THE GIFT (Part 1)

If you had a friend, a true friend who was there for you, when you needed them, and when you didn't need them. Someone who you could talk to no matter the time of day or night. A friend that when you were in a jam and needed a way out they were there. When you were sick or in pain, they are always there for you, a friend who would never forsake you.

THAT FRIEND IS JESUS

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV): Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Some of you may say, well I've tried Jesus, and it was taking to long for what I asked for, or what I was going through or the pain didn't leave right away, the pain or the problem that I had remained. So Jesus did not work for me.

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV): Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels nor demons, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor any thing else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You see the word tells us that nothing can separate us from Jesus, but it is ourselves that separate from Him. We must make the choice every day to be in Jesus. That means that you HAVE to believe and have faith in the kingdom of God and His son Jesus. Faith = to have hope in an unseen God and; for the unseen requests that you have asked God for, but you do not possess them yet, you can't see them; but faith says you already have them.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV): And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Also, when the word says that we have to be in Jesus, that means following His ways and being a doer of the word. Doing our best to do what is right in God's eyes, each and every day. Also, there should be no evil, pride, lust or anything negative in your prayers, because God will only answer prayers of good and not of evil intent. God already knew that we would not be perfect, that is why Romans 3:10 says, "There is no-one righteous, not even one." Which is why God sent Jesus to cover us when we make mistakes and operate in sin, we have the right to repent and walk and behave in a better way, God's way, by obeying His instructions left to us in the bible.

This is why we should choose to do the right thing, it pleases God, when we are in his perfect Gift, His Son Jesus, who God has given to us. When we choose Jesus, God is well pleased. Jesus is the best gift that any one could ever have. The world would tell you to try Jesus, but I tell you to be, in Jesus, because just trying Jesus only for a time, and for some people, when they try Him and it does not go the way that they want it to, they give up on Jesus, and stop trying to serve Him, love Him or talk to Him. If you want the best thing in life and after life, stick with Jesus, don't quit. Think about it like this:

It takes a lot of heat to make a sword. the temperature to heat a sword must be at 2,100 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, and then you have to beat it with a hammer to form it. This is not an enjoyable part of forming the sword and it takes time to form. The guide that I looked at for forming a sword gave these steps:

1) Prepare your tools and materials

2) Design your sword

3) Heat until yellow - forging the sword

4) Shape the material - shaping the sword

5) Flatten the sword blade - create a cutting edge on sides

6) Heat and cool - process is done 3 times

7) Sanding - to smooth out the edges

8) Strengthen and Sharpen - hardens the steel

9) Reheat - lower temp to relax the brittleness

10) Create the hilt - sword handle

11) Sharpen blade - final sharpening of blade.

Now you can use your sword to fight the enemy. That was the cost of forging a sword, before you could even use it, it had to be developed before it could even be used. Just like most people you only want the good part (finished product), but not the hard part (formation). which is why most people give up on Jesus, because they don't want to go through the hard parts. No sacrifice.

JUST LIKE THE SWORD (formation)

If no one is willing to do the work to create the sword, then it cannot be made (created). It was the same way with Christ, if He (and His parents) did not go through the tests/obstacles that came before He grew up to became a Teacher/Messiah of the people, then He could not have been used by or please God.

Matthew 2:13 (NIV): When they had gone, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child (Jesus) and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him."

When we give up on God, satan has stopped us from becoming the weapon that God has meant for us to become in order to fight against the schemes of satan. In the same way that it took heat and hard work to forge the sword, you are being forged as well. All the fiery trials, obstacles and tests brought against you are there to forge you, not break you. God wants you strong, not broken. Satan wants to break you, so that you are no longer a threat to him. As the bible says, "Resist the devil and he will flee," not you, you will not flee as someone with no hope. Now ask yourself these questions, because they are forming you to become a weapon for God:

1) What do you get out of church?

2) Are you growing in God?

3) Are you a doer of the word?

4) How do you build up your faith?

5) How do you know where your faith is at, if it has not been tested?

6) Which is more important to you, man or God?

7) Who do you get advice from, true disciples of God or unsaved people in your life?

Romans 10:14-15 (NIV): How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

You see, being in Jesus takes work, anyone can try Jesus, and that is o.k., but it is only the first step, the next step is in doing, which is continuous, just like those 7 questions. God only wants the best for us, but it's up to us to seek him and to do his will, so that in the end we will be in a better place (heaven), and not only that, but we would want him to say well done my good and faithful servant.

THE BEST FOR US

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): "For I know the plan I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

SEEK HIM

Matthew 7:7 (NIV): "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

WELL DONE

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (AMP): I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. [as to what remain] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).