Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. Amos 8:11 & 12

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Doxology – Thomas Ken, 1674 – copyright status is Public Domain.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Grace is God’s help, God’s enabling. It comes directly from God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. I Corinthians 15:10

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace (help/enabling) that is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 2:1

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth (declares righteous) the ungodly (me), his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed (happy) are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Romans 4:1-8

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing (cleansing) of regeneration (the new birth), and renewing of the Holy Ghost (the agent of transformation); which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified (declared righteous) by his grace (His enabling), we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7

…let the word of Christ (Messiah) dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

You shouldn’t just accept anything that I or anybody else has to say about what the Bible teaches unless you also believe it to be true.

My goodness mister, to do that I would have to read and study the Bible every day! Yes sir, and that is what the Bereans did. The Bereans searched the Scripture (the Old Testament) daily to see if these things (about Jesus) were true.

I like the definition of faith found in W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words. It says that; faith is a firm persuasion or conviction brought about by hearing the Word.

Do you have any firm persuasions or convictions based on what you’ve learned from Scripture, or do you just accept whatever you hear?

When your religious leaders teach, do you compare what they say to Scripture? You should. I had a pastor years ago who would exhort his congregation not to park their brains at the door.

One of my mentors often says; “I would never talk (argue/debate) you into becoming a Christian, because if I can talk you into becoming a Christian, someone else can talk you out of it.“

Do you have any persuasions or convictions based on Scripture? Here is the first thing that you should be a persuaded of or convicted of from Scripture:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved*.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

*To be saved is to be delivered from the penalty of sin which is death. Death is separation. Physical death is separation from the body. Spiritual death is separation from God. For the saved, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

...let the word of Christ (Messiah) dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Don’t take my word for it…..see and hear for yourself.

The “What if’s” aren’t real.

Our ability to live and walk by faith is directly related to what is real to us. What is the most real to you and I? God’s presence or our own?

W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines faith as a firm persuasion or conviction brought about by hearing the Word.

Are you and I living by faith? The just shall live by faith.

…faith is the substance of things hoped* for, the evidence of things not seen…

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5&6

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

*hoped – confidently assured of

Do you have any firm persuasions or convictions based on Scripture?

You know most people regard Christianity as a religion. Religion is about ceremony and works. The Scripture sets forth Christianity as a relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus the Christ or Messiah Jesus.

From the relationship point of view, do you honestly think that someone whose life practices consistently violate God’s Law and whose tongue consistently profanes Jesus’ name can consider themselves to be in good standing with God the Father?

Sure, you are religious. You love ceremony and and can check the boxes on what your religion requires, but do you really have a personal relationship with God the Father through His Son?

Perhaps you should give this some thought.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you: but ye are washed (cleansed) but ye are sanctified (set apart), but ye are justified (declared righteous) in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:9-11

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17

But as many as received him (Jesus the Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12

…let the word of Christ (Messiah) dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

God is like the sun. One cannot look directly at Him, but without Him, one cannot see at all.

Author unknown.

Are you a Christian? If so, how did you become a Christian? Did you become a Christian according to tradition or according to Scripture?

Do you have a Bible? Do you read it? If not, why not?

It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God breathed).

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

…the word of God is living…

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

…thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee…

…the word of God liveth and abideth forever…

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Being born again (from above), not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever,…

Dead people don’t read….

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Do you believe this? Does your faith practice reflect your belief?

…let the word of Christ (Messiah) dwell (take up its life) in you richly…