralyzed spiritually and mentally and step out in faith with God.  LISTEN!  You will hear the voice of God speaking to you.  Here is John 5 about the paralyzed man for your reading.

  Thank you for reading.  Be not paralyzed but go forth with boldness and humility in Christ.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Are you ready? Matthew 25:1-13

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!

   Yes, and we have visited about this before.  The question is ARE YOU READY?  Ready for what?  For the return of Christ!!   We tend to be absorbed in ME and what ME and family/friends will do.  Plans for the future.  The plans for the future should be focused upward.

  In the scripture, Matthew 25:1-13 you will find the ten virgins.  They all came with lamps expecting the bridegroom.  The scripture speaks to the foolish and the wise.  How often have you gone off expecting an event to happen just after you arrived, then, there was a delay?

   It happens to us all, but were you prepared for the delay?  The foolish virgins expected him, the bridegroom to arrive very soon; the wise took steps to be prepared if there were a delay.

   Where are you today my friend?  Are you ready today to see JESUS return triumphantly, OR, are you planning but not ready?  The time has drawn nigh; tis time to be prepared.  We are not promised another second, minute, hour, day, week, month or year.  Our only promised is life everlasting through the salvation of Jesus Christ.

   Again, friend----ARE YOU READY FOR JESUS' RETURN?  Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

In HIS Steps Mark 16:15-16

Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED!

   Prior to the WWJD movement there was In His Steps, a book written in the late 1800's.  Many reviews of the books, some positive, some negative; however, the point is whose steps are you following?

   The world, the secular, the evil steps, OR, the steps of Christ?  Only 1 in 49 "Christians" lead people to know Jesus Christ.

   What are you doing with Jesus' command, after he was dead and buried, then resurrected as HE appeared to the eleven disciples and said to them:

 Mark 16: 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

  Are you walking in HIS steps and following HIS command?  Thank you for reading.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

What percentage of your life have you sold to satan? Daniel 3 the example to be strong in God!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

  Today, something that struck me while listening to Hillsong is this, as I paraphrase some things Robert Jeffress preached on.

   If you opened your own business, all with your own money then you have complete control.  When to open, what to sell, who to hire, what benefits to offer, yes, it is all in your hands.

   Then, later on you fall on tough economic times and decide to offer parts of the business for sale.  Well, you maintain 51% of the business so you still have control on decisions.  However, really tough times caused you to retain 34% of the business, selling off another 17%.  Now out of a hundred votes in a board meeting you have 34 votes, and there are 66 votes you have no control over.

  Do you have control?  NO!  You have a voice, you may speak your opinion, but you have only the power of persuasion, but NO CONTROL!

  Now think of this in your spiritual life. How much of your one hundred shares have you sold to God and how much does the devil own?  When in this perspective it casts a different light.

  In Daniel 3, three Jews refused to "sell out" to the devil, in this case, Nebuchadnezzar, who built a 90 statue and all the people were told to bow down to it.  The 3 Jews were sold out to God, 100%, and refused.  They could have given up 10 or 20 percent and "pretended" to follow Nebuchadnezzar's command and no one would know.  Oops, yes, God would know, and by giving up just small percentages we become tempted to sell off just a little more.

  So, I am asking you today to take inventory of your spiritual life, your spiritual appetite, and see how much you have sold out to Jesus and what percentage you have sold out to satan.

   We need to do as the three did when they told ole Neb: “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

   Your sell out could be through various "pagan" ventures.  Jesus wants us all, 100%, not 34%, 50%, 75%, but 100%.  Where are you?  How much have you sold?  Food for thought. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Where does your appetite lead you? To GOD or the secular world?

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED!!! 

  How oft doth we take things for granted?  Yes, quite often.  God is there with us all the time.  When we have troubles we blame God.  Why?  Do we ever hear that satan is on the move?  You don't get what you think should happen and you get mad at God.  Well, I prayed and prayed and God didn't answer.  OH YES HE DID!  But, just not the way you wanted.

  The children of Israel complained about manna.  They were not starving, but their appetite was not satisfied.  Then they received quail.  Were they satisfied?  They constantly complained and said they were better off slaving in Egypt, at least they had "good food" to eat.

  Where I am going here is about our appetite.  Our appetite tends to guide us.  If my appetite desire alcohol, I assume that will make me content.  If my appetite desires food, I assume that will make me content.  And we could go on and on about what our appetites are.  Money, power, social standing, being recognized for..........; yes, what is your appetite?

  1 Peter 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

  We need to humble ourselves, long for the spiritual milk which is the word of God.

   Our appetite does lead us.  Do you have an appetite for the Word of God?  If not, what is the problem?  If so, how strong is your appetite?  Do you just want a snack, a tiny morsel, or do you want the "full meal deal" of the Word?

  Psalm 63: 1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

   Are you able to honestly say this scripture and believe it--your soul thirst for God?

  John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

  Psalm 143:6 I stretch out my hands to You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land. Selah.

   What are you hungry for?  Where does your appetite lead you?  Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Could this be speaking to us, in America? Hosea 4

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

  I, Johnny Holcomb, as a parent, grandparent, and as a citizen of the United States of America am very concerned about the future of our great nation.

  I am not condemning democrats, republicans, liberals, conservatives, LBGT, or any other radical or non-radical group.  My concern lies with how our nation was founded, the principles laid before us, which were Christian principles.  I am condemning us all for not staying in the word of God, the best selling book of ages called the B I B L E !!!

   Look at Hosea 4 and I will substitute some words so it relates to us in America.

Hosea 4:

Hear the word of the Lord, you (Americans) Israelites,
    because the Lord has a charge to bring
    against you who live in the land:
“There is no faithfulness, no love,    no acknowledgment of God in (America) the land.
² There is only cursing, lying and murder,
    stealing and adultery;
they (Americans) break all bounds,
    and bloodshed follows bloodshed.³ Because of this the land (Gods mercy is pulled back) dries up,
    and all who live in it (suffer) waste away;
the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
    and the fish in the sea are swept away.

⁴ “But let no one bring a charge,
    let no one accuse another,
for your people (Americans) are like those
    who bring charges against a priest.
⁵ You stumble day and night,
    and the prophets stumble with you.
So I will destroy your mother—
⁶     my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

“Because you (Americans) have rejected knowledge (the Bible, Gods word),
    I also reject you as my priests (children);
because you have ignored the law of your God,
    I also will ignore your children.
   9b I will punish (Americans) them for their ways
    and repay them (Americans) for their deeds.

If you will take time to dig into Hosea 4 and follow the references in your Bible you can see how this so relates to us, here, in the USA.  We MUST STAND TOGETHER, not divided into our own little agenda driven groups.  God wants us all to be family, work together for HIS GOOD, not for our own personal vendettas or agendas.

We must not forget who lifts us up; who cares for us; who is our heavenly father. Deuteronomy 8: 14 "When your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage"

  This goes on speaking to how the people were fed and how often we feel it is our power and strength that we gain the position we are in. We must remember Deut 8:18 "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is HE who give you power to get wealth, that HE may establish HIS covenant which HE swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

  Today is the day the LORD hath made, let us walk in HIS path and make HIM proud to call you son or daughter.  Thanks for roaming with me this morning. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny