Entrance to The Kingdom

Aug18

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.3.5.NASB1995

Salvation is much more than walking an aisle in church, saying a prayer, and then being dunked in water.
Salvation is a decision to live a whole new lifestyle with Jesus at the helm, head, steering wheel, etc. It is placing Jesus on the throne of your heart.
As John 3:5 states, you must be born of water. What does that mean? Jesus, having mercy on us, cleanses us from all filthiness, sin in our lives. That is being born of water. (Ephesians 5:26)
Baptism symbolizes a washing of regeneration, a transformation of our soul for the glory of God. This means sin has been washed away, and our lives are now centered on living in and for the kingdom of God.
Salvation is not only the cleansing, but also comes to us with the blessing of the Holy Spirit who is richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ, our Savior, residing in us. That is being born of the Spirit. (John 3:6)
We are being renewed, transformed into the image of our Lord by the Spirit of God living in us. (Titus 3:5-7; 2 Corinthians 3:18)

🌹Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/ezk.36.25-27.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

God IN You?

Aug17

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has (in) for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 John 4:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.4.16.NASB1995

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.4.7.NASB1995

🙏“We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:68 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jn.6.68.NASB1995

No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:12-15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.4.12-15.NASB1995

🌹Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.4.15.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Triumph in Christ

Aug14

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2co.2.14.NASB1995

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2co.4.6.NASB1995

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
1 John 5:20 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.5.20.NASB1995

I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
1Jeremiah 24:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.24.7.NASB1995

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John 5:4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.5.4.NASB1995

🙏Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.
Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
1 Chronicles 29:11-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1ch.29.11-13.NASB1995

🌹but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.15.57-58.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

How Can We Know God?

Aug13

Seek Him!
Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Isaiah 55:6¹
Set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. 1 Chronicles 22:19²
you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29³
Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. Psalms 105:4⁴

Love Him!!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5⁵

Serve Him!!!
know God and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; . . . 1 Chronicles 28:9⁶

Praise Him!!!!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Psalms 105:1-3⁷

🌹For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.29.11-13.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

¹https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.55.6.NASB1995
²https://bible.com/bible/100/1ch.22.19.NASB1995
³https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.4.29.NASB1995
⁴https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.105.4.NASB1995
⁵https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.6.5.NASB1995
⁶https://bible.com/bible/100/1ch.28.9.NASB1995
⁷https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.105.1-3.NASB1995

Being Known

Aug12

We know of many celebrities. We know of a lot of people. Many people may know of you at the grocery store or restaurant you frequent. Or at your workplace, school, church, etc. But, do they really know you?

We cannot possibly know people, truly know them without spending time with them. Building a relationship is necessary to really know someone. Many walking the earth today know of God, but don’t know Him. Many people know you and me, but how many really “know” us? To know someone, really know someone, takes effort,  perseverance and time spent with them. It’s a relationship on a personal level.

How well do you know God?

Are we obedient to His Word?
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1 John 2:3-4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.2.3-4.NASB1995

Do we walk as Jesus walked?
the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He (Jesus) walked.
1 John 2:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.2.6.NASB1995

Let us surrender our lives to God so we can be well known by Him and know Him well.

🌹So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
Hosea 6:3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/hos.6.3.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Do You Know God?

Aug11

We make time to spend with family. We make time to spend with friends. We make time to do our favorite things.
All of these can be beneficial, but time with God is the most beneficial to our lives and eternity. Time with the Lord God is for getting to know Him and for opening up ourselves to “be known” by Him.
To know someone, really know someone, takes effort and time spent with them.

🌹Do you know God or just “of” Him?

Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.9.23-24.NASB1995

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
Philippians 3:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/php.3.8.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

God is Near

Aug10

When is your best time of the day, when you’re fresh and alert? Is it first thing in the morning or after your first cup of coffee? Maybe it’s in the afternoon or maybe you are a night owl.

God is a 24 hour, 7 days a week God.

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?
Deuteronomy 4:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.4.7.NASB1995

“So let us draw near to God here.” 1 Samuel 14:36
“The nearness of God is my good.” Psalm 73:28

Where is the best place to go where you won’t be interrupted or distracted?

Try setting aside time on a daily  basis for connecting with God. You will be blessed and grow closer to the God who loves you deeply.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalms 145:18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.145.18.NASB1995

🌹 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; . . .”
Psalms 46:10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.46.10.NIV

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

A Time to Rest

Jul6

At this time I will be taking a break from sharing devotionals until the second week in August. My hope is to still be spiritually fed by many of you as I have opportunity to read your blogs. God bless you all.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/2th.3.16.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

🌹Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

God’s Glory Above All The Earth

Jul3

Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Psalms 57:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.57.5.NASB1995

For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds.
Psalms 57:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.57.10.NASB1995

🙏For our nation, that we would be one nation under God exalting Him above all, as we celebrate 250 years as the United States of America.

🙏For You are the Lord Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods (supernatural powers).
Psalms 97:9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.97.9.NASB1995

🌹Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Psalms 57:11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.57.11.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Mustard Seed Faith

Jul2

But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance (steadfastness).
Luke 8:15 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.8.15.NASB1995

How are you holding up?

And the Lord said, “If you had (have) faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.
Luke 17:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.17.6.NASB1995

Has the seed of faith been planted in you?

for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 1:23 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.1.23.NASB1995

The spoken Word of God plants seeds. Testimonies of God’s love, grace, hope and presence in our lives speak volumes. How many people are you planting seeds in who you know and see regularly?

“. . . the seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.8.11.NASB1995

. . . blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Luke 11:28 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.11.28.NASB1995

🌹Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.13.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org