Saturday, August 6, 2011

Divine Plan Delivers Man-Ed Welch & Shawn Smith

Have you ever really stopped to consider the depth of God's love for you personally? Even as believers we tend to forget at times how much he truly loves us. Sadly millions today still don't believe that God even knows about them much less loves them. The fact is God is all knowing and even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Nothing escapes him or is ever hidden from him. God's plan all along for man was to redeem him from the curse of the law by sending his only Son to die on a tree. He then arose so you could be free! King David who God said was a man after his own heart once said this, "BLESS THE LORD OH MY SOUL AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME. WHO FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES, WHO HEALETH ALL THY DISEASES, WHO REDEEMETH THY LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION, WHO CROWNETH THEE WITH LOVINGKINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES (Psalm 103:1:3-4)."

So how can we know for sure that God truly loves us? Just look what the Apostle Paul said about God's love, "BUT GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US. MUCH MORE THEN BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM (Romans 5:8-9)." God not only loves you he is love. He proved it by sending his only Son to die on a cross for you. There's no need to ever doubt his love again. Any time you waver remember Jesus hanging in agony on that tree. Amazingly he did it all for you and for me. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God. Let there be no doubt love is what God's all about.

You see God always knew you and I would need salvation. Long before Adam and Eve sinned in the garden he had a divine plan to deliver man. Remember what Jesus said on the cross just before he breathed his last? He said, "It is finished." He paid the ultimate price and knew exactly what he came to do. Never forget on the cross he was thinking of you. Feelings come and go but we live by faith and not by sight. The fact is God never changes no matter what you and I may be going through. GOD'S PLAN 4 MAN is posted on our website. Please visit our HOME PAGE at WWW.FULLASSURANCEMINISTRIES.COM today to assure your salvation is fully secure. The Apostle John once said we write these things so that you may "know" you have eternal life.

In addition to GOD'S PLAN 4 MAN posted there Ed Welch, a founding FAM board member, also encourages three vital steps to walking with God. After receiving Jesus as Lord we need to then, "Walk in the light and confess our sins to God (1 John 1:7-9)." Secondly we must obey, "God's commandment to love God and man (Matt 22:37-39)." And thirdly we should develop an eternal perspective in life because eternity awaits so always remember, "God has prepared a place for you to dwell with him (John 14:2-3 & Revelation 21 & 22)." Incredibly all true believers will live with God forever some day! Make sure you're there open your heart and receive him today.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Difficult Days Wayward Ways-Shawn Smith

Have you ever wondered why things in life many times make no sense at all? Once again we learn of yet another senseless tragedy. As you know by now last Friday a deranged man in Norway went on a shooting rampage killing nearly 100 people saying afterward he was simply trying to save Europe then calmly pleaded not guilty. He now claims that two other groups of allies stand ready to join his murderous campaign. Once again we see someone acting out in a way that horribly defies any human logic or reason. How could someone ever do such a thing we wonder and ask ourselves will the madness ever end?

God has clearly revealed to us in his word that in the last days perilous times will come. The human condition will become so corrupt he will eventually have to bring judgment again to earth just as he did in the days of Noah. Here's what God revealed to us in the apostle Paul's second letter to young Timothy, "THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCE BREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD (2 Tim 3:1-3)." Does this sound familiar today?

As you know Noah was a prophet of God called in his day to warn the people of impending judgment. If they would listen to his message they would be saved but if not they would be destroyed. Look what God had to say about the condition of mankind in those days, "AND GOD SAW THAT THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT IN THE EARTH AND THAT EVERY IMAGINATION OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY. AND IT REPENTED THE LORD THAT HE HAD MADE MAN ON THE EARTH, AND IT GRIEVED HIM AT HIS HEART (Genesis 6:5-6)." The sin of Noah's day broke God's heart. Only Noah and his family were saved but the rest of mankind perished in the flood.

The people of Noah's day had become so sinful that they just wouldn't listen. He had provided a way of escape through one righteous man but they wouldn't hear. Many today continue ignoring the signs of the times in our day. And once again it is breaking God's heart. Look what Jesus himself had to say, "FOR AS WERE THE DAYS OF NOAH SO WILL BE THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. FOR AS IN THOSE DAYS BEFORE THE FLOOD THEY WERE EATING AND DRINKING, MARRYING AND GIVING IN MARRIAGE, UNTIL THE DAY WHEN NOAH ENTERED THE ARK AND THEY WERE UNAWARE UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME AND SWEPT THEM ALL AWAY. SO WILL BE THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN (Matthew 24:37-39)." The King is coming again and he said to always watch and pray. Will we be ready that day or caught looking the other way?

Monday, July 4, 2011

Flagrant Lies Lasting Prize-Shawn Smith

Recently I sat on my couch with my favorite remote flipping through a myriad of channels looking for something in vain to temporarily escape reality. Eventually joined by my son in my quest for relief we began discussing the true meaning of life and just how far we've fallen in recent years as a nation. Are the messages infiltrating our homes today ones our American patriots would be proud of when they won independence for us over 200 years ago? Is this really the type of freedom they envisioned and were fighting for? Was their dream for us somehow to enjoy anything and everything anytime we please on the world wide web?

Sadly what were both once considered a positive source of information have increasingly become a smorgasbord of corruption and deceit. As we celebrate our independence today all across America I can't help but ask are we truly free? It seems we're now enslaved by an unseen enemy dressed in disguise and we've fallen for lies. We've been asleep in the light. It's time to arise and get our eyes on the prize. As believers we've been freely forgiven but do we really appreciate all we've been given?

Look what the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "BRETHREN I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE. I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 3:13-14)." In his day Paul overcame all the lies by eyeing an eternal prize! You and I today are facing an onslaught of deception and misinformation. Do we see our demise just where are our eyes?

Our freedoms here are now seriously at stake both as a nation and individually as well. Godliness is on the decline and only the truth will set us free. Look what Jesus himself had to say to the church in Laodicea one day and quite possibly to you and I and the church in America today, "I KNOW THY WORKS THAT THOU ART NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WOULD THOU WERE COLD OR HOT (Revelation 3:15). In his message he also counsels us to buy from him gold tried in the fire so we'll truly be rich! He then tells us to be zealous and repent. Deception today is clearly on the rise will we fight to win an everlasting prize?

Monday, June 13, 2011

Comforting Shower Supernatural Power-Shawn Smith

Have you noticed lately that God's moving on the earth and in his people? Hopefully you've experienced him moving in your life personally lately in deep and powerful ways. That is my prayer for you. Recently after dropping my wife and daughter off at the airport I experienced that very thing. Usually for me it begins with a worship song and that's how it began this time as well. When I arrived home I felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness knowing how I'd miss them until the day when they would finally return. I also feel a similar pain and longing within often for family and friends who have moved on in life. I long to be reunited with them all one day in person as well.

Isn't that the way it is often for you and I as believers? If we really love the Lord we miss him dearly and long for his return. The closer we get to him the more we miss him and want to see him. He's done it all for us and we want to thank him and worship him in person at his feet. I eventually ended up that morning on my knees sobbing simply overwhelmed realizing just how much I would really miss them. It was through those tears I felt God's presence and comfort in a very powerful and wonderful way. He made himself real to me once again like only he can do!

I love what the apostle Paul wrote about the comfort God gives us in all our suffering in his second letter to the church in Corinth when he said this, "ALL PRAISE TO GOD THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD IS OUR MERCIFUL FATHER AND THE SOURCE OF ALL COMFORT. HE COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS. WHEN THEY ARE TROUBLED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE SAME COMFORT THAT GOD GIVES US. FOR THE MORE WE SUFFER FOR CHRIST, THE MORE GOD WILL SHOWER US WITH HIS COMFORT THROUGH CHRIST (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)." Paul goes on to say how that as a result of the overwhelming trouble he faced in Asia Minor he learned to patiently endure by relying totally on God who raises the dead!

I recently heard a powerful and humbling message by Ray Bentley. He's the Pastor of Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, CA. He was teaching on the suffering of the church in Smyrna. He shared with us how today in Tehran, Iran young Pastors there ministering in Evin Prison are suffering great persecution. They are risking their very lives for the sake of the gospel as are many others there in the region and around the world. Look what Jesus said in his letter to the church in Smyrna, "I KNOW ABOUT YOUR SUFFERING AND YOUR POVERTY BUT YOU ARE RICH. I KNOW THE BLASPHEMY OF THOSE OPPOSING YOU. THEY SAY THEY ARE JEWS BUT THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THEIR SYNAGOGUE BELONGS TO SATAN (Revelation 2:9)." Please pray for the believers in Iran and those around the world as well being persecuted today for their faith. And whatever you're personally suffering today know he's there for you too! Trust in Jesus he loves you he'll see you through.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thank You For Visiting!

Greetings to you here in the US and to you in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Canada, France, Iran, Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands! We're so glad you found us from wherever you are today. God loves you and he sent his one and only Son to prove it. We're saved by grace through faith in Christ alone not by works lest any man should boast. We're praying for you and for those nearest and dearest to you. Please visit our website to learn more about us and about God's love and plan for your life. We encourage you to read all of our recent blogs posted here at your leisure and we pray you are truly blessed by them. Thank you for visiting us may the LORD bless you and keep you and cause his face to shine upon you!