A CLOUD OF WITNESSES

"Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."      Hebrews 12.1

The great cloud of witnesses has been proof that the Lord takes care of His people.  Unfortunately, not everyone has truly believed.  And among those who have believed, there are those who insist on carrying the weight of their past instead of fighting against the sins of the present. My advice is: immediately get rid of all those burdens and move forward.

HE WHO HAS EARS

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."    Revelation 2.11

The phrase: 'He who has an ear...' doesn't seem to make sense, since everyone has ears. However, the Lord is speaking to those who are born of the Spirit. Only those who are born of the Spirit have ears that are able to listen to His voice. And in the case of those who are convinced but aren't born of God, they will not have an excuse when Judgement Day comes because they had ears and did not obey. Those who overcome are not the ones who start out well, but they finish well.

SINNER

"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!"    Luke 18:13

When you are sincere in acknowledging your sins and repent, you receive forgiveness, salvation and perfect inner peace.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

"... not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith..."     Philippians 3.9

The righteousness of Paul did not come from his behavior before God. He was justified because he maintain his faith alive, practical and active in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is why he was known as the apostle of the gentiles.

WAR

"Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident."      Psalm 27.3

David was a man of war and conquests because He trusted in his parent's God. He knew that God would never leave him alone. Confident is the key word in this verse. This is the kind of faith that pleases the Lord.

THIRSTY HEART

"For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."    Hebrews 4:12

When the Holy Spirit finds a heart that is thirsty to know Him, His voice is heard in the person's spirit. From that moment on there is transformation of life.
Usually, the heart is hungry for solutions to circumstantial problems, which makes it difficult to receive His Son and Savior Jesus. 

HE FIRST LOVED

"We love Him because He first loved us."            1 John 4:19

Even though we are sinners and have no merits, we were shown the love of the Lord God when He sent His only Son to die for us. Therefore, when you recognize that love and have faith in Him, you become His child. And because of that, you also gain his character traits.