Gateway Ministries
2776 E US Highway 150
Paoli, In 47454
812-723-2777 Ext. 1
You are in right standing with God. 09/26/11
Do you wonder when you mess up or feel like you have done something wrong that God is mad at you? Well I have wonderful news for you, He isn't mad at you!! He is a loving God who sent his son to die for you so that he could be with you forever and ever, He isn't sitting up there in heaven just waiting for you to mess up in spite of what you probably have been told, you are in right standing with God because of what his wonderful son (JESUS) did for you, He finished all the work for you at the cross of Calvary..He died and rose again so that you might live... your life is dead and you are hidden in Christ Col 3:3... When God looks at you he sees his son, you are covered in the blood and it has covered you forever... If you will forget about thinking that you have to do everything right then you can actually be free and you will see your life begin to change but not by your doing but by the doing of Jesus who lives on the inside of you. When your mind is on the love that Jesus has for you then you will see freedom begin to take place in your life.. You will be free to love and free to dance and free to worship him for all he has done... You will no longer be looking at yourself all the time living in fear that you have done something wrong, in him he is well pleased with you... My precious sisters and brothers you are free and you can rest in him... ~Pastor Cindy~
Does God only help those who help themselves?
Have you ever paid attention to how many non beleivers AND beleivers will tell you that the Bible says " God only helps those who help themselves"? Well I searched the scriptures and have never been able to find it in the bibles I read! The Word of God tells me the opposite!(Rom 5:6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. God has never wanted us to do things on our own. He desires to be the center of everything in our lives. The bible says that the Lord is my helper....Not based on my performance, but according to His mercy and grace! (Heb 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
How many times are we unable to do anything to change circumstances in our lives?...ie. sickness,children, relationships,and finances just to name a few.I don't know about you, but there is many situations in my life that I have no control over. But God is always able!... So let follow after Abrahams example. Not when he tried things on his own with Hagaar,which leads to bondage. But let us believe in the promises as abraham did when he was old!(Rom 4:17) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.(Rom 4:18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.(Rom 4:19) And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:(Rom 4:20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;(Rom 4:21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.(Rom 4:22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.(Rom 4:23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;(Rom 4:24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;(Rom 4:25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
So today, please realize that if you are able to read this note, then that means that God is helping you because th bible says (Act 17:28) For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. ~Pastor Robert Longest~
He will never leave you, Jesus is the way!!
God said he will be with you in the fire.. in the floods...in the storm... so I believe his word is true that means he will be with me and you in any situation that is going on in our lives... We all have things in our life that we are dealing with, hurt, sickness, anger, and such like but he is always there with us... He will never leave you or forsake you,,, he is in you and will comfort you. whether it be something hurting you or you may even be hurting someone.. He stays with you forever and ever he never leaves us... I am so glad of that cause without him I couldn't make it... I tried and guess what I failed...HE is my all in all... and he can be your all in all just ask him and he will be with you forever and ever... he will change your way of thinking and he will comfort you in the midst of the storm.. so if you are going through a storm, now is the time to ask him to help you and he is there and he is there forever... Watch him help you through it... How wonderful he is... He is so awesome.. just trust in him... He will never lead you astray he will lead you in the right path... Follow him... he is already following you!!! Hallelujah!!! ~Pastor Cindy Longest~
Only Grace produces fruit.....
Gods love for you is so awesome there is nothing that you can do that will make him mad at you or move away from you... So many times people think that when they aren't walking the straight and narrow that God gets mad at them, I will tell you that nothing can seperate you from the love of God... NOTHING!!! HE love you no matter what you do or what you think. Jesus gave us his righeousness so now that is who you are!!!! When you are something you began to act like that... When Jesus says you are holy and blameless you are.. That is who you become!!! That is what this unconditional love and grace that he has given us freely does... It changes us into what Jesus says we are... I didn't do it he did... Isn't that awesome? This true Gospel of the Good News of Grace changes you.... Praise the Lord Jesus Christ who freely gives us all things... Pastor C. Longest
Check List!
There are several requirements for mankind to be able to enter into the kingdom of God for all eternity. Here is a checklist of a few of the requirements; faith,confession,forgiveness,death,justification,obedience,sanctification,holiness, perfection, righteousness,redemption,and on top of these we must be SIN FREE! As ...we continue to grow in grace, we will learn the deep things of God.
We would love for you to continue with us on FB over the next few days as we go through our checklist together and allow the Holy Ghost to reveal how all of these things have been FREELY given to us of God!
Checklist.. 1. Faith- Heb.11;6 tells us without faith it is impossible to please Him. God's Word tells us in Romans 12:3 that God has dealt to every man the measure of faith! _/ 2.Confession-Romans 10;9 says if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus,and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. _/
3. Forgiveness- Colossians 2;13 says He has forgiven you ALL trespasses! Colossians 1;14 Says that the blood of Jesus forgives our sins!_/ 4.Death- Romans6;6 says we are crucified with Him.Colossians3;3 For you are dead,and your life is hid with Christ in God!..._/ Let us meditate on what we haved learned today. Jesus has you covered!! I pray the Holy Ghost will bring revelation to all who read God's word that the work is done! Will continue checklist tomorrow.
~Pastor R. Longest~
Continuing checklist... 5.Justification-Romans 4;25 states that Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.Also see 1 Cor 6;11._/ 6.Obedience-Romans 5;19 says by the obedience of one(Jesus) shall many be made righteous._/
7.Sanctification-The word says that through the new covenant in Hebrews 10;10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Also see Heb.10;14,1Cor 1;30. _/ 8. Holiness- Colossians 1;22 says In the body of His(Jesus')flesh through death ,to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in HIS sight! Father, help us to believe Your Word and not fall into strange doctrines today.Let our conscience and hearts be free of guilt and condemnation so that we can receive everything You have for us. Thank You for sending Your Son to do for us what we couldn't do for ourselves.In His name I pray....Amen! FB friends check in tomorrow to continue checklist! Don't forget to share with your friends. Later, ~Pastor Robert~
Checklist is almost done! 9. Perfection- Matthew 5;48 says be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Hebrews 10;14 For by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified! WE ARE PERFECT! _/
10. Righteousness- Matthew 5;20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Romans 5;19 So as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of ONE shall many be made righteous. WE ARE RIGHTEOUS!_/ Last but not least is the big one! SIN FREE !! Romans 6;7 He that is dead is free from sin! 1 John 3;9 Whosoever is born of God doth NOT commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God!
When we confess Jesus as Lord and ask Him to save us,we become born again(John 3;3) and every jot and tittle of the law(Matt 5;18) is fulfilled in us (Rom 8;4)! We are no longer condemned to eternal torment but have passed from death unto life!JESUS and JESUS alone has fulfilled every requirement that is needed for fallen man to enter in to His kingdom. So let us not get caught up in the works of our salvation, but rather let us praise God for His AMAZING GRACE that makes it possible for us to claim every promise that He has ever made!WE are saved by GRACE, we stay saved by GRACE and we WILL enter in by GRACE!AMEN!
~Pastor Robert Longest~
Is sin still an issue in the life of a believer?
Why is it that the same author that wrote in 1 john 1;8,9 If we say we have no sin,we deceive ourselves,and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL our unrighteousnesss.. also wrote in 1 john 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:and he CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God.?
Either this is contradictory or we must look a little deeper.The same person that wrote this epistle is the same one who wrote the gospel of John and the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In his gospel he declared Jesus to be diety.. the divine S...on of the living God.. The messiah.. the annointed one. In Revelation he reveals Jesus to be the first and last..the King of kings.. the Lord of Lords..The Lamb of God that was slain before the foundation of the world..the Lion of the tribe of judah..Root of David..One should think that he knew what he was talking about since he had such a clear picture of who Jesus is.So let us dig...In john 3:3 Jesus said except a man be born again,he cannot see the kingdom of God.V.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit...When we are born inthe flesh we are all declared to be sinners because of Adams trangression...When we are born of the Spirit we are declared to be righteous((Rom 5:13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
(Rom 5:14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
(Rom 5:15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
(Rom 5:16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
(Rom 5:17) For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(Rom 5:18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(Rom 5:19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
(Rom 5:20) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
(Rom 5:21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
So we must conclude according to the Word that John is referring to two different groups of people in his letterthe first ones are the one that haven't been born again and the second is to the ones who have been born again.Born of the seed of Abraham through Jesus himself! Heirs according to the promise that cannot be disannuled or changed by a list of laws or rules...(Gal 3:13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
(Gal 3:14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(Gal 3:15) Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
(Gal 3:16) Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
(Gal 3:17) And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
(Gal 3:18) For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
(Gal 3:19) Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
(Gal 3:20) Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
(Gal 3:21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
(Gal 3:22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
(Gal 3:23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
(Gal 3:24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
(Gal 3:25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
(Gal 3:26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
(Gal 3:27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(Gal 3:28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
(Gal 3:29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
So if we are his seed then we cannot sin because the flesh has been destroyed through the death of Jesus, to present us holy,unblameable,and unreproveable in His sight:
(Col 1:19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
(Col 1:20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
(Col 1:21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
(Col 1:22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
So for us to continue in the idea that we must repent,confess, and feel guilty would be saying that what Jesus done for us was not enough!!How can we confess and repent from something that has been removed as far as the east is from the west Psalms103;12 Why should ther be a remembrance of sin when God says inthe new covenant .(Heb 8:12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
(Heb 8:13) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.The only works that we can do to make the father plesed is ...(Joh 6:29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.