We Are God's Mouthpiece

Unfortunately so many believers are afraid of the rejection of non-believers. Because of this fear they are willing to allow the non-believer to think they are wonderful and should be happy in this life, when there is wrath to come, that will leave them in an eternity of darkness and pain.

Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

Romans 1:18-23 "18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."

Romans 1:24-31

"24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:"

John 3:36 - "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Revelation 20:15 -" And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Matthew 7:13-14 "13 a"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"

14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it"

Galatians 5:19-21 "19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,"

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God"

Proverbs 20:30 "Stripes that wound scour away evil, And strokes reach the innermost parts."

Our modern culture that has used the word "love" to mean never say anything that makes someone unhappy, is not the Love of Christ.

Christ shed His blood, showing us just how wicked our sin is, and that the shedding of the blood of God was required to cover it.

How silly it seems to me to make light of what the fact that He died and the price He paid for our sin, for us to only be worried about temporary feelings.

God gave us a mandate and that was to warn those in rebellion who are headed for hell and then to show them what they could have by merely trusting what Christ did for us.

The soft words of this culture have only served to make many feel comfortable in their sin, accepting that which God hates and condemns. We are His mouth piece, we are to say what He says.

Isaiah 8:20

"20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

We are going to be responsible for not speaking the truth. Loving people God's way is to plead with them to trust Christ to cleanse them, but first they must see that they are dirty.

If someone will not listen we are not to hang around them continually day after day, smiling and laughing with them as though nothing is wrong. We are to show them the seriousness of their rebellion by withdrawing from them as God does when we refuse to listen to Him.

Proverbs 29:1 Proverbs 29:1

"29 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

God will not cleanse someone who will not admit to their sinfulness. He will only save those who want cleansing, the cleansing that only He can do.

Don't Touch God's Anointed?

Next time you hear foolishness like "Don't touch God's Anointed", feel free to use the sentence below.

"Do not touch God's anointed", has nothing to do with exposing preachers, it has to do with not killing Saul!!! LOL!

Winning Them With Compromise

Many organizations began as Christian and went bad.

The major ivy league colleges were built to train men for the ministry, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and others. Now they are secular and godless.

The YMCA and the YWCA all were begun to be a blessing to God and man, but have left their first love, accepting the ways of the world to win people. Only to have their organizations become God hating and liberal.

This is what happens we we become more concerned about pleasing people, building numbers and getting financial backing.

Those who are willing to compromise all of God's principles to gain these things are most likely pretenders rather than possessors.

All factions of organized religion, claiming to be Christian are going this way. They have lost their first love to become worldly prosperous for the sake of their pride.

May God have mercy on many and bring them out from among these godless organizations that once did a good work, but now are apostate.

We Are Accountable For Not Speaking

If we do not warn others of the wrath to come, or their sinful behavior then we are accountable to God for not speaking. 

Ezekiel 3:17-19 "“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul."

World Vision Betrays God

World Vision, Exposed

When World Vision decreed that they were going to allow the hiring of homosexual married couples in their organization, there was, apparently an out cry from some of their donors, so they recanted. Unfortunately they showed an attitude of sticking their finger into the wind, to see which way it was blowing. They were not concerned about pleasing God but making sure their people were happy so the donations would continue to come.

Any organization that basis their policy on the prevailing wind of cultural change, cannot be trusted to uphold the Word of God. God did not call us to feed the poor as much as he called us to spread the gospel message of repentance. IF world vision feeds people without giving them the gospel then they are nothing more than a secular social service agency. If we feed people but they do not become born again then we have done nothing of value.

All food and worldly provision must be accompanied by the Gospel. God condemned as an abomination the act of homosexuality. Part of preaching the "good news" is first showing the people their sin that they might desire to be changed by Christ into a new creation. How can we preach a true gospel, when we endorse by example a blatant sin against God?

Jewelry and Pictures Cannot Help Us

Acts 17:29 "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

Sometimes what we think is so innocent is actually displeasing to Christ.

When I lived in Kentucky a young man approached me, excited about the new bracelet he had. The bracelet was a "What Would Jesus Do" bracelet. These objects were being given out in a Baptist church in our town, nearly every teenager who attended church had one. It was the new symbol of righteousness.

The young man of whom I speak,  began to tell me all the things about the bracelet that were helpful to him in his Christian walk.

As he talked, my mind began to wonder back to my Catholic days when we used "rosery beads" to communicate with Mary and the Father.  Of course we were not communicating with the real Mary or the real Father, but idols in our own minds.

After listening to the young man I began to ask him questions.  The first question was "What exactly does that bracelet do for you."  His response was that it reminded him of how he should act as a Christian. I said "what else does it do for you?"  He began to list the things that this little thin bracelet made our of string did for him. 

He said it helped him focus on Christ, it was a tool to help him witness to others, reminds him of what Christ did for him, helps him remember what to say to people, and some other things I can't remember.

When he was finished I told him that all the things he was attributing to the bracelet, were what he should be trusting the Holy Spirit for.

I told him that you are trusting that bracelet instead of the Holy Spirit that lives in you, that makes that pile of string more important than the Holy Spirit and that it was an idol.

I explained to him that when I became born again I threw away all objects that "helped me do anything", and began trusting Christ alone.  

So often we, as human beings, have trouble trusting Christ, we feel a need to see something with our eyes, touch something with our hands, even taste things, this is not  faith.  

Idols are anything that we place our trust in, on any level, or use to remind us of Christ.  Objects have no value except to addict us to them.  

2 Corinthians 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

Christ wants our full attention on Him.  His Word, the Bible is our instruction book, other than that we have need of no other objects to help us, as though they can be more helpful than the Holy Spirit.

Jewelry used as a Holy Spirit substitute, does not help us, it hinders us, destroys our trust in Christ, as do pictures of Christ or any other art object that we love.  

Those who truly walk by faith, and speak with the Holy Spirit often, have no need of these things.  

How could we compare the living, powerful and personal Holy Spirit to a dead lifeless object?  How very sill we are!

What is in a Name!

Every once in a while we are confronted with those who feel a need to indulge in what they think is special and rare knowledge. One of the movements promoting this is the Hebrew Roots movement. There are others too.

One of the ways that division is being foster is through the names of Christ.
They think that Yeshua is the "required" word to be used for Jesus. I become very agitated when I see this happening.

Yeshua is nothing more than the Hebrew rendering of the English word Jesus. It is a human name, Christ was the designation that He is God.

In Spanish the name George is "Jorge" with the 'J' and 'G', sounding like an 'H' in English. In Spanish the Word Peter is translated "Pedro." And, the name Luke is translated "Lucas." In Spanish the title "Jesus Christ" is translated "Jesucristo."

There is nothing wrong with the name Jesus in English, and nothing more special about the Hebrew "Yeshua", it is merely the translation of His human name to another language.

All this falderah about names, is the devils way of causing believers to fight over that which is silly rather than focusing on the salvation message.

There are actually those who are weak enough to be intimidated by the movement, that declares there is only one way to say the name of Christ, but it is interesting to me that they choose His human name, that which many other people of that time had.

Jesus was Jewish, at that time there were other little boys named Jesus. Christ is the title that designated our Jesus as the Savior. So many do not know this, they think there is special power associated with the name of Jesus.

When God said there is power in His name, it did not mean that the name was special but the name for whom it was assigned was the Messiah.

I love my Lord Jesus Christ, if someone wants to judge me because I don't use the Hebrew form of Yeshua, then they cause division and heartache. May those who love to feel special, repent and foster love and understanding among fellow believers.

If someone wants to use the Hebrew version of "Jesus", then wonderful, may they enjoy it, but it is sin to judge others who were born and raised in an English speaking country, when they choose to use their own language to refer to Christ.

User Friendly People

Although I am not a fan of psychology as a whole, there are some elements that are truth as with any secular ideas. The list below does not cover everything in a relationship., there are probably more elements and warning signs that a relationship is in jeopardy, these are only main signs that can be seen more clearly. There are signs that are very subtle, but nonetheless damaging to relationships.

This is not an endorsement of the writer in other works, just agreement on this list.

The Ten Stingers for Friendship: by Karyl McBride

"Is there reciprocity in the relationship? Is there give and take? Or is one person always the giver and the other the taker?"

"Are you able to be yourself in this relationship? Do you find you have to play down your talents to make the friend feel less threatened? Or does this friend celebrate you and allow you to shine in your own right?"

"Is there a sharing of vulnerability on both sides and can you both discuss your real feelings?"

"Do you trust this person with your feelings or do you find yourself on guard most of the time? Have your feelings been used against you?"

"Can your friend give you empathy on a peer level or is it more like sympathy making you feel less than?"

"Does this friend bring out the best in you? Are you aware that you feel wonderful in the presence of this person? You get to be your real self in good times or bad?"

"When issues come up that need to be discussed, can this friend be accountable for their own behavior?"

"Do you find it acceptable to have boundaries with this friend? When setting boundaries, does it cause problems? Or is this understood and easily worked through between you?"

"Do you care about each other for who you are as humans, rather than what you do in your accomplishments?"

"Does the friend exploit you for his or her own ends, or just cherish what you bring to the relationship?"
Unquote

Often believers are led to believe that they must maintain close friendships with ALL other believers. This is not true according to the Bible. We are called to be kind, blessing those who curse us and never returning evil for evil, however that does not translate into close personal friend relationships necessarily.

When we find we have a friend who is a taker, almost never showing concern for us and angry when we cannot give to them, then there is no real relationship. You might say the relationships is "user friendly." One party uses and other is used.

This relationship of "user friendly" is based on one thing only, and that is one of disrespect, unkindness and unconcern. When there is almost never a show of real concern about another human being, the contact can only be agonizing rather than a blessing.

God has called ALL of us to be a blessing, when one person shirks their responsibility to God in this, then there is heartache and discouragement.

Takers very often are angry when others are not giving them something, they forget all about what has already been given to them and whine and complain that those who gave, will not give more.

John 15:12-15
"12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."

Proverbs 13:20
"20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed."

Proverbs 14:6-7 

"A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge."

Proverbs 22:22-25
22 "Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul."

1 Corinthians 15:33
"33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”"

Luke 6:31
"31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."

Romans 12:10
"10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;"

Ephesians 4:29-32
"29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

Colossians 3:12-14
"12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."

When we see that many of God's principles are being violated in a relationship continually, we have tried to discuss the violations with our friend, and it is met with resistance and anger, then we must choose whether to remain, endure or walk away. 

Those who will not listen to reason, showing that they have no interest in the relationship being one of true friendship, then perhaps it is time to move on.

We must let the Lord be our guide in this, not our culture. Our culture believes in tolerance to the nth degree, disregarding God's commands to be Holy as He is Holy.
Pray for those who spitefully use you, that God will bless them with repentance.

Love seeks to honor God, when someone refuses to do that then we must choose it for ourselves, continual conflict or ill feelings are present because of disobedient brothers and sisters. We must leave them to the Lord, remain innocent in our responses to them, but determine to separate from them for the sake of peace.

Salvation and Marriage are Permanent

Marriage, just like our born again experience with Christ, was meant to be a relationship, not a contract.

If our marriage relationship is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church, then we know that it has been sealed by Christ.

Ephesians 4:16 "from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

Matthew 19:5-6
"5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

"Cleave" means to adhere firmly and closely, loyalty, unwavering devotion. To leave all others to cling as glue to the intended love. Not only in our marriage should this be the case, but also in our walk with Christ.

Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

When we were in Israel, I remember the sheep and goats of a shepherd we met. I wanted to pet the animals, the Jewish man saw this but the sheep were paying no attention to me at all when I called them.

When the Jewish man spoke a couple of words in Hebrew the goats came running immediately to his side, where I could pet them. The goats and sheep did not recognize my voice, but knew his immediately. They clung to him with amazing devotion.

I loved this real life picture of God's principle of the born again believers knowing the voice of the Savior. It also made me think that marriage is a picture of the relationship that should be between Christ and believers.

When we violate the marriage, by adultery or divorce, then we wound the witness to unbelievers of Christ's love for us, and the permanency of our relationship with Him.

John 10:27-30 "Matthew 19:5-6
"5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

When we are married we become one with our spouse, just as we become one with Christ when we become born again. There is a spiritual union in both matters. A union that cannot be severed by man, and God will not sever it because God never breaks a promise to us.

As He expects us to keep our promise to Him and our spouse.

2 Peter 1:3-4
"3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

You see now that marriage and our born again relationship with Christ are permanent!

Husbands and Wives Love One Another

There are those who are teaching men in churches that their wives are nothing more than their property to be bossed about and to serve them. This could not be farther from the truth.

1 Peter 5:3 "nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."

A man who is a true leader, instructs, and is an example of what he instructs, but he does not force or manipulate with meanness and anger.

Any man who requires absolute obedience from his wife is not understanding the Biblical mandate for the woman to be the help meet.

A wife is a coach and mentor to her husband. The husband is to heed her warnings and instructions. Any man who refuses to listen to his wife is a narcissist and walks in arrogance.

A godly man never treats his wife with this kind of disrespect. God told the husband to treat the wife as the weaker vessel. That term "weaker vessel" brings the connotation of a delicate China cup to be cherished and protected.

The husband's greatest concern should be not for his own desires but for the nurturing and protection of those whom he leads.

Selfish manipulation and a demanding spirit is no where to be found in the Word. The men that do this are sure to frustrate their wives and end up scratching their heads when the wife pulls away and even runs away.

When we are treated with respect and honor, then we are able to revere the husband.

When a husband treats a wife like she is a possession or a child, he creates rebellion in her, breaking her spirit and her heart. If anyone did that to him then he would rebel too.

We do not treat people like our personal slaves to do our bidding. We treat everyone with honor even in our leading.

1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."

Let's remember that leadership is by its very nature actually serving.

One who will not serve, neglecting his own things for the sake of others, is not worthy to be a leader.

The woman has been given charge over the house hold. God gave that position to her, not her husband. Her husband is to honor the mandates of the wife in the household, even to taking off his shoes if that is one of her rules.

Proverbs 1:8 "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"

Mothers and Fathers both teach and train the children. When the mother makes a rule, it is up to the Father to uphold that in the sight of the children. When the Father makes a rule then it is up to the Mother to uphold that also, unless either one is doing something against God's will, then there must be discussion and refusal to disobey God over the submission to the spouse.

Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."

A man is to lead his wife in righteousness. If he does not then the woman must choose righteousness in spite of her husband. If a woman will not follow the lead of her husband in righteousness, then the husband must pray and continue on with God no matter what his wife does.

Instructions Not A Mantra

Christ gave us instructions in how to pray. The instructions are not the mantra to repeat, but steps to observe in prayer.

Luke 11:2-4
"2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”

Prosperity Lies

I don't know about any of you but I become weary at the health wealth and prosperity gospel that some are spreading.  There is no scriptural basis for it.  Many have become discouraged thinking they have done something wrong because they don't live in wealth, they are sick often and all their relatives hate them. 

There are those who say they don't believe the false gospel of prosperity, but live as though they must prove God is blessing them through feverish efforts to acquire wealth.  They even deny their illnesses to pretend they are healthy when they need a doctor.

Next time someone attempts to convince you that God does not want you to be poor, sick, or persecuted, repeat these words to them.

Hebrews 11:35 "Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Hbr 11:36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

Hbr 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, [fn] were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--

Hbr 11:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, [in] dens and caves of the earth.

Hbr 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

Hbr 11:40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from "

Many people are being persecuted, beheaded and hung on crosses today in Egypt, what would you have to say to those people. The health, wealth and prosperity gospel is not the gospel at all, but a false one.

Matthew 6:19 ""Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;"

Mat 6:20       "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Mat 6:21       "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

2 Corinthians 11:23 "Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I [am] more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

2Cr 11:24 From the Jews five times I received forty [stripes] minus one.

2Cr 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2Cr 11:26 [in] journeys often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils of [my own] countrymen, [in] perils of the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;

2Cr 11:27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--

2Cr 11:28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

2Cr 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn [with indignation]?

2Cr 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

2Cr 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

2Cr 11:32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;

2Cr 11:33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands"

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Luke 21:14 ""Therefore settle [it] in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

Luk 21:15 "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

Luk 21:16 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put [some] of you to death.

Luk 21:17 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake"

Hmmm!!!  Christ was our example and He did not escape poverty and persecution, what would make us think we would.  Joel Osteen spits in the face of God when he writes a book entitled, "Your Best Life Now."  This may be the best life now for those who are refusing Christ and ultimately will end up in a firey hell.  But for the believer, nothing on this earth should take us captive, not wealth, not health nor the love of all the people that surround us.  Our best life is to come when we go before the Savior and hear His Words, "Well done good and faithful servant."

We as believers yearn for our heavenly home and our husband that dwells in us now and will one day take us home.

Diligence Brings Blessing

Proverbs 20:4
"4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing."

It is a sin to be lazy, we must ask God to make us diligent, that our witness not be maligned in the eyes of those who are watching.

Those who are lazy in their job, will also be lazy in their spiritual life. Laziness is a mentality, that is not compartmentalized to a particular area, it is a spiritual soul problem.

Proverbs 13:4
"4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat."

Proverbs 10:4
"4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich."

Galatians 6:9
"9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."

2 Peter 3:14
"14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,"

Ecclesiastes 9:10
"10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going."

Colossians 3:23
"23 Whatever you do, do your work [a]heartily, as for the Lord [b]rather than for men,"

Romans 6:12
"12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,"

We forget that laziness is sin, we also forget sometimes that working hard, accomplishing a task is much more fulfilling than entertainment. God has placed in our being a need and desire to accomplish physical tasks. We are fulfilled by them, they satisfy.

Psalm 128:2 "When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you."

When pleasure is pursued, then there is never enough, only more pleasure continually will give temporary happiness.

When we sit down from our labors and look back at the accomplishment, only then can we feel at rest, we delight in our work.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
"18 Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.

19 As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.

20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart."

Laziness Dishonors God!

Proverbs 19:24-25
"24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge."

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Superficial Forgiveness

http://web001.rbc.org/pdf/discovery-series/avoiding-the-dangers-of-superficial-forgiveness.pdf

In order to see this, please copy and paste it to the address line.

Faith in Christ or Faith in our Constitution?

I meet people every day who defend the constitution which represents their personal freedom, but never mention the Bible. These people have placed the value of the constitution above God's Word.

They will fight verbally to defend this piece of paper by the law of the land, while ignoring the principles of God's Word in conversation. In fact when God's Word is mentioned, there is embarrassment, but there is no embarrassment at the mention of the constitution.

Sort of seems to me that what we speak the most about, is what we revere the most. Or am I missing something?

The constitution of this country is not an inspired work of God, it is the concoction of men who wanted to create a moral environment based on Christian principles without promoting any particular religion. They were happy to include Christianity in that grouping of different faiths, but they were not willing to elevate it above all other religions.

Seems odd to me that a government claiming to be based on Christianity, would welcome and even embrace every other faith too.

Notice the wording in our documents...."for the people and by the people." Seems like it should read "for God and by God", if this were truly a Christian nation.

God says there is only one faith that counts, this faith is spoken of in the Bible, faith toward Christ Jesus. IF we were truly a Christian nation we would need no constitution, all we need is the Bible.

IF we place any measure of hope and faith in the constitution of a country then we are robbing God of the faith we should place in Him.

Secular Humanism is Alive and Well in the Church

Secular Humanism is Alive and Well in the Church

Our culture confuses discipline with revenge. Revenge harms people just because of anger, however discipline is for the purpose of restoration. Both can hurt, one is from God the other human reaction.

Proverbs 27:6

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."

Proverbs 20:30

"30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart."

Since we live in a culture that thinks discipline and correction is mean, we continually battle with those who say psychological things they think are Biblical but in fact are secular humanism.

Forgiveness Under What Conditions?

We do not forgive for our own sake! But for the sake of the sinning Brother!

We do not forgive until there is repentance. Christ does not forgive those who are not, and we are not to do so either. 

Our world has taught us to forgive even if someone else is not sorry and continues to sin.  That is not Biblical, I see no scripture that states this, “for our own sake.”

When we forgive before a person is ready to be sorry, then we short circuit God's provision for brokenness over sin. 

One cannot be changed until they can agree and confess that they have sinned.  When we do not require confession of sin, we leave an unrepentant person comfortable with sinning, believing that he can sin all he wants and nothing will be required of him. 

He doesn't change under this dilution. Relationships cannot be restored until there is sorrow over sin.  The purpose of confession and repentance is to rebuild a broken bridge.  If only half the bridge is built, forgiveness, then there cannot be a restored relationship, half of the bridge is missing. 

We are called to bless those who curse us, but we are also told to shun those who claim to be believers but will not confess their sin. 

The purpose of shunning is to show a person their sinfulness to bring them to repentance.  There is a important process laid out in God's Word that restores relationships, if that process is not followed, then we go around God's way of discipline for restoration, to the human method of helping others to continue in their sin.

Matthew 18:15-17

¹⁵ “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’^[a] 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

Galatians 6:1

“6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

Titus 3:10-11

^“10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

2 Thessalonians 3:15

^“15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

1 Timothy 5:20

“20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”

Romans 16:17

“17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

Titus 1:9

^“9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14

^“14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

The Light of Christ Dwells in Believers

Darkness is nothing, it is merely the absence of light. We can measure light, but darkness cannot be measured, because it is nothing. Light is what exposes what is in the darkness.

Those who are not born again, and die in that condition, having rejected Christ will live in eternal darkness.

Notice that we are gloomier on days that are gray and overcast, when we are in sadness. Notice too that we are happier, on days that are bright and sunny, the light and warmth of the sun, brings us out of our sadness. We were created to enjoy light.

Christ is the light of the world and when we are in Christ, when He has changed us into a new creation and dwells in us, then the darkness of the world cannot take away our joy. The Light of Christ lives in us.

Those who do not have Christ are often manipulated by the dark and gloomy weather, as though it controls them. Their sadness is deeper and even overpowering, because there is no light in them to overpower the darkness of the world.

Remembering that darkness is merely the absence of light helps us to see that we have no power against the darkness when we are in a lost state. It is Christ in believers who have power over the darkness, to continue on in faith and hope when the light is gone in the world, we have the Light of Christ, that dwells in us.

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."

1 John 1:7 “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

If we have trusted Christ we are His light.

Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that 2 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

We can sense the darkness in another soul, since the Light of Christ is dwelling in us, The Light of Christ exposes the darkness.

There is a spiritual darkness that looms over those who do not know Christ, it is evident to those with discernment, those who walk in the Light of Christ. Often we have a sense of foreboding when in the presence of the unsaved. We don’t always know what we are sensing, but the darkness in them is evidenced by the Light in believers.

This knowledge and sense of darkness should lead us to witness to those who are in darkness and on their way to hell. Knowing what is looming ahead for them,. if they do not trust Christ, should motivate us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He gives clear direction to share the good news.

Prayer Works?

In these last days of apostasy, I am hearing non-believers express that prayer is just speaking into the air, what you want, and the words cause things to happen. It is a new age teaching that our words have power.

This is the reason I don't like the phrase, often used by Christians, "prayer works." 

When I hear phrases like this I go back to the word to see if there is any validity to them.  And, sometimes I look at who is using these phrases.

When the secular world, who do not love Christ, are using the same phrases  that believers use, I get concerned that the words that are spoken were so generic that even the secular world can be happy with them.

We live in an age when the theology in the churches has been so diluted to placate the non-believer, that it lacks the power of Christ to convict or train properly.

Pagan religions can live with the phrase "prayer works."  Even the secular schools are teaching children to just speak something and that alone can make it happen. If the children can have a positive attitude, they can get anything they want.

Words do not have power, they are just words.  We can say anything we like, but if we do not put feet to our words, they are meaningless.  As believers our words have no power, it is only Christ Who has the power to hear our words and answer our requests, according to His will.

The "Power of Positive Thinking" is a book written by Norman Vincent Peale, an heretic that believed in  the power of ones own mind to make things happen.  It is the worship of self, in the worse way. 

When we like to think all we have to do is say something, and it comes true, we are indulging in Shamanism and other forms of paganism. 

If satan can get us to believe we are the power over our own destiny through our words, then he has created an idol in our mind. 

God is not a puppet, prayer is not the vehicle through which we command God, and it matters very much who we pray too. Praying into the air is nothing, praying to ourselves is nothing and praying to false gods is nothing. 

Prayer only works if we pray to the One True God, and if what we pray is in His Will. And so we should be saying instead, "God works when we pray, but only if we pray in His Will, and, the only way to know His Will is to read His Word."

James 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

To believe in positive confession is a form of divination. We must evaluate everything we say and especially anything that is popular, very likely brings wrong thinking.

Luke 6:46 ""Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"

1 Corinthians 10:14 "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."

Calvin was an Heretic!

I spoke to a very nice lady this last week who mentioned that she went to church a few miles up the road from us, in the hills.

I thought it might be good to go and sit in the back. Perhaps, it might be a church that we could attend on a regular basis.

The first ten minutes of the sermon was all about John Calvin, all his virtues and the books he has written. In those ten minutes Christ was not mentioned, only Calvin.

I reasoned that there would be no excuse for me to sit through this foolishness one minute longer. I knew which way it was all going to go when the writer, former Catholic and Christian killer, Calvin, was the main event. I got up, slipped out quietly, again, left with the belief that there is no church in this area that has not been corrupted by this nonsense.

Calvin did not die on the cross for my sins, he even persecuted true believers for their faith. I am astonished at so many people who ignore the fact that Calvin murdered God's people. He left the Catholic church only to take many of it's doctrines with him. Infant baptism being one of the them, that is practiced in the Catholic church. Calvin was an heretic, that resisted the truths of God in favor of his own opinions and those doctrines that he loved in the Catholic church.

When will be stop upholding men and uphold Christ only? Calvinism is a part of the deception and catalysts, moving us toward the last days one world religion. It is a return to Catholicism. Why can those who claim to be believers not see this?

The god of Calvin is not the God of the Bible. It is a false god, whose character does not match with the character of Christ.

The devil is very cleaver, he got the believers out of the Catholic church for centuries, and now has deceived many believers, to return to a form of Catholicism through the teachings of Calvin. 

It is only a matter of time that future generations will return to Catholicism, through the common denominator, Calvin, in both organizations, the Catholic church and the Reform movement of the Protestant church.

Calvin loved Augustine, a Catholic bishop who murdered believers. Augustine was full fledged Catholic, sold out completely to his church. Many of Calvin's writings were praise for Augustine.

Many people in the "Reform" church love Calvin and Augustine. These are huge red flags. If anyone wants to heed this warning and research the lives of these Catholic patriarchs, they should read writings that are not praising them, but looking at their doctrines critically.

The writings we see in the Reform movement do not look at the evil side of Calvin, but they pick and choose those things they like and hide the things that should be exposed.

It is my belief, based on what I have seen for myself, that Calvinism is a doctrine embraced by those who desire to be intellectually superior to others. There is arrogance associated with this movement.

May the Lord open the eyes of those who want to know the truth. The next time anyone is tempted to follow a man, perhaps they should remember Who died for them, Christ Jesus!

Obligatory Gifts Do Not Please God

Another facebook friend today posted a comment that she was watching the movie "Fireproof." I liked that movie for a number of reasons, but what struck me most was, that husband attempts to do what he should in his fleshly in an obligatory fashion, he brings dead looking flowers. After he has repented and really wants to please his wife, the next flowers he brings are lush and beautiful. His gift each time reflected his inner heart.

I see this in the account of Cain and Able too, the gift reflects the real us. When we give a gift because we are expected to, it is dead and lifeless, lacking luster and grace.

When we give a gift from the depth of love that is in our heart, the gift will reflect that.

It isn't about the size of the gift or its expense that can be seen, it is the love with which it is presented. Those who give obligatory gifts to be able to say they did it, will not leave the residue of godly kindness and love.

I would rather not receive a gift if it is going to be because someone felt obligated. God is like that too. The Catholic "holy day of obligation", which they call their Sunday's and other designated holy days, is an abomination to God.

Jeremiah 29:13
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Psalm 37:4
"Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart."

When we love the Lord, our desires will line up with His will. God does not give us desires that do not honor Him, nor does He just give us what we want. God is more concerned with our holiness than our happiness.

He often gives us things we do not deserve to show us His kindness toward us. However, He will not give us what we want if it is going to conflict with His Will.

If we are delighted in Him, then we will want His perfect will, our desires will be godly ones, not superficial things as though we are children just wanting our toys.

We forget that, often I beg God for something I want, even things that seem to be good and right, but God does not always give them to me, because His plan is different from my desires.

We have to trust Him for each day, knowing He will give us our needs, but not always our wants. Sometimes, in this prosperous country we forget what real needs are and think that wants are needs. Many things that are available to us are not needs.

Perhaps if we praise the Lord everyday for what He has already given us, we won't have time to whine about what we think we want and don't have.

James 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

May our gifts to God be a broken and contrite heart desiring to be changed by Him, happy at whatever He decides to give us. He already have us the greatest gift any one can, that of eternal life at no cost to ourselves except to receive it.

Ephesians 2:8
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"

Only Christ Can Take Away Sin

The penalty for sin was death, we all deserve that. The only solution to our dilemma was that a perfect Sacrifice take that penalty for us. There was only one perfect Lamb that could be offered and that was Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

He is the perfect Lamb of God.

John 1:29
"29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Christ takes away the sin in us, not our human effort, on any level, not before salvation and not after it.

To think that we, the wicked and sinful people that we are, could keep salvation after we become born again, through our own human efforts is nothing less than silliness.

If our dying could not wipe away our sin what makes us think that not dying, but merely human effort could? A sinful creature cannot take away his own sinfulness.

Isaiah 64:6
"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

When we become born again our spirit is changed into a new creation, but we still reside in this body of death. We have to continually prayerfully fight against the flesh, asking God to continue to cleanse us until He takes us home.

Romans 7:24
"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?"

1 John 1:10 (Written to Believers) "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Those who think they can walk in perfection after they have been born again, lack faith in what Christ told us. The more they try to be good in their flesh the further from the Lord they will become. Arrogance reigns in their hearts, humility cannot reside in the same body with arrogance.

It is Christ Who offered himself, no human being could do what He did.