Encouraging Words from Holy Bible When You Miss Your Loved Ones

 

INSPIRATION FOR ETERNAL LIFE

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Isaiah 57:1-2

The righteous perishes and no man takes it to heart; the merciful men are taken away while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil.

Thessalonians 4:13-18-            The Lord Returns for Believers

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.  For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

I Corinthians 15:20-28

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be eliminated is death. For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.  And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.

Revelation 21 -            A New Heaven and a New Earth

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more.  And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”

Passion of Christ-Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is

written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come 

on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14

 

Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss for money; “You can’t serve God and mammon.”  He tried to give back the 30 pieces of silver…the priests said,  “Seems like a personal problem to me.  “You see to it.”

Judas then threw down the silver and went and hanged himself, as if tormenting himself, harming himself was going to make a difference.  The only sacrifice that has made a difference in the world is “Jesus, the Lamb of God,” who died for the sins of the world that mankind can have eternal life as it was intended before Adam’s fall.  What arrogance on the part of Judas!  “I’ll kill myself first and that’ll change everything.”  He refused God’s plan of the sacrificial Lamb and tried to make his own sacrifice as Cain resulting in death just as Cain’s actions did.

How often we try to naturally handle things; beat ourselves into shape; discipline the evil out of our lives, without going to God and confessing.  Discipline is needful, but we must first confess and deal with what is within before we try to compensate with an outward act.

What a witness it would have been, if Judas had yielded to the power of the Holy Spirit and sought God’s face.  His testimony would have been different: “Jesus, forgives those who betray Him.  Look, He forgave me and I was the one that turned him in to be crucified.”  But instead Judas yielded to his own understanding.  He’s dying proof of the scripture, “Yield not to they own understanding…but trust in God” and “There is a way that seems right unto a man but the end therein is death.”  Judas makes the tragic mistake that so many of us do when they are caught up in sin, he went back to the very ones that helped put him in the predicament.

Their response, “Tough luck, Charley!”  The priests picked up the money off the floor that Judas had thrown down in shame, disgust and guilt.  They reasoned within themselves that since it was “blood money,” they couldn’t contaminate the treasury with the silver that had bought blood; at best, not recognizing their own sin and at worst, denying their sin.  The money was not contaminated, but rather the unholy hands that had first dug into the pot with the intent of using it to buy a man’s life.  So they bought a “potter’s field” where the wretched, the poor, and where Judas himself who bought the farm so to speak was buried.  Absolution in their minds to pay for the injustice they had caused.  So pious, so deadly, religiosity at it’s best, shortchanged righteousness.

Beware of religious men as they follow their own reason.  As Jesus said, “ your religious rules have made the word of God of no effect.”  The priests sowed to the flesh, not to the spirit.  They were not servants of the Most High God.  They were self-serving.  Prophecy was being fulfilled before their very eyes by their own hands and they could not see.  Such blatant error makes you want to hollah: “Oh, Lord help me!  Deliver me from blindness!”

Judas sowed to the flesh and he reaped corruption:  the lost of friendship, fellowship, respect and the loss of his life.    His actions ended with a field being bought that housed dead flesh.  How his actions contrasts Jesus.’  Judas sowed to the flesh and was void of life.  Jesus sowed to the spirit by being obedient to God even until death and he reaped life for all.  Judas’ actions made a place for dead bodies to decompose.  Jesus’ actions made a way for the dead to be brought to life.

Have you betrayed Jesus for money, pleasure, wine, men, women or song?  Well, welcome to the state of humanity.  What is so miraculous and glorious, “you don’t have to stay in the shape that you’re in.   My friend, the Potter wants to put you back together again” (as the song, The Potters’ House by Tramaine Hawkins states).  You can move up to higher ground.  Begin at the heart level.  Ask God to forgive you from the “white lie” that is as scarlet the most heinous crime to that secret sin you carry around in your mind that is robbing you of peace.

“We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.”  “Cast your cares,” and be free of the gosh horrible sin you feel God will never forgive you of.  He forgives all.  If Judas had had the heart to humble himself before God, the prophets would have written a different epitaph about the betrayer.  Judas’ time for choice is over, but it’s not for you.  Choose life this day.  Talk to your, Heavenly Father, ask His forgiveness and know you are free because those sins are thrown in the “sea of forgetfulness.”  Now you forget them.  And do for others as God has done for you.  Forgive and forget.  In the midst of "crucifixion" is "fix."  Jesus can fix it as if it never happened.  "Earth has no sorrows that Heaven cannot heal," as the song says of the disconsolate. God can and does resurrect lives, dreams, and visions.

For those who don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, now ask him into your heart that is free of sin.  Just a simple but complex eternally life altering prayer is all it takes, “Heavenly Father, I ask you to forgive me of my sins.  Lord Jesus, I ask you into my heart to be my Lord and Savior.”  Now you’re as new creature (new being) in Christ.  You are not in the state you were in.  You’ve been elevated.  If you sin an hour from now, just ask forgiveness.  According to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Read your Bible daily so that you can know more about your Father.  Talk to him often (it’s called prayer.)  Know more about Jesus who made way for you to be adopted into God’s Family and the Holy Spirit who is your confidant on earth right now.  The Holy Spirit is the reason you are reading this and you’ve responded.  Read your Bible to know more about the Holy Spirit.  Go to a church where they believe the “Holy Bible” from Genesis to Revelation, where they are not afraid to believe God heals today and miracles are for now, not just the Bible days.  “These are the Bible days.”  We read the Bible everyday to grow as God would have us grow, just like we eat food everyday we should eat spiritually by consuming the “Holy Bible.”   “ Now unto Him who is able to keep your from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”  God bless you now and always!

Jesus makes us free.  “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  I am the way, the truth and the life no one enters unto the father except by me.  Even on the day of His crucifixion, Jesus spiritually and naturally set captives free.  Barabbas, who had done the crime, murder, did not do the time, thanks to Jesus being a substitute for him.  The judgmental callous crowd condemned Jesus who came to save the world and had done no crime, yet they called for the release of someone who was a convicted murderer.  They rejected the life-giver and accepted the life-taker.   How often in life do we choose Barabbas, when we could have Jesus, accepting the world’s way instead of the way of the creator of the world?   Even those of us who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, sometimes call for Barabbas in our lives instead of Jesus.  And yet the Lord forgives and waits for our call of repentance.

The key to the “Holy Bible” and to eternal life can be summed up in scripture that speaks through the ages from more than 2,000 year ago: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life.  God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.  He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” St. John 3:16-18.

As the angels said of Jesus during this season, more than 2,000 years ago, “He is risen.” and we too can rise as a result of the power of His shed blood and resurrection. 

Thank You for Praying for John Bateman

Dear Friends and Family,

Just want to thank those who were daring enough to stand with me and my sister to ask God to resurrect a member of New Birth in Lithonia, GA, John Bateman, a 47 year old devoted father of two and devoted husband, who died suddenly of complications of MS.

Why did we believe God for John to be raised from the dead? Because Jesus said:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

Because Peter demonstrated:

But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Acts 9:40

And Because Paul Asked

"Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? Acts 26:8

John was laid to rest in Americus, Ga on Saturday, January 30, 2010. What can we say then? We can say, "God is glorified in all He does." Our prayers were not answered in the way we wanted; that is for John to be raised to life and once again be joined with family and friends here on Earth.

But most assuredly John was raised into eternal life. He is in the presence of God, our father and creator. He is Alive with Christ.

So John, beloved of his wife, daughters, family and friends, was laid to rest with an assurance of faith by his wife and daughters and friends. Words accompanied his services that told of his hard work, love, and concern for others. His wife, strong in the Lord, shed not a tear in the presence of those assembled and spoke of the love she and John shared and her confidence that he is with our Lord and Savior. His daughter Lauren sang, “You are the wind beneath My Wings” in tribute to her father with the strength of her mother, using her gift with love and respect.

So our prayers were not answered as we saw fit, yet God stood in the midst. “Yeah, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil for thy rod and thy staff comfort us…”

The most loving thing we can do is to lay a loved one to rest. When nothing else on earth can be done, it is the ultimate act of love to respectfully lay our loved ones to rest the best way we know how. It’s different ways for different people because the circumstances are not the same and they are challenging as we look at the final enemy in the eye, death, and as we fight the grief and are determined to give God His due glory always. Oh, we love you Lord for giving us the opportunity to see one another again…. death can’t stop eternal life! We are fired up with that assurance as we fight the specter of death up close and personal, with the light of eternity overshadowing death itself….”Death Where is thy Sting, Grave Where is thy Victory?”…. Not here! Not among us!

Attached are some words of encouragement…. words of inspiration for eternal life. I had saved this document as “condolences” but God spoke to my heart to change it…. to "Inspiration for Eternal Life” because we have hope.

I continue to stand, knock and seek God for the resurrection of the physically dead, keeping in balance that He is more concerned for the spiritually dead to be raised—before they die…. And as I stand, knock, and seek, my heart is yielded to what God will allow. “His ways are higher than my ways…and His thoughts than mine…” “Have thy way oh Lord, and may our will be yielded within thine always…”

As the old song says…. “Earth has no Sorrow that Heaven Cannot Heal…” that old song being “Come Ye Disconsolate.”…. Come, ye disconsolate, where’er ye languish, Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel. Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Please continue to pray for the Bateman family and friends and all who are dealing with the transition of a loved one into eternal life.

Once again thank you for stretching your mind and your mouth to call out to God for the resurrection of John Bateman. It’s interesting to note that as my sister, her husband and daughter and my daughter, son-in-law and my three grandchildren flew in to Atlanta for the Celebration of John’s life at New Birth in Lithonia, GA, I could not make it.

In part, I remained to work the TV ministry for the consecration of our pastor, Christopher Carl Smith to be inducted as Bishop at New Birth California (A three hour service that God allowed this over 50 woman to stand to capture the historic moments on camera.) Yes, the churches are affiliated under the auspices of Bishop Eddie Long. Our families being joined with New Birth was not something we planned. The Lord works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. This is the day the Lord has made. We shall rejoice and be Glad in it.


Sincerely,
Jackie