Founder/ President Rev. Melissa D. Pearce
Copy Editor Barbara Watts
Contributing Writers Carole Shirley
Mary Beth Pecora
Chuck Hamby
Shelly Hess
Katie Kline
Toni Hembree
Jule Van Gorp
Rev. Melissa Pearce
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Point of Hope is published by Enduring Hope M inistries, a non-profit organization, M urrysville, PA Š USA 2014 Enduring Hope M inistries, all rights reserved. Reproduction in w hole orin part w ithout w ritten permission is prohibited by federal law . Point of Hope has no subscription price and is supported through the contributions of our supporters. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries w here this applies) For more information: please call w w w .enduringhopeministries.com
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What's I nside 04
From Mel issa's Heart Go forth with utter confidence in the Mighty God we serve.
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The Hammer The battle has reached a breakthrough! The wait has birthed fulfillment.
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The Ret urn of t he King Unto us a child is born, but have we prepared ourselves for the King's return.
Point of Hope is a publication dedicated to encouraging and equipping people of all ages w ith the Word of God. Our Goal is to provide readers w ith life applicable articles that w ill edify and strengthen their personal w alks.
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Learning t o Trust What does it mean to Trust God? What can we learn about 'Trust' from God's Word?
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Discovering Hope Do you realize you are a child of God? Do you know the Father?s love for you?
3 His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
Sitting before the Lord this morning, He compels me to release a message of HOPE to all of you! I believe that, for many, the holidays are a joyous time. However, for others, this time of year can be one of struggle. No matter in which category, I believe God desires to release His HOPE to you! The Lord led me to Luke: ?Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord? (NKJV ? 1:45). Many of you believe God for something and do not see its fulfillment. Many of you have become weary in waiting. Many of you are discouraged and frustrated. And yet, I hear the LORD say: ?Wait with me a little longer. I see you. I see your heart?s desire. I see your circumstances. Nothing is impossible for Me, the Great I Am.? As I continue reflecting, He breaks this verse into three simple but powerful points. The first point: Mary is blessed when she chooses to believe. Her heart is content and happy. Why? Her heart is at rest with God. I believe this is also true for you and me. God desires our heart to be content and happy, even in the waiting, because we trust Him.
The second point: Fulfillment is not our obligation; it is the Lord?s. Mary understands she has no control but completely relies on the Lord to bring it to pass. We too need to take this position in our heart and attitude. Many try to manipulate situations and / or people to get the desired end result, but end up empty-handed. God desires that we release the situation to Him. Allow Him to deliver to us His best, in HIS timing! And the final point: You have not missed God! Many second-guess themselves. Just as Mary knows ?? those things which were told her from the Lord,? you also know the Lord?s voice and what He speaks into your spirit. The Lord uses Elizabeth (Mary?s cousin) to confirm in Mary?s heart: ?...Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?? (NKJV ? Luke 1:42-43) God reaffirms Mary (through Elizabeth) and instills HOPE within her heart. This HOPE births assurance. God desires to also instill this in you and me. This is the HOPE He wants us to function in and rest in. The Lord speaks, then watches over His Word to perform it: ?God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?? (NKJV ? Numbers 23:19) Don?t allow your HOPE to waiver; allow your heart to find rest as Mary?s does ? confident He will do the things He speaks to you! My personal prayer is that HOPE becomes a burning flame deep within you, impossible to quench because your heart is steadfast in Him! May God use you, as He does Elizabeth, to bring confirmation to someone? And may you go forth this season and into the New Year with utter confidence in the Mighty God we serve! Many blessings and much love, ~Rev. Melissa Pearce
From Our Fami l y at Poi nt ofHope To Your s....
M ERRY CHRI ST M AS!
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ejoice! Rejoice! ?The season has now changed. The bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for pruning the vines has arrived. This new day of destiny breaking forth around you? the early signs of My purposes and plans are bursting forth, the budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere; the fragrance of their flowers whispers: THERE IS CHANGE IN THE AIR? ? (Song of Songs 2:11-13, The Passion Translation, author?s emphasis).
Hammer Word Chuck Pierce stated the following: ?This is the year of us holding the ?VAV?while His Hammer Word breaks open Gates that have been held shut.? He goes on, ?? This will also be the year of the ?moment.?He will visit you in the present to reconcile your past and unlock your future, in a moment...? This happened to me ? Praise the Lord!! I say it again: Praise the Lord!!!! A few months before this, I saw myself in my mind?s eye with black liquid pouring out from my fingertips. Nothing dramatic happens; this black liquid is just pouring out like water. I am being emptied of something. A few weeks passed between the time I saw this and the Lord reconciling my past and unlocking my future, in a moment! I dealt with past disappointments; however, I was hammered by un-reconciled thoughts of a similar, more recent one. I sense it wasn?t Satan hammering me, but the Lord allowing it to be churned up so I would deal with it. Trying to be ?strong? ? to suck it up and move forward ? I didn?t want to deal with how much it hurt. 9 His Word, Your Hope EnduringHopeMinistries.com
Waking very early one Saturday morning (having gone to bed really late the night before) ? I end up in my War Room ? sitting and pouring out my heart to the Lord. I told Him I was disappointed so many times, how much it hurt, the faithless things it made me think about Him, and all my fears in relation to it. If this time were recorded, you would hear my crying and see my tears ? like pouring rain. I had this sensation of the ?pouring?the entire time. Then, I asked the Lord to do what He promised me so many times. I prayed from my very bowels, ?Oh, that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my territory by ______________________ (here I state what He promised me). Expand my tent pegs to the right and left, so I have room to receive the blessing. Grant me a revelation of Your goodness and how much You love me, so I am able to rest and not fear, in Jesus? Name.? As suddenly as this divine appointment starts, it ends. I stood up; I was ?done.? I was new! I was different! I felt different! I crawled back into bed and went to sleep for several more hours.
In A Moment When I told my mom about this encounter a few days later, I was stunned at how ?easily? it all happened. In a ?moment? as Chuck Pierce said, the Lord reconciled my past and unlocked my future. Although I had a part to play, He and I co-labored. As He gave me grace (and I poured out), the Lord reconciled my heart on these matters ? this is the black liquid running out of me that I saw in the vision. He took all my pain. It all came out, and He reconciled it in my heart. I was then able to pray in agreement with my future, without fear! I was able to pray in faith. I came free from agreement with satan?s lies about my future ? able to do so because what had been un-reconciled (allowing lies and fear enter) was reconciled. Being freed, I was able to pray in faith and agree with the Word of the Lord and request of it from Him. I prayed to the Lord the prayer on my heart. I know this 10 December 2015 Point of Hope Magazine
happened because it is my year of fullness; my barren winter is over; this is the season of my fulfillment! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! This year, I believe, is that time for many of you, as well. Rejoice! Rejoice in what He has for you! Rejoice! He is opening doors not able to be opened before! The battle has reached a breakthrough! The wait has birthed fulfillment! I laugh with joy as I write this!
Tap Int o Sometimes, it is hard to ?tap into? the joy and start rejoicing after a long battle. ?Build yourself up in your most holy faith? ? find your way to rejoicing. It may start as a trickle. But, as you relearn how, I believe it will give way to leaping, shouting, dancing and rejoicing never before experienced! You will know Him in a new way you have never known Him! You will know Him as The Breaker ? the One with the Hammer Word driving the peg and breaking through, opening doors long-closed! Read Luke 1:68-79 and listen, as Zechariah knows the Lord as The Breaker personally, in a way he never knew Him before! You hear the sound of exceedingly great joy as he blesses the Lord?s faithfulness to His people and for answering his long-awaited prayer for a child. This Christmas, it?s truly fitting to sing: ?? ?Tis (it is) the season..? Not only is it Christmas but it is also the ?season? of our year of fullness ? the fullness of time for many of us! As Mary births Jesus ?when the fullness of time came? (Galatians 4:4, NASB) ?? the days were completed for her to give birth,? (Luke 2:6). Many will see their promises brought forth! We will be set free to rejoice exceedingly, in Jesus?Name! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! ~Shelly Hess
Written by: Chuck Hamby
The Ret ur n of t he King
Without mentioning Bethlehem, shepherds, wise men, Joseph or Mary, Joy t o t he Worl d is one of the most beloved Christmas carols today. Written in 1719 by Isaac Watts and set to music by Lowell Mason in 1839; as of the end of the twentieth century, Joy t o t he Worl d is the most published Christmas hymn in North America. Stanza 1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing. A quick look tells us the intent of this beloved song. The first line of the first stanza says, ?Joy to the world, the Lord is come? ? The verb is present tense, not past. The carol implores, ?Let earth receive her King? let every heart prepare Him room, and heav?n and nature sing? ? Continued......
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thess. 4:16
St anza 2 Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy. The second stanza continues, ?Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!? He is not returning as the Baby in Bethlehem. He will establish His kingdom in Jerusalem, and ?the government will rest on His shoulders? There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousnessfrom then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7, NASB). ?Let men their songs employ? ? At this coming, everyone will know Who and why He is coming! The Prince of Peace has come. ?Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen? (Revelation 1:7, NASB). ?Whil e f iel ds and f l oods, rocks, hil l s, and pl ains repeat t he sounding joy? ? Even nature will echo with the glory of the Lord!
St anza 3
St anza 4
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove. The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.
The last two stanzas further examine the new Ruler of all the earth and His governance. Sin and sorrow are
weeded out like thorns that infest the ground. The blessings of His reign flow with healing and forgiveness as ?far as the curse is found? ? He rules the world with ?truth and grace...? He makes the nations prove ?the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.?
ACT THREE Why is this the most published Christmas hymn of the twentieth century? It explains ?Act Three? of the Return of the King! At Christmas, we remember the Babe born in Bethlehem and honor all who attended His birth. But that is only the introduction to the work of the Christ; that is ?Act One.? He pours His life into us who follow Him, so we can tell His story and bring others into His kingdom; this is ?Act Two.? His coming in clouds of glory is ?Act Three.? He comes to rule and reign in righteousness and peace. One of the most curious things about His first coming is that those who should have recognized Him didn?t. And those who were ?out of the information loop? were the ones who came to worship. It was known by the scribes whom Herod summoned that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. But they didn?t search with the Wise Men to worship. They had the knowledge but not the passion.
BE READY FOR THE KING The Bible tells us what we must do to be ready for the Return of the King. It all goes back to the Babe of Bethlehem born, ?King of the Jews.? Philippians 2:5-11 states: ?Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied (laid aside His privileges) Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesusevery knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.? He is completely God. He chose to come to earth and live as one who is poor. He willingly gave up His life for us, though He is perfect in every way. All of this was so we could use His innocence in place of our sin and guilt to be counted sinless before His Father, God.
ARE YOU PREPARED? To prepare for the Return of the King, we must accept, believe and let this be the foundation on which we build our lives. This is how we ready ourselves for His return. It is so easy to let the urgent overwhelm the important. Our days are filled with pressure to do this and that; it all seems so urgent. But the important thing is to be ready for Him when He comes. The Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17): ?For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.? As surely as you read this, He will come! And we will sing: ?JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME; LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!? -Pastor Chuck Hamby
~Jesus
As we begin, let?s learn from one of the most encouraging and richest books of the Bible. The Book of Psalms is David?s prayers and praises. They include the full range of human emotions ? fear, anger, wonder, hatred, anxiety, love, doubt and joy.
That?s why David is such an example to just pour out our hearts to God and praise Him! No matter what our struggles! That?s the kind of relationship that binds a covenant! This relationship, with the Great King over all the earth, is a covenant relationship.
As we read the Psalms, we quickly note they usually begin with David pouring out his heart to God ? all his struggles, feelings and emotions. He ends with praise to God, professing faith and trust in Him, as he remembers His promises. This book is rich in imagery and metaphors and very poetic!
A covenant is a formal binding agreement; a promise or pledge. Some synonyms for this word are agreement, harmony and unison. Think about that.
LEARNING FROM DAVID We learn from David?s writings that this book is a model of genuine worship and real communication with God! That?s why I love this book! Let?s learn from the model David sets: To speak t o God in prayer and prof ess His f ait hf ul ness and t rust f or us, even in our st ruggl es.Yes, Prayer and Praise should be the model we reflect in our lives. David learns: The Lord is the Great King over all the earth! As the Great King, He chose Israel as His servant people, His inheritance among the nations! That?s why it?s important to stand with Israel ? because God does!
We are in harmony with the King of the Universe! His promises are ?Yes!? and ?Amen!? God always keeps His promises! Look what His promise does for our life: Psalm 119:50b (NIV) says: ?? Your promise preserves my life.? The first part of the verse says: ?My comfort in my suffering is this? ? David models this with his prayers and praises! Even in his suffering, he draws comfort from the promise that God preserves his life. GOD'S COVENANT WITH US Do we understand that what God promised to Israel, He also promises to us? He gives us a land of our own, a Covenant Promise of destiny and honor ? not our honor but His! All that we do is for His glory and honor. As the Great King, the Covenant
Lord, God chose David as His representative on the earth. In this capacity, David is the Lord?s servant ? a member of the Great King?s administration! Servanthood is the highest calling in the Kingdom of God ? it?s God?s administration. We, as believers, are God?s representatives on the earth. WE represent God! MORE THAN A KING David, the Lord?s anointed, is more than a warrior king. He is called by God to govern His people. How is David called to govern or represent God? With God-like righteousness, we defend the defenseless, suppress the wicked and bless the nation with eternal peace and prosperity. He also is an Intercessor with God on behalf of the nation. He is a builder and maintainer of the temple (God?s earthly palace) and the nation?s House of Prayer. His voice calls the nation to worship the Lord. He is declared not only a King but also a Priest! So are we! We are called to the same things, within this Covenant ? the same calling and destiny as a ?Kingdom of Priests.? Do we see ourselves as God?s anointed? Do we see ourselves as those who govern with God-like righteousness?
COVENANT CHARACTERISTICS: These are the characteristics within the Covenant: ~Delivering the oppressed ~Defending the defenseless ~Suppressing the wicked ~Blessing with peace ~Interceding with God ~Building and maintaining the temple Do we build and maintain the temple of God within us? We are the temple of God, as a Christ follower! I know David actually physically took care of the temple. But, metaphorically speaking, are we taking care of our temple? If Scripture teaches, ?The kingdom of God is within us? ? then we are a kingdom of Priests! Take note that within the word ?kingdom?is the word ?King!?We have the King within us. We house this Great King we talk about. Are we building worship within our life? Do we make this a priority in our life? Just as David is God?s representative, His royal representative, so are we. In the city of Jerusalem (the City of David) is the temple. Part of the temple still stands! On the street outside the temple is a sign that reads, ?The City of David.? Jerusalem (Zion) becomes the
earthly capitol and symbol of the Kingdom of God! In this palace (the temple), God sits enthroned among His people! God sits with us! While He sits, He meets with us! He meets with us as we bring Him prayers and praises, so we can see His power and glory. God wants us to see His power and glory! He wants us to know Him ? in this capacity ? in this fullness! He wants us to know Who He is and believe in what He promises us ? what blessings we have in Him. THE COMPANY YOU KEEP Let?s keep all this in mind. Now, look at the very first Psalm (NIV), which sets the tone for the entire book and should set the stage for our entire life. As we read and meditate on Psalm 1, let it define how we will live our life. Let?s begin: Verse 1: ?Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers? ? Here are questions to help us understand what we are reading and how to apply the Word of God to our life: Who do you hang out with? Do you participate in ungodly ways? Do you receive counsel or advice from them? Understand me: I do NOT judge anyone! I don?t even like saying
?them.? In God?s eyes, there is not a ?we and they? I love unsaved folks not living for God! God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. and so should we. We are called by God to embrace folks, including those not living for God! But, if we continue to hang with them, we will not grow in our Christian life! We cannot seek counsel from someone who does not know the way ? JESUS is The Way!
Every one has purged people from our lives who are not good for us! If you haven?t yet, you will do so as you grow in Christ! Already, the Lord is bringing some of those folks to our minds. We cannot sit with those who are mockers. In other words, we can?t settle ourselves with a mocker. SIMPLE WAYS What?s a mocker? One who ridicules God and defiantly
rejects His law! Proverbs 1:22 (NIV) states: ?How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?? The phrase ?simple ways? in the Hebrew language means one without moral direction and inclined to evil. When one is without moral direction, being inclined to evil is part of it! Simple ways will not lead us to a path of being
blessed. In fact, it will lead us away from God?s blessings. That?s why Scripture tells us NOT to walk with sinners (ones without moral direction), because God?s desire is to bless us. Love those who are not walking in godly ways. Love those who don?t understand Who God is and what He has done for us, but don?t let them influence you. We can influence them and show them the Lord?s love! His love gives direction and purpose!
SHOW THEM WITH ACTIONS: Let's continue with Verse 2: ?? but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.? Does that mean carrying a Bible in our hand day and night, beating people over the head with it? Of course not! But, I used to do that! When I first came to the Lord, I beat my hubby up by quoting Scripture and trying to heap condemnation on Him, until the Lord showed me to ?win him over with my actions.? If you have loved ones that are unsaved, or not walking with the Lord as they should, PLEASE don?t make the same mistake I did! Love them, and SHOW THEM JESUS by how you respond to them. Show them Jesus when they are upset. Show them Jesus when they are worried. Show them Jesus when they are fearful. Show them Jesus ? it?s the BEST way to win them over to God! Delight in His law by releasing the law of love. LIVING WATER Onto Verse 3: ?That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither ? whatever they do prospers!" When a tree is planted by water, it?s lush and healthy. It also produces fruit! The water
nourishes the plant! Who is the Living Water that nourishes us? JESUS. Those who have plants in their home but don?t water them; they die! I have killed many. In our natural life, if we don?t plant ourselves in the Living Water, Jesus, we will not prosper. We may, for a season (due to striving), prosper or be successful, but it?s not the kind of ?prosper?this verse speaks of. Jeremiah 17:7-8 (a Key Scripture): Verse 7: ?? blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.? What phrase is highlighted, as we read this verse? Yes...Trust in the Lord! When we trust in the Lord, here?s the kind of confidence it produces:
Verse 8: ?They will be like a tree planted (transplanted) by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.? This is the same Scripture as Psalm 1, with a little deeper expansion. What phrase is highlighted in Verse 7? TRUST IN THE LORD! Psalm 1 clearly tells us to TRUST IN THE LORD! If God wants us to live our life defined by this Psalm, He is saying, TRUST in the Lord! -When do we usually doubt? When NOT trusting in the Lord. -When do we fear? When NOT trusting in the Lord. -When do we worry? When NOT
(transplanted) that tree on the Memorial Site grounds and named it, ?The Survivor Tree.? My husband and I took a picture under this tree. While standing under this tree (having a God moment), I had a complete understanding that this was more than just a story of a tree surviving. I believe it was a sign from God, a visual, a reminder of His promises from His Word that cannot return void but will accomplish what it was sent forth to accomplish. Even when the heat came, the incredible heat (a heat that melted metal), the tree was protected.
trusting in the Lord. Do you see a pattern here? Note: To trust ?IN THE LORD,? you must trust HIM. TREE OF LIFE A couple of years ago, the Lord made this Scripture come alive for me. We took a bus trip to New York City to sightsee and tour. When we went to the 911 Memorial Site, we saw and heard about a tree that was preserved even when the heat came. When cleanup began after the Twin Towers fell, there was a tree found among the wreckage of the buildings very near the crash site. It was a miracle this tree was still standing and not destroyed during the explosions. They carefully moved the tree to another place, to another part of the city ? The Bronx ? to be nourished, to grow and thrive and be nurtured back to health. The tree was placed in a lush green environment (a greenery) to be watered and thrive in the sunlight. When the 911 Memorial Site was completed, on the tenth anniversary, they replanted
There was a tree planted in the garden, the Tree of Life, whose leaves will not wither but will survive. This tree, called the Tree of Life, was also removed to another place, from Eden to Heaven. Revelation 22:1-2 says: ?? the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.? Whatever you are going through, you are going through. Trust God to be planted. Allow yourself to be rooted in HIM, His Word and His Law. You will be blessed! Whatever you set your heart and hand to shall prosper! Prosperity is in your future, your destiny and your life. When we are planted, He will bring healing; yes, even to the nations! He will expand our territory. We will advance His Kingdom ? a kingdom with NO END. Even in suffering, God preserves. God preserves so His Kingdom is preserved. For His Kingdom shall not end, neither will His blessings. Trust Him! Trusting Him With You, ~Mary Beth Pecora
John?s Wit ness: The True Light John 1:6-13 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own,and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 10
John describes Jesus as the True Light. Jesus was the One who came into the world but the world did not recognize Him. He also came to His own, but many had rejected Him. Jesus is the True Light of the world. There will be many false lights counterfeiting what Jesus offers. False lights are those things, persons and/ or organizations that try to provide a person with a temporal love and acceptance. Jesus?love is not just for now but is forever. His love is endless and unconditional. Just as Jesus?own people had not recognized Him for who He was, the same is occurring today. Many people are being misled by false religions and doctrines. People are being deceived to believe all religions lead to God. There is only one way to Heaven and that is through the Person, Jesus Christ, who broke the barrier walls of hostility between man and God. 24 November 2015 Point of Hope Magazine
People are not only being deceived but continue to reject God. Many do not want to submit to a Higher Being and believe they are lords over their own destiny, while others choose to blatantly defy God through their own rebellious sins and actions. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (NKJV). Yet, to those of us who believe in Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior is the opportunity for hope. Surrendering our hearts over to Jesus places us in a new relationship with God the Father. God the Father recognizes us as His children. As His children, He desires to reveal His love to us and bless us. Do you realize you are a child of God? Do you know the Father?s love for you?