The Tragedy of “Almost”

“For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?” Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.” The king rose up with the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them.” (Acts‬ ‭26:26-30‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

The passage above records a very tragic moment. King Agrippa was on the verge of believing in Jesus as Lord, but he hardened his heart and stood up, rejecting the free gift of eternal life.

His actions are essentially saying this, “Stop it. I don’t want to hear anymore. I refuse to accept Jesus Christ as Lord.”

Other translations render Agrippa’s words like this:

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.”” (Acts‬ ‭26:28‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

The word “almost” is the great tragedy.

It is like coming so close to the finish line in a race but fainting and being disqualified when you are just a hair’s breadth away.

Hell contains many souls who are “almosts”.

“I should have responded when that preacher asked for us to place our faith in Jesus. Why did I harden my heart? I almost got saved, but now it is too late...”

“Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my deeds for forty years. Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, ‘They always err in their heart, but they didn’t know my ways;’ as I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’”” (Hebrews‬ ‭3:7-11‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

It is possible to know with the mind that Jesus is the Son of God and everything that He claims to be, and yet not be saved.

A person has to believe and confess Him as Lord. If you just believe that He is the Son of God but don’t receive Him as Lord, you are not saved.

Even the demons believe that God is real, but they don’t submit to Him as Lord.

The Holy Spirit convicts the hearts of unbelievers about their sinfulness and woos them to receive Jesus Christ as Lord. But they can choose to reject it. Every individual must choose to accept or reject the gift of eternal life.

Yet, it is God’s will for all to hear the Gospel and to be saved. No matter how dark someone’s past is, he can freely receive forgiveness of sins when he places his faith in Jesus as Lord!

If you are already a born-again believer, through faith in Jesus, you have entered God’s rest—the rest of your conscience and also rest from works-based justification.

You are a saint who is already sanctified, justified, saved, holy, righteous, pure, and blameless. The next time you read these words in the Bible, don’t feel condemned or shrink away. These words describe who you already are in Christ.

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Dear brethren, you are not an “almost”. You are complete in Christ.

Let someone know the Gospel so that they are not almost, but fully saved through faith in Jesus Christ!

If you are blessed by the daily teachings/devotionals I share freely on this page, you can become a patron on Patreon if you want to receive an additional daily Bible Study teaching, as well as all my eBooks! Your patronage supports this ministry and enables us to “reach more and teach more” in the body of Christ: http://Patreon.com/miltongohblog

Look Forward to Jesus’ Return

“But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.” (1 John‬ ‭3:1-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Such amazing grace and mercy that God has given us. Instead of punishing a wicked criminal, God loves the criminal so much that He decided to die in the criminal’s place to purchase his pardon, and make him an heir of all His rich estate. Each and every one of us were that wicked criminal. God’s grace blows our mind in the natural and sounds too good to be true, but we know that it is true.

The more you understand the significance of Jesus’ finished work at the cross, the more you will love God and be thankful for His grace.

This lifetime is not about looking to acquire as much material possessions and influence as possible before ending up buried in a grave.

For us who are children of God, we should not even expect to die, but to be received into the air when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns for us.

Our mortal body will be transformed into an immortal glorified body like Jesus’, and we will be like Him in body, soul, and spirit.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:51-54‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Children of God who live impure lifestyles have likely lost sight of the Lord’s return. They are drinking from the world’s spring, headfirst like a hound drinking water.

If you are not careful, the deceitful of riches and the cares of this world will trap you, causing you to forfeit great eternal rewards due to spending your time unwisely.

Do not think that you are immune to these—always rely on God’s grace to keep you on the path to righteousness, and to walk befitting of your royal status, to bring glory to your Father in Heaven.

I pray that we receive the grace to carry ourselves with a spirit of love such that unbelievers who cross paths with us encounter the God of grace through interacting with us!

How is the Father like? Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Jesus is an accurate and precise visible representation of the triune Godhead. See God’s heart of grace and love towards you in the 37 recorded miracles of Jesus Christ: https://bit.ly/messiahs-miracles

Fullness of Joy

“Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge. My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.” As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips. Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety. For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.” (Psalms‬ ‭16:1-11‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Are you wondering who is “Yahweh”? This English rendering comes from the four Hebrew letters, yud hei vav hei, which spell the name of the triune Godhead. When pronounced in Hebrew, it would sound like “Yahweh”.

Whenever Bible translations put “LORD” in all capital letters, it indicates that they had swapped the original yud hei vav hei for LORD.

When you call “LORD”, no one knows which one you are addressing, but thankfully many portions of Scripture in the original Hebrew language makes it clear that when you put your trust in Yahweh, you will be saved.

Before Christ came to earth as a man with the name Jesus, salvation was received by placing one’s faith in the name of Yahweh.

Just as we are saved by believing and confessing Jesus (Yeshua) as our Lord today, our predecessors who lived before Christ was born were saved by believing and confessing Yahweh as their Lord.

It has always been salvation by grace through faith, for no one can earn salvation through works.

When you read the beautiful passage above, what especially jumps out at you? For me, it is that in God’s presence is fullness of joy.

It seems like many people are bound by wrong believing, such that they are afraid of God, and they pray with a ‘feeling not good enough’, fearing and trembling attitude.

They don’t have the revelation like David does. No wonder God called David “a man after My own heart”. David understood God’s love and grace, even though he was a man who lived under the dispensation of the Law. Yet, he had a personal relationship with God that allowed him to see the heart of God.

Think about it—everything that gives you true pleasure in this world, didn’t God create them? He is the Creator who makes things that bring joy and pleasure, for He is full of joy and every good thing.

When you pray, envision a happy God who is smiling and excited to hug you and bless you with good things.

““He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” (Luke‬ ‭15:20‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Never has Abba God been depicted to be in a hurry, except in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. The only time He runs is to hug and kiss His wayward son who has returned home. He runs to show you that He loves you.

Wrong believing causes us to run in the opposite direction, afraid that He is in a hurry to punish us for our sins.

Why don’t you run into your loving heavenly Father’s arms today? Thank Him for His grace, love, favor, and blessings. Experience the fullness of joy in His presence and pleasures in His right hand forevermore!

Join me on a study of the Four Gospels to understand them through the lens of the New Covenant of Grace, plus a bonus study of the Book of Acts: https://bit.ly/understandeveryparable

【How Great Is Our God 我神真偉大】
作曲/作詞 Writers : Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves
翻譯 Translation : 約書亞樂團

【Worthy 配得】
作曲/作詞 Writers : Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Mack Brock
翻譯 Translation : The Hope

【What A Beautiful Name 祢的聖名何等美麗 】
作曲/作詞 Writers : Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood
翻譯 Translation : The Hope

Lyrics:
The splendor of a King
尊貴榮耀君王
clothed in majesty
在全地之上
Let all the earth rejoice
願萬民都喜樂
All the earth rejoice
全地都喜樂
He wraps himself in Light
主祢滿有榮光
and darkness tries to hide
黑暗都躲藏
And trembles at His voice
萬民高聲唱
Trembles at His voice
齊來高聲唱

How great is our God
我神 真偉大
sing with me How great is our God
歌頌祢聖名 真偉大
and all will see How great
全地都看見
how great is our God
我神 真偉大

Age to age He stands
昔在永在君王
And time is in His hands
從今直到永遠
Beginning and the end
祢從不曾改變
Beginning and the end
永存在天地間
The Godhead Three in One
祢是三一真神
Father Spirit Son
父子與聖靈
The Lion and the Lamb
真神的羔羊
The Lion and the Lamb
全能神羔羊

Name above all names
祢至聖尊名
Worthy of our praise
配受大讚美
My heart will sing
全心歌頌
How great is our God
我神 真偉大
-
Worthy is your name Jesus
耶穌 祢聖名配得
You deserve the praise
祢配得一切頌讚
Worthy is your name
祢聖名配得
-
Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
死亡被打敗 幔子已裂開

You silence the boast of sin and grave
祢使仇敵的口都靜默

The heavens are roaring
the praise of Your glory
天堂在歌頌 讚美祢尊榮

For You are raised to life again
因祢已從死裡復活

You have no rival
You have no equal
祢無人能敵 無人能相比

Now and forever God You reign
從今到永遠 祢掌權

Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
國度屬於祢 榮耀屬於祢

Yours is the Name above all Names
祢的聖名超乎萬名

What a powerful Name it is
祢的聖名滿有能力
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
耶穌基督我王的名

What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
祢的聖名滿有能力 無事物能相比

What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
祢的聖名滿有能力 耶穌的聖名

【How Great Is Our God 我神真偉大】
© 2004 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing),worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing),Wondrously Made Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
CCLI : 4348399

【Worthy 配得】
© 2018 Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI)
CCLI : 7111931

【What A Beautiful Name 祢的聖名何等美麗 】
© 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI : 7068424

#HowGreatIsOurGod #Worthy #WhatABeautifulName #TheHopeWorship

☆第一次收看Hope頻道/線上Hope主日嗎？
歡迎你填寫表單，讓我們更多認識你：http://thehope.co/connectonline

☆如果你需要代禱，歡迎填寫表單，讓我們和你一起禱告：http://thehope.co/connectonline

☆如果你已經決定接受耶穌：http://thehope.co/connectonline

☆支持The Hope的事工，一起成為城市的盼望：
http://thehope.co/give


【The Hope】
The Hope 是一個對神、對人、以及生命充滿熱忱的教會。我們的存在是為了要接觸人群, 帶領他們與耶穌有更深的關係。


【與我們保持聯繫】
●The Hope Website: http://thehope.co/
●The Hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insideTheHope
●The Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehope.co/

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