You can't bribe God

So you think you can bribe God? If you do then you are so very, very wrong. You Can't Bribe God. No matter what you cannot do it. It is not possible. Now you might be asking what do I mean by this? Simple, you can't say to God, "I'll do this my way but I'll put more money in the collection plate on Sunday to make up for not listening to You." He does not work like that.
The meaning of a bribe is to either pay a sum of money or other incentive to get your way or to persuade someone to act the way you want them to act. (Taken from an online dictionary.) You can't bribe your way into heaven. It just isn't possible. That is not how God works. You can't think oh He will understand. No He won't. You need to put God first and for most always. That is what will make Him happy. Not the extra money in a collection plate.
Look at the apostle Paul, do you really think that he ever thought to himself, well I am just going to preach my way instead of the way of the Lord and I'll just make up for it later. NO! He never thought that. All he wanted to do after his vision of Jesus when he was going to Damascus, was to please God in every way possible at every moment possible. He gave it all up for God. He was from a wealthy family, had a high position in the Sanhedrin, He gave up having a wife and a family. He gave up everything to do God's will. It never once thought that he could bribe God into giving him the ultimate reward of eternal life in heaven. He just thought, this is God's will for me so I am going to do it to the best of my abilities no matter how many times I am put in jail, no matter how may times people beat me, no matter what happens to me, I am doing God's will.
Another example to look at is the apostle John. He was the only one that stayed with Jesus through the crucifixion. He was the only apostle that God's will. He did not run away and hide. He did not leave Jesus' side. He stayed until the end. Then after Jesus had risen, came back, and ascended into heaven, he continued to do God's will. All the way through his life until he was an old man, he still spread the word of God with his letters. He never thought that he could bribe God. He did what was asked of him and he did it to the best of his abilities at tall times. He put his maximum effort into the job he was given. He never thought to bribe God. He was rewarded eternal life in heaven because of his faithfulness and loyalty.
So the next time you think that you can bribe God, think again. It is not possible. Don't think just because you put extra money into a collection plate to make up for not listening to God that it will suffice. He doesn't work like that. Do what God's wants. Do his will. Please God.
As PASTOR JOHN COLLINS says at BRINGING BACK GOD in BRISTOL, TN salvation is found by repenting your sins, being baptized, becoming a new you, become a true Christian, come back to the cross, and do what God wants.
PASTOR JOHN COLLINS can also be heard on BlogTalk Radio. Or visit BRINGING BACK GOD in BRISTOL, TN or MARIETTA, PA.
God Bless You,
The Church Goer-Girl

Moses

Do you know the story of Moses? How well do you think you know it? Could you tell it to me right now if I asked? Or could you just tell me the basics of the story, in other words the summary?
Let’s dig into the story of Moses a little deeper than just the summary. Of course many of us know that Moses led the Israelite's out of Egypt after ten plagues happened. We now that Moses parted the Red Sea and saved them from the Egyptians. And most of us know that they walked for 40 years before they were able to enter into the Promised Land.
But do you know the ten plagues were? Do you know what was asked of Moses and the people while they walked for 40 years? Do you know why Moses only saw the Promised Land but never actually got to enter into it?
I learned all of this and more from PASTOR JOHN COLLINS at BRINGING BACK GOD in BRISTOL, TN.
The ten plagues, just in case you don’t know them are;
1. Plague of Blood
2. Plague of Frogs
3. Plague of Lice
4. Plague of Flies
5. Plague of Livestock
6. Plague of Boils
7. Plague of Hail
8. Plague of Locusts
9. Plague of Darkness
10. Plague of Firstborn
The plagues happened because god told Moses I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and he will not let the people go. This happened ten times because God wanted his chosen people to know that He was there or them, no matter what they went through. After the last Plague, Pharaoh finally let all of the Israelite's leave Egypt. Moses led the people and all there belongs, children, and livestock to the Red Sea and he parted it to let them across to the opposite side. The Egyptians that followed on foot or by chariot never made it across, they drowned because the Red Seas water were put back.
Now the Israelites are told of the Promised Land, the Land of Milk and Honey that they will receive. What they don’t know is that God is going to test them along the way and weed out those that will not be able to follow His Law. He tells Moses to go up to Mount Sinai and Moses does so. He is gone for 40 days and 40 nights. While he is gone he is expecting his brother Aaron to watch over the people and make sure they behave as Gods chosen people should. What happens though is not good. The people make a golden calf and when Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments that God has given him, he cannot believe what he sees. Moses throws down the Commandments and they break. He destroys the golden calf and makes the people crush it up into a fine powder. Then he goes back up Mount Sinai to talk with God again. This time when he comes back down with the re-written Ten Commandments, the people have had enough faith to realize that he is not dead. Which is what they thought the first time. The people learn all of the Laws that God has given them. They learn that they will be circumcised and that on the eighth day after a male baby is born he will be circumcised. Along the way of there travels scouts are sent out to see the Promised Land. But God does not lead the people right to it, he makes them walk for 40 years. He tests them. Test’s their faith. Tests to see if they will turn heir backs on Him. Test’s to see if they will do His will or I they will do their own first. God test’s the Israelite's. Like any large family, there is strife and discord among the people and God decrees that no man from the age of 20years old and up will get to see the Promised Land. This is to help weed out those that are not true believers and those that would turn from God’s Law. This means that Moses is not going to get to enter the Promised Land. There are only a few that are over 20 that get to enter, like Joshua, but that is it.
God test’s us just like He tested Moses and the Israelite's. He wants to see if when times are rough and hard, will we turn our back on Him. He wants to see if we will still follow His will through everything. He wants to see if we will build a golden calf when we think all is lost or will we keep our eyes on God and do his will not matter what.
God test’s us everyday. It is what we do to prove ourselves to him that matters. Just like Moses followed God’s will we must do so also.
If you would like to learn more about Moses please come to BRINGING BACK GOD and talk with PASTOR JOHN COLLINS located in BRISTOL, TN and in MARIETTA, PA.
God Bless You All,
The Church Goer-Girl