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Sunday, November 23, 2014

Where do you hide from sin?


You may be able to hide from man, but you can hide from God. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were rebuked several times by Jesus. Are lesson here is not to be like them.

As Jesus watched the huge crowds waiting to hear him, he warned his disciples against hypocrisy-trying to appear good when one's heart is far from God. The Pharisees could not keep their attitudes hidden forever. Their selfishness would grow like yeast, and soon they would expose themselves for what they really were-power hungry impostors, not devoted religious leaders. It is easy to be angry at the blatant hypocrisy of the Pharisees, but each of us must resist the temptation to settle for the appearance of respectability when our hearts are far from God.

Luke 12:1-3 1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

The Lord's prayer

Matthew 16:5-6 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Here are scriptures that God see all things. The bible tells us that if you would judge yourself we should not be judged of what we say is good before God, when  in fact, we are true hypocrites.     

1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Jeremiah 16:17  For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

When sin entered the world it become uncovered of its shame of sin. We need to cover ourselves with the true Holy Spirit of God, and the blood that has cleansed us of the displeasing shame of sin before God.

Hebrew 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Pastor Rolando Ramos

 

 

   

Sunday, November 16, 2014

(Be ye doers of the word, not hears only)


 
James 1:20-24 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Superfluity: Something unnecessary - Immoderate and especially luxurious living, habits or, desires.

Example: Spends most of her money on designer clothes and other superfluities.  

When our life falls in a trap for the cares of the world, we find ourselves in a snare, a trap of Satan's strong holds.

Nahum 3:12 All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.

Proverbs 23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

A hearer only is like, the parable that Jesus spoke of the seeds that fell of stony ground.

Matthew 13:20-But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Verse 22 covers superfluities  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

There is a battle going on in our lives. The spirit of God wants us to please the Lord with the Godly deeds and labor for the kingdom of God, and our flesh wants to focus on the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  

Another scripture that clears this up is

James 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Trust in the Lord         Proverbs 3:1-12  
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Don't be left short on your relation with our Lord Jesus Christ. We will only have one chance to enter into his glory.

Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

 
Pastor Rolando Ramos


 

Sunday, November 9, 2014

The Kingdom is within us


Luke 17:20-21 The Coming of the Kingdom
The Pharisees are expecting a special sign that will convince the people that God has made a kingdom on the earth for only special people to enter in. Jesus tells us to preach the gospel to all that are in this world, and if anyone comes to him for salvation Jesus will not turn them away.     

Matthew 12:39 But He answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Jesus tells us to preach the gospel to all that are in this world.    

Mark 15:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned
Jesus told them that my Kingdom is not of this world, and if it was, the people would fight to keep Jesus from getting kill of the Jews.  

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
The word of God is the bread of life

John 6: 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

As Jesus tells us that he was sent unto the world to bring the Kingdom of God to us, but was not going to build a Kingdom with hands. It is a Kingdom of God that we receive Jesus into our life.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens

We shall not live by bread alone, but by the word of God.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
I Corinthians 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

Hebrew 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The lesson of the Fig Tree
(Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31)

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Jesus was the Kingdom, and you can not destroy a Kingdom that is spiritual, but only that which is made by the hands of man can be destroyed.     

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
John the Baptist for told that all need to repent of your sins, because the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Matthew 3:1-2 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.
Pastor Rolando Ramos

Friday, November 7, 2014

More of God and More with God


   

1)      Your obligation to fulfill with God is, that you to have to act on it, and seek him, find him is an action, and the result is reaction.
 
2)      How do you measure up to the action for thirst for God  (Psalms 42:1)
1: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God
 
As a life of a deer depends upon water, so our lives depend upon God. Those who seek him
and long to understand him find never-ending life. Feeling separated from God, this psalmist wouldn’t rest until he restored his relationship with God because he knew that his very life depended on it.
 
 
3)      Love Jesus as Jesus has loved his father in heaven, and become his disciples
(John 15:9)
9: As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
 
 
4)      David’s faith in God protection  (read all of Psalms chapter 27) http://biblehub.com/kjv/psalms/27.htm
 
5)      To break through the obligation to get to that point broaden my devoted time to God
(Colossians 3:16)
16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 
 
Seek from end to end all the time. Obligation help’s us sense the leading of the Lord.
 
6)      Obligation caring with it a promise of answered prayers  (John 15:7,8)
7: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you.
8: Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
 
7) The Jabez prayer  (I Chronicles 4:10)
10: And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed,
and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep
 me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
8) Having confident in his promise  (Philippians 1:6)
6: 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:
 
You can rest in God’s Sovereign
 
Joy may be full    (John 15:11)
9.These things have I spoken unto you, that your joy might remain in you, and that your
 joy might be full.
 
Longing for, wanting is waiting for God is your food it’s not what you do for God It’s
what God can do for you when you seek to find him.
 
(Matthews 7:7)
 
7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you:
 
Jesus is like the rain that waters the plants, And the plants receive their nutritious
for growth. We are the caretaker of our own garden making sure that weeds are not
growing around his plants not allowing our garden to be choked, and not become fruitful.
Remember that God is the owner of your vineyard. If we slack as a caretaker we are
allowing the enemy to come in and destroy our hard work. Protect your garden and watch
the Lord make it very fruitful.
Were your heart is there is where your treasure is. The Lord is looking in the hearts of man.
(John 15:45) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
 in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth
forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
 
The more you give to God the more you receive (Proverbs 11:25 ) The liberal soul shall
 be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Pastor Rolando Ramos

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Chastening Of The Lord

"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

INTRODUCTION

1. In encouraging his readers to "run the race that is set before us",
   the author of "The Epistle To The Hebrews" mentions the need for
   endurance...
   a. Suggesting that the "race" will not always be an easy one - He 12:1
   b. Indeed, our "forerunner" Himself had to endure hostility from
      sinners and eventually the cross - He 12:2-3

2. They were reminded that they had yet to endure as much as the
   Lord...
   a. They had "not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin"
      - He 12:4
   b. Though they had earlier endured "a great struggle with
      sufferings" - He 10:32-34
   -- Because persecutions were likely to intensify, they needed
      "endurance" - He 10:35-36

3. To help them in this regard, he reminds them of "The Chastening Of The Lord" by...
   a. Quoting a well-known passage in Proverbs - He 12:5-6
   b. Expounding upon the purpose of the Lord's chastening - He 12:7-11
   -- Understanding how the Lord might use hardships, even
      persecutions, to "chasten" them for their good, would serve to
      encourage them to endure

4. What does the word "chasten" mean?
   a. The Greek word is paideia {pahee-di'-ah}
   b. In the KJV, it is variously translated as "chastening, nurture,
      instruction, chastisement"
   c. Thayer defines the word in this way:
      1) "the whole training and education of children (which relates
         to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this
         purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and
         punishment)"
      2) "whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by
         correcting mistakes and curbing passions"
         a) "instruction which aims at increasing virtue"
         b) "acc. to biblical usage chastisement, chastening, (of the
            evils with which God visits men for their amendment)"

[In this lesson, I wish to focus on "The Chastening Of The Lord",
using this text in Hebrews as the basis for our study.  To begin, let
me stress...]

I. THE "FACT" OF THE LORD'S CHASTENING

   A. SOME DENY THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD...
      1. Believing that a loving God would never bring suffering to His
         children
      2. Believing that any suffering is due solely to the influence of
         Satan
         a. As some have so interpreted the Book of Job
         b. Yet because Satan himself could not do anything unless God
            allowed it, Job's adversity came ultimately from the Lord
            - cf. Job 42:11

   B. THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD...
      1. In the Old Testament:
         a. "You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his
            son, so the LORD your God chastens you." - Deut 8:5
         b. "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor
            detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
            Just as a father the son in whom he delights." - Pr 3: 11-12
      2. In the New Testament:
         a. "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
            But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that
            we may not be condemned with the world." - 1Co 11:31-32
         b. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be
            zealous and repent." - Re 3:19
         c. And of course, our entire text under consideration - He 12: 4-11
            1) Especially verses 7-8
            2) Which state that all of God's children must experience
               chastening!

[The "fact" of the Lord's chastening cannot be questioned by anyone who
accepts the Bible.  At this point, let's consider "how" God might
chasten His children...]

II. THE "HOW" OF THE LORD'S CHASTENING

   A. CHASTENING IN THE FORM OF "INSTRUCTIVE DISCIPLINE"...
      1. There is both "instructive" and "corrective" chastening
         (discipline)
      2. "Instructive" chastening is designed to prevent the need for
         "corrective" chastening
      3. Instructive discipline is seen most often in the form of
         "teaching"
         a. In the form of warnings, admonitions
         b. Thus Jesus could "clean" (purify) His disciples through His
            teaching - Jn 15:2-3
         c. Through His words Jesus sought to chasten the Laodiceans
            - Re 3:15-19
         -- One way, then, that God chastens us is through His Word!
      4. But instructive discipline can also be in the form of
         "tribulation"
         a. In the case of Job...
            1) His suffering was not because he needed correction - cf.
               Job 1:1,8
            2) Yet God allowed it, knowing it would make him better
         b. In the case of the early Christians...
            1) Persecution was looked upon as a form of chastisement
               - cf. He 12:4-6
            2) Their persecution for the cause of Christ was not
               because they were wicked
            3) But God allowed it, knowing that it would make them
               stronger - cf. Ro 5:3-4; Jm 1:2-4; 1Pe 5:8-10
         -- Another way, then, that God chastens us is by allowing
            persecution for Christ's sake!

   B. CHASTENING IN THE FORM OF "CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE"...
      1. When "instructive" discipline is not heeded, "corrective"
         discipline follows
      2. Note the example of Judah and Israel:
         a. Failure to heed God's word would bring judgment upon Judah
            - Am 2:4-5
         b. God made repeated efforts to bring Israel back to Him - Am 4:6-12
         c. Such efforts included famine, drought, pestilence, plague,
            war, earthquakes
            1) These were not miraculous or supernatural events
            2) But acts of nature brought on by the providential
               working of God!
         d. Some understood the value of such affliction - cf. Ps 119: 67,71
      3. What about "corrective" discipline today?
         a. If God would use Providence to encourage Israel to repent
            before it was too late...
            1) Would not the same God use Providence to chastise His
               erring children today?
            2) Does He love us any less?
         b. I know of no scriptural reason why God would not use His
            Providence to bring about events in our lives which serve
            to:
            1) Wake us up
            2) Cause us to reflect on our lives and our relationship to
               God
            3) Encourage us to repent and turn back to Him if we are
               straying
         c. There are several passages which suggest that God might
            bring some form of "corrective" discipline if we do not
            heed His "instructive" discipline...
            1) Some of the Corinthians had already begun to experience
               God's chastisement, which they could have avoided if
               they had "judged" themselves (by heeding His word)
               - 1Co 11:30-32
            2) Jesus spoke of some way in which He would punish some at
               Thyatira that would be evident to all - cf. Re 2:20-23
         -- I therefore have no problem with the idea that God may
            choose to employ corrective discipline in the form of
            national and even personal affliction

[My understanding of a loving God chastening His children is tempered
by my understanding of "why" He does this...]

III. THE "WHY" OF THE LORD'S CHASTENING

   A. CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN DOING SO...
      1. God found it necessary to bring judgment upon Israel - Lam 1: 3-5
      2. It was not something He wanted to do - Lam 3:31-33

   B. WHEN NECESSARY, IT IS FOR OUR GOOD...
      1. To correct us - He 12:9
         a. Our human fathers do so, and we respect them for it
         b. Should we not expect the same from the "Father of spirits",
            and submit to it?
      2. That we may be partakers of His Holiness - He 12:10
         a. Our human fathers do it for what seems best to them
         b. Our heavenly Father does it for a reason that far excels
            any earthly purpose!
      3.  That we may yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness - He 12:11
         a. In the short term, the experience is unpleasant
         b. But in the long term, we benefit by such "training"!

CONCLUSION

1. Whether "corrective" or "instructive" chastisement, it is always for
   our good!
   a. It may be grievous - He 12:11a
   b. But it will produce "the peaceable fruit of righteousness to
      those who have been trained by it" - He 12:11b

2. "Corrective" chastisement can mostly be avoided...
   a. By correcting ourselves - cf. 1Co 11:31-32
   b. Which we can do by taking heed to God's Word - cf. Jn 15:2-3

3. But even when we heed the "instructive" chastisement through the
   Word of God, we may still experience some form of tribulation...
   a. Such as persecution for the cause of Christ
   b. Brought on by Satan, working in and through the world - 1Pe 5: 8-9
   c. Not because we are wicked, but because we are righteous (like
      Job)
   -- Yet God can use even that to provide a form of "instructive"
      discipline, in which the good are made even better!

May the prayer expressed by Peter help us to endure should we
experience such tribulation...

   "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1Pe 5:10-11)

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Lord loves you (Convictions)


The Lord loves you (Convictions)

 

When we surrendered our life to Christ Jesus we became the property of God. Our Lord has modified our hearts to be a window and door for the Lord to monitor our action.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

The word pricked means convicted, a thought of gilt, our the Lord this pleased with you or actions.

Psalms 73:21  Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Saul was convicted and tried to avoid the pricks, but could not shake them from his heart.

Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  

Jesus tells us that he corrects and troubles your heart when he is concern with your spiritual well being.  

Hebrews 12:5-6 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Don't hinder the Holy spirit of God. When it needs to receive the word from the Lord just follow it.    

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

Jesus Christ needed to suffer for us to open a vision to follow the way John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. You will not find a gift greater than what the Lord is given you for them that receive him.

Romans 15:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 7:25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.


Pastor Rolando Ramos