No one who is born again turns back, the evidence that they were born again is the fruit of the Spirit, and that they do not turn back. God says, "those who endure to the end will be saved." Not that they must endure but that their endurance proves they were saved.
John 14:23
"Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
There are no verses describing the Holy Spirit leaving a born again believer.
Monday, June 24, 2019
What it is to be Born Again
When Christ changes us into a new creation we can never go back to the old again. Since we are changed by Him we no longer desire the sinful life.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Jude 1:24-25 " 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.…"
1 Corinthians 6:10-11 "…10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
When we confessed our sinfulness and want to be changed into a new creation by Christ, He does that and it is eternal from the moment of salvation.
Ephesians 4:30 "30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Romans 8:38–39
"38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Those who turn back were never born again, they were pretenders.
Sadly many people are believing they are keeping themselves saved by their works. God said that no works can save anyone. God does all the work in us when we confess our sinfulness.
When Christ changes us into a new creation we can never go back to the old again. Since we are changed by Him we no longer desire the sinful life.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Jude 1:24-25 " 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.…"
1 Corinthians 6:10-11 "…10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
When we confessed our sinfulness and want to be changed into a new creation by Christ, He does that and it is eternal from the moment of salvation.
Ephesians 4:30 "30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Romans 8:38–39
"38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Those who turn back were never born again, they were pretenders.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-11 " 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the gift of God; 9 NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Jude 1:24-25 " 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.…"
1 Corinthians 6:10-11 "…10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
When we confessed our sinfulness and want to be changed into a new creation by Christ, He does that and it is eternal from the moment of salvation.
Ephesians 4:30 "30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Romans 8:38–39
"38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Those who turn back were never born again, they were pretenders.
Sadly many people are believing they are keeping themselves saved by their works. God said that no works can save anyone. God does all the work in us when we confess our sinfulness.
When Christ changes us into a new creation we can never go back to the old again. Since we are changed by Him we no longer desire the sinful life.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Jude 1:24-25 " 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.…"
1 Corinthians 6:10-11 "…10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
When we confessed our sinfulness and want to be changed into a new creation by Christ, He does that and it is eternal from the moment of salvation.
Ephesians 4:30 "30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Romans 8:38–39
"38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Those who turn back were never born again, they were pretenders.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-11 " 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the gift of God; 9 NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Every Believer Has a Gift and Calling
I am convinced that the time is coming soon that facebook will not be an option for born again believers. When this happens we may be seeing the end of our witness and our home going.
The internet has been given to us in these last days as the very last witness to the world of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone is doing something in obedience to the Lord and whatever they are doing will end when the last believer trusts Christ.
God knows when this witnessing tool is taken from us, in the mean time I feel compelled to keep going until I no longer can. May the Lord bless you with resolve and encouragement until we go home.
Matthew 5:16
:In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1 Peter 3:15
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,"
Acts 22:15
"For you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard."
Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Isaiah 43:10
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me."
Another wonderful thing about this medium for communication is that God has allowed it to be so not only for speaking truth to the unsaved, but also in these times of leanness of fellowship, for the believers to connect to encourage one another. What a blessing this is.
The internet has been given to us in these last days as the very last witness to the world of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone is doing something in obedience to the Lord and whatever they are doing will end when the last believer trusts Christ.
God knows when this witnessing tool is taken from us, in the mean time I feel compelled to keep going until I no longer can. May the Lord bless you with resolve and encouragement until we go home.
Matthew 5:16
:In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
1 Peter 3:15
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,"
Acts 22:15
"For you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard."
Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Isaiah 43:10
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me."
Another wonderful thing about this medium for communication is that God has allowed it to be so not only for speaking truth to the unsaved, but also in these times of leanness of fellowship, for the believers to connect to encourage one another. What a blessing this is.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
The World of Haters
Ruth Ranieri said : "I used to also, but once having an autistic son who people looked at you like why did you bring that into the world I didn’t care what they thought but they were strangers. It is another thing if it is your spouse or children and I chose God over them too. It matters what God thinks not man. It mattered to Jesus what the Father thought than man."
Gwendolyn said: "Amen Ruth, why would we care about what evil people think! Those who believe someone does not measure up to their standard are not worthy to live is beyond evil. They must think very highly of themselves to believe they measure up to be able to live."
It is astonishing that others would take a beautiful thing, that is the dedication of a mother to her child and attempt to make her feel guilty about doing what pleases God.
We are running into this sort of thinking all the time now. Even when we leave people alone and just live our lives as we believe we should, those who are convicted of their sinfulness will attack us, merely because we do not do what they do.
Gwendolyn said: "Amen Ruth, why would we care about what evil people think! Those who believe someone does not measure up to their standard are not worthy to live is beyond evil. They must think very highly of themselves to believe they measure up to be able to live."
It is astonishing that others would take a beautiful thing, that is the dedication of a mother to her child and attempt to make her feel guilty about doing what pleases God.
We are running into this sort of thinking all the time now. Even when we leave people alone and just live our lives as we believe we should, those who are convicted of their sinfulness will attack us, merely because we do not do what they do.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Ask, All We Have to do is Ask!
I am struck with the fact that most people I meet have no interest in the end times even though we live in them just as prophesied in the Bible.
God said that the events of the end would be shut up until the time of the end. The understanding of these last days events have emerged so boldly and blatantly that anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear can discern them easily.
Perhaps Christ is only opening the understanding to those who want to know and those who belong to Him.
Yep, I think that's it!!!!! "ASK" that is the key to wisdom and knowledge.
Matthew 7:7-8 " 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.…"
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
God said that the events of the end would be shut up until the time of the end. The understanding of these last days events have emerged so boldly and blatantly that anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear can discern them easily.
Perhaps Christ is only opening the understanding to those who want to know and those who belong to Him.
Yep, I think that's it!!!!! "ASK" that is the key to wisdom and knowledge.
Matthew 7:7-8 " 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.…"
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
Friday, June 21, 2019
Fleshly Christianity
Attempting to do our Christianity in the flesh based on what we interpret as good is an exercise in futility.
Judges 17:6
"6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
When we desire to be changed and guided by Christ He will bring about change in us that results in far different behavior than if we are working in the flesh.
We might be able to fool others for a time with our outward appearances and shallow words but eventually those who pretend grow weary of the hard work of that pretense and the real them sneaks out, sometimes without them realizing it at all.
Then there is also the problem of those who have discernment about the fleshly walk. They are able to see into the soul by Spiritual discernment that reveals things the pretender didn't' think anyone else could see. Ways of expressing themselves in their words, facial expressions, body language and tones of voice often give them away.
I have heard it said that only 7% of communication is actually words. Most of what one conveys to others comes through to us other than words.
And, we know that God sees everything all the time. Even if someone is able to fool man they will never fool God. Who is the most important?......of course it is God.
There is food gluttony that is a sin, but even worse than food gluttony is a glutton of self worship. When someone is fixated on self to such a degree that it is unthinkable that anyone would correct them then they are self worshiping.
We see this self worship emerging in many forms in our day. Those who attend church gatherings every week expecting to be entertained and comforted care little if anything about Christ. These people are coming to get what they can from God even though in their heart they hate Him.
Parents in our day can understand this concept when they are rejected by ungrateful children. So many adult children are never to be seen while the parents are living but will show up at the reading of the will and the memorial to find out what their parents left them. In other words they want their parents wealth and material possessions but they care nothing about the parents.
So many "Christians" do this with God. They are "naming and claiming" whatever they want from God but deny His principles in His word. They become angry when an authentic believer corrects them with Scripture because they do not love God, they only want what He has to offer. Sadly these same people will not have what He has to offer, that is salvation, nor will they have His protection or blessings in any other area.
When we encounter a "Christian" who hears the Word of God and fights and argues to defend their sin one minute and the next crying out to Him for something they want, they can expect nothing from God.
Psalm 66: 17:-19…17 I cried out to Him with my mouth, and His praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer.
Isaiah 1:14-16…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
Have you wondered why our country is in such a mess morally? As a country we claim to be Christian but negate and ignore more of Scripture than we obey as a nation.
Let me ask this: "Why have all the abortion clinics not been shut down, the houses of porn, the brothels, the taverns, the immoral clothing shops, the laws allowing divorce and remarriage, the movie houses, the television shows that depict evil as good?" Might I add, "where are the mothers who are not in the home caring for their families? " They are working outside the home to earn the all mighty buck when they should be fulfilling their role as keeper of the home.
The list is so long it would take a book to write about all of the violations of God's' word and even the hostility toward Him that we see every day.
Our country does the same thing as individuals do every day, it proclaims Christianity in words only, but actions are absent.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
The most disturbing thing of all to me is that so many "houses of God" are the worst in perverting His word and accepting sin as a normal course. I have heard of many cases in which pastors are divorced and remarried, shack ups are attending the services and every one greets and endorses their choice to mock God and most are attending these gatherings for the entertainment that was designed to entice them.
When we cater to the unsaved to bring them in then all we do is cater to them once they are in. Think about it, watering down the gospel message of repentance and confession of sinfulness will bring in those who are not serious about following Christ. Those who are not serious will dictate the goings on through their unrepentant attitude that will leave at the first sign of conviction. Take away all the entertainment and the houses of God will dwindle so much so the salary of the "pastor" will not be enough for him to live on.
Is it possible that a very good salary will cause many to market their church for a higher salary. This is one more thing to add to our book about the ills and problems in this nation that has rejected Christ.
WORDS are not enough, God proved that in Matthew 15:8! All we have to do is watch for a little while what people say and how they act to prove what God has said. Most people talk a good line and think that's enough.
Just Saying!
Judges 17:6
"6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
When we desire to be changed and guided by Christ He will bring about change in us that results in far different behavior than if we are working in the flesh.
We might be able to fool others for a time with our outward appearances and shallow words but eventually those who pretend grow weary of the hard work of that pretense and the real them sneaks out, sometimes without them realizing it at all.
Then there is also the problem of those who have discernment about the fleshly walk. They are able to see into the soul by Spiritual discernment that reveals things the pretender didn't' think anyone else could see. Ways of expressing themselves in their words, facial expressions, body language and tones of voice often give them away.
I have heard it said that only 7% of communication is actually words. Most of what one conveys to others comes through to us other than words.
And, we know that God sees everything all the time. Even if someone is able to fool man they will never fool God. Who is the most important?......of course it is God.
There is food gluttony that is a sin, but even worse than food gluttony is a glutton of self worship. When someone is fixated on self to such a degree that it is unthinkable that anyone would correct them then they are self worshiping.
We see this self worship emerging in many forms in our day. Those who attend church gatherings every week expecting to be entertained and comforted care little if anything about Christ. These people are coming to get what they can from God even though in their heart they hate Him.
Parents in our day can understand this concept when they are rejected by ungrateful children. So many adult children are never to be seen while the parents are living but will show up at the reading of the will and the memorial to find out what their parents left them. In other words they want their parents wealth and material possessions but they care nothing about the parents.
So many "Christians" do this with God. They are "naming and claiming" whatever they want from God but deny His principles in His word. They become angry when an authentic believer corrects them with Scripture because they do not love God, they only want what He has to offer. Sadly these same people will not have what He has to offer, that is salvation, nor will they have His protection or blessings in any other area.
When we encounter a "Christian" who hears the Word of God and fights and argues to defend their sin one minute and the next crying out to Him for something they want, they can expect nothing from God.
Psalm 66: 17:-19…17 I cried out to Him with my mouth, and His praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer.
Isaiah 1:14-16…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
Have you wondered why our country is in such a mess morally? As a country we claim to be Christian but negate and ignore more of Scripture than we obey as a nation.
Let me ask this: "Why have all the abortion clinics not been shut down, the houses of porn, the brothels, the taverns, the immoral clothing shops, the laws allowing divorce and remarriage, the movie houses, the television shows that depict evil as good?" Might I add, "where are the mothers who are not in the home caring for their families? " They are working outside the home to earn the all mighty buck when they should be fulfilling their role as keeper of the home.
The list is so long it would take a book to write about all of the violations of God's' word and even the hostility toward Him that we see every day.
Our country does the same thing as individuals do every day, it proclaims Christianity in words only, but actions are absent.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
The most disturbing thing of all to me is that so many "houses of God" are the worst in perverting His word and accepting sin as a normal course. I have heard of many cases in which pastors are divorced and remarried, shack ups are attending the services and every one greets and endorses their choice to mock God and most are attending these gatherings for the entertainment that was designed to entice them.
When we cater to the unsaved to bring them in then all we do is cater to them once they are in. Think about it, watering down the gospel message of repentance and confession of sinfulness will bring in those who are not serious about following Christ. Those who are not serious will dictate the goings on through their unrepentant attitude that will leave at the first sign of conviction. Take away all the entertainment and the houses of God will dwindle so much so the salary of the "pastor" will not be enough for him to live on.
Is it possible that a very good salary will cause many to market their church for a higher salary. This is one more thing to add to our book about the ills and problems in this nation that has rejected Christ.
WORDS are not enough, God proved that in Matthew 15:8! All we have to do is watch for a little while what people say and how they act to prove what God has said. Most people talk a good line and think that's enough.
Just Saying!
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