Monday 9/14/15 Planning (2)

Dear Father in Heaven: I love You, and I really appreciate all You do for all of us. Thanks for the safety You provided this day for us. I pray today for the family of the trooper who was gunned down during the night, and I pray also for the family of the shooter as both have suffered in these events. Please, dear Lord, bring peace to this crazy old world we live in. Please help me with the message today. May what I type be from You, and please then help me to get it dispatched. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters: Another police shot dead last night while doing his duty protecting others. This one in Kentucky. And listen to this one. A police officer on patrol in Philadelphia, PA, stopped at a Starbucks and walked in, in uniform, and asked to use the restroom, and he was told that it was for paying customers and they turned him away. More than likely on a police officer's salary he could not afford to purchase coffee at Starbucks. Please pray for our police. Oh, and did you see the news that happened right here in our area? A school bus caught fire and really burned up. The driver got all the children out. PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD. Planning pays off. Speaking of planning, I told you that today I would write on a "Plan of Salvation." So let me get to it.

Monday: September 14, 2015: Planning (Day Two)

Brothers and sisters, today I will list one scripture at a time and we will talk about that one.

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (NIV)

In this scripture we find out who needs salvation which only comes through Jesus. My answer to that one is very simple. Only those who want to go to Heaven.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

Don't you just love this, it is telling us that the wages of sin result in death, not talking dollars here but if we are laboring all of our life and have not come to Jesus all of that labor is wasted. However, there is a gift from God which is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord. I want to talk just a minute about a gift. A gift requires two people, the one who gives the gift and the one who receive the gift. Our Lord Jesus left us all a gift, and they must be picked up by each of us, as it is a personal relationship that you must have with Jesus. No one else can claim your gift from Jesus. I will say Amen to that one. Will you?

Matthew 9:13 - "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (NIV)

How often do you go to your doctor when you are healthy? Not often. However, when you are sick, off to the doctors you go. Our Lord Jesus, when He walked this earth, went to the sinners, those who really needed and wanted His touch. The righteous, or self-righteous, needed His touch also, but they did not realize it. I just wonder how many self-righteous people sit in a church today and are not saved? Do any of you church-goers fit that bill?

The bottom line on Matthew 9:13 - WE NEED TO REPENT OF OUR SINS.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)

This is part of the greatest love story ever recorded in history. God loves us, each one of us in the world, that He gave us His Son, His Son Jesus, who died on The Cross for all of us. That is what is meant by World, Jesus did not die for the world but for all the people who make up the world. To show you just that let me now add in ...

John 3:17 - "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (NIV)

God did not want to condemn the world. He already did that once with a really big flood. He wants to save the world. Again, meaning all the people of the world.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)

You need to understand that God died for us back then, "When He was on the Cross, I was on His mind." Yes, that is from a song and right now I cannot remember the title of the song. I am sure someone will send me that title. I do want to point out one of my favorite scriptures right here. On the Cross is where Jesus paid for our sins. The Cross, brothers and sisters. The Cross.

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)

Just so you know, brothers and sisters, while we might change, change daily even, Jesus does not. He indeed is the same.

Romans 10:9/10 - 9 That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (NIV)

Dear brothers and sisters, there you have some planning of what must be done to be saved. I know it was long, but well worth it for me to write it, if it just finds its way to one person who is lost. AND YES, YOU MAY FORWARD ANYTHING I WRITE. Use it for God, please. Brothers and sisters, we do not need a religion, we need a relationship, a relationship with God. Yes, it is faith-based, and now that you have the plan, are you ready to act on it? Will you please pray this prayer of confession today, pray for Jesus to come into your heart and live? This is up to you, I can only lead you.

Dear Father in Heaven, I come to You this day confessing my love for You and asking You to forgive me of my sins. According to Your Word if we confess with our mouth that You are Lord, dear Jesus, and believe in our hearts that God raised You from the dead, we will be saved. I so confess this today, asking You to save me according to Your Word and asking You to place my name in the Lamb's Book of Life. I love You, Jesus, I love You and pray in Your Name. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, if you prayed that in faith, you are indeed saved.

Now go forth and please serve Jesus. Love ya.

Pastor Dan