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Today is Tuesday October 26, 2010 and we are reading through and studying the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Luke, chapters 12-13. In these chapters we will read about, Jesus warning about hypocrisy, greed, and material things, Jesus teaching in the synagogues, Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath, more parables, and entering the straight gate. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-26

Today's Message: Death Is Not Final
No one wants to think about death, it's a bit scary to think that today might be your last day living, death is so final, the end of everything, well, at least that is what the world wants to think. However, the truth is this, death is not final, when the flesh gives out and the spirit of life within a person leaves, there is something left, a soul. The soul has one of two places to go, heaven or hell, it will spend eternity in one of these two places. If a person ends up in heaven, this is known as eternal life and all who have eternal life see Jesus face to face. If a person ends up in hell, this is known as the second death and this is what happens to any person who is not written in the Book of life. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away...He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:4,7,8.

Throughout Jesus' ministry multitudes of people would just flock to see Him, some where true believers by faith, even before they saw Him, some were not quite sure if they believed, but when they saw Him became true believers, and some did not believe at all and were probably there looking for ways to try yo expose Him as some type of illusionist. One day, there was so many people trying to see Jesus that they began stomping over each other. “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” - Luke 12:1-5.

There are two types of fear, first, there is the fear of God, which means giving respect to God, second, there is the fear that we all know and that is to be afraid of. Jesus is saying here there is something more to fear than death, it is Satan, who has the power to cast people into hell. God is not the one who sends people to hell, God sent Jesus to save not destroy, only Satan sends people to hell. “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” - Luke 9:56a. Jesus knows who believe, who just need a little encouragement, and who are Satan's deceivers, no one who is saved has to fear Satan or death because they are one with God. “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” - Luke 12:7-9.

I was watching this program last night, someone was killed, one detective said, I hate when rich people die, a second one said, yeah because someone is always willing to kill for money. Can you imagine how many people are actually killed in the world due to money? It is the root of all evil and will be the root of the second death for many. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” - I Timothy 6:9,10.

As Jesus was preaching a man stopped Him and asked Him, to tell someone give them part of his inheritance. “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth....And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment....For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ” - Luke 12:15,22,23,30-32.

The word covet means to desire wrongfully, God has no problem seeing someone receive riches for their hard work, but do it deceitfully and that is when He gets angry. When you have Jesus in your life you do not have to worry about getting the things you need, God will supply. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19.

Jesus will save anyone from hell, but He will not do it unless we ask Him to save us, there are many who think that being good will get them to heaven, but that is now what gets us to heaven. There is only One Way and that is Jesus. Jesus explains this further, “And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” - Luke 13:24-27.

The straight gate is believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, accepting that you are a sinner and trusting in Him to save you and take you to heaven. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” - I John 5:12-15. Praise God!

I am self employed and right now barely making any money, but God never fails to give me just the amount of money that I am in need of, it might not be how much I desire, but He is providing for me and as long as I keep pressing forward in faith I will one day get the money I need for some of the other things I desire. God know what we need and when the time is right to give it to us, trust in Him, not the circumstances, He Will Supply.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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