God's Gift of Eternal Life
"The Blessings Of Serving The Lord Jesus Christ!!!"
Key Passages: I Corinthians 6:19,20; Galatians 2:20
I Corinthians 6:19,20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
INTRODUCTION:
I am so very blessed by my Lord Jesus Christ for using me, as "His Instrument" in "His Ministry" in reaching the world with "God's Simple Plan of Salvation" through the printed "Word of God!!!" His ministry GodsGiftOfEternalLife.com has reached all across the world and has touched the world for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (Lord & Savior of this Lost World)!!! Over the last two years, I have felt the "uselessness" of my life, in which I came close to death. God has resurrected my life with my mobility & movement again and I do not want to waste it!!! As a "Servant of the Lord", I am not happy unless I am actively serving my Lord!!! All Christians need to really understand "What it means to be a Christ-Like Christian???" It is all about giving back to God, what He has given to you!!! Christ doesn't want us to live "Self-Absorbed" lives, but lives that "Make a difference in this world for Jesus Christ!!! People have said to me over the years, "Bro. Cliff, if had just a few dollars in your wallet & a beggar asked for help, that you would buy him/her a meal so that they wouldn't go hungry and you are left with nothing." I told them, God always takes care of His servants and I told them, "A Christian can never out-give God!!!" God's riches are far beyond this world we live in & as a servant of God, we must follow God's leading in our life at all times!!! When you do things for the Lord for honorable reasons , you can never go wrong, my friend!!!
Yes, let me say, "It is such a blessing to serve the one true living God (The Lord Jesus Christ)!!!" The Lord has given me a life well spent for His Glory for over 40 years!!! Although, I have had many tests by the Lord that I have passed, there have also been some failures along the way (Regrets are a part of living but let us put our eyes of the prize for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ- Philippians 3:14)!!! Many times in life, obstacles knock us down, but we must get up and keep fighting for the Lord God Almighty (If we give in to these obstacles, they can destroy our testimony and stop our growth in the ministry of Christ)!!! Remember, all Christians make mistakes from time to time, but we must try our best to learn from these mistakes. As it has been said by many Christian leaders, "WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!" I rejoice in accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord & Savior at 11 years old!!! I am so very thankful for Rev. Randall Sledge showing me "God's Simple Plan of Salvation", which is by God's Grace through 100% Faith in Jesus Christ the Lord (Ephesians 2:8,9)!!! Christ has shown his great love and presence to me throughout my life. If we are willing to admit it or not, we have had moments in our life with imperfections and with "Sin", but as we confess it before the Lord with a true repentant heart, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins (I John 1:9)!!! As a born-again child of God, I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit's presence in my life, to help guide and to direct me in the way, which the Lord wants me to go in life. I am so thankful for the Lord's forgiveness shown to me in my failures during the hard times of my life!!! Hallelujah, the Lord never left me, nor forsook me in those trials (Hebrews 13:5)!!! There are those, that believe, that the Lord God Almighty only exists in man's imagination and is a "myth" or a "false notion" made-up in our minds!!! That belief is a "LIE" from Satan!!! I am here to declare to the world, that MY GOD IS REAL (The Lord Jesus Christ)!!! He is Lord over all of His creation and the universe is His footstool)!!! Again, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD (Phil. 2:9-11)!!!
As a Christian, I became sold-out for the glory of the Lord!!! My dad always told me, "That if, you are going to do a job, do a first-class job and never quit before the job is finished!!!" The third greatest commandment, that the Lord Jesus Christ gave to His church (Disciples) is the "Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20)!!!" So as a young Christian, I began sowing the seeds of the Gospel of Christ, which today, is commonly called "The Romans Road to Salvation" or "God's Simple Plan of Salvation!!!" Everywhere I traveled and came in contact with people, I would share the love of God with them about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I was called a "Seed Sower", a "Fruit Picker", a "Fisher of Men", and even a "Soulwinner for Jesus!!!" No matter what they called me, God was using me to make a difference in the lives of thousands for God's Glory!!! I saw people accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord on church buses, in Sunday School classes, in church services, at bus stations, in airports, in jet airplanes, in doing house-to-house visits, in hospitals, in nursing home church services, in trailer park Christian movie night services and in several other unique areas. A person can find God anywhere, if they will only listen and obey the voice of God!!! May we as Christians allow Jesus to take the "clay of our life" and allow God to mold our life into what God wants our life to be!!!" May we follow Christ's example in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed "Not my will, but thine be done (Luke 22:42)!!!" I am reminded of the statement of Isaiah as he volunteered for the service of the Lord, after he heard God's Call upon his life: Isaiah 6:8 says "And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." AS GOD'S SERVANT, BE A DIFFERENCE-MAKER & LIFE-CHANGER FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!
As a senior-citizen, I greet you with the "Love of God" in my heart, praying that you are living a bold life-changing Christ-like testimony or Christian example before all of mankind with an "Anointing Power" of the Holy Ghost and with a "Servant's Heart" to magnify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!!! Yes, life is very short compared to eternity with the Lord (James 4:14). In my life, I have experienced some "mountain-top" experiences and many "valley-learning experiences", but through it all, I have learned to listen and obey the "Call of God" in my life!!! I am a firm believer, that the Lord Jesus Christ oversees our lives and even knows how we will react in certain situations in life!!! Christ desires our "Total Surrender & Commitment" of our mind, body and spirit to be used for God's glorification!!! The Lord desires a personal relationship with us through the power of prayer!!! As we grow in the Lord's grace in life, may we all seek a close relationship with the Lord!!! I have seen so many glorious moments in my life, like the time, that I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord & Savior, the birth of my children & grand-children and in seeing their accomplishments in life. I give thanks to the Lord for directing me to write life-changing books & articles, that have reached souls all over the world!!! I am also so blessed to have played a part in the lives of children and their families at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (This is a very good organization to support financially, because the Lord is using them in saving the lives of children all over the world)!!! Finally, I am so very thankful, that my Lord chose & allowed me (Little Old Me) to be an instrument for "His Glorious Service" for so many years (Since 1979)!!!
I pray, that all Christians will be obedient to the Lord in all things including the "3 Greatest Commandments" found in the Bible which are as follows: (1.) Love the Lord with all your heart, soul & mind (Matthew 22:37,38), (2.) Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39) and (3.) Reach the world (your local area & across the world) with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28: 18-20)!!!
Matthew 22: 37-39 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
The Lord is calling for His Children "TO SERVE HIM" through the local church (The Bride of Christ)!!! Christians today, fall into 3 categories: (1.) Those that literally "Do Nothing To Glorify The Lord," (2.) Those that "Do As Little As Possible For The Lord" and (3.) Those that "Serve Actively" in the local church and in various other places for the glory of God!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is the final judge for all of us!!! "Christians" will be judged at "The Judgement Seat of Christ (Romans 14:8-12; II Cor. 5:10)" as a Child of God and "The Lost" we will be judged at "The White Throne Judgment of Christ (Rev. 20:11-15)" as a Lost Person (A person that never received God's Gift of Eternal Life)!!!
"THE CONCLUSION": As a Christian, if you are not in the service of Christ, you are missing out on a great blessing in life!!! One of my greatest joys is making a difference in the lives of others for the glory of the Lord!!! When our life comes to an end, will King Jesus say to us, "Well done thou good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21) ?" The following scripture verses speak of "Service unto the Lord" and "Your Intent" in the act of service unto God!!! A Christian's service is to bring glory & honor to the Lord Jesus Christ!!! The following scripture verses encourages all Christians to serve the Lord with a labor of love:
Psalms 51:12,13 "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto me."
Psalms 126:6 "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
Daniel 12:3 "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever."
Matthew 4:19 "And he (Jesus) saith unto them (His disciples), Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Matthew 25:21 - "His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast bee faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord."
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Luke 15:7 "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
Acts 20:35 "I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than receive."
Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, but to die is gain."
Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves."
Philippians 3:14 Apostle Paul wrote "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and is powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
I Peter 4:10 "As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
PLEASE PUT YOUR FAITH-IN-ACTION AS YOU SERVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!! Remember, the JOURNEY OF LIFE begins at birth for all of us, until we pass-over into eternity (To Live Everlasting)!!! ***The most important decision, that anyone will ever make in life, is by becoming a "Child of God" and then serving the Lord with all of your heart, for the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ!!! Hallelujah!!! Amen!!! The End!!!
***Give Your Heart To Jesus Christ Everyday Of Your Life!!!
***By Evangelist Rev. Clifford M. Smith