Sparkling Bible Life Ministry

Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Most investments take hard work and toil. Even so if we invest in the Stock Markets on earth, or the Bank of Heaven, IT Will TAKE EFFORT! But Heavens bank is sure to be more rewarding! We cannot earn Salvation, it is a gift of the Lord, however, good deeds done in sincerity and love, will bring rewards.

Give a cup of water in His Name.

Giving a drink of water is a very small deed. Not many would feel any reward is needed, but if it is given IN HIS NAME (JESUS), that changes everything about it! Then Heaven puts a value on it, so that in the Bank of Heaven it is entered as an investment in your name! How wonderful is that?

Now if a cup of water receives reward,
then what about giving a little food with it?
Or even a good meal? (With cherry pie – of course)!
If its given in His Name – it is an investment!
Do it to the poor and the needy; and do it as a love deed to someone that is powerless and will not return the good deed. But most important do it in the Name of Jesus!

Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Love those who do not love you!
I am first to agree, some folks are not easy to love. But we know those are the very ones that need to be loved the most by us!
Maybe its a close neighbor that in the past has done
us wrong. If we will love them and show them we care about them, and show kindness from our heart, the BANK OF HEAVEN will count that as an investment! It is put on your investment account to be rewarded.
This is not an easy investment, but surely one that is worthwhile.

Then on that Great Day when rewards are given, even the small deeds, done in His Name, will receive a reward.

Genesis Ch. 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

Life is full of extremes, from lows to highs. In just one day, Joseph went from the prison to the throne room of Pharoah.

Changes in life happen quickly, and a single day can change our lives, for better, or worse.

To the Church, this brings great hope. The Lord will help with our daily lives. He can solve our problems, and lift the heavy burdens. He can also change the entire circumstances at any time! He can turn a weary night into a golden New Day!

Our hope in the Lord gives us confidence that like a mighty eagle set free from the chains that bind it to earth, we too will find freedom from our prison. Then with our weakness and handicaps gone, we will soar above all the troubles and strife of this world, and forever be with our Lord.

Joseph did not deserve to be in prison. His life had been an extremely troubled one. First, his brothers hatred and jealously of him, at home. Then, sold by them as a slave in Egypt; then Potifer’s wife big lie accusing him of attempted rape; then to prison. Unfair? Surely! However, God was with him!

Ever see honest, innocent people suffer in a bed of wrongful accusations?

Ever seen people standing on the uneven steps of misunderstanding? Then condemned for something they did not do? That was Josephs’ experience. But through all this, there was a silver lining. God was with him and God understood, and cared. Joseph in a foreign land, in prison, and alone, seemingly forgotten and forsaken by all. But “God Was With Him” factor takes the whole sad picture, turns it upside down, and makes it a glorious deliverance, in one day! Just see What God can do!!

Luke ch 23:39-43, takes us to the day Jesus was crucified. Two criminals were condemned to death at the same time. Three crosses with Jesus in the middle.

Warnings had not stopped these two criminals. Today justice would be done. Here at the ‘Place of a Skull’, they would be paying their terrible deeds of robbery and murder. The sentence was passed, death by crucifixion. Without mercy they would be nailed to a cross, for the world to view their punishment.

Let us look more closely at these two robbers.

The fearful enemy death was straight ahead. All hope of escape or mercy, was gone. They were worthless, hopeless men, guilty as charged, condemned, and today paying the price for their sins! Doubtless, anger and rage caused them to rail and curse against the horrible pain of the cross and the soldiers who and all present, even the stranger on the middle cross. He and his buddy cursed them all.

But the stranger crucified beside them screamed no curses, not even a look of hate on His face! Then a prayer, “Father forgive them!” How could any human ask forgiveness for his own executioners?

This man on the middle cross was different! He was not a criminal, like he and his buddy. He was not accused of robbery and murder but some religious accusation of blasphemy. Pilate the governor had written a sign for all to read, KING OF THE JEWS. All could see, even the soldiers doing their cruel work, there was something different about this Man, Jesus.

The long moments passed, as three humans hanging on crosses, coming closer to death suffered alone. Then one of the thieves began a journey toward mercy and hope. His journey began from a horrible prison of sin and evil, toward a pure, loving Savior. Great love began to draw him to Jesus. The long lost feeling of hope flickered in his heart. Was this man a king? On a cross? His reasoning told Him Jesus was more than a mere human. Something deep inside said this man is a KING!

He called out to Jesus; “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” And then Jesus answered him, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Oh what a Journey for a condemned criminal! From a prison of evil – to the Throne! Today he would be in the glorious Kingdom of Jesus Christ, King of all Kings!

Today, there is a Church in this world. This true Church is alive and well! While the world looks at the body of believers, and condemns and mocks them, they simply march forward waiting for a great deliverance!

While False groups, false prophets, false doctrines, and outright lies, are spoke against them, the Church marches on! They have the Cornerstone of Truth as their anchor. Their hope is in the certainty of God’s unchanging Word. They believe what others refuse to acknowledge, and try to forget. The King of all Kings, the Almighty God of the universe, JESUS, is coming again! It is His promise that on a day He has appointed, we shall be changed, and made like Him! From the confines and restrictions of this human existence, ‘The Church’ will rise to meet their Lord in the air! ‘From the Prison to the Throne!’

What a Wonderful, Glorious Hope! The Change is coming, Rejoice!

Faith, and the biggest question of all questions,
How much faith does it take to save a soul?
Answer, Just believe enough to obey what the Bible says!

When we obey the Bible, our action proves we really believe it!

The song writer from many years ago, wrote a remarkable accurate song. “Trust and obey, for there is no other way. To be happy in Jesus, Than to trust and obey”.

Obedience is not ‘Good Works’. It is necessary for Salvation. (See 2 Thess. 1:8)

Ever notice that after the New Church was born in Acts chapter 2, the believers followed the same pattern? Check Acts Chapter 8. Philip first preached Jesus (Vs 5), then they were baptized in the Name of Jesus (Vs 12). Later when Peter and John arrived, they were Holy Ghost filled. Same in Acts Chapter 10. Peter preached to them about Jesus (Vs 36-43) the Holy Ghost filled the gentiles, and they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus! (Vs 48).

In Acts Chapter 19, Paul found people that did not know about the Holy Ghost. All they knew was John the Baptist. Paul preached Jesus (Vs 4), these believers were baptized in the Name of Jesus, (Vs 5) then the Holy Ghost with evidence of tongues. (Vs 6).