WHILE we STILL can

 

Ephesians 2:8-9

King James Version

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We must seek GOD, while we still can.

We must review our lives, while we still can.

We must repent of our sins, while we still can.

We must acknowledge our sins, while we still can.

We only have today to do so.

Every day is pure GRACE from GOD.

Giving us a chance to wake up.

To turn to Him.

To know more about Him.

To be taught about JESUS.

To be taught by the HOLY SPIRIT.

To live by Scripture.

Today is a gift from GOD.

As every day has been.

We are to be grateful for such a gift.

For, at any given moment, JESUS can come for His faithful.

The Rapture can happen, ANY moment GOD chooses.

Matthew 24:40-42

King James Version

40 Then shall two be in the field; 

the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; 

the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: 

for ye know not what hour 

your Lord doth come.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

King James Version

16 For the Lord himself 

shall descend from heaven 

with a shout, 

with the voice of the archangel, 

and with the trump of God: 

and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain 

shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 

to meet the Lord in the air: 

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

After which, the dreaded Tribulation.

Which, no one in their right mind, would want to be part of.

And yet, GOD gives us a chance to be with JESUS.

Every single day, while we're still on earth

And be saved from all that.

Why continue as you are doing?

Why remain in the dark?

Why continue being willful?

Why rely on your own wisdom?

JESUS already came for us.

He died, was buried, and rose on the third day.

Through His blood, we have been saved from our sins.

Through His death, He has conquered death, and the devil.

Through His resurrection, we have the promise of eternal life.

Today is your day to choose.

To continue as you do.

Or to have a change of heart.

And make that complete turnaround.

And start being a true child of God.

John 1:12-13

King James Version

12 But as many as received him, 

to them gave he power to become the sons of God, 

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, 

not of blood, 

nor of the will of the flesh, 

nor of the will of man, 

but of God.

To be born  of GOD, we need to be BORN AGAIN.

John 3:3-8

King James Version

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 

How can a man be born when he is old? 

can he enter the second time 

into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, 

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.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, 

and thou hearest the sound thereof, 

but canst not tell whence it cometh, 

and whither it goeth: 

so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

SEEK GOD, "while he may be found".

CALL upon Him, "while he is near".

Forsake your old ways.

Isaiah 55:6-7

King James Version

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, 

call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, 

and the unrighteous man his thoughts: 

and let him return unto the Lord, 

and he will have mercy upon him; 

and to our God, 

for he will abundantly pardon.

REPENT, and BELIEVE the GOSPEL.

It is the LORD's command:

Mark 1:15

King James Version

15 And saying, 

The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand: 

repent ye, 

and believe the gospel.

Let us be worthy of the LORD.

When the time comes.

Acts 3:19

King James Version

19 Repent ye therefore, 

and be converted, 

that your sins may be blotted out, 

when the times of refreshing shall come 

from the presence of the Lord.

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GOD humbles Nebuchadnezzar

 

Daniel 4:4-5

King James Version

4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, 

and flourishing in my palace:

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, 

and the thoughts upon my bed 

and the visions of my head troubled me.

This is the story of king Nebuchadnezzar.

Whose pride caused him to fall.

And fall, he did.

Greatly.

Starting with a dream:

Daniel 4:10-16

King James Version

10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; 

I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, 

and the height thereof was great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, 

and the height thereof reached unto heaven, 

and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 The leaves thereof were fair, 

and the fruit thereof much, 

and in it was meat for all: 

the beasts of the field had shadow under it, 

and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, 

and all flesh was fed of it.

13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, 

and, behold, 

a watcher and an holy one 

came down from heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, 

Hew down the tree, 

and cut off his branches, 

shake off his leaves, 

and scatter his fruit: 

let the beasts get away from under it, 

and the fowls from his branches:

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, 

even with a band of iron and brass, 

in the tender grass of the field; 

and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, 

and let his portion be with the beasts 

in the grass of the earth:

16 Let his heart be changed from man's, 

and let a beast's heart be given unto him; 

and let seven times pass over him.

Nebuchadnezzar ordered the "wise men of Babylon", to interpret the dream.

Daniel 4:6-7

King James Version

6 Therefore made I a decree 

to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, 

that they might make known unto me 

the interpretation of the dream.

7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, 

the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: 

and I told the dream before them; 

but they did not make known unto me

the interpretation thereof.

Since no one could tell him, he then sought out Daniel.

Daniel 4:8-9

King James Version

8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, 

whose name was Belteshazzar, 

according to the name of my God, 

and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: 

and before him I told the dream, saying,

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, 

because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, 

and no secret troubleth thee, 

tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, 

and the interpretation thereof.

And here's prophet Daniel's interpretation:

Daniel 4:19-22

King James Version

19 Then Daniel, 

whose name was Belteshazzar, 

was astonied for one hour, 

and his thoughts troubled him. 

The king spake, and said, 

Belteshazzar, let not the dream, 

or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. 

Belteshazzar answered and said, 

My lord, 

the dream be to them that hate thee, 

and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 The tree that thou sawest, 

which grew, and was strong, 

whose height reached unto the heaven, 

and the sight thereof to all the earth;

21 Whose leaves were fair, 

and the fruit thereof much, 

and in it was meat for all; 

under which the beasts of the field dwelt, 

and upon whose branches 

the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

22 It is thou, O king, 

that art grown and become strong: 

for thy greatness is grown, 

and reacheth unto heaven, 

and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

Daniel 4:23-26

King James Version

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher 

and an holy one coming down from heaven, 

and saying, 

Hew the tree down, and destroy it; 

yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, 

even with a band of iron and brass, 

in the tender grass of the field; 

and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, 

and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, 

till seven times pass over him;

24 This is the interpretation, O king, 

and this is the decree of the most High, 

which is come upon my lord the king:

25 That they shall drive thee from men, 

and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, 

and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, 

and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, 

and seven times shall pass over thee, 

till thou know that the most High ruleth

 in the kingdom of men, 

and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26 And whereas they commanded 

to leave the stump of the tree roots; 

thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, 

after that thou shalt have known 

that the heavens do rule.

Daniel pleaded with the king:

Daniel 4:27

King James Version

27 Wherefore, O king, 

let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, 

and break off thy sins by righteousness, 

and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; 

if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Of course, it all came to pass:

Daniel 4:29-33

King James Version

29 At the end of twelve months 

he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spake, and said, 

Is not this great Babylon, 

that I have built for the house of the kingdom 

by the might of my power, 

and for the honour of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king's mouth, 

there fell a voice from heaven, saying, 

O king Nebuchadnezzar, 

to thee it is spoken; 

The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 And they shall drive thee from men, 

and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: 

they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, 

and seven times shall pass over thee, 

until thou know that the most High ruleth

 in the kingdom of men, 

and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled 

upon Nebuchadnezzar: 

and he was driven from men, 

and did eat grass as oxen, 

and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, 

till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, 

and his nails like birds' claws.

Painful lesson learned.

And it went on for seven years.

Now, it was time to get right with GOD.

Which the humbled king did.

Daniel 4:34-37

King James Version

34 And at the end of the days 

I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, 

and mine understanding returned unto me, 

and I blessed the most High, 

and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, 

whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, 

and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth 

are reputed as nothing: 

and he doeth according to his will 

in the army of heaven, 

and among the inhabitants of the earth: 

and none can stay his hand, 

or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; 

and for the glory of my kingdom, 

mine honour and brightness returned unto me; 

and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; 

and I was established in my kingdom, 

and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar 

praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, 

all whose works are truth, 

and his ways judgment: 

and those that walk in pride 

he is able to abase.

The dream came true after 12 months.

The king suffered for seven years.

That's how GOD teaches the proud.

His will be done.

Always.

Related post:

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GOD's POWER over nations

Sin AWARENESS

REPENTANCE

GOD's WILL

Image: Free Bible Images

What do we repent from?

 

Isaiah 55:6-7

King James Version

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, 

call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, 

and the unrighteous man his thoughts: 

and let him return unto the Lord, 

and he will have mercy upon him; 

and to our God, 

for he will abundantly pardon.

What does the Bible say about sin?

What are we supposed to repent from?

These verses are pretty clear:

Matthew 12:36-37

King James Version

36 But I say unto you, 

That every idle word that men shall speak, 

they shall give account thereof 

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, 

and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Mark 3:28-30

King James Version

28 Verily I say unto you, 

All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, 

and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost 

hath never forgiveness, 

but is in danger of eternal damnation.

30 Because they said, 

He hath an unclean spirit.

John 8:24

King James Version

24 I said therefore unto you, 

that ye shall die in your sins: 

for if ye believe not that I am he, 

ye shall die in your sins.

John 8:44-46

King James Version

44 Ye are of your father the devil, 

and the lusts of your father ye will do. 

He was a murderer from the beginning, 

and abode not in the truth, 

because there is no truth in him. 

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: 

for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, 

ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? 

And if I say the truth, 

why do ye not believe me?

Romans 8:6-8

King James Version

6 For to be carnally minded is death; 

but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: 

for it is not subject to the law of God, 

neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh 

cannot please God.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

King James Version

18 Flee fornication. 

Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; 

but he that committeth fornication 

sinneth against his own body.

19 What? 

know ye not that your body 

is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, 

which ye have of God, 

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: 

therefore glorify God in your body, 

and in your spirit, 

which are God's.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

King James Version

3 This know also, 

that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, 

covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, 

disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, 

trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, 

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, 

lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, 

but denying the power thereof: 

from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, 

and lead captive silly women laden with sins, 

led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, 

and never able to come 

to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:3-6

King James Version

3 Knowing this first, 

that there shall come in the last days scoffers, 

walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, 

Where is the promise of his coming? 

for since the fathers fell asleep, 

all things continue as they were 

from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, 

that by the word of God the heavens were of old, 

and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, 

being overflowed with water, 

perished:

1 John 2:15-16

King James Version

15 Love not the world, 

neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world,

 the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, 

the lust of the flesh,

 and the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, 

but is of the world.

JESUS, through the HOLY SPIRIT, corrects us.

The HOLY SPIRIT, through Scripture, teaches us.

That we may all love, honor, worship, and obey GOD.

It's time to know how else we've sinned:

Sin AWARENESS

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More articles here.

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Why the urgency to repent?

 Romans 13:11-12

King James Version

11 And that, knowing the time, 

that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: 

for now is our salvation 

nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, 

the day is at hand: 

let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, 

and let us put on the armour of light.

Why this GREAT urgency to repent?

Why this need to acknowledge personal sinfulness?

Why are we to wake up now?

Because we are all in a stupor.

Not realizing the TIME is at HAND.

Even as John the Baptist, who prepared the people for the coming of the MESSIAH, warned us early on.

Matthew 3:1-2

King James Version

3 In those days came John the Baptist, 

preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, 

Repent ye: 

for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Even as JESUS already warned us during His ministry.

Mark 1:15

King James Version

15 And saying, 

The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand: 

repent ye, 

and believe the gospel.

Even as apostle John warned us why the time is at hand.

1 John 2:18

King James Version

18 Little children, 

it is the last time: 

and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, 

even now are there many antichrists; 

whereby we know that it is the last time.

Even as an angel from the LORD warned us, through John.

Revelation 22:10-11

King James Version

10 And he saith unto me, 

Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: 

for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: 

and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: 

and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: 

and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

And yet, people remain in a stupor.

Worse, they're skeptical, and they scoff.

2 Peter 3:3-4

King James Version

3 Knowing this first, 

that there shall come in the last days scoffers, 

walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, 

Where is the promise of his coming? 

for since the fathers fell asleep, 

all things continue as they were 

from the beginning of the creation.

But the Bible cannot be ignored.

Whether you're born again, or not, take heed the WORD of GOD.

Prophets, and apostles, were sent to warn us.

The LORD JESUS, the SON of GOD, was sent to save us.

JESUS prayed for the HOLY SPIRIT, that He may teach us.

Scripture was given, that we may listen.

The only question is, who cares to listen?

JESUS wondered:

Luke 18:7-8

King James Version

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, 

which cry day and night unto him, 

though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. 

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, 

shall he find faith on the earth?

Last of all, the RAPTURE can happen any moment.

Would you be part of it?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

King James Version

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 

with a shout, 

with the voice of the archangel, 

and with the trump of God: 

and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain 

shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 

to meet the Lord in the air: 

and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Or, will you be left behind?

I assure you, you will not want to.

And here's why:

WRATH of GOD

It's all PREPARATION now

The RAPTURE

END times

More articles here.

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How do we know we've sinned?

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

King James Version

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 

for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, 

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Man's got pride.

He will not admit he has sinned.

Much less admit he's a sinner.

The Bible tells us we've all sinned.

How many can accept the Bible's truth?

There's no escaping from Scripture:

Romans 3:12

King James Version

12 They are all gone out of the way, 

they are together become unprofitable; 

there is none that doeth good, 

no, not one.

Romans 3:23

King James Version

23 For all have sinned, 

and come short of the glory of God;

Unless we care to know righteousness, we won't accept we've sinned.

Unless GOD makes us born again, we won't have fellowship with His SPIRIT.

John 3:3-7

King James Version

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born again, 

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, 

How can a man be born when he is old? 

can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, 

and be born?

5 Jesus answered, 

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.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

Unless we are born of the Spirit, we won't listen to JESUS.

On and on, JESUS gives us an invitation:

Revelation 3:20

King James Version

20 Behold, 

I stand at the door, and knock: 

if any man hear my voice, and open the door, 

I will come in to him, 

and will sup with him, 

and he with me.

How many will listen to the LORD?

How many will accept their sinfulness?

How many will care to know how they have sinned?

How many will want to repent?

Only JESUS can teach us all these, through His HOLY SPIRIT.

The HOLY SPIRIT will guide us to Scripture.

He will teach us everything about JESUS.

That JESUS is the model, and pattern, of perfect humility and obedience.

Those who sin, are in disobedience.

Those who refuse to acknowledge sin, have no humility.

We need the HOLY SPIRIT to teach us.

Only by being born again can we awaken.

More articles here.

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HOLINESS

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