I DO IT FOR THE LORD

Philippians 2:14

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”

A reminder of what we have and how we should temper our reactions. 

Picture Heaven.

Read this slow. Take it all in.

Picture everything in it

Take a long time…

Think of everything and everyone you ever want to see

Think of all the dreams you have ever had of this blissful eternity

Recall all of the wandering thoughts and hopeful expectations you have had in the past….

Take a deep breath, breathe out..

Did you think of Jesus?

What is there that can punish like a conscience ignored? 

Too many Christians get exercise by jumping to conclusions, running their mouths, stretching the truth, and side stepping responsibility.

Why do the innocent die?

Anonymous asked you:
How, why, would a “loving” God let innocent people die?

I answered:

Thank you for this question! We have all lost loved ones, and this surely is one of life’s toughest questions. Please let me answer it to the best of my ability. All I ask from you is a patient and open-mind.

There are so many terrible things in this life, and death is one of them. However, I do believe that there is a simple reason for God allowing death in this world: nature. This is the natural course of things. Even God’s own followers die. They die by murder, disease, and poverty, the same as everyone else. In this world, nothing is perfect. Everything is running down and getting worse. How could God let this happen? Well, it’s a complicated question, of course. We can start with a few statements:

1. If this world is perfect, there would be no reason for death to exist. 
2. It would be chaotic and destructive to put immortality into the hands of imperfect people.
3. If there is a God, then there is a life beyond this one. Therefore, He is able to still be loving because there is immortality beyond this hard life. 

Having said these statements, it becomes apparent that immortality in this world would actually be negative, not positive. However, God has still provided an end result for the repentant. Someone who repents is simply one who follows Jesus as God, their Savior who died for their sins. Because Jesus took the punishment for all the evil you and I have done, we can have a personal relationship with Him. Let me briefly explain: 

A good judge will never turn a blind eye to evil. Retribution must always be made for every evil act. So God made a way to still be a perfect judge and still allow us to have a relationship with Him forever.

Having said these things, we can now examine the state of human beings, and whether they should get into a perfect dwelling without Jesus. They of course would have to be innocent (free from moral wrong).

in·no·cent

1. free from moral wrong; without sin; pure.

Are we innocent? We lie, cheat, steal, murder, insult, abuse, hate, cheat, curse, gossip, slander, condescend, and blaspheme. By very nature, our parents have to teach us not to be evil, for that is our natural course. We were not born innocent and then victimized by the corruption of society. Therefore, we are evil. We are then corrupted by society and become even more evil. 

e·vil                                                                                             

8.the wicked or immoral part of someone or something.

Clearly, we are imperfect, not innocent: evil. So my question to you is this: How, why, would a perfect, just God die for us evil persons in order to forgive us our debts? That is beyond absurd. You and I, we do not deserve perfection. We choose evil instead of good every day. Yet, He died anyway, because He loves you.

Death is the course of nature. The rampant poison of imperfection is running through the veins of this earth. If humans lived forever, we would all be monsters. The worst notion of a loving God is blessing evil with immortality. Think of all the criminals in the world that are in prison, or have passed away. Now, think of all the people who would commit those same crimes if they were not afraid. Instead of asking me, “Why would a loving God let people die?” you would ask, “How could a loving God let man live forever?”

We would all take advantage of such power. It would corrupt us all. Governments would cease; guns would be useless. You would not be able to die, and you would live in fear of being captured and tortured every day for eternity. Of course, such conditions are barely imaginable, but I suspect that if every criminal that ever walked this earth were alive today, then such would be the case. Instead of allowing this earth to continue in such a way, he limits our lives and dies for us so that we could live. In this way, the evil will perish and the repentant will live forever. How, why would a perfect, just, loving, holy, merciful God do such a wonderful thing?

Jesus Christ. He came to this earth and lived a perfect life, yet He was tortured and killed for claiming to be the very One that He is: God. He then rose from the dead to prove to the world that He truly is God, and He sent those who witnessed this to share what He had done to the world. You have asked me how God could let innocent people die. Yet, I tell you He lets us live, and He died for us in our place. He has always loved you, and He always will. I hope you realize this soon.

“⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
⁶ All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.” – Isaiah 53:5-6


I truly hope you have read this with an open mind. Please consider what I have said. I do not wish to fight or argue. Life is hard, and I just want to help you. Please let me know if you have a reply, question, or anything you’d like to share with me. You have my prayers.

God bless and much love

Samuel Assaf

Instead of praying for celebrities, we’re too busy gossiping about them.

If I am at the height of success, or in the depths of misery,
In my prime of health, or suffering with sickness,
Having many dear friends, or losing them all,
Abounding in riches, or barely eating in poverty,
And in all of the places between these extremes,

I will serve the Lord my God, and turn no other way.

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15

We all have a monster deep down inside. The darker we become, the more that monster begins to come out. And then before we ever saw it coming, we are what we never wanted to be.

As the battle rages on and on
I face the things that put my faith to the test
When fallen angels won’t leave me alone
Father, come and lay the demon to rest
When my sword has broken off in my hand
I see the dark futility of the flesh
When I’m about to fall, please help me stand
Father, come and lay the demon to rest

All the glory we crave
All the towers we raise
All the pride we build up to the sky
When the vanity fades
The illusion gives way
To a tower of ashes and lies

I don’t understand why people use “Freedom in Christ” to justify their border-line sinful decisions.

 Instead of trying to get away with things like swearing, insulting, or putting people down, how about you try following Christ instead?

Yeah, I said it. Perhaps following Jesus isn’t just about living morally good lives. It’s more than that. Following Christ means being an example to everyone else. It’s being His ambassador. You make a very poor representative of the King of Heaven if you care more about your “freedom” instead of living a life to lead Christians and non-Christians. You’re supposed to be an example. 

Now, I’m not saying we are not to practice our freedom, but justifying your actions with “There are worse things in the world” and “Jesus ate and drank with sinners” is no excuse for your actions. You know what? Go eat and drink with sinners, except act like Jesus. How about that? There you go, there is no excuse left for you. Better yet, imagine you’re hanging out with Jesus. Eat and drink around Him, and see how differently you act. 

You’re not called to be comfortable, complacent, or lazy. You’re called to be outstanding, exemplary, and Christ-like. 

Be worthy of imitation. Follow Christ.

Samuel Assaf 

Partying? Let’s try repentance.

Anonymous asked: Any tips on how to get through college/university without getting tempted to party? Its an area i’m terribly struggling with 

I answered:

I do have some tips for you! These apply to all areas of temptation, and you should be living by these principles every day for the rest of your life. You are obviously not at that point, and that’s why this is so hard for you. As human beings, we are so easily tempted and distracted, and so you, everyone else, and myself all need to keep persevering! Here we go: 

1. Pray, read your Bible, and fellowship with believers regularly. 
   You will stay focused on God and you will be able to fight temptation better because your spirit will have stronger conviction and resolve. Believers will keep you accountable.
2. Be open about your sin to individuals that you know will want to help you. Whether it’s close friends or people you don’t really know (they have to be Christian), you must let them encourage, strengthen, and discipline you to do what is right. 
   
   “ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:1-2
   
    You need these people. It’s a lie from Satan to get you to believe that you can fix this on your own. 
3. More importantly than people, you need Jesus! Meditate on Scriptures and memorize them so that they will be constantly with you no matter what situation you are in. You need to pray all the time! 
4. Take the blame and responsibility for your sin. No one is making you sin. This is your entire fault. This is your choice. Good news and bad news:
    ^”No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13 
   
   Bad news: It’s all your fault and you chose to do it.
   Good news: God always provides a way out and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. 
5. Get rid of the bad influences of people in your life. Listen, my friend, you need to stop hanging out with the people who are asking you to party. Even if that means you will have no friends. What kind of an example are you setting for Christ? That matters more. Look:
   
   “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ “ – 1 Corinthians 15:33
   
   Don’t be misled. You must cut them off. For their sake, yours, and for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
   
   
6. Realize that your sin will only get worse from here.
   
   “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. - James 1:14-15
   
   Solomon started out with one wife, and wrote the book of Song of Songs about her. It means the greatest of songs. But look what happened:
   
   ^“9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. ¹⁰ Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command” – 1 kings 11:9-10
   
   In the previous verses, it says that Solomon had 700 wives of many different pagan religions and 300 concubines (women who he just kept around to sleep with). He started out as a one woman man. God himself appeared to Solomon twice. Must God get angry with you, even though He is convicted you to repent and turn away from this sin once and for all? Be the man you are called to be. “Kill your sin before it kills you.” – John Piper

Here are some Scriptures I want you to memorize and read until your heart is fulfilled with them. Every day, you should meditate on these and all Scripture, and pray to God about your sin, and with others. Here are some Scripture verses that apply to you:

Romans 1:18-32 (God’s wrath against wickedness)

James 4:4-10 [Friendship with the world(as in sin) makes you an enemy of God]

Hebrews 12 (Persevering to holiness, refusing sin, and God’s discipline) Esp. verses 1-11, 14-17, and 25-28

1 Peter 2:13-25 (A call to holiness)

Matthew 5:13-16,29-30 (Jesus’ words on who you should be and what you should do to abstain from sin)

Mark 8:34-38 (Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him, if you don’t you will not make it.)

Luke 13:1-8, 22-30 (repent or perish, and the story of the narrow door)

If you are saved, then I trust the Holy Spirit will continue His work within you. God bless you my dear friend! Please take all of this to heart and realize the great love God has for you, and live a life worthy of your calling. Here are a couple of very short sermon jams to help sober you up; you don’t have to agree with everything they say, but take the message away from them:

Sin and The Devil Is Laughing At You by Billy Humphrey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jqt7PCASxw

Truth by Al Martin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gub5uaiT3fo

Please don’t fall through the cracks. Realize your call to repentance through the guilt and conviction that is laid upon you, and turn from your sins and back to God. Let me know what you think about everything I’ve said, and please study and memorize those Scriptures.

And remember! The closer you are to Christ, the further you get from sin.

God bless and much love,

Samuel Assaf