What does the word "salvation" mean, anyway?

DON'T OVERLOOK

the meaning of

SALVATION!

SALVATION

Deliverance; Health; Welfare; Aid; VICTORY; Prosperity; Rescue; Defend; Liberty; To Be Safe; To Preserve

**************************************

Have you ever pondered the word "SALVATION"? Do you ever question God's Will for your life? Is God only interested in where you'll spend eternity? Exactly what does the word "salvation" mean, anyway?

Early on in my Christian walk, I often found myself flipping and flopping over truths from God's Word. I would read where Jesus healed the sick, but then questioned God's Will when it came to Him healing me. Then, I would see where He delivered saints of old from impossible situations, but wondered if He "could really" or "would really" deliver me from the mess I had gotten myself into. One of the most perplexing questions for me to settle in my heart was that of "God prospering His children". While it was easy to see how God blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with earthly substance - and I understood that my Christian faith placed me under the same covenant that God made with Abraham - I still found myself unable to fully accept God's desire to bless me. It seemed each time I would grab hold of God's love for me, some naysayer (oftentimes another Christian) would cause me to doubt my faith.

Matthew 18:3

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

******************

Hebrews 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

The scripture teaches us that childlike faith is precious in the eyes of the Lord. In fact, God says it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him without it. Have you ever noticed how this world tries to mold and shape your adult mind with "reasoning" and "logic" that hinder acts of faith; when really, God just wants us to step into the supernatural realm of endless possibilities? He is the God of the impossible!

Matthew 19:26

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

*******************

Mark 9:23

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

OK, so to settle my wishy-washy belief system, I decided - years ago - to buy a Bible concordance and study the word "salvation" for myself. It seemed the television preachers were confirming my inclinations of believing that God desired to do me good, while my local Christian authorities caused me to be "very cautious" in my faith. I wanted to know... "What DOES the word 'salvation' mean?"

Matthew 6:10

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

It may surprise you (as it did me) to know that the word "salvation" means so much more than a ticket to heaven! While heaven is a place of magnificent eternal splendor in the presence of God; and, heaven is surely a worthy prize for keeping the faith through earthly trials and tribulations; it is only a part of "God's idea" for what it means to be a child of the King. You see, God is our heavenly "Father" and He WANTS TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO HIS CHILDREN!

Matthew 7:11

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

When "I" first found the definition of the word "salvation", my heart leaped for joy. I no longer felt that this earthly life was meant to be a time of constant and "unchangeable" suffering. I had a new hope that God would clear the path and make a way for me to achieve my goals. Revival of my soul birthed a concrete faith that was "unwavering" knowing that my Daddy (Abba Father) was "able" and "WILLING" to see me through to the VICTORY in all circumstances.

Yet, while I believed what I saw in the concordance about the word "salvation", my mind continued to question this finding. It is funny how we can sink back into doubt and unbelief after our initial decision to believe. Weird! So, to conquer this fleshly debate in my head, I would read the definition of the word "salvation"over and over and over again. For months, I would write it down, speak of it, think about it and ponder the fullness of this word "salvation"; the word that God speaks of repeatedly. I was determined to stop the leak in my soul that deflated my confidence in God's love for me.

You see, until we can fully comprehend God's love for us (as much as humanly possible, that is) our faith will be weak, oftentimes wavering. Then, we'll wonder "why" God didn't do for us what He did for others. Certainly, God is sovereign and reserves the right to do things in His timing for your benefit and for His glory, but just the same - HE IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE! The biblical examples of His goodness toward those who "trusted Him with their whole heart" ARE His Will for you and I still today.

Numbers 23:19

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

My friend, THE LORD WANTS YOU WHOLE! He wants you whole "in this life" and in the "life to come"! While our earthly journey is short and full of "tests", know that this life we now live is not meant to be an unending hellish experience. When Jesus gave the example of how to pray He said, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Jesus came to earth to show us the Will of the Father. When He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, made money appear in a fishes mouth, supernaturally fed 5000 with five loaves and two fishes, cast out demons, and even raised the dead; this was not something He did for show. No, He wanted to convince mankind of how much God loves them. Then, He said, "Greater works than these shall you also do."

John 14:12

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

God wants your eternity to begin NOW... on earth! Your earthly journey is to be "the beginning" of the many blessings God wants to bestow upon you. He wants to take you from glory to glory - as you trust Him and lean upon His every promise.

Be encouraged today! Salvation has come! Jesus has paid the price for YOU (and me) to live in VICTORY, now and forever! So put on that godly armour and "having done all, STAND" because the Lord is on your side!

Ephesians 6:13

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the

evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Yours in Christ,

Deborah

Deborah Ross Ministries
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

DEBORAH ROSS MINISTRIES and the REMNANT WOMEN supporters reach around the world sharing hope and love found only in Jesus Christ.

At Deborah Ross Ministries, our desire is to open God's Word to all that have ears to hear. We deliver messages of faith, hope and love that transcend cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries.
Utilizing all forms of media in conjunction with our dedication to on-location events, Deborah Ross Ministries is on a mission to strengthen families and encourage women.
Our vision includes (but is not limited to): speaking events; conferences; Bible studies; Internet web-site publications; email encouragements; television; radio; the sale of audio / video / books and other printed publications; creative and artistic worship in music, song and dance.
By illuminating scriptures that teach life transforming principles and by imparting an atmosphere of faith that cultivates fertile ground for miracles, Deborah Ross Ministries and its Remnant Women supporters desire to boldly proclaim God's promises to the nations!

Some of our global friends in Christ include...

Pastor's Pavan and Ruben in India...

In India, Pastors Pavan and Ruben are using DRM devotionals and Bible studies to teach the women of their community.

Pastor Meshack in Kenya...

Pastor Meshack, of Kenya, uses DRM devotionals in ministering to men and women of his community.

Pastor's Michael and Ishrat from Pakistan...

Pastor's Michael and Ishrat enjoy sharing DRM devotionals. They will be starting a Christian television show soon and have asked DRM to send DVD teaching materials to be aired via their broadcast. Your support helps us to produce materials for this purpose.

Pastor Imran Rasheed, Pakistan

Pastor Imran Rasheed of Pakistan has offered to supply translators for DRM materials to be produced in their language. He has a large ministry that offers many different facets of the ministry of Jesus Christ for the people in his area.

Mark 16:15-20

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

Thank you for YOUR support and thank your for praying for our friends around the world! Together, we can make a difference.

In Christ,

Deborah Ross

Deborah Ross Ministries

www.DeborahRossMinistries.org

Bible Study: Help for those who are suicidal...

SUICIDE
is NOT... the answer!

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

STOP! Those negative voices in your head are NOT from God! They are not the words of Jesus! They most certainly DO NOT communicate instructions from the Holy Spirit! And... those nagging oppressive voices are not even thoughts of your own!

The DEVIL is the one who comes to STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY (John 10:10). His tactics are to first get you offended. Then, he wants you to harbor unforgiveness, vengeance, or even severe depression. Finally, he sends hordes of demons to squat on your shoulders and chant your demise. And those nights of no sleep? Well, that's all part of his evil ploy; using solitude for the purpose of replaying your injury(s) over and over and over again. His imaginative movies in your mind always invent "what ifs" that far exceed the original crime against you. The devil will stop at nothing. In fact, he finds it quite amusing when you accept these haunting, hellish words of discouragement as if they were your own - and even worse, he would love to make you think these perverted suggestions are coming from God.

John 10:10

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Focus on the second part of the scripture above which says it is Jesus who comes to give you life... AND GIVE YOU LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY! This promise is not only for the life to come (heaven), but also pertains to the life you currently live in this world (Mark 10:30 & Luke 18:30). God promises you that He is for you and not against you (Romans 8:31). Your Heavenly Father loves you and wants to turn things around for your good. He wants to work a miracle in your life. It grieves Him to be rendered unable to help you - because of your unforgiveness, doubt and unbelief. You see, fear and faith cannot co-exist. You must decide NOW to hold onto faith in God's Word while diligently seeking to drive away all fear and doubt. This may be a tough battle, but not one that is too hard for God.

Let's look at scripture to see what Jesus did with demons. Did He offer them a sedative? Did He counsel them? Did He ignore them? NO! He cast them out!!!

Matthew 8:16

"When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:"

Friend, a medicated demon is still a demon. You can't get rid of those voices with drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, gambling, pornography, or any other vice. These voices must be driven out - even cast out. (I fear that Americans are quickly becoming pharmaceutical junkies; always looking for a medicine to mask the pain, but not necessarily seeking the cure... Jesus the healer. Has anyone besides me noticed that many of the people who commit suicide are actually taking medications? Or, does anyone besides me ever hear the potential side effects from advertised drugs?) God wants to get to the "root" of your problem. He does not put bandaids on people - he heals them!

Scripture says we are to take "thoughts" captive. This means we should "catch" every negative thought and toss it out. Then, we are to replace that thought with a promise from God's Word that is the exact opposite of the thought that was sent to destroy you.

I know, for some of you these bad thoughts are coming at you faster than the speed of light. You are exhausted and you feel as though you don't have the ability to take these pounding messages captive. I've been there and I know - first hand - how you feel. But friend, you CAN conquer this hellish onslaught in your head!

First, however, you must make up your mind that you are "more than a conqueror" through the power of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37). You must accept the fact that God loves you and has good plans for you... ON EARTH. You must FORGIVE all of those who have offended you - perhaps even God! (Remember, forgiving requires forgetting. If you reserve the right to relive your anger, you have not forgiven.) Above all, you need to be a born-again child of God who craves His every Word.

Forgiveness is a process. It may take months or even years to drive the bitterness out of your heart and mind, but as you lean upon every Word of the Lord, you will prevail. I believe sometimes we need to cry out loud (really loud) in prayer; speaking God's Word as we purge the poisonous venom of unforgiveness. This may need to be done daily or perhaps many times a day - until you are completely healed. My friend, once you are clean from your mental anguish, it will be as if your were never hurt. God has a way of making tomorrow a new day - a new beginning!

Lamentations 3:22-23

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

During these tough economical times, many of you are suffering financially. These troubles can also affect your marriage. Then, a marriage on the rocks affects the children. The next thing you know, everything is upside down.

Or perhaps, you have had a horrible childhood. Perhaps you were abused.

Some of you have been assaulted by strangers. Out of nowhere, your life was invaded by a horrendous event or series of events that have left you feeling despondent about any sort of future joy.

Joel 2:25

"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm..."

DON'T LET THE DEVIL WIN! God wants to restore what the canker worm and the locust have eaten! He can restore your finances - even in the midst of a troubled economy. He can put your marriage back together - even if it appears it is over. He can give you back your joy. And He can calm your children. If He doesn't do any of this in your timing or in your way, I can guarantee you that He will do EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL YOU COULD ASK OR THINK (Ephesians 3:20)! He is a good God and He gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11 & Luke 11:13)! Your job... trust Him; for He is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19 & 1 Samuel 15:29).

So friend, don't play God. Don't accept any thoughts that encourage you to take your life into your own hands. God has put you here - on this earth - for such a time as this (Esther4:14). Who knows what your future holds? You could wind up being the most influential person (besides Jesus) to ever walk this dusty earth. God can take your testimony of overcoming life's trials to encourage millions. You might be broke today, and be a millionaire tomorrow. You might be miserably single this year and happily married next year. That heart of despair can instantly change into a heart of joy.

Trials don't last forever. There "is" a light at the end of your tunnel - and it is NOT a train! It's the light of Jesus! He is standing with open arms, radiating God's glory as he says, "Well done thou good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21 & 23)."

Think of it this way: a month, a year, or even many years of suffering is but a "small" fragment of your life - compared to a seventy, eighty or even hundred year life span. Also consider how that space of earthly suffering will seem so insignificant, compared to the eternal rewards of knowing you "passed the test" of earthly hardships for the glory of God:

YOU OVERCAME!

YOU SURVIVED!

YOU CAME OUT!

YOU LIVED, LAUGHED, AND LOVED!

(Revelation 12:11)

Now, find yourself a Holy Ghost filled church that speaks LIFE, surround yourself with honest friends who know Jesus intimately, and pull down those strongholds in your mind that are contrary to that of a Christian.

Jesus loves you... and so do I!

PS - Don't stop taking your medication unless the Lord tells you to. He is the one who knows what is best for you! Seek Him and Him alone; but don't assume that His only way of healing you is through medications. His Word is powerful!

Romans 12:2

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

2 Corinthians 10:5

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ..."

Yours In Christ,

Deborah Ross

Deborah Ross Ministries
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/