"Weekly Message"

RLJ-676OL

August 8, 1999

GRACE AND HOLINESS -- Part Five

by Rev. John S. Torell
Pastor of Resurrection Life of Jesus Church, Sacramento, California
President of European-American Evangelistic Crusades, Inc.

A person is making decisions every moment of the day that he is awake.  In reality, a decision is a trade-off; something is lost and something else is gained.  A wise Christian should always make decisions which are pleasing to God.

God told the Hebrew children:  "I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSING; THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE THAT BOTH YOU AND YOUR SEED MAY LIVE." Deuteronomy 30:19b

Adam and Eve made the wrong decision when they traded their fellowship with God for slavery under the Devil. Genesis 2:15-17, 3:16-24

Cain decided to not obey God and traded his relationship with God to be forever cursed s a murderer. Genesis 4:1-12

Lot made the wrong choice when he chose Sodom and the valley as his dwelling place.  He traded a close relationship with God and Abraham for a shameful ending of his life. Genesis 4:1-12

Sarah made the wrong decision, when, instead of trusting God, she talked Abraham into having sex with her handmaid, and that curse is still with us.  Genesis 16:1-12

Esau traded his birthright for a dinner meal.  Genesis 25:29-34, Hebrews 12:16-17

Satan tried hard to make Jesus trade away the redemption of man, BUT THE DEVIL LOST "BIG TIME!"  Matthew 4:1-11

The young unwed mother on welfare is there because she chose to surrender her virginity to a man who did not love or honor her. Now she is paying the price.

The man or woman with lung cancer made the wrong decision when they started to smoke (realizing cancer may have other causes, such as eating or drinking chemical carcinogens, allowing their body to become toxic, etc.)

The homosexual man with aids can only blame himself.  He chose that life style and traded life for death. 

The drug addict is trading his life for nothing, getting a high on and off, but losing all other things in life. 

The alcoholic is trading his family, job and happiness for a life as a drunk.

The young person with a venereal disease traded health for a "one night stand" with a sinful fornicator.

HERE IS THE TRUTH -- ONCE YOU HAVE TRADED AWAY WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU, NOTHING IS LEFT BUT GRIEF ADN SORROW!  Romans 6:23

JESUS CAN SET YOU FREE!
     Return, repent and obey the Lord!  Deuteronomy 30:8-10
     We know what God has said - verses 11-14
     God has set before us life and good or death and evil - verses 15-18
     God has called heaven and earth as witnesses - verse 19

      Let us LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL OUR MIGHT!  verse 20

What are you going to trade off in the future? Life or death will be determined by every decision that you are making.

Do you have an ear with which to hear?

       To be continued . . . .