Posted by: missionventureministries | February 8, 2023

THIS IS A SUBJECT THAT PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO THINK ABOUT, BUT SHOULD GIVE A SERIOUS THOUGHT TO – John 14:6

John 14 vs 6 serious thought

The question is what happens once you are no longer alive? 

Jesus told us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6) 

Death is inevitable, but most people give that reality little thought until it is too late. Now as you’re reading this, is the moment to think seriously about what follows our earthly existence, while we still have the opportunity to make a decision that will affect our ultimate destination. Second Corinthians 6:2 tells us that “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”    

We need to realize that this life is not all there is, since eternity awaits all of us. Some will live eternally in God’s presence, but the alternative is to experience everlasting torment, forever separated from Him. If we receive Jesus as Savior, our penalty for sin is paid, we are adopted into God’s family, and heaven is our eternal home. But if we suppress the truth and reject Jesus, we remain alienated from God, under condemnation for our sin, and destined for unending agony. Jesus told Nicodemus “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18). 

Sadly a number of preachers instruct their flock that there are many ways to get to heaven, but that is not what Scripture teaches. They teach that there is just one way, through the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6). 

Consequently, what happens when we die depends on what happens before we die. The Bible classifies the whole human race into two categories, the saved and the lost. The saved are those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and have made Him the Lord of their life. The lost are those who haven’t. Therefore, what happens to the saved is radically different from what happens to the lost. 

When the saved die, they go directly into the presence of the Lord. As Jesus told the thief on the cross, “I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). This is a straightforward promise that at the moment of death the repentant thief would pass from his life of crime and his agonizing death on the cross into the realm called “paradise.” 

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that he would be pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. What this means is that at the moment a believer dies the soul goes to be with the Lord in heaven, while the body is buried until the day of resurrection when Jesus returns in the clouds for them. Paul told the Thessalonians that “the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is a clear promise of future bodily resurrection for the believer. 

And in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 Paul adds the crucial fact that our bodies will be “raised imperishable” and that once our bodies are raised, we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Wherever He is, there we will be, rejoicing, praising, singing, and celebrating with Him throughout eternity. 

Jesus reassured His disciples that: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). 

At the moment of death the soul enters a new realm while the body is prepared for burial. For the believer, the moment of death brings him into the personal presence of Christ, while for the unbeliever; death begins an experience of unending conscious punishment. So, let us take a look at what Scripture reveals about this reality. 

  • In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus told of a rich man who upon his death, went to the place called Hades where he was being tormented in the fire. 
  • Mark 9:43-48 speaks of the fire that is not quenched and the worm that does not die. 
  • Revelation 20:11-15 describes the awesome scene as the unsaved dead are raised to stand before God and receive their final sentence of doom and are cast into the lake of fire where they will reside forever, eternally separated from the presence of Almighty God. 

The lake of fire is the final destiny of those who do not want to accept Jesus Christ’s love gift of salvation, unless by a conscious choice they change their mind and put their complete trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior before they dye. 

If you know Jesus, and have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you have nothing to fear when death knocks at your door. Death comes to all of us; it will come for you and me one of these days. Death may be quick or slow, painful or painless, but when the moment comes, the believer will find themselves ushered into heaven where they will see Jesus face to face. 

Death is not the end of the journey; because, for the believer, death is the doorway to heaven. For the unbeliever, it is a passageway into unimaginable suffering. 

Consequently, what happens when you die depends on what happens before you die, so make sure you’re ready so that when the time comes you won’t be surprised by the irreversible outcome of what happens next. 

Presently there are approximately 8 billion people on Earth and you are one of them, and you need to realize that you matter to God. Why? Because, you are created in His image, are cared for by Him, and most of all loved by Him: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

Jesus is not only the Savior of human kind; He can be the solution to your depression, worries and fears if you let Him in. Jesus said: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me” (Revelation 3:20). You need however to ask Jesus to come into your life and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and turn away from them and start following His will for your life each day. 

So always remember what Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25). 

We are here to help you, and to walk with you. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | February 1, 2023

ARE YOU A PRODIGAL? HAVE YOU WALKED AWAY FROM GOD? – Luke 15:11-19

Luke 15 vs 11-19

How did the prodigal son’s account begin? Jesus tells us that: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them” (Luke 15:11-12). Possibly the youngest son wanted to leave the restrictions behind that come with life under the directions of a father. Or maybe he wanted money to pursue life’s pleasures with friends. Whatever the case, the prodigal son’s desire gave him the courage to prematurely ask for his inheritance and then to leave home and the things he had been taught under the guidance of his father. 

We see a similar example in a person who knows about God and turns away from Him to follow their carnal desires. First, they begin with a craving for something other than what they have. Then, the longer they allow the idea to linger, the stronger they desire to have it, and eventually they find ways to justify what they want as their flawed reasoning moves toward their self-centered goals. Like the wayward son, many may enjoy the pleasures of the world for a time, but ultimately, they will find themselves lacking certain essentials like unconditional love, security, and a meaningful purpose for living. 

When a person insists on going their own way, God will let them, much like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Our heavenly Father will not force us to remain with Him since He has given us free will. 

Sadly, human beings find themselves outside of God’s will on a regular basis and when that happens they are unable to see their course of action the way God sees it. The Father can see every detail of what we are doing and the choices we are making, but we can often only see what is in front of us at that moment. Frequently, it looks too good to pass up, and so, we begin to rationalize how we can obtain it. 

So, what happens when we move outside of God’s plan? 

Our fellowship with the Father is significantly affected. The prodigal son was no longer in close contact with his father; their relationship was not as important to him as it once had been. If we walk away from the Lord our resources, time and talent are wasted because they are not under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

The wayward son squandered his money on frivolous things and ended up worse off than the laborers at his father’s house. In the same way, God gives us spiritual gifts, resources, and guidance to build His kingdom, but if we pursue our own plan we waste what He has given us and our deepest needs go unmet. Chasing after dreams that don’t align with God’s will lead to discontent; since only in Christ can we find true fulfillment. 

Poor choices have consequences, but they need not dictate our future. Our heavenly Father never gives up on His children and will welcome us with great joy and love when we turn back to Him. 

This story that Jesus tells us is so that we understand the reality of our situation. We are up against an active enemy, a world that doesn’t value God, and our own tendency to prefer pleasure over obedience. If we want to avoid self-deception, we must make Scripture the basis for our thoughts and choices in life. Romans 12:2 tells us: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

The enemy’s ways are so subtle that we can be led into evil, step by step, without ever realizing what is happening. A vigilant spiritual life is critically important in protecting us against Satan’s attacks. The moment that we let our focus turn away from Jesus, is the moment that we start depending upon ourselves. Before we know it, we are snared by the ways of the world or entangled by wrong choices. And when we are outside of God’s will things begin to deteriorate like it did with the prodigal son who ended up having to feed pigs and eat with them. 

God is a forgiving Father and He wants us to have the mind of Christ, however, in order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ (John 1:12; 1 John 5:12). After salvation, the believer lives a life under God’s influence. The Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens the believer, infusing him with wisdom, which equates to having the mind of Christ. The believer then bears a responsibility to yield to the Spirit’s leading (Ephesians 4:30) and to allow the Spirit to transform and renew his mind (Romans 12:1-2). 

Having the mind of Christ means we identify with Christ’s purpose “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). It means we share Jesus’ perspective of humility and obedience (Philippians 2:5-8), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and dependence on God thru prayer (Luke 5:16). 

If you find yourself in a situation where you are uncertain of what to do, like the prodigal son, the only answer is to spend time getting to know Christ. Saturate yourself in His word and listen only to the godly counsel of people He sends to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you more like Jesus. When you do that, the path becomes clear and you will know His will and His ways. 

So, always remember to, “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” (Proverbs 3:5-6), since, the one who trust in the Lord has hope and does not need to fear difficulty or calamity. They know who is in control of their life and that Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. And that, He cares for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | January 25, 2023

WHY IS PRAYER SO IMPORTANT? – Matthew 14:23

Matthew 14 vs 23

After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. (Matthew 14:23)

The answer is because it was very important to Jesus, as He prayed frequently (Matthew 14:23; 26:36; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; John 17). Our Savior is our most important example, therefore we should emulate Him.  There are many examples in the Bible of people calling upon God and getting answers to their prayers. God wants believers to have fellowship with Him and that is accomplished through prayer. In essence prayer is communion with God and an intimate bond with our Creator and Savior.

Here are several reasons why prayer is so important:

  • Praying helps us to grow closer to God – When we pray, we are welcoming God to be in every part of our lives. The more we spend time talking and listening to God through prayer, the closer we get to Him, and He will draw closer to us (James 4:8).

Psalm 145:18 tells us that, The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. 

And in Jeremiah 29:12-13 we read, then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

  • Prayer helps us to align ourselves with God’s will – When we pray according to God’s will we are asking Him to lead us and help us in our journey through life. Prayer is a way for us to surrender our lives to God and trust that He will lead us down the path He has planned for us. When we take the time to pray, we are opening up a dialogue with our Creator. When we do this, we are able to hear from Him and are capable to discern the will of God for our lives thru the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Paul said that, My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
  • We pray to seek God’s wisdom and guidance, especially during times we need to make an important decision. When the going gets rough and we don’t know what to do, it’s important to remember that we should seek guidance from God. Prayer is the perfect way to welcome God to help us. When we pray for wisdom, we are asking God to help us understand what we should do in a certain situation. And when we pray for guidance, we are asking God to show us the path that we should take. Therefore, if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5). 
  • Prayer gives us strength and hope – When we pray, we are reminded that He is in control and will help us through whatever situation we are facing because we know that God is always there for us. He will always give us the strength and hope we need to get through anything. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).

Prayer is like charging our spiritual battery. Many of us use cell phones. What happens if we continue using the phone and never charge it? The answer is obvious, the battery will run down and the phone will stop working until it is once more fully charged. In the same way we cannot afford not to pray.

  • Another importance of prayer is that it puts our faith into action –When we make time to talk to God, it helps us to keep our focus on Him and His promises instead of our circumstances which in turn increases our faith. So if you are looking for ways to increase your faith, start with prayer because it is one of the best things that any one of us can do so, that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 2:5). 
  • The importance of prayer is also evident when trouble comes – Whenever we pray, we are reminded that we are not alone in this world and that God is always with us. He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Therefore, even when everything else seems to be falling apart, we can find hope and peace in Him through prayer. Philippians 4:7 tells us that, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
  • Through prayer we are delivered from temptations – And when He was at the place, He said to them ‘pray that you enter not into temptation . . . And He said to them, why do you sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation (Luke 22:40, 46). 

Prayer makes us able to withstand temptations. Many have fallen and have been defeated because they neglected prayer. Our enemy, the devil, the tempter is in business of weakening and destroying believers. Jesus encourages us to pray lest we fall into temptation. Prayer is the key to our rescue.

  • Prayer is vital when we are filled with guilt because of sin, for it allows us to pour out our hearts to God, confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness. When we are sincere in our prayer, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
  • We pray to give thanks and praise – Praise and thanksgiving should be the lifestyle of every believer. Every Christian who praises God is a cheerful Christian and will always carry the presence of God around him. Essentially, prayer helps us to express our blessings and to reflect on His abounding grace and mercy. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. (Psalms 92:1).

Our gratitude through our prayers is an act of honoring God. It is an acknowledgment that everything we have and all the battles that we have won are because of God’s love for us. That is why prayer is important for us to exalt God and show our love for Him since, every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17).

There are many more reasons why it is important to pray. No matter what your situation is, God is longing for you to talk to Him through prayer. So, take it to God in prayer because, He wants to answer your prayers. He longs to hear your prayers. He wants to know that you trust Him, that you believe in Him to the point of coming to Him with all that is in your heart.

The Bible says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). And another verse tells us: “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2). 

Remember, God is able to answer your prayers even beyond your expectations, “now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | January 18, 2023

WE ARE JUST PASSING THRU THIS EARTH – 1 Corinthians 15:48

1 Corinthians 15 vs 48

“As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:48) 

In my walk with the Lord I heard the testimony of a man that now is a pastor. He told the congregation that he was on the verge of killing himself, but seeing a Bible that the Gideon society had left in his hotel room, he put the gun aside and began reading it and ended up dedicating his life to Jesus Christ. 

Scripture tells us that: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). 

It is God that leads a person to the gospel. Only God can draw someone to Himself, transform a heart, and change a sinner into a saint. We need to understand that God is sovereign, and the entire world is under His control. Anything that enters our life, whether it’s a blessing or a trial, comes because the Lord has a use for it in His plan, which is always for our good (Romans 8:28). 

Sometimes we wonder why God doesn’t put an end to our troubles and hardships, since He has the power to do so. But He’s working every event in our life according to the counsel of His will. We won’t understand it all until we see Him in glory. 

We need to comprehend that Christians are just passing through this world on their way to their permanent home awaiting them in heaven. Philippians 3:20-21 tells us that “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” 

Christ has prepared a “place” for us there (John 14:2), and it is there that we have “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5). 

In view of such a glorious future, we ought to live not as those who are “earthy” but, as our verse says, as “they also that are heavenly.” We have, indeed, been made “partakers of the heavenly calling,” and so should always, in all we do, “fix our thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our Apostle and High Priest” (Hebrews 3:1), for He represents us even now in the heavenly places. He has gone “into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24), and we have, in effect, already been made to “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). 

In these bodies made of Earth’s dust, we need to be aware of our Saviors immeasurable love for us since He came so that “as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:49). Paul vividly expresses this to the believers of Philippi, when he tells them that God “who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). 

Remember “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). 

Christians, indeed, constitute a heavenly people with a heavenly calling, even while still on Earth. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). 

So we must trust Him and His good purposes no matter what is happening in our life and obey Him in everything that we say think and do, until we see Him in heaven and hear welcome home. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | January 11, 2023

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS – 1 Corinthians 1:9

1 Corinthians 1 vs 9

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9) 

Depending on God is basic to the Christian life. We trust in, and depend on God for our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). We depend on God for wisdom (James 1:5). In fact, we depend on God for everything (Psalm 104:27) and in everything (Proverbs 3:5-6). The psalmist teaches the Lord’s reliability with the three-fold description “the LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer” (Psalm 18:2). 

When we place our trust in Jesus Christ as omnipotent Creator and gracious Redeemer, He then faithfully undertakes to provide everything we need to live an effective, fruitful, victorious Christian life. 

For example, when we are tempted to sin or are tested in any other way, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). In this sense, He undertakes to ground us firmly in His truth and to keep us from moral and spiritual harm because, “the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). 

And when we do sin, He assures us that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) because “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). 

With all our failings, God has undertaken to eventually perfect us in Christ, and He faithfully will continue this until it is done. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). 

All that He has promised, He will do. Even when we are unfaithful to Him, He remains faithful to us. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). 

God’s faithfulness follows the promise that He will “confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8). Therefore, we also need to seek to be faithful by letting “us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). 

Many places in Scripture extol the faithfulness of God. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” 

The Hebrew word translated “faithfulness” means “steadfastness, firmness, fidelity.” Psalm 119:89-90 says, “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations.” 

When we know Him, we can rest in His goodness, even when we don’t understand the circumstances that God’s plan for us will prevail, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). 

As a child trusts a loving father, we can trust our heavenly Father to always do what is right. Therefore, we need to listen to Him and obey the leadership of the Holy Spirit in us because when we trust and obey we have the assurance that He will lead us as Proverbs 3:5-6 states: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” 

Always remember that: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | January 4, 2023

HOW TO BEHAVE LIKE A TRUE CHILD OF GOD WHEN SOMEONE HURTS YOU – 1 John 3:18-22

1 John 3 vs 18-22

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. (1 John 3:18-22) 

Have you been accused, misunderstood, or criticized falsely? Have people judged you without listening to you, made assumptions without asking questions, or misinterpreted your words or intentions? 

If so, this is, unfortunately part of the believer’s pain, however, you can still respond in a godly manner and in due time God will help your heart to heal. Since, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). 

People who have done this or continue doing it cannot possibly understand, they don’t know you, and they don’t know your walk with the Lord. They do not know the time you spend with Him, so they cannot understand – but they think they do. 

We cannot control the ways others treat us, but we are responsible for responding rightly. And though we should always ask the Lord to search our hearts and to convict us of any sin – helping us make things right with God and man in view of any sin He reveals, we must never allow people’s misunderstandings or false accusations to undermine our knowledge of Christ or our identity in Him. 

People’s misconception of you does not define you. They do not define your heart, your identity, or your ministry. They do not define your intentions or future potential. People will think what they will, but you have to stand firmly before God and follow the Holy Spirit’s leadership who gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). 

When any of us face misunderstanding, we need to ask God to search our heart. But do not, under any circumstances, allow the pain of misunderstanding to pull you off your seat in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, since “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7). 

Even if you’re hurting, remain in the halls of heaven. Forgive, bless, and pray for all who have hurt you and continue to do so. Keep seeking the One Who knows you best and loves you most. As long as you maintain clean hands and a pure heart before God – making right anything the Lord shows you if you have hurt anyone or sinned – then people’s misunderstandings will come and go, but your identity in Christ, which is based on His blood and His Word, remains forever. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I choose to forgive all those who judged me, criticized me, and punished me without truly knowing me or for whatever other reason there might be. Please help them see things the way You do, and help me to continue obeying You while walking in love toward all. 

Remember that God is your perfect Guide for life, who lovingly and intentionally created you for this time and place. He watches over your steps and teaches you His paths as revealed in His Word. What’s more, He is the Comforter, who promises to walk by your side so you never face life’s challenges alone.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 28, 2022

THINKING OF THE FUTURE AND FORGETTING ABOUT THE PAST – Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3 vs 13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14) 

As the New Year approaches many of us might be taking time to reflect at the past year or what has happen in our life and what do we see? It might be good accomplishments or not so good and if we are true to God and ourselves we realize that there is much improvement to be made for the honor and glory of God. 

Although Christians are called to be like Christ, we continue to make mistakes. In fact, we will never obtain complete sanctification until we stand before the Lord. But, God uses our imperfections and our potential to help us grow in faith and obedience to Him. 

Sadly the flesh in all of us at times pulls us toward sin and away from the prize of the upward call. For this reason, Paul exerted an all-out, single-minded effort to obtain Christian maturity, he recognized his own shortfall. Paul also called the Philippians and all future Bible readers to diligently strive to pursue spiritual growth in their Christian lives. 

We see the author of the book of Hebrews echoing Paul’s words with this similar encouragement, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). 

So we should not look back, because, if we do, we’ll get burdened down under the weight of past memories and failure. In turn we need to understand that each achievement we realize we have God to thank for because He is the one who gives the strength, opportunity, skill and health to do it, and He works in all of us to reach success. Isaiah tells us that “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). 

As we see, there is only One who deserves the glory, and it’s not you or me. The purpose and joy of the Christian life isn’t to live for ourselves and our own exaltation, but for God and His glory. 

Psalm 145 attributes to the Lord unsearchable greatness, glorious splendor, wonderful works, mighty power, loving kindness, mercy, goodness, majesty, and righteousness. He is truly worthy of all glory and honor. 

In turn, we need to glorify Him by humbling ourselves, depending on Him, and recognizing that all the good in and from us actually comes from Him. It is God’s will that our lives bring Him praise and this will ultimately be fulfilled in heaven but should also be our practice while here on earth (Ephesians 1:13-14). 

The more we understand the grandeur of our God and the greatness of His works, both for and through us, the more we’ll desire to exalt Him,  (1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 8:11; Ephesians 3:20). 

We as believers are the recipient of His gracious gifts, and that is reason for overwhelming joy. Therefore, be encouraged by Paul’s emphasis here on forgetting the past, forgetting what is behind, and straining forward to what lies ahead. Don’t let yesterday’s failures interrupt you from the goal of your upward call of God in Christ. Press on for the gold medal prize until you meet the Lord Jesus at the finish line. 

We at Mission Venture Ministries would like to challenge you in the coming year to spend time in the Word, exploring the glory of God and rejoicing in knowing that He works mightily in and through you if you let Him do so. And we are celebrating along side all our readers what God has done and will do for each of us, knowing that our heavenly Father enables His children to serve and bless others. Because, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:8). 

If you want grow as a Christian, make sure you have the right attitude knowing that you are in a lifelong process of moving ahead. And, give it the proper effort, focusing on the goal of being like Christ, and doing everything in light of that high calling. 

Our “goal” is to press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12), including experiencing the resurrection of the dead (Philippians 3:11) and receiving our glorified body (Philippians 3:21). 

May you bring glory to God in 2023 and find joy and peace in submitting to Him. 

Blessings on your New Year! 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 21, 2022

THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US – John 1:14

John 1 vs 14

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) 

Over 2000 years ago Jesus descended from His majestic position in heaven and was made in the likeness of men through Mary’s miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit. Jesus became totally human assuming human flesh, in this way divinity and humanity came together in perfect unity. He experienced the normal growth process (Luke 2:40), had natural physical needs (John 19:28) and human emotions (Matthew 26:38). He grew in knowledge (Luke 2:52), and died a physical death (Luke 23:46), and was resurrected with a physical body (Luke 24:39). Jesus was human in every way except for sin; since He lived a completely sinless life (Hebrews 4:15). He was born like us so that we might become like Him. Jesus had to become one of us so that He could be our Kinsmen Redeemer. 

We first see the kinsmen redeemer thru Boaz in the book of Ruth and then Christ paid the high price associated with the redemption of lost humanity (1 Corinthians 6:20). Boaz was willing to be the kinsmen redeemer for Ruth (Ruth 3), and Christ was equally willing to redeem mankind (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 10:15-18; Hebrews 10:7; 1 John 3:16). The redeemer Boaz took Ruth as a Gentile bride as Christ also took a Gentile bride the Church. 

This is such an amazing testimony of God’s profound and unfathomable love and wisdom. He provided a way to redeem sinful mankind without violating His unchangeable attributes of holiness, righteousness and justice, while at the same time displaying His love, mercy and amazing grace. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33). 

In light of this awesome reality, the incarnation of Jesus was the ultimate demonstration of love when the Creator took on the form of the created, and the Infinite became the Finite. “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). 

The Lord Jesus was born to die as a substitute for His people, and did for us what we could never do for ourselves. The perfect High Priest, offered Himself, the perfect Sacrifice, to a perfect God who demands perfection, and then declared in victory, “It is finished” (John 19:30). And “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

When the Lord picked Abraham to become the father of His chosen nation, He promised that in him, all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Then as Abraham’s descendants multiplied, the Lord identified the tribe of Judah as the line through which this promised One would come. And eventually, He revealed that David would be the ancestor of Israel’s coming King (Jeremiah 33:14-15).

The prophet Isaiah provided further details when he wrote, “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Since this name means “God with us,” it’s filled with the promise of His presence. Although the Lord had been with His people from beginning of creation, the hour had come for Him to dwell with them in a very unique way; the eternal God of the universe was going to enter the human race through a physical birth, to live among His people as a man while never ceasing to be God.

“He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). And as our High Priest, “He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). 

God “seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21). His crown of thorns was exchanged for the crown of a King and the suffering Servant was exalted to be the King of kings. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17). Therefore, He is worthy of all of our praise and worship now and forever! 

God became a perfect man to satisfy divine justice as a sinless substitute for His people. Immanuel would be physically present on earth, walking among His people, revealing the Father to them, teaching precious truths, showing them how to live, and healing the sick.

When Jesus physically left this earth after His death and resurrection, He promised not to leave His disciples as orphans as He would ask the Father to send His Holy Spirit to live in them forever (John 14:16-18). And that is still His promise to every believer today. Jesus Christ is not only our Savior, He’s our constant Companion, Comforter and Guide, who will never leave or forsake us.

May your Christmas be blessed knowing that Jesus is the reason for the season, bringing us the promise of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life – Amen!

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 15, 2022

LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE – JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON – Titus 2:13-14

Titus 2 vs 13-14

Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:13-14) 

For approximately 1,900 years, the Jewish people had felt that God had hidden His face from them, especially in light of the Holocaust, but since the event of May 18, 1948 they are back again in their beloved land. God is bringing the Jews back to Jerusalem on a daily basis. The Hebrew language has returned to be the spoken language and the land of Israel is thriving. 

Jeremiah 30:3 tells us: “For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” And Jesus in Matthew 24 prophesied that the re-establishment of the nation of Israel would be an end time sign. Using the fig tree as a symbol of Israel, He prophesied that when the fig tree re-blossoms, the generation that sees that happen will be the one that will witness His return. Well, the fig tree re-blossomed on May 14, 1948 when the nation of Israel was re-established, making our generation the one that will witness the Lord’s return. 

Jesus gave a similar prophecy about the city of Jerusalem in Luke 21:24 where He prophesied that the Jews would be dispersed from Jerusalem and be led captive among the nations. He then said to watch for their return to Jerusalem because, when they return, it will mark the season of His return. 

In fulfillment of this prophecy, the Jews were dispersed from Jerusalem in 70 AD, and Jerusalem was reunified under Israeli rule as a result of the 1967 Six-Day War launched against Israel by the Arab world, marking this day and time as the season of the Lord’s return (Luke 21; Zechariah 8:4-8). 

There are other prophecies concerning Israel that mark the end times when Jesus will return. One is found in Isaiah 35 where we are told that the decimated and barren land of Israel will flourish once again. In fulfillment of this prophecy, early in the 20th Century the Jewish settlers began to reclaim the land, and today, Israel has become the breadbasket of the Middle East. 

Zechariah 12 tells us that Israel will become a military powerhouse in the end times, and today, the tiny nation of Israel is considered by military experts to have the fourth most powerful military force in the world. 

Another key prophetic sign related to Israel in the end times is the one whose fulfillment we are witnessing today, the focusing of world politics upon the nation of Israel (Zechariah 12:2-3). All the nations of the world are coming against Israel over the issue of who controls the city of Jerusalem. 

So why is God giving us all these signs to let us know about Jesus’ soon return? Well, the key lies in why He is returning. Jesus is returning to deal with rebellion and sin before setting up His Kingdom on earth. 

It is God’s merciful and loving nature to let us know beforehand when He comes in justice and judgment to give us a chance to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 explains, “God does not wish that any should perish but that all should be brought to repentance.” 

What an awesome, loving, and kind God we serve! He has done for the Jews and for all of us what we could never do for ourselves and that is to reconcile ourselves to Him. He has, by “His divine power granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). And, for one specific generation, He tells them of what life will be like at the time of the end. 

“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6).

Our amazing God has not left us in the dark about the last days and the time of sudden destruction. Light and darkness are commonly used in Scripture. When someone is in the dark about something, it means they are ignorant about the subject. But we, as Christians, are not uninformed of the signs preceding the day of the Lord. Hebrews 10:25 even tells us we can see the day approaching. 

Another aspect of God’s goodness and kindness toward us is that He gave very detailed information about when the day of the Lord is getting close, which is preceded by His Son’s glorious appearing to meet His church in the air. 1 Corinthians 15:52 tells us that “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 

Jesus also gave us a very important detail about this same timeframe and the nearness of the day of the Lord: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place”  (Matthew 24:32-34). 

Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:10, and Joel 1:7 all refer to Israel as a fig tree, and the content of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25 concerning events before and during the 70th week of Daniel, also referred to as the Great Tribulation. That means that the fig tree Jesus is referring to is the nation of Israel, and when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, indicating new growth, we can know that summer is near. From that example Jesus said that the generation that sees this will not pass away before all things in the Olivet Discourse take place. 

What this means to us as Christians living at the end of the time of the Gentiles and the church age is that we have been given notice about the coming of the Lord in advance. He will come first for His church before the Tribulation, and then with His church at the end or the Tribulation. 

The Jews are back in their land, the fig tree is putting forth leaves, and the unknown day or hour is likely very near. So what do we do? Sit and wait? No, we go and tell others about the One who died to save their soul. We tell them about the coming time of Tribulation and, even more importantly, the eternal destiny of those who are not ready, should they perish before they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

Our good and gracious God has given us ample evidence, and He is providing us time to tell others of His great love for mankind and the sacrifice of His own Son for the sins of the whole world. Time however, is running out for all of us in one way or another so let us spend the precious time the Lord has given us by telling someone about Jesus today! 

Remember that no one knows the day or the hour of the Lord appearing in the air to meet the dead in Christ first and then the living saints. However, He did tell us to be ready “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). 

Come quickly Lord Jesus – Maranatha! 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 7, 2022

BELIEVING IN THE ACCURACY AND TRUTH OF THE BIBLE – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Accuracy of the Bible - 2 Timothy 3 vs 16-17

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

Scripture is the principal way by which God grows His children to spiritual maturity. We cannot expect to succeed in our walk of faith without immersing ourselves in it, because, God’s Word sets the believer’s course. It is our source of life (Matthew 4:4) and truth (John 17:17). The Bible is God’s inspired gift to us. The believer who pursues the instruction in righteousness found in God’s Word and applies what he learns will grow in holiness and avoid many pitfalls in life. 

Paul’s mention of “all Scripture” emphasizes the composite totality of God’s Word to His people. The believer who delights in God’s Word and meditates on it day and night is blessed. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3). 

Let us take a look at what the book of Revelation reveals for the end times: 

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” (Revelation 20:1-3). 

Satan will be seized and bound with “a great chain” by an angel, and then he will be hurled into the center of the earth and locked up in the pit. We are to take a literal interpretation of the Bible unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. That’s how God intended His Word to be understood and interpreted. When the Bible is not taken literally, our understanding of the Word is left to the opinions and imaginations of fallible mankind…. 

One reason we should take the Bible literally is because the Lord Jesus Christ took it literally. In the book of Revelation we read literally that it is “the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw” (Revelation 1:1-2). 

After the Savior’s death on the cross, a seal was placed on the stone at the entrance of Christ’s tomb. “So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard” (Matthew 27:66). On resurrection morning though, the seal was broken and the stone was rolled away, because Christ had conquered death. That seal could never have kept Him in that tomb because He is “the Resurrection, and the Life” (John 11:25); He is the “Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). 

A “seal” will also be set upon the devil (Revelation 20:3) when he is locked up in the bottomless pit. But he is powerless to break that seal, demonstrating that he is a created being. If Satan could break this seal, he absolutely would and he will have 1000 years to try to break it, but he will fail. 

This contrast shows that we who believe and are on the Lord’s side are on the side of power, victory, and hope. Those who are outside of Christ are on the side of weakness, defeat, and hopelessness. By faith in Christ alone, the unbelieving can be rescued “from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13). 

The seal placed upon Satan ensures that he will no longer deceive the nations during the 1000 years of Christ’s earthly kingdom. As we read in Revelation 20:3, “and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.” Satan will be locked and sealed in his prison, giving relief to the earth and its inhabitants by his absence. With Satan locked up, the whole world will be set free from his deceits for 1000 years. 

After the 1000-year period of Christ’s earthly kingdom is fulfilled “he must be released for a little while.” God reveals to us that Satan’s nature will not change even after 1000 years of confinement. He will remain proud, defiant and at enmity against God, and his hatred of God will only burn more intensely after the 1000 years have passed. 

Once Satan is released, God also reveals that mankind doesn’t change either. After 1000 years, we see how susceptible mankind will still be to Satan’s deceptions and methods, as the number who are deceived and follow him will be “as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:8). 

The releasing of Satan for a short time is part of God’s sovereign plan – “he must be released” (Revelation 20:3). Everything God does is good and righteous and has a purpose. Mankind has a free will and, at the close of the Millennium, just prior to the eternal state, God gives the inhabitants of Christ’s earthly kingdom one last opportunity to believe in Christ or reject Him. 

Many think that the world can be fixed through politics and human government; rationalizing that if we just get this governor or that political ruler in office, then everything will be all right. Sadly this is not true since even when the perfect Ruler reigns over the world for 1000 years, in the end many will choose to be on Satan’s side (Revelation 20:8). Even if the world were all that it could be, people would still reject Christ validating what Scripture says that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). 

Only Christ can change the heart of those that trust in Him, when they believe that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

The Bible is God’s Word to us and He meant it to be believed literally and completely as our verse states: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16). 

Remember, the Bible is not just a book, rather, it’s a treasure house of truth that’s living and active, and it’s a fountain of living water and our source of strength. However, Scripture can only be profitable to us when correctly interpreted. We need instruction from the Holy Spirit (who leads us into all truth). And for Scripture to really be effective in conviction of sin, correction of error and training in righteousness, it needs to be applied to our lives. We need to align our lives to what God’s word says. Then we shall be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

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