Chat Programs/IDs: ICQ#: 20731140, AIM: MrJasonGastrich, YIM: Jesus_Saved_Jason

JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)

"The Heat of Judgment"

Matthew 10:28  "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Luke 16:24-26  "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'"

Revelation 20:14  "Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

Insight: Hades is the "county jail" (temporary prison) and Gehenna is the "penitentiary" (eternal prison).  Both are exceedingly hot and dismal.  The next time you think that your climate is hot, remember that it will be far hotter in Hell.  Get saved and pray for those that are not saved.  Jesus has a better earthly and eternal life in store for those that repent and trust Him for salvation.

Prayer: "Thank you for giving us the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Praise You for giving us a way to be forgiven and redeemed!  Let the whole world know You and your amazing grace.  Thank you for warning us about the future.  When we feel heat from the sun, remind us that there will be a much greater heat for those that don't get saved.  Let people see the reality of Hell and use that truth to repent, trust Christ, and evangelize.  Thank you for the divine justice that is perfect and righteous.  To You be the glory, honor, and praise.  We submit to You, Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

For more on Hell, see Understanding "Hell" at http://www.jcsm.org/biblelessons/UnderstandingHell.htm.

America's Foundation

George Whitefield (1714-1770) was the famous evangelist of the Great Awakening in the American colonies prior to the Revolutionary War.  His preaching up and down the Eastern seaboard of America did more than anything else to turn the thirteen isolated, individual colonies into one country.

Benjamin Franklin was so impressed at his preaching that he built an auditorium in Philadelphia for him to preach in.  That auditorium became the first building of the University of Pennsylvania, and has a bronze statue of George Whitefield in front.  Franklin also printed Whitefield's Journal, which grew to be tremendously popular.

In a sermon, George Whitefield proclaimed:

"Never rest until you can say, 'the Lord our righteousness.'  Who knows but the Lord may have mercy, nay, abundantly pardon you?  Beg of God to give you faith; and if the Lord give you that, you will by it receive Christ, with his righteousness, and his all...."

"None, none can tell, but those happy souls who have experienced it with what demonstration of the Spirit this conviction comes.... Oh, how amiable, as well as all sufficient, does the blessed Jesus now appear!  With what new eyes does the soul now see the Lord its righteousness!  Brethren, it is unutterable...."

"Those who live godly in Christ, may not so much be said to live, as Christ to live in them.... They are led by the Spirit as a child is led by the hand of its father...."

They hear, know, and obey his voice.... Being born again in God they habitually live to, and daily walk with God."  - J.L. Packer, The Startling Puritan (Carol Stream, IL: Christian History), Vol. XII, No. 2, Issue 28, p. 40.

George Whitefield declared:

"Would you have peace with God?  Away, then, to God through Jesus Christ, who has purchased peace; the Lord Jesus has shed his heart's blood for this.  He died for this; he rose again for this; he ascended into the highest heaven, and is now interceding at the right hand of God."  - J.L. Packer, The Startling Puritan (Carol Stream, IL: Christian History), Vol. XII, No. 2, Issue 28, p. 39.

A Moment of Introspection

Don't confuse blessings with things.  Many (or most) of God's blessings are intangible.

How many of God's promises could you list?  Could you give the scripture references to back them up?

Take a minute and write or type 10 of God's promises to you.  See if you can trace them to the scriptures where they originated.  If you can't list 10 and if you don't know where they came from, then research it.  Most Christian book stores have a little book called "God's Promises" and it only costs about $5.  It would be a wise investment.

God bless you as you meet this week's challenge!

promaretoorahmahee (See 1 Peter 1:11, Greek): to be a witness in advance, to predict, testify beforehand

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:

Genesis 9:6 - God says: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." If so, then why did God put a mark on Cain (after he murdered Abel) so that others wouldn't kill him? (Gen.4:15).

"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:

There are many reasons why God said and did these things.  First, God had many plans for Cain and his offspring.  Next, at this point, God felt it appropriate to make a specific law about murder.  This is quite reasonable when we consider the wickedness of the pre-flood people.  Lastly, simply because we read God's specific commandment involving murder, at this point, this doesn't mean that murder wasn't punishable or wrong before now.  The two who walked with God, in the Garden of Eden, surely knew that murder was inappropriate and they passed this knowledge to their offspring.

(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Jason Gastrich.  This book is on CD and explains over 3,000 difficulties regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org.  There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)

Abram's encounters with God inspired him to do something.

Trust what God tells you and do it.

Act on faith and hope.

God knows more than your logic.

What has God been asking or telling you to do?

Walking with God, you can do things you normally couldn't do.

When God tells you that something will happen, have faith and obey Him and it will.

You don't have to sin to make God's will happen.

These quotes came from God, me, and Miles McPhearson.

Do you need more quotes?  We have thousands in our archives!  They are located here: http://quotes.jcsm.org.

These quotes can be used for sanctification and fun.  Most of them are directly based on scripture and scriptural principles.  Some of the quotes are humorous or rhetorical, others are written from sermons and Bible studies, and some are lyrics from songs.  If you’d like me to go into more detail on any of them, please email me.

Like most verses in the Bible, they can be debated.  To use what I’ve written in the most beneficial way, try and trace them back to the scriptures and apply the true principles to your life in a meaningful way!  Please don’t sell my quotes or publish them for profit.  If English is not your first language, you may not understand some of the quotes.  I'm sorry, but some of them are English metaphors and deal with multiple word meanings.  God bless you all!

Please make a commitment to pray for this ministry.  As every believer is tempted and tried, this ministry faces trials also.  God has blessed me, JCSM and the people who have been reached!  Unfortunately, the enemy knows this and spiritual warfare is the result.  Please at least pray that the devotions continue to be written religiously, the web pages stay on the www and the readers are blessed, sanctified and protected from evil.  Thank you very much in advance!

Do you want to help people receive the good news?  We’re reaching new people every day with God’s awesome Word!  If God has blessed you and you wish to send a love offering to JCSM, please send your gift to the address below.

You can join our vision and help this ministry!  Your donations will keep these ministries running and further our visions for evangelism.  We host tens of thousands of web pages to lead people to the Lord.  Frequently, we make new ones and they are used to bring more and more people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

Would you like to support God’s work on the web?  If this ministry has touched you in a special way, please pray and consider sending a gift to JCSM.  You can join us in our vision to reach people on the web with the good news!  Either email me for more information or simply go here: http://vision.jcsm.org.

JCSM is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization.  If you wish to send support, please make checks payable to Jesus Christ Saves Ministries.  If you are sending support or simply want to contact us through the regular mail, here is our mailing address:

Jesus Christ Saves Ministries

3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #212

San Diego, CA 92117

Along with getting support, we also give support!  JCSM regularly gives to churches, Christian ministries, and needy people.  Another function of this ministry is to do counseling.  We are always answering questions about life, the Lord and everything in between.  Lastly, we do a lot of research on religious topics on the internet and library.  You will definitely see the results of our hard work and your loving support, in the web pages, and in the weekly devotions!

For more about me and my service history, go to http://jcsm.org/misc/JasonGastrich.htm.

If you have never repented from your sins and believed, trusted, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please email me!  I would love to share the gospel with you.  The Bible is very straightforward when it speaks about Heaven, Hell and eternal life.  If there is any doubt that you are going to Heaven when you die, please let me know today!  If you’d like to discover the biblical doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ, please go here: Audio Gospel Message - http://www.jcsm.org/godsplan/TheGospel.mp3. or the Textual Gospel Message - http://gospel.jcsm.org.

Fishes and Loaves (FALO) is a great, missions organization.  They have helped many people embark on missions trips to the uttermost parts of the world.  If you are interested in missions, please visit http://www.gofalo.net.

Do you need to find a solid, Christian church?  I've attended numerous, Calvary Chapel churches and I've been very blessed by their Bible-based sermons, inspiring worship, and kind members.  If you don't have a home church, if you're traveling, or if you need to find a new church, I recommend visiting the following site and locating a Calvary Chapel near you: http://www.calvarychapel.org.

OCCM (Online Christ-Centered Ministries) has certified JCSM as a ministry that preaches the true, biblical gospel of Jesus Christ.  OCCM is a professional membership association for Christian ministries and people that reside on and off the internet.  Are you OCCM certified?  For more information, go here: http://www.occm.org.

Over 70,000 web pages!

Jesus loves you!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."