Old Testament prophecies…

Direct quotes from the Old Testament in Matthew:

1:22-23 Isaiah 7:14 (virgin birth)

2:5-6 Micah 5:2 (born in Bethlehem)

2:14-15 Hosea 11:1 (called out of Egypt)

2:16-18 Jeremiah 31:15 (murder of the innocents)

4:13-16 Isaiah 9:1-2 (lived in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali)

8:16-17 Isaiah 53:4 (healing the sick)

10:34-36 Micah 7:6 (His truth will cause division)

11:9-10 Malachi 3:1 (John the Baptist)

12:18-21 Isaiah 42:1-4 (obscure start to ministry)

13:14-15 Isaiah 6:9-10 (spiritually blind will miss the truth)

13: 34-35 Psalm 78:2 (speak in parables)

15:6-9 Isaiah 29:13; Malachi 2:2 (man-made rules of religious leaders)

21: 4-7 Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 62:11 (entering Jerusalem on a donkey)

21:15-16 Psalm 8:2 (triumphal entry)

27:3-10 Jeremiah 32:6-9; Zechariah 11:12-13 (betrayed for 30 pieces of silver)

If Jesus only fulfilled these prophecies, we would have solid proof that He is the Messiah. But He did much more than prove Who He was when He came the first time. Jesus is our Savior, King, and Creator and He is coming back…likely much sooner than most people think. In today’s world, most people don’t think He was real and if they do believe that He is Who the Bible says He is, they’re not sure what to do with that information.

God provided the sacrifice to pay for the sins of man, and humanity in general, but most of the world doesn’t want to believe the Truth of God’s Word. Everyone seems to want to “create” their own “god” that is comfortable and acceptable to them. The problem with this is…we are created in His Image and His creation shouldn’t create a god in their image. That is given as a commandment! The first commandment!

We have been given His grace and mercy, neither of which we deserve but because of His love for us, we have received them in abundance. I pray that anyone who is looking for a Savior will read these scriptures and seek Jesus to be your Savior. I don’t believe the world will have to wait much longer to have the proof of God’s existence because the church will soon be gone. I can’t give you dates or years but with everything that is happening in and around Israel, the prophecies in Ezekiel and in the first few chapters of Revelation are about to come true.

There are some beautiful places

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I think Scotland would be a good place.

We don’t know what is waiting for us but…

He gives us peace

God cares for you in everything

What kind of peace?

Have you ever wondered what kind of peace is available to us? People search for “peace” most of their lives but they can’t tell you what kind of peace they are searching for. Most of them couldn’t tell you if you asked every person as a survey, “What kind of peace are you searching for?”. All of us know this feeling. When we are in high school we usually begin to feel this but we may not realize exactly what it is. Where is it pointing us? What direction is this feeling taking us in? Sometimes, we take the wheel in a manner of speaking and push our lives in one direction or another. Occasionally we get it right, find our vocation and calling in the same place, and feel satisfied. Although many people never find their place in the world and they never feel fulfilled in their life.

This is the time when we begin to search for meaning and purpose in our lives. Where should we look? The only place you will find real peace is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Read God’s Word, especially the New Testament, because it is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Nearly every prophecy that was written in the Old Testament has been fulfilled except for the Kingdom of Jesus on Earth and that is coming. The Tribulation and the Antichrist have not yet begun but they are coming too. The “taking up” of the Church hasn’t happened yet…but it could happen at any time.

It is amazing to me how many people in church have the most bored attitudes that show on their faces. I’ve seen them on television and from the pulpit but all of them have the same expression. No one seems to be the least bit joyful or happy about their salvation or the message being brought to them. God loves all of us and hearing about His grace and mercy, that we don’t deserve, should bring some semblance of joy and peace. Seek the Prince of peace and learn what real peace is.

Don’t neglect discipline

Ask the thief…

The three men who were crucified together that day had never met before but when the thief asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His Kingdom, Jesus said “You will be with Me in Paradise today”. He didn’t need to know about his background or any of his personal history. All Jesus needed was his faith and his belief in Who He was. That is all He needs from you today if you will believe like the thief on the cross.

Do you live worthy of your calling?

Paul the Apostle wrote this many years ago but is relevant today: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1

As Christians, we are called by Jesus to become one of His disciples. Not to become rich or famous but to live your life so that anyone around you can see that there is something different about you. Yes, we are called to be different from the world around us because the people that we meet every day need to know Jesus Christ. Some of them do know Him but many don’t and if we don’t live and breathe any differently than the rest of the world…what will show them that our life is different or better than we used to be?

Considering the sacrifice and the torture that Jesus went through for our salvation, there is no way we can repay Him except by living our lives walking with Him every day. It is the least we can do for Him since He did so much for all of us long before we were born. God had a plan for your life and mine and we should walk according to His Word every day with the Holy Spirit leading us because we can’t do it on our own.

Many have made sacrifices to live for Jesus and many more will do so before the Kingdom begins at the end of the Tribulation but it will be worth it! God’s grace and mercy are ours according to His promises when we accept Jesus as our Savior and eternity with Him is the promise I’m looking forward to. Amen? Make sure of your eternity before your “end of days” comes because we don’t know when that day is.