Mark 10:35 “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Do you remember when you first became a Christian? You were so excited to go to church and learn about God. You wanted to do what ever you could to further the Kingdom. Then the criticism came from “older” Christians and your fire began to wane. You had to make a decision to continue or not. If you continued you might get the left foot of fellowship or you could be part of the “group”. It was a hard decision because you loved Jesus for all that He did for you.

The Bible has always commanded us to follow after God. He said the way is narrow and straight and few find it. What do you do? Each person must decide what they are going to do. No one can make that decision for you. We are the image and likeness of God, having the knowledge of good and evil.

God woke me up with the scripture Matthew 20:20-23. John and James came to Jesus with their mother to ask a favor. They wanted to sit on the right hand and left hand of Jesus            when He entered heaven. Jesus told them that they don’t know what they are asking for. He asked them, “are you willing to be baptized into My baptism.”  They said yes. Then Jesus turned to me and said, ” Are you willing to be baptized into My baptism.” I knew what He meant and couldn’t give Him an answer right away. It took three days to count to cost and make up my mind. I have never regretted it. What would you decide to do?

2 Timothy 2:1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.”

I hear reports from different sources saying different things but all saying the same thing. We need more education so people can get better jobs. We need tougher laws to stop the criminals. We need gun control to stop the killing. We need better politicians to run the government. We more money to live a better life. We need, we need, we need, we need, and we need more.

In 1983, the U.S. Congress passed a law declaring the Year of the Bible in the United States. Gallup Poll took a survey of the American people to find out what they wanted the most. To everyone’s surprise, what the American people wanted was love, joy and peace, the first three gifts of the Holy Spirit. In that single year, the gross national product of the United States increased more than it had in the previous 20 years. Churches began to fill up and people recognized their need for Jesus. Christianity was accepted as the norm for American life.

Life isn’t controlled by the world. It isn’t money, power, greed, acquiring things, or controlling armies. What is so different from 1983 and now? There is no difference at all. But today everything is going to hell in hand basket.  “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Look in the mirror and see the truth in your life. What do you see and can you say that you have endure hardness as a good soldier.

Matthew 16:1 “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 

Every year families gather together for the Christmas season. All wanting to be with their family and share the food and fellowship. My family, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and my mother and father would gather at one of the three sister’s home for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. As we got older, wives, sweethearts and children were added to the occasion. It filled our homes with laughter, loud talking, and the smell of food. We are nine first cousins ,all guys, and we played baseball outside. Mom and her two sisters planned these events every year without fail. When they started it included their aunts and uncles and my grandparents. Our celebration has dwindled to just my immediate family. Our lives went in different directions. We are scattered across the country. My whole family can be hard to take sometimes but they are my family. I love them very much. The only sister left is my aunt who is ninety-five years old. She doesn’t recognize alot these days. I went to visit her in the hospital and began to laugh and she said I know that is Crain. Jesus came to earth to give us hope and joy to live this life. We remember once a year the birth of our savior, but look around and see the people. They need the joy and hope brought to us by that little baby. Jesus came for people. It is the only thing that will leave this earth and go to heaven. Stop looking at this world and see the signs of the times.

Matthew 18:1 “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Believing in something or someone is as simple as saying yes. Children do it all the time. They see something real and say yes. Their faith is as strong as any thing on earth. That is why Jesus said we must become as children to enter the kingdom of heaven. It doesn’t take anymore than the belief in Jesus for God to forgive us our sins. When Nicodemus was talking to Jesus, he couldn’t reason his way into heaven. How can a man be born again? God didn’t make it difficult to get into heaven, and people still argue with God about it. The faith of a child is all that is needed and you will enter the kingdom of God.

Joh 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Rom.5:7-8 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, with His disciples to pray. He was going to face the biggest task that God layed out before Jesus. Jesus didn’t want to die but he knew that God’s plan wouldn’t go forward if he didn’t. The bible said Jesus sweat blood. It was the hardest decision he made on earth. Jesus prayed three different times for God to let him live. In the end He accepted God’s will for his life. Honor and Integrity is seeing the truth and choosing it even if it kills you. Jesus went to the cross with grace and joy. He knew that God’s plan would be fulfilled in his life and in ours.

Honor and integrity are two old fashion words that don’t seem to mean much these days. Many people lived and died by these words. I’ve always been taught that you say what you mean and mean what you say, honor and integrity. It is just like the difference between ethics and morals. Ethics are what you believe in the situation. Morals are doing what is right because it is right not because it is convenient. God’s word is the right thing to do. It is not always easy, but it has always been simple. People have faith in God because He has honor and integrity. God wants us to be able to learn from His word. So we will be able to live the life He has planned for us.

When I began I always thought that prayer was hard and mostly impossible to reach God. But every time I asked God for something, it seemed to show up at my doorstep. The first time I prayed for someone, I was cornered into doing it. I didn’t know whether or not would answer me. I said, “Ok, God do something.”  Guess what happened, God healed the person immediately. It surprised me so much that I began to test God. I prayed for stupid things, headaches, pains, shirts, and whatever came to mind that I needed. By the way, there are no stupid things when it comes to pray. God said He would give us the Kingdom here on earth as well as in Heaven. God kept answering me and showing me that He was listening. Then I wanted to hear His voice and to know it was Him. I like the King James English version bible. God would speak to me through a scripture in King James English. For a long time that was how I heard His voice. Then God spoke to me plainly. I heard that still small voice in my heart and knew it truly was God. My prayer began to change into a constant conversation with my Father. This is what I always wanted, a real relationship with my Father, my older brother, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I am not usual or strange. God kept telling me I am an average Christian.

I have added a new study of the new testament. New Testament Survey#2