VCF Christian Fellowship

[Red Sky at Morning]

Jonathan Edwards: "Sinners in the hands of an angry God..."

I had an emotional response to seeing this teaching posted up… I found it quite a challenge as it jarred with many modern presentations of the Gospel. And yet… that is the message the Bible clearly teaches.

When I think about how I finally repented and gave my life to the Lord it was more like the feeling Isaiah had coming before the holiness of God than a curious interest in how God loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life!!!

I also listened to a more modern presentation of the truth of man’s state this morning:

Law to the haughty, grace to the humble.

 

[JoChris]

I find these types of verses very convicting and comforting:
Am I actually walking in love, not just thinking or saying?

Just as well immediately after I am reassured that Jesus loved us (first) and gave His life for us, or I would stay feeling self-condemned and falling short of the glory of God!

 

[Red Sky at Morning]

 

[e-Enoch]

View attachment 85199

Satan, the devil is the father of lies. There is no truth in him...

 

[e-Enoch]

View attachment 85198

I find these types of verses very convicting and comforting:
Am I actually walking in love, not just thinking or saying?

Just as well immediately after I am reassured that Jesus loved us (first) and gave His life for us, or I would stay feeling self-condemned and falling short of the glory of God!

Love... is the badge of every true Christian...

 

[Lyfe]

You have said, “SEEK my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I SEEK.” Psalm 27:8

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground,
FOR IT IS THE TIME TO SEEK THE LORD,
that he may come and RAIN righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12

Lamentations 3:25-26
English Standard Version
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
TO THE SOUL WHO SEEKS HIM.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

Hebrews 11:6
English Standard Version
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.

I love those who love me, and THOSE WHO SEEK ME DILIGENTLY FIND ME. Proverbs 8:17

Matthew 7:7-8
English Standard Version
Ask, and It Will Be Given
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; SEEK, AND YOU WILL FIND; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, AND THE ONE WHO SEEKS FINDS, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; HE KNOWS THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM. Nahum 1:7

 

[Lyfe]

 

[JoChris]

I went to the funeral of an elderly man from our church on Friday. Although there was understandable sadness from B's relatives and close friends, it felt completely different to my own father's funeral last May.

Our pastor held the service and he mentioned the Gospel from time to time. Hope was expressed that all Christians who knew B would see him again in Heaven. The family was able to reminisce about all his quirks and his VERY loud voice.
His wife and daughters were remarkably brave and calm. I pray that they continue to receive God's strength and peace when the grief finally does hit them all properly.

 

[Lyfe]

God's word says that he would teach his people to fear him. Modern society is greatly offended at this notion and contends its leading to nihilism( societal rejection of God and his ways). The great irony is that every parent and authority in the house teaches their kids to respect and revere them for their OWN good and also for the good of OTHERS. How often are children kept from harming themselves and others just by fearing the repercussions of their parents? If some other kid comes to them with a mischievous idea they know in the back of their mind that they cannot do this and still have peace with their parents. The same is true with God when he convicts someone before they give into to whatever evil is seducing them! He will convict his children beforehand through the indwelling holy spirit!

People who always immerse themselves in all the things that God considers to be wicked and evil do not fear, revere, respect, or honor God. This is just unsugarcoated truth! It is, because they don't know him and are still still abiding in death and destruction. God's word acctually says that his wrath is resting upon them and that he is angry with those who do evil and cast his words behind their back everyday. We only have peace with God through turning to Christ in true repentance and faith. If God has received us as a child then he will teach us to revere and honor him and to also TURN away from evil!

Jeremiah 32:38-41
English Standard Version
38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them one heart and one way, THAT THEY MAY FEAR ME FOREVER, FOR THEIR OWN GOOD and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I WILL PUT THE FEAR OF ME IN THEIR HEARTS, that they may not turn from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. Proverbs 16:6

 

[Lyfe]

Psalm 19:9

King James Version

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

 

[Lyfe]

Thank you Father that you have made atonement for our transgressions and that in Christ we are justified no matter what lies and accusations the enemy brings against us!

Revelation 12:10
Authorized (King James) Version
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for THE ACCUSER of our brethren is cast down, WHICH ACCUSED THEM before our God day and night.

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? IT IS GOD THAT JUSTIFIETH. Romans 8:33


Psalm 37:30-31
Authorized (King James) Version
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide.
Psalm 37:32-33
English Standard Version
32 The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power
OR LET HIM BE CONDEMNED when he is brought to trial.

Romans 4:5-8

5 And to the one who does not work but believes in[a] HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of THE ONE TO WHOM GOD COUNTS RIGHTEOUSNESS apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is THE MAN AGAINST WHOM THE LORD WILL NOT COUNT HIS SIN.”

 

[Lyfe]

Lol. Many are the afflictions of the righteous!

 

[Lyfe]

Philippians 1:29-30

English Standard Version

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

 

[Lyfe]

 

[Lyfe]

The reason why I rebuke and correct myself when I perceive that I may be inwardly judging someone is, because there have been countless things I have done that I am ashamed of. The truth is we all have. This is why I cringe when I see stories on celebrties and all the people in the comments section ripping on them. This is indeed a perfect example of unrighteous and hypocritical judgment. We are called to judge with righteous judgment. People are going to be judged by how harsh their judgment and ridicule is toward others. God has shown me that no matter how shameful or vile the offense a person has committed to pray for them. Whether they are a kidnapper, a murderer, or even if they harm children it does not matter what I think or what my initial attitude toward them is. The thing to do is train ourselves to first pray for someone and commit all judgment to God. People dont realise that by judging others they are condemning themselves, because so often people are guilty of doing the very things that they harshly criticize others for. God's word points out that anyone who hates is a murderer at heart yet how many people harbor hatred in their heart toward someone? If you have looked at a woman with lust you have committed adultery with her.

Can you imagine how ashamed and ridiculed we would all be if our thoughts and deeds were made bear for everyone to see? God sees and knows all of them! The truth is that God is merciful toward everyone who seeks his mercy no matter what they have done, because he is not willing that ANY should perish! He forgave and accepted murderers, even mass murderers. People will know we are children of God when our love and mercy is not of this world!

 

[Lyfe]

Psalm 106:28-31

English Standard Version

28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
29 they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
30 THEN PHINEHAS STOOD UP AND INTERVENED,
and the plague was stayed.
31 And THAT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
from generation to generation forever.

 

[Lyfe]

Amen, Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness! He existed before the world began! He came down from heaven to show us The Father. He came that HIS righteousness may be established and declared in whole earth!

Matthew 3:14-15
King James Version

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us TO FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. Then he suffered him.

Luke 10:21-22
English Standard Version
Jesus Rejoices in the Father's Will
21 In that same hour HE REJOICED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[a] 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

1 Corinthians 2:7-12
English Standard Version
7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has REVEALED TO US THROUGH THE SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND the THINGS FREELY GIVEN us by God.

 

[Lyfe]

 

[Lyfe]

1 Corinthians 1:21
English Standard Version
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a] to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 3:18-19
King James Version
18 If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1 Corinthians 2:14
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

 

[JoChris]

peace

pēs
noun

1. The absence of war or other hostilities.
2. An agreement or a treaty to end hostilities.
3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

Therefore, the feeling of peace is only the result of what has happened through faith in Jesus. I think now when I was first saved the experience side of peace is the only thing I thought of.... and so when I lost the actual feeling of peace I believed I lost my salvation.