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Judgement Day

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“And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done, Good and bad they’ll all be had to see by everyone” – Amy Grant, My Father’s Eyes.

There will come a day when we will stand before God, whether or not you believe in Him or not, we all will stand before Him and have to give an account for everything we have done, the good, the bad, the ugly, all of it.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 – “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (NIV).

2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  This has to happen before God can create the new Heaven and new earth.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32For 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.”  

The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial brought this to mind. The entire world is hearing and seeing all the bad in their relationship. The accusations toward each other, the emotional and physical abuse, all the dirt is just out there for us all to see. I can’t imagine the stress and judgement of the world they must be feeling on just these chapters of their lives. Pray for all those involved. And one day that’s how it will be for us, standing before God and everyone to see the good and bad we have done. It won’t be just a few things, it will be everything!

But unlike what Johnny and Amber are experiencing, we have a God who has provided a way out of God’s judgment. (and if they are willing to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness, He will forgive them) When we stand before God on Judgement Day if we have Jesus in our hearts, as our Lord and Savior, His blood covering us, that’s all God will see, His Son’s blood and we will have eternity with Him. As we live our lives day to day we are writing the story of our lives. We all have the opportunity while we are living here today to repent an ask for God’s forgiveness. Then God will wipe out all the bad and only remember the good things we have done. Hebrews 10:17Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 

It’ll be too late on judgement day to ask for forgiveness. The time is now, today is the day. Why wait? God isn’t trying to keep from having fun. He is offering you freedom and eternity now.

If God doesn’t love us, why would He provide a way out for us. It’s God’s desire that all come to Him, 1 Timothy 2:3-4 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (emphasis mine).

Where do you want to be on that day? The time is now to ask for forgiveness.

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Joy of the Lord is My Strength

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Nehemiah 8:10 – “… the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Ever wondered what that really means? How can the the Lord’s joy be our strength? Well, first we need to look at the who, when, where and why of the passage. We need to read the chapters and verses before it. So, let’s journey through the passages.

Most scholars believe The book of Nehemiah was written by Nehemiah himself. Nehemiah exhibited exceptional leaderships qualities and he was a man of prayer. He depended deeply on God and knew how to draw strength and assurance from Him. Nehemiah was a volunteer of sorts. He was deeply affected by the dismal state of Jerusalem and I believe God used this to move Nehemiah forward in rebuilding the wall and spiritually restoring the people of Israel.

“… the joy of the Lord is your strength

Nehemiah 8:10

Without going into too much background, I just want to look at verse 10 – “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” How does the Lord’s joy give me strength?

Chapter 8 starts with Ezra, a leader of the Jews on the first day of the seventh month read the law to an assembly of people, men, women and children, and all who were able to understand. As they listened to Ezra the people began to weep for they knew how disobedient they had been to God. This was known as the Feasts of Trumpets. Everyone was to stop working and remember the Lord. Everyone started out praising and worshipping God. As Ezra continued to read the law, they wept and mourned because they became aware of how disobedient they had been. The reading and receiving of the law was to be a joyous time. God’s Word has the power to convict, convert and revive and we can be joyous when we are convicted because true conviction leads to repentance and restoration with God. “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT). When we repent and change we are restored and that brings us JOY! GOD’S JOY!

How happy are you when someone you’ve hurt forgives you? Have had to repent to someone for hurting them, especially someone you love? When you realize what you have done and feel bad, or sorrowful and want to make things right, you go to that person, apologize and ask for forgiveness. When that person forgives you, you both are so happy and the relationship is restored. How happy have you been when someone apologizes for hurting you?

In Zepahnaih 3:17 – The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” God is love – 1 John 4:8 & 16 1 John 4:8 – But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:16 – We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  John 3:16 – For God so Loved the world, He gave His only Son (paraphrased).

He will take great delight in you … will rejoice over you with singing.’

Zepahnaih 3:17

All we have to do is receive that forgiveness and His love!!! He takes joy in us when we turn from our sin and and are deeply sorry for what we have done. It is a time of restoration and a time to celebrate like people did in verse 10 of Nehemiah. Because God is joyful in my repentance I can draw strength from that.