Expenses

Jeremiah 39:1–41:18; Romans 9:13–29; Proverbs 24:1–22

It’s important to pause occasionally to reflect on the cost of sin. If we don’t, we can find ourselves living in it without thought of the ramifications. Few passages illustrate the cost of sin more vividly than the fall of Jerusalem recorded in Jer 39. The fall of Jerusalem is brutal, depressing, and sadistic, but we can learn from Jeremiah’s account of the event.

We could view Jeremiah’s depictions as merely historical, or we could recognize the theological lessons they offer: Sin is expensive. Sin will destroy you. Sin will bring a nation to its knees. Sin will leave you begging for mercy. Sin is death. That’s what God’s people learned from this event: Disobeying Yahweh is a costly action. It’s not that God wants His people to endure this pain, but pain is a natural consequence of their decisions. He cannot defend people who refuse to live as beacons of light—of goodness, beauty, and blessing—to the world. If they aren’t willing to live in His image, then He is not willing to be their defender. If Yahweh did not allow for Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem, the people would never learn. And the exile that comes in this moment is also a natural result of their sin.

When we’re faced with the horror of the destruction of Jerusalem, we’re given a choice: Will we listen to the Scripture and respond accordingly? Will we hear God when He calls us back to obedience? Or will we continue to live in sin and suffer the consequences?

As a side effect of the grace that God has given us in Jesus, many people assume that sin is somehow okay—that it’s okay to allow it to exist. God’s response is the opposite. The grace is unmerited, and we must respond with the only merited response: complete dedication and obedience to Him. We must see the death of sin and deny it.

What sin is currently present in your life? What do you need to repent from? Have you asked God to direct you in this?

(JOHN D. BARRY

Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012). Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)

SALVATION

SALVATION

WHAT’S LIFE ALL ABOUT?

Life is about God. Everything in our life is intended to point us to the majesty and splendor of an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-sufficient God. This God shows grace to mankind. Grace is undeserved favor. It means that anything God chooses to do is because He chooses it, not because He owes anyone anything. The nature of grace means that it can never be repaid. It is a gift that magnifies the giver, not the recipient.

GOD

He is the beginning of all things and the giver of all life. As the Creator, He alone deserves our love, worship, and obedience.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.

REBELLION

We have failed to love, worship, and obey Him the way He has commanded. We have chosen to live our life on our own terms, outside of God’s authority. Because we have failed to follow God’s standard of right and wrong, we deserve justice and punishment for our sin.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 For the wages of sin is death…

ATONEMENT

Atonement means “to reconcile a relationship. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to make amends for the wrong we committed against God. Jesus Christ followed God’s standard of right and wrong. He loved, worshipped, and obeyed His Father completely and perfectly. He willfully took our place and received the wrath of God for our sins so that we could be reconciled back to God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

CONVERSION

To receive atonement, we must repent from trusting in our own righteousness and believe that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ satisfied God’s wrath against sin. There is no other way to be reconciled to God than by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Romans 10:9 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.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

ETERNAL LIFE

If you understand that it is God’s grace that saves you, you understand the nature of the greatest gift ever given, eternal life. Eternal life is more than just a duration of time, it is a quality of life. It means that you are now able to live and understand life so that it magnifies God and not yourself. You should seek to publically make known your new life as soon as possible by being baptized by immersion in a local church.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ from Way of Life Literature on Vimeo.

Jeremiah 1 || The call of Jeremiah || Youth Message

~ Andrew Kingsly Raj

GOD calls Jeremiah, Son of Hilkiah the priest. He began to prophesy in the thirteenth year of Josiah's reign (Jer 1:2). It was a surprise to hear the calling of God. God has degrees for every child that is yet to be born. Doesn't these words of the LORD give us assurance? 

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jer 1:5

"You're not what you think you are. You're what GOD degreed you are."

~ AKR

Trust GOD. Don't confuse about the calling of the LORD. You have to know for sure, that the gifts calling of the LORD are Irrevocable. He is the GOD who is unchanging. It is the whole duty of every Christian to share the whole Gospel with everyone next to him that lost and dying in sin. It is not promised Christians a persecution-free Earth. But do not be anxious. Even if we get questioned by Kings (/officials) of the Earth, our LORD shall put in our mouth what we must answer. The whole world follows the path of sin such as corruption, promiscuity, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, idolatry, pride, etc., The whole world disobeys God's moral law. We as Christian must stand for the truth. 

"It is not politically correct to tell others of sin but it is Biblically correct to stand for the truth and expose light on sin's darkness." ~ David Burnette #Jer2

"God chooses people based on their willingness to serve obediently, not based on their ability to perform perfectly." ~ Christian Busse

Isaiah 66 || The Final Judgement

     Each day we walk through the Bible. Isaiah, the great old testament evangelist I ever saw talks about the final judgement in his last chapter. Let us learn from our text today that we (human beings) have a choice of free will to choose or reject JESUS CHRIST. In doing so we will suffer the consequences both now and for eternity. Let us not choose our own ways which will definitely end up in hell. "...they have chosen their own ways, ..." God has chosen the delusions for CHRIST rejectors. All believers shall worship their LORD every week in the New Jerusalem (which will descend out of Heaven to New Earth. Rev 21:10). While on the other end, Christ rejectors shall take their part in Hellfire. Their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched. Choose JESUS CHRIST before it's too late. 

     For while we were still weak and sinners, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Rom 5:6 ,8) JESUS CHRIST manifested in the fless, bore all our sins, died on the cross, buried and rose again from the dead, ascended to heaven, seen by angels, appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1Ti 3:16) Believe Him and be saved, All the Earth.

Isaiah 50:10 || Let him trust in the name of the LORD

10 feareth (the LORD), ... obeyeth ...let him trust in the name of the LORD ... ~ 

Comfort for disconsolate Saints. Let him that fears the LORD and His judgement trust in Him. (Psalm 119:120) The LORD is near to the poor, and of contrite in spirit and trembles at His word. (Is 66:2)

Christians are commanded to rightly divide the word of truth. He that believes the Gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4) shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. 

11 All ye that kindle a fire, ... walk in the light of your fire, ... ~ 

They depend upon their own righteousness, offer all their sacrifices, and burn all their incense, with their kindled fire (as Nadab and Abihu) and not with the fire from heaven. Let us not depend upon our own righteousness. Our righteous deeds are nothing more than a filthy garment. Let us put our trust in the Righteousness of Christ that was substituted to us whence we believed.

Isaiah 52:7 || How beautiful the foot of Evangelists on the Mountains!

Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" 

How beautiful are his feet! his feet that were nailed to the cross, how beautiful upon Mount Calvary! his feet when he came leaping upon the mountains (Song of Solomon 2:8), how beautiful were they to those who knew his voice and knew it to be the voice of their beloved! His ministers proclaim these good tidings. The blood shed on the mount Calvary has power to cleanse all our sins. Let us get immerse into the blood of our saviour by Faith and get cleansed. 

 "And to esteem them (his ministers/servents/evangelists) very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." 1 Thess 5:13

Isaiah 52:17 || HE sprinkle many nations with HIS blood 🩸

"so shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." Isaiah 52:15

the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; ~ 

"even the mystery (Gospel of Grace commissioned for Gentiles) which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to HIS saints (i.e we)" Colossians 1:26 

so shall he sprinkle many nations; ~

Many nations shall be the better for him, for he shall sprinkle them, and not the Jews only the blood of sprinkling shall be applied to their consciences, to purify them. He suffered, and died, and so sprinkled many nations for in his death there was a fountain opened, Zechariah 13:1. He shall sprinkle many nations by his heavenly doctrine, which shall drop as the rain and distil as the dew. Moses's did so only on one nation (Deuteronomy 32:2), but Christ's on many nations. Let us draw near to that sprinkling blood that washes away the sins of the world. (Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 1:2)

Isaiah 61:1,2 || Our LORD JESUS CHRIST preach good tidings to meek & broken hearted

Isaiah 61:1,2

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. 

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn. 

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST read this same Scripture in Synague and applied it for Himself. Luke 4:17,18,21

How He was qualified for this work? - The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me. Is 61:1 After getting baptized from John the Baptist, the Spirit of the LORD descended from Heaven like a Dove and lightning on JESUS CHRIST. Mat 3:16 The true peace giver brings the Gospel to the meek and broken heart. He invites all who labor and are heavy laden to come to Him, 

and promises to give rest. Mat 11:28 

After being died for our sins on the cross, He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison (Paradise). He led the captivity (spirits which was in Paradise) captive and opened the gate of Heaven to them.

1 Peter 3:19, Eph 4:8

He proclaimed the acceptable year of the LORD ~ 

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2 Corinthians 6:2 

If you are reading this, it is not any coincidence. It is the opportunity God given.  Are you sure about your eternity? If you died today, where you will be? You may be a good person, you may did charity, you may not be a thief / murderer / aduterer. But it is necessary for you to repent of trusting on your works and put your entire faith on Christ's Atonement. Believe that HE died on the cross paying all your sins, buried and rose again. (1 Cor 15:3,5) Believing this life saving Gospel can save you and give you the Assurance. God bless.

Whose Garments? Youth Message / Worship Thought (31st May, 12:00 pm)

Hey, I could not hold the Joy I have discovering the Soteriology. See Isaiah 59:17, It is GOD who wore the righteousness as a breastplate and and helmet of salvation on HIS head. By bearing all our sin upon His shoulder and died in our place (penal substitution), HE gave us His own Garments: Righteousness (Breastplate), Helmet of Salvation, etc.,. That's why it is called the Armour of GOD. Believe it or not, inorder to cloth you with HIS Garments Jesus Christ hanged on the Cross naked. Inorder to restore the relationship of God the Father, the begotten Son was forgotten by God. HE lost HIS all Glory to save the Lost. Take a minute and meditate how much God loved us and gave HIS only begotten Son and eternal blessings. 

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Isaiah 59:17

... and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ...And take the helmet of salvation, [and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:]

Ephesians 6:14, 17 (see also 1 Thes 5:8)