THE PEARL

" ...the kindom of heaven is like a merchant, seeking beautiful pearls,

...who, when he had found one pearl of great value...

"...went and sold all that he had and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46


Why is this story in the Bible? How is this example like "the kingdom of God?" The secret is knowing the identity of the players in the story?

The merchant, is Jesus Christ! because a man, gave up everything He had, offered His life as payment? He laid done His life .

But what is it that has such great importance to Him ?  What does the pearl represent ...?

You are the pearl Jesus died on the cross, He surrendered Himself...for you! Do you! know that your salvation was bought at a great price? This is just how valuable you are to God!

Dont ever let anyone let you feel that you are worthless. Jesus gave up everything for you, He sacfificed Himself for you ! You are very important to God --you are needed for His kindgom. You have a purpose in God !


 This is just how priceless you are to Him! God gave up this only son so that  "whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life, ( JOHN 3:16)
 This is how much He loves you! He surrendred everything for the price of your soul, He asks us to surrender ourselves completely to Him.
 God will heal you --He will deliver you from every problem-- He will care for you --as a precious pearl of great value.

 He has paid the price for your salvation! The work is done! Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior!

Say this simple prayer from your heart

Lord Jesus, you are almighty God. I want you to be Lord of my life, I am a sinner, I am not righteous and have fallen short of your great glory. But I believe that you have paid the price for my sin.
Your death on the cross,
The shedding of your precious blood washes away my sin.
I want you to be my savior, my lord, my friend.
Come into my heart now, Lord Jesus, set me free from the prison of my sin.
And because I believe in you Jesus", I shall not die, but have everlasting life. Thank you Jesus!"
 And now that you have asked Jesus into your heart --go and tell others this Good News-- that God loves us and cares for us all!

God Bless you and welcome to the family of God... !

Choosing to rely on God

1 Chronicles 4:10, we read: "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."

This prayer is composed of four parts. #1 Jabez asking God to bless him. #2, Jabez asked God to enlarge his territory or increase his responsibility. #3, Jabez prayed that God will be with him and stay close. And #4 Jabez asked that God keep him from harm so that he will be free from pain and cause no pain.


The Prayer of Jabez reminds us that everybody struggles with choosing to relying totally on God. Whether you are a focused Christian
or just searching to find out more about God, life is a growing process. It is very clear in reviewing the Prayer of Jabez, that God is faithful in caring for those who seek Him. Jabez sets a great example of how God wants everyone to come to Him through constant and passionate prayer. If you are looking to start a relationship with God or improve your existing relationship with Him, start with prayer. God answers prayers when you trust Him (1 Chronicles 5:20). Prayers to God also please Him (Proverbs 15:8). We can all learn from Jabez and faithfully pray to God always in everything that we do. Amen.

Passover Seder

When God Lays You On His Threshing Floor

GOD'S PURPOSE

Step 1

GOD'S PURPOSE:  PEACE & ETERNAL LIFE

God loves you, and He wants you to live in peace with Him and to receive eternal life.

The Bible says...

"we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  -ROMANS 5:1

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son. that whoever believes in Him

should not perish but have ever lasting life." - John 3:16 (NKJV)

"...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." ROMANS 6:23

Since God planned for us to be at peace with Him and to have eternal life, why are many people not enjoying this experience?

Step 2

OUR PROBLEM:

SIN & SEPARATION

God did ot make us robots to mindlessly love and obey Him. Instead He gave us a will and freedom of choice.

But, like Adam, we often choose to disobey God and go our own selfish ways (read Genesis chapters 2-3). Ths side of our nature is called sin. and it separates us from God.

The Bible says...

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... the wages of sin is death" ROMANS 3;23;6;23

"Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden..." GENESIS 3:23 (KJV)

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" ISAIAH 59:2(NKJV)

 Our sin separates us from God

Step 3

GOD'S REMEDY:

                                       THE CROSS

Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem of separation from God. He died on the cross and rose from the grave to pay the penalty for our sin-completely bridging the gap between us and God.

The Bible says...

    But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" -ROMANS 5:8

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved"

 - ACTS 4:12

"...God is on one side and all the peole on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together..."  -1TIMOTHY 2:5 (TLB)

"I tell you the turth, whoever hears my works (Jesus) and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemmed: he has crossed over from death to live." 

 -JOHN 5:23

God has provided the only way.... and we must make the choice...

Step 4

OUR RESPONSE;

RECEIVE CHRIST

 We can receive Jesus Christ when we believe in His message and trust in Him alone to save us.

The Bible says...

"All the prophets testifly about Him that very one who believes in Him (Jesus Christ ) receives forgiveness of sins through His name" -ACTS 10;43

"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God"  -JOHN 1:12

How to Receive Christ

1) Admit your need ( I am a sinner).

              2) Be willing to turn from your sins ( repent)

3)Believe that Jesus Christ died fro you on the cross and rose from the grave,

4)Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy spirit (Receive Him as your Savior.)

What to pray

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am sinful and I need your forgiveness, I believe that you died to pay the penalty for my sin. I want to turn from my sin nature and follow you instead, I invite you to come into my heart and life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

God's Assurance: His Word

If you sincerelty prayed this prayer and asked Jesus Christ to come into your life, do you know what He has given you?

Your New Life

When you receive Christ, you are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer... this is call regeneration or "new birth" God bless you as you begin your new life in Christ.

The Bible Says.... "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

 ROMANS 10:13

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who beleive in the name of the Son of God, that you many know that you have  eternal life..."

-JOHN 5:12-13 (NKJV)

"Therefore since we have been justified through faith,  we have peace with God throught our Lord Jesus Christ"

By Billy Graham.

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