#1434 0926 10A

            Knowing the truth about divine principles of trust on the atonement Blood of Christ is of eternal importance.  We must be alert to possible deception, because the devil is constantly changing his disguise—making it possible to be deceived by his influencing us to make wrong or unscriptural decisions.  Matthew 16:6 “Take heed and beware of the leaven [teaching] of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”  Even a religious message can deceive, if it is not the Truth of the Bible.

            Jesus clearly explained how to live a true Christian life of believing faith in Him.  He said Luke 11:28 blessed are they “who hear [hearing] the word of God and obey [carefully keep] it."  It is required that we believe and keep following the Word.  2 John 1:9 ”Every one who is transgressing, and is not remaining in the teaching of the Christ, hath not God; he who is remaining in the teaching of the Christ, this one hath both the Father and the Son.”

            Our prayer every day is for the inspiration to keep living by the teachings of Christ, because there are many distractions today to draw our attention, and our trust, away from a life of obedient faith on the shed Blood of Christ.  God spoke from heaven Mark 9:7 ”There was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

            Listening to the Truth and following scriptural advice would have saved the rich man from eternal suffering.  Abraham had to tell the man in hell Luke 16:29, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them [read their writings anytime they want to].”  The rest of the story is Luke 16:31 “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded [convinced], though one rose from the dead.”  Only God can change our heart to believe in faith on His Son.

We must first listen to what God is saying to us in the Bible, and then be willing to live a Christian life of believing faith in His Son.  An outward show of faith is not an inward conversion of heart.  Mark 7:14-16 "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: ‘There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!’"  If our heart is defiled by trusting the wrong thing, we would not enter God’s kingdom.

            Jesus explained; Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness [lasciviousness; eagerness for lustful pleasure], an evil eye [envy], blasphemy, pride [arrogance], foolishness.  All these evil [wicked; vile] things come from within and defile a man.”  Our actions and words must have God’s approval—because, Matthew 12:37 ”by your words you will be acquitted [righteous], and by your words you will be condemned [unrighteous]."

            The high standard of trusting faith on the Atonement of Christ must be maintained.  Only if we are inspired by the Holy Spirit, can we put obedient faith on God for things in this life.  Satan tries to have us compromise because he wants us to fall away from a position of trust on God.  John 3:18 ”He who is believing in him is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

            Lack of interest in spiritual matters can be a gradual, but also a continual, moving away from a position of trust on God—if not recognized and corrected.  2 Corinthians 13:5 ”Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers: put your own selves under examination.”  When shown any spiritual lack, we must get back to believing trust on God.

The devil is determined to deceive, and he often does thru false teaching.  That is why the apostle Paul 2 Corinthians 4:2 did not “adulterate [distort] God’s Message [nor handling the word of God deceitfully].  But by a full clear statement of the truth we strive to commend ourselves in the [sight] of God.”  Everyone will give an account of their life on Judgment Day—whether they trusted in faith on the shed Blood of Christ, or not.

Galatians 6:7 ”Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  God requires that we sow a life of trusting faith in the atonement Blood of His Son.  The sin nature will not trust God for anything and which eventually results in eternal suffering in hell, but if we are inspired by the Holy Spirit to trust God in faith for everything the result is eternal life in heaven.

            There is no excuse for lack of faith or trust on God, because He provides the power to believe, we just make the choice.  God is always faithful to His promises, and He has the divine power to heal, deliver, protect, provide, and save.  The power that raised Jesus to life Ephesians 1:20 is the power that is 3:20  “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”

            Communicating with God through prayer for spiritual light is vital.  John 14:26 “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  The inspiration of God’s Spirit enables us to understand divine truth, and to draw a scriptural line on faith issues.

            Jesus told us to not avenge injustices as the world does.  Romans 12:19 ”Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”  Meeting favoritism, discrimination, and prejudice in a scriptural way is a faith issue.  Our trust is to be on God to bring justice.

            Jesus taught us not to own real estate, nor to store up treasure on earth on which we could trust, because what we trust in reveals where our heart is Matthew 6:19-21.  Trusting God everyday for the financial needs of that day is a very important faith issue.  We must correctly interpret and rightly apply God’s Word on trust 2 Timothy 2:15—“rightly dividing the word of truth.”

            Jesus said Matthew 5:44-45 "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”  We must Ephesians 4:32 ”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

            Trusting God for divine healing is another important faith issue.  The woman had “suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse” Mark 5:26.  When she touched His garment in faith, Jesus said Mark 5:34, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

            When two blind men believed Jesus was able to heal them, He said Matthew 9:29-30, "According to your faith let it be to you.  And their eyes were opened.”  A person cannot depend on medicine for help and depend on God for healing at the same time.  We either put trust on God, or we put trust in Satan’s substitutes.  The principle of trust on the Atonement of Christ for healing must be maintained because it is by an enduring faith in Christ, that we enter the kingdom of God.  Satan will constantly try to divert us from a position of trust on God.

            Jesus spoke clearly on having no stored assets in real estate or other treasures, because they become false places of financial dependence.  A man asked Jesus Mark 10:17, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  The Lord mentioned six Commands—do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, do not cheat anyone, and honor your parents.  The man had obeyed these since his youth.

Mark 10:21-22 ”Then Jesus looked at him and loved him, and said, ‘One thing is lacking in you: go, sell all you possess and give the proceeds to the poor, and you shall have riches in Heaven; and come and be a follower of mine.’  Mark 10:22 ”And he—gloomy at the word—went away sorrowing, for he was having many possessions.”

            The man wanted to keep those things on which he was trusting, rather than eliminate those assets and be assured of eternal life—by trusting God.  Mark 10:23-24 ”Jesus said, ‘With how hard a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!’  The disciples were amazed at His words.  Jesus, however, said again, ‘Children, how hard a struggle is it for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God!’”  We can gain the world and forfeit our soul Mark 8:36.

            Jesus then said Mark 10:27, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God."  Jeremiah 32:17 ”Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”  It is nothing of ourselves but everything of God.  Only by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit could we trust God in childlike faith—and Mark 10:14 “Those who are childlike the Kingdom of God belongs.”

            Simon wanted to know his reward for giving up possessions.  Mark 10:28 "We have left everything to follow you!"  Jesus promised 29-30, "I tell you the truth, no one who has left [forsaken or given up] home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age—[all those things, and including persecutions] and in the age [world] to come, eternal life.”