What stuck out to me in this verse is the ‘book of life’!

I asked myself what is the significance of the book of life?
What came to my mind is the Gospel. It starts with the Gospel! But for the Gospel to make an impact, it starts with people contending for the cause of the Gospel. In this situation, Euodia and Synthyce were the 2 women contending at Paul’s side for the Gospel with other helpers. Now Paul wanted his loyal yokefellow to help these women, Clement, and the rest of the fellow workers with what they were facing. Regardless of what they are going through, Paul reminds the Philippians that all their names are written in the Book of Life because of the Gospel.

I saw important implications for my own life here. When I contend for the cause of the Gospel, the main result could be people’s names being in the Book of Life. I need to do my part in following the Great Commission and leave the results in the Lord's Hands! The cause of the Gospel has been contended by men and women alike. This is exciting to know for it is not just for men to represent the Gospel.

I asked myself what does it mean to have someone’s name in the book of life?
What came to my mind is voting (inviting) Jesus Christ into their hearts. I have the opportunity to tell others to vote (invite) Jesus Christ into their heart so their names can be written in the book of life. But, I also realize that help should be taken and I need not do it alone. It is ok to take help!

I ask you now dear friends, who are you campaigning and V.O.T.I.N.G for in your heart: Jesus Christ or Satan?
Dear friends, you can campaign for (witness for) Jesus by the way you live your life and proclaiming the Gospel through word and deed. Jesus is worth campaigning (witnessing) for but you have to believe in Jesus and what Jesus is all about if you want to campaign for Him. Jesus has an awesome impeccable resume that He is running on! His opponent is Satan whose resume is filled with lies and lies. You need to decide who you are passionate for.

 Vote for Jesus Christ into your heart this election day!  

1. Jesus is running on a sin-free platform!

2. Jesus knows the state of mankind and is willing to make a difference!

3. Jesus already sacrificed His life for you so that you can be set free from this thing called sin!

4. Jesus is the only candidate that knows the ins and outs of the entire Universe as He has created it, came back to life and is living!

5. Jesus wants to bring change into your life by giving you His Holy Spirit!

"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"  Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.  The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua:  "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.  " 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.  See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes  on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. " 'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah 3:1-10, NIV)

"He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." (Luke 10:18-19, NIV)

"I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." (Acts 26:17-19, NIV)

"But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3, NLT)

"Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Romans 16:19-20, NIV)

Jesus wants to do so much in your life but for you to be freed from this thing called sin, you need to believe in what Jesus stands for and give your vote to Him.

Will you do that my friend?

If you already have voted Jesus into your heart, what are you waiting for?

Will you be willing to campaign for Jesus Christ?

 Do you love Him enough and what Jesus stands for that you are willing to spend time to lets others know the Jesus you serve?

Does Jesus mean that much to you?

And if you have voted Jesus into your heart, when you vote in the earthly election, will you ask Jesus if He will be pleased with your choice?

I hope Jesus means so much to you that you want others to know about Jesus and are desperate to campaign for Jesus Christ!  So now people’s names can be written in the book of life as they vote Jesus Christ into their heart.

Jesus has campaigned through the years for people to vote Him into their hearts. Jesus has been running on a perfect record and all of His accomplishments are covered in a book that is put out called the Bible.

You can vote for Jesus because He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom.. He promises to bring change in people’s lives and He does not break promises. He will fill you with His Holy Spirit so He can bring change.

The change Jesus Christ brings is 'change we can believe in' because through the years, Jesus Christ has been the One to bring change we can believe in. 'Yes, we can' started with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Messiah and I pray in spiritual election people will see Jesus Christ as their Messiah to bring change into their life as their King of Kings ad Lord of lords.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" (Philippians 4:13, NIV)

You have that opportunity right now to vote for real change into your heart and it starts with Jesus.  Don’t wait but let this be the day of Salvation! I do believe when you vote Jesus Christ into your heart, issues such as protecting the 'sanctity of life', 'sanctity of marriage' 'support of Israel', etc become very important among other issues to VOTE THE BIBLE.

In the Spiritual realm there are only two candidates to vote for who are vying for your vote. You will be voting for one or the other. There is no such thing as not voting.

If you do not vote for Jesus Christ, you have automatically given your vote to Satan.

 Let’s look at Satan’s record:

1. Never could serve anyone that he even corrupted 1/3 of the angels.

2. He was impeached and removed from Heaven and thrown into Hell.

3. He fills the air waves and the world with his cunning lies sounding to be truth as the change we can believe in.

4. He waits for you to come and reside with him so he can torment you.

5. He will lie to you about Jesus Christ and make you think that you are living a truth presenting to you all kinds of false gods.

"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, NIV)

Jesus said, "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10, NLT)

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are." (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT)

Friend, know this day that Satan is not for you or anyone else you know. His whole goal is to destroy people’s lives when they vote for him. Sadly, there are so many people that have already become his puppets and campaign for Satan.

Sadly, it is people who serve Satan that do more campaigning than people who serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why is that?
That is pretty sad!

Whether you are a woman or man, you can now campaign for Jesus not only this day but always for the polls are always open across the world 24-7. Satan salivates for your vote but God desires that none should perish but all to come into repentance.

Who can make that possible?
 JC my friend! Jesus Christ is His name and in the House and wants to make it possible for you.

Whether you are campaigning for earthly candidates as I am, know that Jesus Christ is worth more of our time. We can be passionate about the earthly candidates we support and that is okay if they are good leaders for we need God in America again which means we need to have godly leaders governing our nation.

There is a reason people campaign for candidates. When it comes to the Book of Life, Jesus Christ has to be the best reason for you to campaign for Him.

Won’t you do that friend?

Jesus Christ loves you so much that He is the only candidate that sacrificed His life for you on the cross. He took the nails of three to set you free! He is running on a sin-free platform and has come back to life to save people! Whatever you are going through, He is the only candidate that has the Answer, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Him.

Jesus knows the state of mankind and what they need. He knows how to set people free and bring them a new beginning. Jesus is all about change. He wants to change your life. Yes, He does friend!

Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking that you do not need to campaign for Jesus or present the Gospel because that is other people’s job. Satan would love you to believe that so you do not contend for the cause of the Gospel. But we are all commanded to follow the Great Commission.

Evangelism and discipleship is for all of us to follow. May you vote Jesus Christ into your heart today and may you be so excited about Jesus that you cannot help but tells others.

ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:

We are like an ambulance taking sick people to the hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.

Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.  This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is called GOLGOTHA.

The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat patients with  physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to be healed.

He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay down on the bed  made of wood.

The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on His back.  Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS is used which draws more BLOOD.

As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is out. All the BLOOD is out!

Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE being guarded by security.

Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS. 

Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.

All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul.  This BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, JESUS CHRIST.

The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led too.

72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE and will save all that come to Him.

It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING BLOOD.

I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace.

Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was buried, Jesus came back to life to save.

To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do for them.

Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those that accept Him.

"Valiantly Offering Truth Immanuel Nurtures Godliness! (V.O.T.I.N.G)/”"Who are you campaigning for and V.O.T.I.N.G for in your heart: Jesus Christ or Satan?”

Prayer:
Jesus, I want to thank you so much that you came as God-incarnate to run a sin-free platform. You know what the world is plagued with and what your opponent Satan has been trying to do. Satan was a liar from the beginning and tries so hard to take us with him. But, you don’t want that I know for while we were yet sinners you died for us. You came back to life to save us so we can be freed from the power of sin and death. Thank you Lord for paying the price for me! Thank you for your impeccable record advertised in the Gospels. Thank you that your accomplishments are all listed in a book published throughout the world called the Bible. It is no ordinary book but your Word of Truth. In your Word of Truth, you also tell us about your opponent and all his lies. Thank you for making us aware of that. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior as I come to you and vote you into my heart. Lord there is no lever to pull but the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart.  I confess with my mouth that you are Lord and repent of all my sins. Please forgive me and help me. I believe you died and rose again for me. Come Lord Jesus into my heart and forgive me of all my sin. Thank you Jesus so much for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you that you will bring change into my life as I seek you Lord. Thank you for your awesome promises. Help me Oh Lord not to be deceived by your opponent ever! Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy but you have come to give life in all its fullness! I thank you so much. I want to campaign for you daily. Please help me Lord to contend for your Gospel. Thank you that my name is written and certified in the Book of Life as I turn to you. You are the perfect candidate to vote for! Lord, I also pray for the earthly elections happening that you would give us wisdom to put the right people in office. Thank you so much Jesus for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! I want to thank you again for loving us so much and be willing to be a candidate years ago and continue to be a candidate. Amen! Thank you we can always turn to you and you will be there for us. I love you Jesus. In Your Name I Pray my Jesus, my Savior, there is none like you! I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like you. AMEN!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.

Dear Jesus, thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him free to go home. I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails so I could be free. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your Blood to redeem humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation.  In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus too this blessed FALL of 2012! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh