Sunday, September 12, 2021
Not every but all knees shall bow
Every knee shall bow:
I would like to lift out four words in verse 11, “…every knee shall bow.”
Isaiah 45:23 says, “The Word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that to me every knee shall bow.”
Philippians 2:9-11 reads, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Not just some knees, but all knees!
Reach down and touch your knee – that knee will one day bow in complete and total submission to Christ or to God.
Saved knees shall bow
Unsaved knees shall bow
Adult knees shall bow
Teen knees shall bow
Children’s knees shall bow
Rich knees shall bow
Poor knees shall bow
Old knees shall bow
Young knees shall bow
Religious knees shall bow
Atheist knees shall bow
Saddam’s knees shall bow
Bin Laden’s knees shall bow
Hitler’s knees shall bow
The leaders of North Korea and Iran shall bow
And… as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, YOUR knees will one day bow before your creator!
Now, when will this happen? At two different times. God divides all people into only two groups – saved and lost. Christian and non-Christian.
I. THE CHRISTIAN WILL BOW
The Christians is one whose name is written in the Book of life due to receiving Christ as Savior and Lord in his or her lifetime. You will die - be buried – but your soul goes to heaven – then, your body will be raised at rapture – and you appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. There you will bow your knee before Jesus Christ and give an account of your Christian life. You will report on what you did with your life after salvation.
1) Were you baptized?
2) Did you help build the church of God?
3) Did the Word of God have a significant place in your life?
4) Did you practice a serious prayer life?
5) Did you share the gospel with the lost?
YOU WILL BOW YOUR KNEE AND ANSWER TO GOD!
Note Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment.” Look at 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” Read 1 Corinthians 3:13, “Everyman’s work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it.” Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing.” Matthew 12:36 reads, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of in the day of judgment”. Also, we read in Romans 2:16, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
You might as well get ready – you WILL bow your knees before Jesus Christ.
II. THE NON-CHRISTIAN WILL BOW
You will die – then you will be buried – but, your soul will go to hell – When the rapture happens, but will not go to heaven with the redeemed – you will still have 1,000 more years of separation from God.
Finally the door to the pit opens and you rise out – to freedom? No! You will stand in a long line that ends at a Great White Throne. The One on the throne is not a compassionate loving God – not a God of salvation, but a God of wrath and judgment. Before Him stands everyone who ever lived but rejected His only begotten Son. Everyone who tried to get to heaven by good works will be in that line. Everyone who didn’t have time for “religion” will be in that line.
ONE-BY-ONE YOU WILL BOW YOUR KNEES BEFORE GOD!
Only two issues will be discussed – “WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY SON?” and “IS YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?”
Your answer?
A. I was Baptized in a Church
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy has He saved us.” Titus 3:5
B. I Lived a Good, Clean Life
“I am the way, the truth, the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6
C. I Did a Lot of Good Works
“For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph 2:8-9
D. I Was Confirmed in my Church
“In who we have redemption through His blood.” Eph 1:7
E. I Took my First Communion in the Church
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins”. Col 1:14
F. I Spoke in Tongues
“He that believeth on the Son has everlasting life.” John 3:36
G. I Worshipped on Saturday
But I worshipped on Saturday like they did in the Bible. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
Finally, the excuses run out and you will fall to your knees – EVERY KNEE WILL BOW! Certainly, you will want mercy and plead for it. But, at that moment it will be too late. The time for mercy is NOW!!!
Sadly, those at the Great White Throne will hear the words, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity, for I never knew you.”
We read again in Matthew 25:41, “Depart from me you cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Then God turns to the angels and commands, “Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:13
Now, who told us these things about a terrible judgment? Was it some sweat covered, flaming evangelist with the veins standing out on his neck and his voice at fever pitch as he preached? NO! It was the most kind, gentle, loving, compassionate man who ever lived – it was JESUS! He told us the truth because He is TRUTH. In a world of lies, He is the only one who can claim to be TRUTH! He came so that you could escape the judgment. Bow to Him now and accept His love. In fact, if I were here tonight without Christ as my Savior, I would run down this aisle during this invitation and get things right with the God of heaven today. But, you don’t have to run. Just step out and walk forward, and give your life to God through Christ.
In essence, will all prepare now for the manner in which we will bow before Him later.
Grace upon grace
Grace Upon Grace
‘For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]. ‘ John 1:16
The Word is complex, and yet so simple. It is simple when we take the time to learn, read, and ask for God and His wisdom to open our eyes and ears, for a greater understanding. But, even when we do grasp the truth and the meaning in our Father’s Words, we still have much to learn, every day of our lives on earth.
Each time we read a passage or scripture, it may affect us differently from the last time we read it. An entirely new meaning may suddenly come to us, or it might “open up a greater depth” or “intimacy” of understanding with our Father.
We know “He has always existed”.
Psalms 90:2 says it so beautifully, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
We know that is true, because of our faith, and love for Him, and we believe His Word, and His Word states it is true.
But, sometimes it can go beyond our understanding, because of His magnificence and His love toward us.
We are loved by Him, no matter what we look like, or where we come from.
We are His children, no matter our race or our citizenship.
He loves us all.
He deserves all the glory and honor and praise, always. We can be sure that His Sovereign Reign will never end, and that we were created by Him and for Him.
Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
In His infinite glory and power, He wants us to be with Him forever, and has given us His “book of instructions” to follow. And when we do, everything will make sense.
May the superabounding grace for our Lord be with you today.
John 3:16, “For God loved the world so much that He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Be Greatly Blessed!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your superabounding grace?
Thank you for giving me strength in my areas of weakness.
Thank you for blessings me in the dry areas of my life.
Thank you for shining your favor upon me, when I face difficult people and situations.
For your grace turns evil into good.
One Word from you is more than enough to turn things around.
I’ll abide by your promises today. I’ll draw from your grace and not from my own strength.
Praise your Name Lord! For you alone are the author and finisher of my faith.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
AMEN!
Saturday, September 11, 2021
My God is my Rock
My God Is My Rock And Shield
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My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:3)
Dear beloved, let the Lord be your rock and shield today. In God, you’ll find power, protection and salvation.
Do not rely on the shaky foundation the world provides. Instead, let God be your place of safety, your refuge and strength.
As you face new challenges each day, God will be the shield that protects you as you continue charging ahead on the path He has prepared for you.
He is the Rock of ages. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He’s not one who says one thing today, only to change His tune tomorrow.
For His Words are true and will not return to Him void.
You can trust in His love, His power, His mercy, His grace, His wisdom, and His promises.
Place your faith in Him for He’ll surely deliver you from the curses of the world and free you from the snares of the enemy.
His favor surrounds you like a shield, keeping you safe from the ill intentions of the evil one.
Call on Him, and He’ll answer you. He’s nearer than your breath and closer than your heartbeat.
Count on the strength of the Lord and stand firm on the Rock of ages.
Let God be your foundation today.
Be Greatly Blessed!
Action Steps:
Let God and Jesus’ finished work be the foundation of your faith.
Do not put your trust in worldly things as they rot and decay.
Instead, lay your treasures in the Kingdom of God.
Let God be your rock and your shield.
Let’s pray…
Prayer:
Father, things may change in the world, but I rest secure with you as my rock.
Your love for me never changes. With you as my protection, there’s truly nothing to fear.
I take refuge under the shadow of your wings. Your favor surrounds me as a shield.
Even when I slip and fall, I can be sure that you’ll be there to catch me, for you are my savior.
I’ll trust in you today and not in worldly things. For regimes rise and fall, earthly riches will pass away, but you O Lord, will always be the same loving Father.
Teach me to lean on you more and more each day as I grow in my faith.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
AMEN!
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