Thessalonica was the Crown Jewel of the Apostle Paul’s mission work! His preaching there achieved a numerous and socially prominent following! Paul and his companions in the summer of 50 A.D. had to leave the city! Paul’s sudden departure left the newly found church exposed to great persecution! Paul sent Timothy from Corinth to check on the congregation at Thessalonica. Timothy informed Paul at his return to him that the congregation was steadfast and had a zeal to spread the Gospel! However the church did have some internal problems with sexual relations and some theological issues. Some in the congregation thought that those believer’s that had preceded them in death would have a disadvantage over the living when the Lord returned! So the Letter to the Thessalonians was born out of the need for Paul to settle these issues with the Church there. Paul has made it clear in his letter that God has not appointed us to wrath! The word wrath used here means a punishment with revenge from men! Revenge is a punishment from men that satisfies them but also brings grief to the punisher! The wrath of men is the opposite to the Salvation of God! God took out his revenge on men for their sin by punishing his only Son Jesus Christ on the Cross! Wrath and judgment came upon Jesus Christ for our sin! This is why rejecting Jesus Christ is so serious an offense to God! In fact it is the only unpardonable sin! Judgment or Salvation? Heaven or Hell? The choice you make about Jesus Christ will cast your eternity forever! Jesus is not an option unless you want the consequences being separated from God forever! Jesus is Judge of the living and the dead! He will be your Judge or Savior! The choice is yours to make! Keep in mind in Hell there are no more choices! In Heaven as the Angel’s who are created beings like us still have a choice! Lucifer made his choice to reject God but do you want to follow him to Hell? Jesus took our place on the Cross and took our Judgment upon himself! If Jesus does not take your Judgment you will take your own Judgment! Paul went on to clarify that whether we wake or sleep we live together with him! The word live from the Greek means that God through his Son Jesus Christ causes us to live righteous and Holy physically, spiritually and eternally in him! Paul goes on to say we need to comfort one another! We as the Church need to come to one another’s aid! To comfort one another together as the Body of Christ! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: men
Fools for Christ! 1 Corinthians 4:10
If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world. Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia Comment: This scripture in Corinthians says we are fools yet we are wise! Wise not in our own strength but wise in Christ! We are strong and honorable yet despised by the world! Why? Our future is not of this world! The world is betting on themselves we are betting on Christ! Wisdom is to have the mind of Christ! The mind of God! To understand life from an eternal perspective! Our battles are not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of darkness! Our battles are against spiritual forces! God’s spirit and Satan’s spirit occupy flesh and blood! We stay in the fight because Christ is victory over hell and the grave! Our present and future are with him! Our past is forgiven! The world lives opposing Christ because they believe this life is all there is? So they live a life that is harmful to themselves and others! The wisdom of men is foolishness to God! Their mortal minds have limited capacity and knowledge! Man can give some knowledge but God gives Revelation! Things that are future that are shown to believer’s in Christ today! The world is really angry because our life opposes their life and is a witness against them! With eternity at stake why would we gamble on ourselves? James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Give Glory to Another? Isaiah 42:8
“I am the Lord; that is my name: and my Glory will I not give to another; neither my praise to graven images.” Comment: His name is Jehovah and he has distinguished himself from idol’s! He will not allow his name to be ascribed to another! No one will take the honor that belongs to me! God’s glory, honor, abundance and all that he is be given to another? No praise to graven images that belong to God? God has distinguished himself from his creation! In the earth throughout history we have one God but many gods created and worshipped by men! Idol worshippers have made gods unto themselves! Earth worshippers, environmentalists, sun worshippers, worship of money, sex, fame, fortune are the gods of men! Satan has always tried to get mortal man to worship him! To steal worship from God! Any ideology that replaces God is self-worship! Atheism and evolution are two good examples! Self-worship is exalting men above God! So how do we reconcile this with the Gifts of the Spirit? The indwelling Holy Spirit? How can God share his nature with mortal men? We were created in the image of God! How can God live in mortal men who are sinners? God became man through his Son Jesus Christ! God is a Trinity! Father, Son and Holy Spirit! One God but yet three distinctions! Each with a specific purpose! The Holy Spirit was the first active agent involved in the creation of the heavens and the earth! Even today the Holy Spirit delivers Israel from her enemies! God’s Son Jesus Christ sacrificed his sinless body as a substitute for our sinful body! So after Salvation we ascribe glory to God through his Son! Now the benefits from God are available to us because Jesus is God! When we give Jesus glory we are giving God glory! God gives his glory to us through his Son! So now we have communion both ways! God to men and men to God! God see’s his Son living in us and it pleases him! He see’s his atoning blood over our lives! The Father gives his glory to the Son and the Son gives his glory to believers! The Holy Spirit see’s God through his Son living in you and he is attracted to dwell in you! The Gift’s of the Spirit such as love, peace and joy are ours! His power is available to us to give victory to believer’s and defeat Satan! Without Christ man can only give God graven images and human sacrifices! God sacrificing himself for you is the only acceptable sacrifice! He was sinless! The praise of men that they give idol’s belong to God! If God saved your life and stepped out in front of a vehicle and took your death who would you be thankful to? The reckless drunk driver? No but yet this is what idol worshippers do! They thank Satan who wants to destroy them and reject God who has saved them! This is the unpardonable sin against God! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Israel Forever! Isaiah 59:21
Hebrew Translation: “As for me this is my league and confederacy with them. This is my covenant between me and them established by a sacrifice. My Spirit is upon thee, and my words which I have put in their mouth, shall not depart out of their mouth, nor out of the mouth of their offspring, nor out of the mouth of following generations said the Lord, from today, tomorrow, and the hidden and concealed things will perpetuate eternally!”
Supreme Court Decision!
The Supreme Court has ruled no one can have a Nativity Scene in Washington, D.C. This was not for religious reasons! They could not find three wise men and a virgin! Jay Leno
Gideon’s International Isaiah 55:11
Hebrew Translation: “So shall my written word or historical record be that goeth out of the mouth of men, it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish through labor, toil and sacrifice that which I find pleasure and delight in, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.” Comment: Everything spoken here refers to our Bible! Gideon’s International has distributed over 87 million Bibles around the world! It has distributed 11 million here in the United States! The Christian’s here in the United States fund about 80 percent of all Bible distribution! The Gideon’s should be an extension of your local church! If you really want to prosper someone send them a Bible! A dusty Bible is a rusty Saint! What does God delight in? The Salvation of men! That is why Satan works so hard in every culture to ban the Book that leads men to Heaven! The Bible is the most banned Book in the universe yet the number one best seller in the universe! If God cannot sell his redemptive plan to your life then you are going to make a bad investment elsewhere! His plan cost him everything and only requires a yes from you! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Memorial Day Thoughts! John 15:13
Our greatest respect for those in our military and especially those who laid down there lives for their friends as Jesus commanded us to do! Jesus commanded us to love one another! Think about this! God laid down His life through His only Son Jesus Christ for His enemies! This act is more than human! This is another reason why Jesus is God! No human would do this! Everyone ever born who accepted Jesus Christ as Savior was first the enemy of God! Yes you and me! Now we better understand why Jesus also commanded us to love our enemies! This is divine and not a capacity of mortal men! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Got Worries? Isaiah 28:16
Thus declares the Lord to the doubters! Behold, I lay in the city of Jerusalem and Israel a tested stone of my Kingdom that you can build your life on! It is a precious corner stone established and founded upon my sure foundation. Stand firm and trust me and be not anxious! Comment: Is it any wonder why the world has and is in an eternal war with the Jews and Israel? Over generations Satan is always trying to prove God wrong! Satan will not win but he is stupid enough to keep trying! Why? If he can find enough doubters to follow him into this losing battle he will sacrifice as many as he can on both sides! This is a battle between Heaven and Hell. Good and evil. Satan although immortal needs company in Hell. He is a created being just like you and me and has a eternal destiny in the Lake of Fire! Do not be a fool enough to follow him! God and His Son Jesus Christ were not created beings but were the source of all creation! They were the first cause of all that has been or every will be! If you want to play the fool place your bets on created beings! Not me my friend! My Bible says it is vanity to trust in man! I am going to trust the God that created Zion as His eternal home and has gone to prepare a place for those who do not doubt Him! I trust Christ with my life and my eternity! Where are you placing your bets? Finding Christ is winning the lottery on earth and in Heaven! Do not invest your money buying tickets for losers! You will lose with them! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
What Color is America?
Is it white, black, red, yellow or brown? The color of America is red, white and blue! MSG Roy Benavidez, Medal of Honor, Vietnam War. Comment: The color of our American flag represents character not race! White represents purity and innocence! Red represents hardiness and valor. Blue represents the color of our Chief, vigilance, perseverance and justice! The stars are the symbol of Heaven and the divine goal of men from the beginning of time! The stripes represent rays of light as from the sun! Character is chief among God and men! Nations that drift from character go into the annals of history! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Reproach of Men! Isaiah 51:7
“Listen unto me carefully that you understand to discern and know righteousness. For my people are those who know my heart and inner soul of my law. Fear not the shameful displeasure of men neither be broken or despaired of their sinful rebuke.” Comment: The true commentary is we all initially opposed God! Those that have repented understand His righteousness because they understand His forgiveness! Once you understand you have sinned against God you understand His righteousness! Your night brings His light into your life! Those that live in and promote evil do not understand their error and God’s standard! God’s standard is described in your Bible but those that reject His Word reject God Himself! As described in Isaiah sinners will try to shame you and rebuke you for taking the God standard! They will sue you and drag you into court as they did with the Colorado family who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple! Since Jesus is not around to spit in His face, mock Him, plant a crown of thorns on Him, whip Him bloody and nail Him to a Cross they only have you His follower to persecute! Remember on the Cross Jesus asked His Father to forgive them for they know not what they do! Why could not Jesus have forgiven them? Jesus had not yet completed His redemptive work on the Cross! After Jesus death and resurrection the way was open for His persecutors to repent! It would not be smart to reject the only God who can forgive you your sin! I can suffer the reproach of men but I could never survive the reproach of God on Judgment Day unless my Judge was my Savior! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com