“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13,14).

This is a very interesting verse. It tells us to forget things that are behind. Don’t let the devil get you hung up wasting time and worrying about your past sins and mistakes, Just ask the Lord to forgive you and he will and move forward. God says he will remember our sins and iniquity’s no more, and even cast them into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19). So it is just the devil that reminds us of bad things from our past and tries to condemn us. ”Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

So choose your friends and those you hang around with wisely! “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?”  (Proverbs 6: 27).

What does the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus mean to you? To me it means someday seeing Jesus and hearing him say, ” Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25:21).Our relationship with Jesus should be our most prized possession !!! This is what we need to focus on and press toward. “And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” ( Luke 9:23,24).

Say this prayer if you want to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. I believe you died on the cross for my sins ,and rose from the dead. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me peace. Amen.

The most needed ability in God’s Service is AVAILABILITY! God wants willing , happy, sacrificial workers. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7). “Remember the words of Jesus  “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).You can’t out give God. He will top your sacrifice every time. It is a priceless honor and privilege to serve the Lord. There is no greater or more important job than serving the Lord. If you can’t be a full time servant of the lord, then help those who are, with your prayers and support. The three most needed things in God’s service are called the three M’s. They are Manpower, Materials, and Money. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” (II Corinthians 8:12). “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24). However you can use the Mammon for God’s work, then your service to mammon becomes working for God, to the extent that it is used for God’s work, which includes taking care of your family. You also can’t effectively serve two ministries, because your time and energies will become strained, and drained too much, and make you less effective. You need to find one Ministry and stick with it, and put your whole heart into it. I suggest that you find the Ministry that teaches the most truth and put all you can into it.  ^“and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30). There are many good things that you can do. Jesus said, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.” (Mark 14:7). In other words, where can you do the most good for Jesus? Should you devote a lot of time and strength into some ministry that is teaching false doctrine? Find the high calling of God in Christ Jesus for you. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13,14). Don’t let the Devil side track you by doing a good work when there is a better work that Jesus wants you to do. Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice, when some have never heard it once? Don’t spin your wheels, and get stuck in the mud and quick sand. Don’t be lukewarm, or a compromiser “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15,16). Don’t be a ten per center, when you can be a hundred per center. “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” (I Corinthians 11:31). How much do you love Jesus?  “whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14). Do you only serve the Lord on Sunday, and really sacrifice by missing Wednesday night sports for church? Going to Church is supposed to be for your own personal benefit any way. How is that serving the Lord? Fellowship is good, and important, but don’t neglect your own personal service, and relationship to God through Jesus Christ. “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”(John 4:35) When Jesus calls you, will you be ready? He is calling you now.  “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. And 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. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”(Luke 9:57-62). “He that hath an ear let him hear.” Do you receive this message?

 Say this prayer if you want to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me peace. Amen.

Do you sometimes feel like you may not be the sharpest tool in the shed? Do people sometimes make remarks that are unkind and unflattering? Well don’t worry about it, because you are in good company. The Bible says; “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13).They even called Jesus a winebibber, and a glutinous man a friend of publicans and sinners. (Luke 7:34b). Actually it is wise to be simple. “ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”(Matthew 5:5).“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”(2 Corinthians 11:3). And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 18:2,3).But Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 19:14). A little child just trusts his parents to lead him in the good and right way and doesn’t question every little thing that they say and tell him. “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). I always tell new converts to start in the Milk of the word, the Book of John. I love it. It has always been my favorite book in the Bible. It is so easy to understand, and it tells you all about Jesus and what he said and did. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1 Peter 2:2). Being smart is receiving Jesus as your Savior by asking him into your heart and reading his Word and living for him. The world says get a big “PHD” degree, (Piled Higher and Deeper). And make a lot of money for yourself and live selfishly and build greater barns and acquire more things for yourself. “Men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself.” (Psalm 49:18b). “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 ).Let’s just keep the gospel message simple, and not waste time arguing about doctrines with people who don’t want the truth anyway, let’s just win souls for JESUS and reach the lost sheep. “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject ;”(Titus 3:9,10)

The Lord wants his Children to be happy. Just like you want your children to be happy and it brings you great joy to see them happy. It makes the Lord happy when you are happy. Mans purpose in life is to love God and enjoy his creation forever, and to help others to do the same. Jesus made it easy for us to be happy. His only law ,and rule is Love. I am reminded of the story of the farmer whose grand daughter told him that his mule named Jenny must be very religious. Why do you say that ? He asked her. She replied, because she has such a sad long face. Some people think religion and Christians are supposed to be like that mule, going around with sad somber faces. Lord HELP us, we should not only be the most loving, kindest, and forgiving  people, but also the happiest people on the face of the earth, with all the promises from the Bible that we have to look forward to. ” But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 ). Jesus said: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3). Just think God & Jesus & the Holy Spirit made this beautiful world and all of creation in only six days, they have been working on preparing Heaven for us for 2 thousand years ! WOW imagine what Heavens going to look and be like !! Yes, my beloved the future is as bright as the promises of God ! People should want to know why we always go around smiling so much, and they will want what we have, and we can give them Jesus. Amen? So go ahead and enjoy Gods creation. That is what he wants you to do. Those who do will have a happy, blessed life.“Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”(Philippians 4:5 ). Just don’t over do it to the point that you love the creation more than the Creator. God is a jealous God and he will have no other Gods before him. His name means Jealous. ( Exodus 34:14).” Blessed is he that condemeth not himself in the things which he alloweth.” ( Romans 14:22). Don’t let the devil and his demons rob and steal Gods joy from you by condemning you. The enemy always likes to accuse us and condemn us of our sins, and then he tries to condemn us of things that are not against Gods law of love. If you believe his lies it becomes a sin ” For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”( Romans 14:23). “THERE IS therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.”  (Romans 8:1). Be Happy and free in the spirit and enjoy the Lord and his creation. Amen? A good way to be happy is to make others happy, and you will have a little bit of Heaven right here. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”(Acts 10:38)

God’s mercy is endless, from everlasting to everlasting! His Love & Mercy & Forgiveness & Salvation never end! He never stops loving us no matter what we do. He never withdraws His Love. Even if he has to chastise us or take us out of this World to Heaven. That is way there are different rewards and levels in the Heavenly City. SEE our class on Revelations Chapter 22 in www.answersintheword.com. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:2-3). He always has hope for us no matter how far we’ve strayed. Even in spite of our sins & shortcomings & misdeeds & crimes, whatever they may be, the blood of Jesus covers all our sins, past & present when we ask him by Faith.  “If we will forsake our sin and turn to the Lord, our God shall have mercy, and abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7). God loves us sinners, but not our sins, and so should we treat others in this same manner. We should love the sinner and hate the sin. “If we confess our sins, (to Jesus) he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.  I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”(Psalm 32:1-5). No  matter what we have done! The only “unpardonable sin” is rejecting Jesus Christ as your Savior. But you can never be to bad for Jesus only to good ! We have a God big enough to forgive all our mistakes and our sins! All we have to do is sincerely ask him. He always has and always does and always will, forever and ever and ever! Like a stream, like a river, His Love and Mercy just keep flowing no matter what! “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him …As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him”. (Psalm 103:10-13). If you have ever had Children you will understand what these verses are saying. “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19). I do not think that God will ever be satisfied until everyone is saved and right with him, and out of hell, and his creation has been restored to perfection as he intended it to be, even before the devil sinned. Even if it takes millenniums. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”(2 Peter 3:9). “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6). Gods love is deeper than the deepest sea, and goes farther than the farthest star. This verse tells us how great gods love is “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have ever lasting life.” (John 3:16). “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”(Matthew 18:21-22). Jesus was teaching us that God’s forgiveness and mercy are endless upon those that seek it. “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23). If you have a hard time loving someone, just ask the Lord to help you love them and see them, the way he loves and sees them. It was said of King David that he was “a man after God’s own heart”. Let us each ask ourselves, am I? Jesus is the ultimate manifestation of God and his LOVE.

Say this prayer if you want to be saved: Jesus, I want to know you, and to live forever in Heaven, I know I have made mistakes and done bad things- and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it, but I accept your love and I accept you as my Saviour. Please come into my heart and life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me peace. Amen.

He will not let you go! He will not let you fall! He is never weary and He will not let you fall, and He never sleeps.”Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”(Philippians 1:6). Jesus said; “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”(Hebrews 13:5b).GOD WILL NOT BREAK HIS PROMISES IN HIS WORD!!! ”HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY,BUT MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY!!!”(Matthew 24:35). “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19) JESUS will not fail you. He will not desert you.You can always count on him. JESUS is not your fair weather friend, even though that is the way we treat him many times. So many people are looking for friendship, but will never find what they are looking for in another human being.Jesus was human,but he was also the Son of God and one with God, and never sinned. ”And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone;for I do always those things that please him.”(John 8:29). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:13-15). JESUS is always there for you. His mercy and love endures forever. EVEN IF EVERY THING FALLS APART AND EVERYONE FORSAKES YOU, HE IS THERE FOR YOU! WOW! WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GET SECURITY LIKE THAT? You will never find another friend like JESUS! Aren’t you glad that you know that you are saved? So many people think if my good deeds out weigh my bad deeds then I might make it into Heaven. Instead of believing in Eternal Security they have eternal insecurity. But we know that we can’t loose our salvation.“Jesus said,”My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,and they follow me: And I give unto them etemal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (Not even yourself) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”(John 10:27- 29).There are so many verses to prove that you can’t loose your salvation, and that once saved you are always saved. Here are a few more. The Lord even says he is married to the backslider (Jeremiah 3:14). “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all our sins,  (past,present,and future) (I John 1:7).“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”(1 John 5:11-13).“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5). It gives me peace of mind and great joy and happiness just resting on these precious promises from the Lord. If I thought I had to work my way to Heaven I would have given up a long time ago wouldn’t you? Thank the Lord for what he has done for us.”KISS The SON!!!(Psalm 2:12). Let me encourage you to memorize these verses for your own faith and peace, and for helping others to understand this great, and so important truth. It’s much better than winning the lottery just knowing this truth ! ! !

SAY THIS PRAYER IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED