BEHOLD NOW

2 CORI= NTHIANS 6:2B BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION<= o:p>

NOW REPRE= SENTS THE PRESENT. THAT WHICH IS; THAT WHICH WAS, PRECEDED AN= D THAT WHICH IS YET TO COME, FOLLOWS. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE EXPRESSION THAT THIS IS THE “NOW GENERATION”, WELL IT IS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, EVERY GENERAT= ION IS THE NOW GENERATION DURING ITS EXISTENCE.

SALVATION= IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE PUT OFF FOR SOME OTHER DAY. SALVATION IS VITAL TO = YOUR ETERNAL WELL BEING. THE HEBREW AND GREEK WORDS FOR SALVATION IMPLY THE IDEAS OF DELIVERANCE, SAFETY, PRESERVATION, HEALING AND SOUNDNESS. SALVATION IS THE GREAT INCLUSIVE WORD = OF THE GOSPEL, GATHERING INTO ITSELF ALL THE REDEMPTIVE ACTS AND PROCESSES; AS JUSTIFICATION, REDEMPTION, GRACE, PROPITIATION, IMPUTATION, FORGIVENESS, SANCTIFICATION AND GLORIFICATION. SALVATION IS IN 3 TENSES. THE CHRISTIAN HAS BEEN SAVED FROM THE GUILT AND PENALTY OF SIN AND IS SAFE. THE CHRISTIAN IS BEING SAVED FROM THE HABIT= S AND DOMINION OF SIN AND THE CHRISTIAN WILL BE SAVED AT THE LORD’S RETURN, FROM ALL THE BODILY INFIRMITIES THAT ARE THE RESULT OF SIN AND GOD’S CURSE UPON THE SINFUL WORLD AND BROUGHT INTO ENTIRE CONFORMITY TO CHRIST. SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. IT IS A FREE GIFT AND WHOLLY WITHOUT WORKS. THE DIVINE ORDER IS FIRST, SALVATION AND THEN WORKS. IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, OR IN OTHER WORDS, BORN AGAIN, OR IN OTHER WORDS, KNOW JESUS CHRIST = AS YOUR PERSONAL AND INDWELLING SAVIOR AND YOU SHOULD DIE TODAY OR IF CHRIST SHOULD RAPTURE THE CHURCH TODAY, YOU WILL BE LOST FOREVER.

SO MANY P= UT OFF FOR TOMORROW THAT WHICH SHOULD AND MUST BE DONE TODAY. WELL TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED TO A= NY OF US EVEN THOUGH TOMORROW WILL COME. THAT IS CALLED PROCRASTINATING. A BIG WORD AND RIGHTLY SO, FOR IT = CAN HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS TO DO RIGHT AND DOESN’T DO IT, IS CONSCIOUSLY SINNING. THE WORD TELLS US TH= AT NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME, WHICH LETS ME KNOW THAT = THERE WILL BE A TIME THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.&nbs= p; FOR IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MAN ONCE TO DIE AND AFTER THAT THE JUDGMENT= . SO WHILE IT IS THE DAYTIME OF YOUR LIFE, WHILE WE ARE ALIVE AND WELL, THIS IS = THE TIME TO MAKE OUR PEACE CALLING AND ELECTION SURE. IT IS NOW THE ACCEPTABLE = TIME TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS SAVIOR. = IT IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME TO CONSECRATE AND DEDICATE OUR LIVES TO THE LORD. IT IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME TO BE MISSIONARIES AND DISCIPLES FOR THE LORD.&n= bsp; IT IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME TO BE HIS WITNESSES RIGHT DOWN HERE ON PLA= NET EARTH. FO= R THERE IS NO WITNESS IN THE GRAVE. THERE IS NO PURGATORY TO FINISH GETTING THINGS RIGHT AFTER DEATH. THERE IS NO TIME FOR SALVATION AFT= ER DEATH. FOR AFTER DEATH COMES THE JUDGMENT.

BEHOLD NO= W! THE WORD BEHOLD IS STATED TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. IT MEANS LOOK HERE. LISTEN UP. HEY FOLKS. HEY YOU. BEHOLD NOW, NOT TOMORROW,= NOT NEXT WEEK OR NEXT YEAR, NOT WHEN I GET OLDER, NOT WHEN I’VE FINISHED HAVING MY FUN. IT MEANS NOW. = WHILE YOU ARE IN YOUR RIGHT MIND. <= span class=3DGramE>WHILE YOU HAVE HEALTH AND STRENGTH.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SCRIPTURES THAT REFER TO THE NOW. I BELIE= VE THEY ARE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF O= UR ETERNAL SALVATION, OUR ETERNAL REWARDS, OUR PRESENT DELIVERANCE AND VICTORY, AND ALL OF THE PROMISES THAT GOD HAS MADE AND IS MAKING TO HIS PEOPLE.

NOW UN= TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING AND TO PRESENT US FAULTLESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH EXCEEDING JOY. NOW UNTO HIM WHO IS ABLE T= O DO EXCEEDING AND ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN ASK OR THINK ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH WITIN US.

NOW FA= ITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. MANY OF OUR BENEDICTIONS BEGIN WITH= THE WORD NOW. FOR IT IS NOW THAT WE WANT TO GIVE GO= D ALL THE GLORY AND HONOR DUE HIS NAME. IT IS NOW THAT AS WE LEAVE THIS PLACE OF WORSHIP THAT WE WANT THE BENEDICTION OF THE LORD TO GO WITHJ US. NOW THE LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF GI= VE YOU PEACE ALWAYS BY ALL MEANS. THE LORD BE WITH = YOU.

NOW IS TH= E TIME FOR PRAISE AND ADORATION. NOW= IS THE TIME FOR WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. NOW IS THE TIME FOR THANKSGIVING.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> WE SING, EVERYDAY IS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING AND IT IS. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO WAIT TO GIVE THANKS.= PAUL WROTE TO THE CORINTHIANS IN&nb= sp; CHAPTER 2 SAYING, “NOW THANKS BE UNTO GOD WHO ALWAYS CAUSES= US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST, AND MAKE MANIFEST THE SAVOR OF HIS KNOWLEDGE BY US IN EVERY PLACE.” OUR PRAISES GO UP BEFORE THE LORD AS A SWEET SMELLI= NG SAVOR. THEN WE MUST ALSO REAL= IZE THAT TO PRAISE THE LORD AND WORSHIP HIM, WE RECEIVE GREAT REWARDS. FOR AS THE PRA= ISES GO UP, HIS BLESSINGS COME DOWN.

GOD IS CA= LLING FOR US IN THESE LAST AND EVIL DAYS TO SPREAD THE WORD; THAT WE MUST REDEEM = THE TIME. WE CAN’T GO BACK = AND DO OR UNDO ANYTHING THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. BUT WE CAN MAKE UP FOR OUR LOST TI= ME OF BEING SLOTHFUL. WE DO THAT BY ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO USE US IN WITNESSING. WE MUST BE HIS AMBASSADORS. HE HAS NO HANDS OR FEET OR MOUTH, = BUT OURS. OURS MUST BE A LOUD, BO= LD VOICE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM. OURS MUST BE A LIVING WITNESS BY HOW WE = LIVE AND WHAT COMES OUT OF OUR MOUTHS. &nb= sp; OURS MUST BE A HUMBLE WITNESS, GIVING GOD ALL THE GLORY FOR ALL THAT= HE IS DOING AND NOT TRY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THE LORD’S WORK.

THE WORLD= IN, WHICH WE LIVE, IS FULL OF EVIL VOICES SPEAKING WHAT SATAN WOULD HAVE THEM SPEAK. WE MUST BE THE HOLY VOICE SPEAKING JUST AS INFLUENTIAL; SPEAKING WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE US SPEAK. WE MUST GET IN A HURRY. LIFE IS FRAGILE AND SHORT AT BEST. SOMEONE SAID, LIFE IS FRAGILE HANDLE WITH PRAYER= . WE DON’T KNOW HOW LONG WE HAVE. WE DON’T KNOW WHEN JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH. WE DON’T KNOW WHERE DEATH IS= . AND SINCE WE DON’T KNOW, WE CAN’T AFFORD TO WASTE ANY OF THE PRECIOUS TIME THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.=

I DONR= 17;T HAVE ANY GUARANTEE THAT GOD IS GOING TO ALLOW ME TO SEE THE NINETY-SEVEN YE= ARS OF AGE THAT MY MOTHER LIVED TO SEE. SO IT BEHOOVES ME TO BE ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS. JESUS ONLY HAD THREE AND A HALF YE= ARS TO COMPLETE THE WORK THAT HE CAME TO EARTH TO DO. HE FINISHED IT IN THE TIME GIVEN U= NTO HIM TO DO IT. HE WAS ALWAYS CONSCIOUS OF THE WORK THAT HIS FATHER HAD SENT HIM TO DO. HE SAID, I MUST WORK THE WORKS OF HIM THAT SENT ME WHILE IT IS DAY, FOR WHEN NIGHT COMETH,NO MAN CAN WORK.

HE HAS LE= FT THE GREATER WORK FOR US TO DO. WH= ETHER WE HAVE THREE AND A HALF YEARS OR THIRTY-THREE AND A HALF YEARS, OR NINETY-THREE YEARS, THE RESPONSIBILLITY AND THE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE SAME. I MUST WORK AS HE COMMANDS. I M= UST PRAISE, I MUST GLORIFY, AND I MUST BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES. I MUST LET = HIS PRAISE CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH.

TODAY (NO= W) IS ALL THAT WE HAVE. WE MUST MAK= E THE BEST OF IT. WE MAY NOT HAVE ALL OF THE MATERIAL THINGS THAT WE WANT, BUT HE= HAS PROMISED TO SUPPLY ALL OF OUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHR= IST JESUS OUR LORD. DAVID SAID, I HAVE BEEN YOUNG, BUT NOW I AM OLD, AND I H= AVE NEVER SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN, NOR HIS SEED BEGGING BREAD. GOD̵= 7;S PROMISES ARE SURE. HE IS NO S= HORTER THAN HIS PROMISE. IF WE MEET = HIS CONDITIONS, HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO.

BEHOLD NO= W IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME, BEHOLD NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. DON’T PUT IT OFF= FOR SOME MORE CONVENIENT DAY OR TIME. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO CHURCH TO = GET SAVED. THE TIME AND PLACE DOESN’T MATTER. THE ACT OF BELIEVING AND RECEIVING= IS WHAT COUNTS. AS YOU ARE WITNESSING, WHEREVER YOU ARE, CHALLENGE THE UNBELIE= VER TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT.

SO MANY T= IMES WE WANT THEM TO COME TO CHUCH AND THAT IS ALRIGHT, BUT THEY JUST MIGHT NOT MAK= E IT TO CHURCH. THEY MIGHT HAVE GO= OD INTENTIONS, BUT SATAN IS THE DECEIVER, HE WILL PUT EVERY STUMBLING BLOCK IN= THE WAY THAT HE CAN. THE YOUNG CONVERT IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIS TACTICS, SO WE CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE HIM ONE OPPORTUNITY TO CAUSE A PERSON NOT TO REC= EIVE CHRIST.

I CHALLEN= GE YOU TODAY TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME GOD IS GIVING YOU RIGHT NOW. I CHALLENGE YOU TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE ALL THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE; TO S= ERVE FAITHFULLY AS GOD WOULD WANT YOU TO DO. AND THEN TO MAKE DISCIPLES AS WE OURSELVES CONTINUE TO GROW IN HIS GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE.= FOR IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO BE SAVED AND THEN SATISFIED TO SIT AND DO NOTHING. THE WORLD IS DYING A= LL AROUND US. WE ARE STEADILY LO= SING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, TO DRUGS, VIOLENCE, AND PROMISCUITY, TO THE PRISON SYSTEM= S, TO THE LUST OF THE FLESH, TO THE LUST OF THE EYES AND TO THE PRIDE OF LIFE.= TODAY IS THE DAY TO DO SOMETHING A= BOUT IT. YES WE SHOULD BE PRAYING AND FASTING.&= nbsp; YES WE SHOULD BE FELLOWSHIIPING WITH THE SAINTS. YES WE SHOULD BE LI= VING WITNESSES EVERYWHERE WE GO. T= HERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO DO. TODAY IS THE DAY TO DO IT. IF NOT NOW, WHEN? WE HAVE OUR MARC= HING ORDERS. NOW IS THE TIME. BEHO= LD NOW! HEY YOU LISTEN UP! THE TIME IS NOW.