Tag: Bible

The Eternal God and Our Salvation

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JEFF TURNER

Understanding God’s eternal nature goes beyond just knowing He will exist forever. As described in Revelation 1:8, He is “the Alpha and the Omega,” existing outside of time itself while holding all of time in His hands.

This eternal nature of God has profound implications for our salvation. When God accepts someone into His family, He already sees their entire life – past, present, and future. His decision to save isn’t based on our future performance or dependent on whether we might fail Him later. Instead, God sees all our future failures and sins at the moment He chooses to save us, and He loves us despite knowing everything that will happen.

This is why we can be confident about eternal security for believers. God’s acceptance isn’t a temporary decision that might change based on our actions. His eternal nature means His plans and promises are unchangeable. When He promises to save us on the final day, He already sees that day as present reality, making His promise as good as fulfilled from the moment He makes it.

This truth gives us tremendous assurance – our salvation depends not on our performance but on the unchanging love of our eternal God.

The Importance of Sharing the Gospel: A Biblical Perspective

Published on by Texas Gospel1 Comment

DAVID INGRAM

Jesus gave a clear command to His followers: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NASB). This Great Commission calls all believers to spread the Good News, not just through distant missions or donations, but through personal action and involvement.

In Mark 16:15, Jesus instructed His disciples to go into all the world and preach to all creation. This mission isn’t about hiding behind screens or only supporting missionaries; it’s a direct call for each believer to actively share the gospel.

Worship services are important for gathering, singing hymns, taking communion, and honoring God. However, we are called to do more. We must take an active role in fulfilling the Great Commission. Have you shared the gospel in your community? Have you personally gone out to spread the message of Jesus Christ?

Let’s not limit our faith to church walls. Instead, let’s embrace the command to make disciples everywhere we go.

INTERNATIONAL: Pastor T.D. Jakes Receives Medical Attention After Sermon

Published on by Texas Gospel1 Comment

AMY TURNER

Pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a “slight health incident” while delivering a sermon on Sunday at The Potter’s House, his megachurch.

The 67-year-old religious leader was seen pausing and shaking during his hour-long message, prompting several individuals to approach him on stage. Social media footage captured the moment.

The church posted a statement on X saying, “During today’s service, Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a slight health incident and received immediate medical attention following his powerful hour long message. Bishop Jakes is stable and under the care of medical professionals. The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from the community.”

The Potter’s House, founded by Jakes in 1996 and boasting over 30,000 members, expressed gratitude for the community’s support and prayers.

Jakes, who is also an author, film producer, and was a speaker at President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, leads a non-denominational church with campuses in Texas and Colorado.

The Biblical Significance of Jesus Turning Water Into Wine

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JEFF TURNER

When Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana, some people wonder why He would create something that could potentially cause drunkenness, especially since the Old Testament warns, “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors” (Habakkuk 2:15).

The answer lies in understanding ancient wine practices. In biblical times, people rarely drank pure wine. Instead, they mixed it with water, often using five to seven parts water for each part wine. This practice served two important purposes: it prevented drunkenness and helped purify potentially unsafe drinking water through wine’s natural fermentation.

Jesus’s miracle produced what witnesses called the finest wine they had ever tasted. Some scholars believe this wine was pure, unfermented grape juice of the highest quality. This explanation aligns with Jesus’s character and teachings. The wedding guests were amazed because typically, hosts served their best wine first, saving lower quality drinks for later. Yet here, the best came last.

This miracle demonstrates that while Jesus created wine, He never intended it for misuse. Drunkenness remains a personal choice, not the purpose of His miraculous gift.

God’s Goodness: Our Reason to Be Thankful

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Adapted from a sermon delivered by George Whitefield (C 1735)

Want to know one of the clearest signs that we’ve drifted from God? It’s how hard we find it to be thankful. Think about it – when things are going well, how often do we actually stop to say “thank you”?

When God first created humans and placed them in paradise, they were naturally filled with gratitude. They used every breath to praise God, recognizing that their very existence depended on Him. Even now, when we imagine heaven, we picture angels and perfected souls constantly praising God, acknowledging His worth and power.

What was natural for humans at creation, and what will be our joy in heaven, should be part of our life now. But let’s be honest – how rarely do we feel moved to praise God! Even when guardian angels watch over us, they must be amazed at how seldom we express gratitude for all we’ve been given.

We never lack reasons to be thankful, especially those of us saved by Jesus. We see God’s goodness everywhere – in sunshine, in daily blessings, in His care for all people. But few of us have reached the point where we can genuinely rejoice in others’ blessings as much as our own. That kind of perfect love will only be fully achieved in heaven, where every blessing given to others will give us new reasons to be thankful.

What usually moves us to gratitude is personal blessing – things that directly affect us. This makes sense – when something touches our own lives, it feels more real. When God shows us special favor or delivers us from trouble, it hits different. It’s like the Psalmist who kept saying, “If only people would praise God for His goodness and for the amazing things He does for them!”
The Psalmist’s passionate plea shows both how important gratitude is and how often we neglect it. It’s like the story Jesus told about the ten lepers – they all cried for help when they were sick, but only one came back to say thanks when they were healed. Sadly, that’s pretty typical of how most of us act.

For four months, we’ve been at sea together. We’ve seen storms that lifted waves high as mountains. We’ve felt our courage melt away in trouble. But we cried out to God, and He brought us safely through. He calmed the storms and brought us to our destination. Shouldn’t we praise Him for His goodness? Shouldn’t we tell others about what He’s done for us?

Don’t just say “thank you” with your lips while your heart is far away – that’s just pretending. God didn’t save us from storms just to hear empty words. He wants our lives to show our gratitude.
Give God your whole heart. Let His love draw you to honor and obey Him. You couldn’t serve a better master – His service brings freedom, His requirements become easy with practice, and His rewards are amazing: love, peace, and joy now, plus eternal glory later.

If we don’t respond to God’s kindness with changed lives, we’re in serious trouble. God is both merciful and just. The more blessings we receive, the more responsible we are for how we use them. Don’t let God’s blessings become reasons for greater judgment.

But I believe better things for you. I’ve seen positive changes among you. The cursing has decreased, and recent hardships have made you think more seriously about eternal things. Keep going in this direction. Nothing would make me happier than to hear you’re living according to truth.

Remember, you’re entering a new world with new challenges. Show by your lives that God’s mercy hasn’t been wasted. Let your gratitude show in how you live, not just in what you say.
May God bless you, guide you, and bring us all finally to that eternal haven where we’ll praise Him forever for His goodness and declare the wonders He has done for us.