Wednesday, October 8, 2025
The Church Gathering the way God Taught
When the church gathering is in a home, there are no taxes to be paid, no upkeep or expensive repairs or maintenance, no programs people are expected to attend or donate to, and no salaries that detract from giving to the needy and elderly in the gathering.
When the gathering is in the home, everyone there is edified, and everyone participates.
When churches are in homes, the people are connected and concerned for one another. Everyone participates, and the leader is the Holy Spirit.
All money gathered goes directly to those who need it and for evangelism. Each family takes care of their own finances and gives freely from their own coffers for important needs, not play or entertainment.
There is always money available for visiting ministers who must travel.
When the church meets in the home, the government is not in control through any strings that might keep them monitoring what goes on in that place. The government has no part in the finances and proceedings.
When the people meet in homes biblically, they do not look to one man who acts as an authority over anyone else. The leaders are several, and they lead by example and teaching.
God's way is always best. When man thinks they can help God out by doing things their own way, they ALWAYS mess things up, pervert truth, and make rules God never made.
Galatians 5:1 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
I see a return to Biblical home gatherings to some extent as people see the perversion of "religion" overtaking most church gatherings today. There is much ritual, but they don't recognize it as ritual.
I hear lots of people complaining that they feel no connection to the church they had been attending, and opted to stay at home with their families or others who felt the way they did.
It is the remnant believer who is finding it hard to find a gathering that is Biblical and speaks of Jesus Christ frequently.
The best thing for any believer to do is to ask for wisdom from the Holy Spirit, question all things, and pray for discernment to know what to do next. The Holy Spirit will speak boldly to anyone who loves Christ and wants to know.
When the gathering is in the home, everyone there is edified, and everyone participates.
When churches are in homes, the people are connected and concerned for one another. Everyone participates, and the leader is the Holy Spirit.
All money gathered goes directly to those who need it and for evangelism. Each family takes care of their own finances and gives freely from their own coffers for important needs, not play or entertainment.
There is always money available for visiting ministers who must travel.
When the church meets in the home, the government is not in control through any strings that might keep them monitoring what goes on in that place. The government has no part in the finances and proceedings.
When the people meet in homes biblically, they do not look to one man who acts as an authority over anyone else. The leaders are several, and they lead by example and teaching.
God's way is always best. When man thinks they can help God out by doing things their own way, they ALWAYS mess things up, pervert truth, and make rules God never made.
Galatians 5:1 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
I see a return to Biblical home gatherings to some extent as people see the perversion of "religion" overtaking most church gatherings today. There is much ritual, but they don't recognize it as ritual.
I hear lots of people complaining that they feel no connection to the church they had been attending, and opted to stay at home with their families or others who felt the way they did.
It is the remnant believer who is finding it hard to find a gathering that is Biblical and speaks of Jesus Christ frequently.
The best thing for any believer to do is to ask for wisdom from the Holy Spirit, question all things, and pray for discernment to know what to do next. The Holy Spirit will speak boldly to anyone who loves Christ and wants to know.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Love of Christ Produces Good Fruit
We are living in an irrational world!!! People will be angry with us, not because we did anything to them, but because we are different from them or because we have something they want.
They will be angry at us because they saw someone else angry with us, even without knowing the reason.
They will not ask you about what you did because you didn't do anything they could name; you are just different from them.
If their friend is angry with you, they will be angry with you too, even if they don't know the reason.
This seems irrational and unbelievable, but remember the devil did the same thing with God in heaven. He was jealous, which made him angry at God because God had what the devil wanted. He wanted to overthrow God, take what he had, and ruin Him.
It sounds fantastical that the devil would not recognize that the very God who created Him would be powerful enough to destroy him with the breath of His mouth.
Often, people will concoct a reason to dislike others merely because they have something the angry person wants. They not only want what the other person has they don't want the other person to have it.
Envy is wanting what someone else has, and jealousy is not wanting them to have it, both are monstrous sins against God. Satan was deeply invested in these character flaws and influences people to indulge in them too.
The devil will convince the jealous, angry person that they have a good reason, but the reason is irrational and petty every time.
Those who love Jesus Christ might briefly struggle with feelings of envy or jealousy, but they do not live a lifestyle of it. The Holy Spirit reminds them of their heart condition, and they repent to be cleansed.
A true child of God changed by Christ into a new creation lives a lifestyle of Love, the first fruit of the Spirit of Christ. All the other fruit flows from that Love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.
5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; ............."
They will be angry at us because they saw someone else angry with us, even without knowing the reason.
They will not ask you about what you did because you didn't do anything they could name; you are just different from them.
If their friend is angry with you, they will be angry with you too, even if they don't know the reason.
This seems irrational and unbelievable, but remember the devil did the same thing with God in heaven. He was jealous, which made him angry at God because God had what the devil wanted. He wanted to overthrow God, take what he had, and ruin Him.
It sounds fantastical that the devil would not recognize that the very God who created Him would be powerful enough to destroy him with the breath of His mouth.
Often, people will concoct a reason to dislike others merely because they have something the angry person wants. They not only want what the other person has they don't want the other person to have it.
Envy is wanting what someone else has, and jealousy is not wanting them to have it, both are monstrous sins against God. Satan was deeply invested in these character flaws and influences people to indulge in them too.
The devil will convince the jealous, angry person that they have a good reason, but the reason is irrational and petty every time.
Those who love Jesus Christ might briefly struggle with feelings of envy or jealousy, but they do not live a lifestyle of it. The Holy Spirit reminds them of their heart condition, and they repent to be cleansed.
A true child of God changed by Christ into a new creation lives a lifestyle of Love, the first fruit of the Spirit of Christ. All the other fruit flows from that Love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.
5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; ............."
Christ Saves the Lost they do not Save Themselves
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The doctrine of eternal salvation tells us that ONLY God could save us from our SINS and no one, not even ONE, is capable of "maintaining" God's grace. It is utterly prideful and a lie from Satan, to believe anyone can somehow do anything or me "good" enough to "stay saved" after being Born Again.
I ask every doubter of eternal security to READ these verses of scripture, and tell us.. Which is a LIE? Which verse tells us that we can somehow save ourselves or maintain that salvation once obtained? It is a LIE from Hell to doubt eternal security and Grace!
***************
### KJV Verses Reflecting the TRUTH of Salvation Through Faith and Grace, NOT Works of ANY kind. No man can "maintain" what he couldn't "achieve" on his own merit.
#### Faith and Grace Over Works
1. **Ephesians 2:8-9** - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
2. **Titus 3:5** - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
3. **Romans 4:5** - "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
#### Repentance and Belief in the Gospel
1. **Mark 1:15** - "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
2. **Acts 20:21** - "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
3. **John 3:16** - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
#### Eternal Security in Salvation
1. **John 10:28-29** - "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
2. **Ephesians 1:13-14** - "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
****************
### Verses on Salvation Not Being a License to Sin
1. **Romans 6:1-2**
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
2. **Titus 2:11-12**
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;"
3. **Galatians 5:13**
"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
4. **1 Peter 2:16**
"As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."
5. **Jude 1:4**
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
Political Mantra Out of Control
Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5:8 "8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
He stands for Israel when they came into the land in unbelief, AND He brought them into the land in 1948. When we support Israel as a nation, we are doing what God did in supporting them even in their unbelief.
We do not look to the individual people or the political or religious system; we look to the nation God instituted for His own purpose. One day, the entire nation of Israel will trust in Christ in the tribulation.
John 4:22 "22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews."
The Jews are Christ's family lineage, think about it!
Romans 11:5 "5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."
Genesis 12:2-3 "2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Psalm 122:6 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!"
Zechariah 2:8 "For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:"
I think Christians are wasting a lot of precious time trying to save a wicked country, such as the United States, when they ought to be preaching the gospel to the lost where and whenever they are led.
However, let's also remember that we are in the end times and there are few who will listen, especially in a country like ours that has blatantly promots sin widely.
Romans 5:8 "8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
He stands for Israel when they came into the land in unbelief, AND He brought them into the land in 1948. When we support Israel as a nation, we are doing what God did in supporting them even in their unbelief.
We do not look to the individual people or the political or religious system; we look to the nation God instituted for His own purpose. One day, the entire nation of Israel will trust in Christ in the tribulation.
John 4:22 "22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews."
The Jews are Christ's family lineage, think about it!
Romans 11:5 "5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."
Genesis 12:2-3 "2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Psalm 122:6 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!"
Zechariah 2:8 "For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:"
I think Christians are wasting a lot of precious time trying to save a wicked country, such as the United States, when they ought to be preaching the gospel to the lost where and whenever they are led.
However, let's also remember that we are in the end times and there are few who will listen, especially in a country like ours that has blatantly promots sin widely.
Changing activities and convincing people not to commit evil does not save souls from hell; only trusting in Christ will cause an individual to avoid entering hell.
It's time to stop worrying about saving a nation so we can all be safe and begin working to save souls. But that's just me who thinks salvation from hell is more important than saving a political entity.
It's time to stop worrying about saving a nation so we can all be safe and begin working to save souls. But that's just me who thinks salvation from hell is more important than saving a political entity.
Monday, October 6, 2025
S2E8 | Inside the Mind of a Narcissist with Dr. Les Carter (@SurvivingNa...
Longint to be with Them!
I get this strong desire to be with godly Christians who love to talk about Christ.
The problem is that we are living in the last days as if in the days of Noah, and few will be of this sort.
There were only 8 people on the ark when the flood came and swept the people of the world away. Noah had many relatives in the waters below who heard his preaching for 120 years and yet refused to listen.
Matthew 24:37-39
"37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be."
We are living in this now; most people, even those who say they are Christians, have no interest and are even embarrassed at a discussion about Christ and His principles and commands.
We must be content to wait patiently on God to find those friends for us who love Him as much as we do.
And, once we find them, it is likely that they will come and go in our lives as they carry out what God has for them. Never forget, though, they are our Spiritual siblings for eternity, and there will be all eternity with them later when our work on earth is done.
In the meantime, I praise God for His provision of social media to connect with our Spiritual family all over the world in a matter of seconds. We yearn to see them face to face one day when our work on earth is finished.
John 17:3-5 "…3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed."
Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Psalm 121:1-2 "A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
The problem is that we are living in the last days as if in the days of Noah, and few will be of this sort.
There were only 8 people on the ark when the flood came and swept the people of the world away. Noah had many relatives in the waters below who heard his preaching for 120 years and yet refused to listen.
Matthew 24:37-39
"37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be."
We are living in this now; most people, even those who say they are Christians, have no interest and are even embarrassed at a discussion about Christ and His principles and commands.
We must be content to wait patiently on God to find those friends for us who love Him as much as we do.
And, once we find them, it is likely that they will come and go in our lives as they carry out what God has for them. Never forget, though, they are our Spiritual siblings for eternity, and there will be all eternity with them later when our work on earth is done.
In the meantime, I praise God for His provision of social media to connect with our Spiritual family all over the world in a matter of seconds. We yearn to see them face to face one day when our work on earth is finished.
John 17:3-5 "…3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed."
Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Psalm 121:1-2 "A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Life Grows Sweeter in Jesus Christ
Amen! There are those who do not want us to move on from a sketchy past and live for Christ. Those people must be removed from our lives. Christ changed those who trusted in Him and there is no going back and no residual guilt over past failures, just pure joy and growing wisdom.
Self Righteous People Feed on Faults and Flaws of Others
I know many people like this; they tend to think more highly of themselves than is warranted and remember everyone else's past forgiven sins to make themselves feel superior. It is impossible to be friends with people like this; they carry a lot of jealousy because they are not happy and hate that others have been freed and are full of joy.
Speaking or Living?
Matthew 15:8-9
"8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
9 And in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Many people speak well of God but never utter the name of Jesus Christ because they are not familiar with Him. They are familiar with a system they call "religion" but not with the Person of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Many people are in love with their idea of love but not with God. They enjoy a false sense of safety when they pretend to love God but negate most of His Word.
Mark 7:13 "13 Thus, you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
This modern church system has many traditions they practice that God never gave. They make up a system they like and intimidate others to follow it instead of Christ.
Modern people are more vested in pretending than they are in reality and living what they say. This is why the next generation views things that are said more than the way people live. They have little concept of developing Christlike character, its all about the appearance of good, not genuineness from the heart.
This is why we see so many broken families, destroyed relationships and disrespect for the word of God. Personal happiness has become the goal of everyone.
Matthew 22:37 "And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’"
When we love Him with all our hearts, He speaks to us through His Word as we seek to obey Him.
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Preaching for the Unsaved and Edification for the Believer
Preaching is for the unsaved, edification is for believers who gather together to encourage one another to obey and live out their Christian life when they leave that gathering.
The whole one-man-paid-pastor system is not Biblical. Women are not to lead the gathering, but they are permitted to share as long as they are covered.
1 Corinthians 11 tells women to be covered when they participate in the gathering. The men are to be uncovered. This is a picture of Christ as represented by the man and the church represented by the woman. The church is covered by Christ and carries out its mandate as directed by the Holy Spirit.
This has nothing to do with modesty or submission to a human being; it has to do with the roles of the woman and the role of the men as representations of Christ and the church as one. Both man and woman are under Christ, and each submits to the other. Each of their roles was given by God, and each complements the other to fulfill God's purpose.
Since there is no such person as the head of the church, such as a Pastor or Bishop, the Holy Spirit is the leader, and He directs men to lead and women to share along with the men. Everyone participates as led by the Holy Spirit.
The husband is the protector of the woman, as Christ is the protector of the church. The man does not force or demean the woman, just as Christ never forced anyone; everyone has a choice and must do what was given to them to do by Christ.
Men lead by example, teaching, and support; they do not intimidate, make their own rules, or dominate over anyone.
Everyone shares freely as led by the Holy Spirit so that all may be edified.
Matthew 10:25-26 "25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles (pagans) lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."
May each believer spend more time self-reflecting and reading the Word for their calling, more than they evaluate what others are doing.
Friday, October 3, 2025
Loving Christ is to Love His Commands
God said: Luke 16:18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries one who is divorced from her husband commits adultery".
1 Corinthians 7:11 "
(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to divorce his wife."
Most people who call themselves Christians in our day have completely accepted divorce and remarriage, even though God hates divorce and commands all divorced people to remain single or to reconcile.
The state of adultery does not go away because of a piece of paper by the law of the land claiming to dissolve the marriage to allow for marrying someone else. Either we believe God or we do not!
The state does not marry people; God does when they proclaim their vows. He makes them into one spirit until the death of one of them.
Those who want to pretend they love God but then endorse what He hates are lying. Those who love God want to obey Him, they repent, they turn from their sinful ways, and they never lie against God to protect sin in order to be accepted by the culture.
This leaves us with the sense that very few people who are in the church gatherings have never been born again. They do not love God; their words do not match their lives, and they love the idea of Him as protection rather than a God of righteousness.
I have only heard twice in my life a couple who decided to live separately because they were a remarried couple. They were rejected by family as though they did something wrong by separating, but the family had nothing to say when they were divorcing their first covenant spouse.
Satan has blinded the eyes of so many people who love to play church in a social way but have no love for Christ. They have not been changed into a new creation by Christ; they want all the perks they think He has to offer them, but they do not want Him.
Matthew 7:20-23 "Therefore by their fruit you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, ' Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. …22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’"
I would not say that every divorced and remarried person is unsaved, but that if they are at some point, they will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and repent.
There are those who will eventually repent because the burden of the conviction of the Holy Spirit will press upon them until they begin to obey God.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
1 John 3:5-7 "…5 But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.…"
Those who defend their sin, punish those who say it is sin and refuse to repent could not possibly be born again. When Christ saves someone He comes to live in them. His Holy Spirit will not allow anyone who belongs to Him to remain comfortable in their sin. Those who are not convicted of their sin and even defend it could not possibly have the Holy Spirit living in them.
John 15:4-5 "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing."
Romans 6:1-2 "What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?"
1 John 2:4 "If anyone says, 'I know Him,' but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
1 John 1:6 "If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."
Matthew 7:16-18 "…16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.…"
I don't know how God could have made it clearer!!!!
1 Corinthians 7:11 "
(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to divorce his wife."
Most people who call themselves Christians in our day have completely accepted divorce and remarriage, even though God hates divorce and commands all divorced people to remain single or to reconcile.
The state of adultery does not go away because of a piece of paper by the law of the land claiming to dissolve the marriage to allow for marrying someone else. Either we believe God or we do not!
The state does not marry people; God does when they proclaim their vows. He makes them into one spirit until the death of one of them.
Those who want to pretend they love God but then endorse what He hates are lying. Those who love God want to obey Him, they repent, they turn from their sinful ways, and they never lie against God to protect sin in order to be accepted by the culture.
This leaves us with the sense that very few people who are in the church gatherings have never been born again. They do not love God; their words do not match their lives, and they love the idea of Him as protection rather than a God of righteousness.
I have only heard twice in my life a couple who decided to live separately because they were a remarried couple. They were rejected by family as though they did something wrong by separating, but the family had nothing to say when they were divorcing their first covenant spouse.
Satan has blinded the eyes of so many people who love to play church in a social way but have no love for Christ. They have not been changed into a new creation by Christ; they want all the perks they think He has to offer them, but they do not want Him.
Matthew 7:20-23 "Therefore by their fruit you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, ' Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. …22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’"
I would not say that every divorced and remarried person is unsaved, but that if they are at some point, they will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and repent.
There are those who will eventually repent because the burden of the conviction of the Holy Spirit will press upon them until they begin to obey God.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
1 John 3:5-7 "…5 But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.…"
Those who defend their sin, punish those who say it is sin and refuse to repent could not possibly be born again. When Christ saves someone He comes to live in them. His Holy Spirit will not allow anyone who belongs to Him to remain comfortable in their sin. Those who are not convicted of their sin and even defend it could not possibly have the Holy Spirit living in them.
John 15:4-5 "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing."
Romans 6:1-2 "What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?"
1 John 2:4 "If anyone says, 'I know Him,' but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
1 John 1:6 "If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."
Matthew 7:16-18 "…16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.…"
I don't know how God could have made it clearer!!!!
The Need to Idealize a Human Being is a Weakness in Character
There is a clue when we question someone's preferred idol, whether in the form of a statue or a live person they elevate above others, and they become angry as though their heart worships it or them.
I have no sense of anger when someone criticizes someone I like or something they do. My love for that person is not based on thinking of them as perfect.
I am capable and comfortable with loving imperfect people because I am imperfect. I would hate it if someone idolized me because it would mean the pressure of having to live up to something impossible for me.
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."
There is fear, anxiety, and insecurity in the heart of someone who cannot love anyone they think is imperfect. And, think of this, if they can only love perfect people, then perhaps they think they are perfect and worthy of worship themselves.
To idolize people is to place our trust in our perceived notion of them. As soon as the mask slips and the person who is idolized reveals their real self, all the love and idolization turn to hate. In other words, there is no real love involved in idolization of human beings; there is irrational expectation and self-involvement that requires others to measure up to our idea of perfection.
Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
Psalm 37:3-5 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 9:10 "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to him."
1 Peter 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you."
No human being can come close to measuring up to Christ our Lord. We are to love them the way He loved us, in spite of our flaws and defects. And, we all have them!!!!!
I have no sense of anger when someone criticizes someone I like or something they do. My love for that person is not based on thinking of them as perfect.
I am capable and comfortable with loving imperfect people because I am imperfect. I would hate it if someone idolized me because it would mean the pressure of having to live up to something impossible for me.
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."
There is fear, anxiety, and insecurity in the heart of someone who cannot love anyone they think is imperfect. And, think of this, if they can only love perfect people, then perhaps they think they are perfect and worthy of worship themselves.
To idolize people is to place our trust in our perceived notion of them. As soon as the mask slips and the person who is idolized reveals their real self, all the love and idolization turn to hate. In other words, there is no real love involved in idolization of human beings; there is irrational expectation and self-involvement that requires others to measure up to our idea of perfection.
Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
Psalm 37:3-5 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 9:10 "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to him."
1 Peter 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you."
No human being can come close to measuring up to Christ our Lord. We are to love them the way He loved us, in spite of our flaws and defects. And, we all have them!!!!!
Thursday, October 2, 2025
The Lies Fly and the Relationships are Destroyed
In political circles, the community, and even in churches, both sides, conservative as well as liberal, are telling lies continuously. Everyone feels justified in lying if they think they have a good cause.
Even those who don't out and out lie think that as long as some of what they say is true, then a little lie added in is acceptable; we call it embellishment, but it is really lying.
Many are interpreting things the way they wish to believe, another justification for passing on a lie. It's complicated, but not hard to discern if we have wisdom from God's Word.
Many will believe gossip when they hear from a third party, but have never seen the deeds or words for themselves. They justify listening to and passing on what they heard if one small part seems plausible.
We are living in the end times of great deception and countless good-sounding lies.
John 8:44
"44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies."
My challenge to believers is to resist repeating something you never heard and never saw for yourself. Refuse to listen to accounts of others who interpreted what they thought they saw without knowing all the details. This includes news articles and videos that cannot be proven or vetted.
Telling the truth we saw to a person who has a need to know is far different from passing on a guess about something we have little knowledge of and is none of our business.
If you have ever been the target of such gossip, you know how painful it is to watch friends and family members making false judgments about you based on what the gossipers are saying and not anything they saw for themselves.
Proverbs 20:18 "19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips."
Proverbs 11:13 "A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence."
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."
Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends."
I notice that gossipers rarely want to hear from God's word but will jump at the chance to hear the latest negative word about someone who is the object of their jealousy.
The internet would practically go dark if all the lies and gossip were removed. Just saying!!!
Even those who don't out and out lie think that as long as some of what they say is true, then a little lie added in is acceptable; we call it embellishment, but it is really lying.
Many are interpreting things the way they wish to believe, another justification for passing on a lie. It's complicated, but not hard to discern if we have wisdom from God's Word.
Many will believe gossip when they hear from a third party, but have never seen the deeds or words for themselves. They justify listening to and passing on what they heard if one small part seems plausible.
We are living in the end times of great deception and countless good-sounding lies.
John 8:44
"44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies."
My challenge to believers is to resist repeating something you never heard and never saw for yourself. Refuse to listen to accounts of others who interpreted what they thought they saw without knowing all the details. This includes news articles and videos that cannot be proven or vetted.
Telling the truth we saw to a person who has a need to know is far different from passing on a guess about something we have little knowledge of and is none of our business.
If you have ever been the target of such gossip, you know how painful it is to watch friends and family members making false judgments about you based on what the gossipers are saying and not anything they saw for themselves.
Proverbs 20:18 "19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips."
Proverbs 11:13 "A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence."
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."
Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends."
I notice that gossipers rarely want to hear from God's word but will jump at the chance to hear the latest negative word about someone who is the object of their jealousy.
The internet would practically go dark if all the lies and gossip were removed. Just saying!!!
Stop Worrying and Begin Trusting Christ
Stop worrying about those who have no interest in you or the God you love; let them be and get on with your life with those who do love God and you.
So interesting how human nature is to lament the people we've lost and forget all the people we have in our court.
We cannot change the hearts of those who hate us, but we can encourage and share in the love of those who love God.
Please don't waste any more time thinking about loss that we cannot get back!!! Spend your energies and mind on what God has given you and our future with Him!!!!
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. God's name is trustworthy."
Keep looking up our redemption draws near!!!!
So interesting how human nature is to lament the people we've lost and forget all the people we have in our court.
We cannot change the hearts of those who hate us, but we can encourage and share in the love of those who love God.
Please don't waste any more time thinking about loss that we cannot get back!!! Spend your energies and mind on what God has given you and our future with Him!!!!
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. God's name is trustworthy."
Keep looking up our redemption draws near!!!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Christ Gets All the Glory
The crazy thing is if we had to be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, why would anyone think they could keep that salvation in their own efforts? Christ paid the price for sin, transforms us when we trust in Him, and He keeps us saved, then He gets all the glory and we get none.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Romans 8:16
"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."
John 14:17
"the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you."
When Christ transforms us we understand Him and desire to be continually cleansed by Him.
1 John 2:20 "You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth."
Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Romans 8:16
"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children."
John 14:17
"the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you."
When Christ transforms us we understand Him and desire to be continually cleansed by Him.
1 John 2:20 "You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth."
Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
Managing Relationships to Please Christ
Is it possible that those heavily invested in politics are using it as a distraction to make themselves feel superior when there is much arrogance and pride in their hearts? Just asking!
I am now convinced that many people who attend institutional church gatherings are satisfied with thinking they are better than others, rather than self-reflecting to discern whether or not they are walking as circumspectly as they wish to believe about themselves.
If a person can point to others as worse than themselves, they can remain oblivious to their own flaws that offend God. If they can focus on "making the country great again," they can blame others instead of looking into their own heart of rebellion.
Yes, it is rebellion against God to accept divorce and remarriage as normal and acceptable within the Christian community.
It is rebellion to place unbiblical rules and standards on others that God never made, merely to make oneself seem superior.
It is rebellion to refuse to look into the Scriptures to discover what God wants for us. The more a person ignores some scriptures and uses others out of context to justify their sin, the more they harden their own hearts.
Even worse, those who live in rebellion punish those who call out the sin of rebellion. Isolating them, gossiping against them, withholding love from them, and more as they seek to ruin relationships with those who know their sin and refuse to accept it as normal.
We cannot change anyone's heart; we can only make the truth known and walk away, leaving the results to God. Continuing to remain friends with those who hate Christ and hate us makes no sense; it merely keeps the drama going without results. Human results based on manipulation are useless; it is God's results when He works that matter.
To remain friends with those who despise us is pride; that if perhaps I will just hang around and be friendly, they will like me and like what I say, is nothing more than subtle manipulation.
Luke 17:3 "Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
Leviticus 19:17 "You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him."
God considers it hatred toward our brother when we refuse to tell them the truth. Love of self is what motivates us to remain silent when we should speak. The Holy Spirit can help us with this, He will give us the words to say when He wants us to say them. And, He will help us walk away when no one is listening.
It is rebuke, correction, and admonition that restore a relationship on God's terms. To ignore the sin is to be indifferent to the soul of another person. Love corrects for restoration. When someone refuses to discuss rationally and reasonably a matter, then we have no choice but to give up and give it to God.
It is not good for our souls or walk with Christ, nor is it good for the one who will not listen, to remain in companionship with those who refuse to admit their sin.
Proverbs 27:5-6 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
May we become so strong that we no longer consider what someone thinks of us, but become wildly in love with Jesus Christ that He is the only one who matters.
I am now convinced that many people who attend institutional church gatherings are satisfied with thinking they are better than others, rather than self-reflecting to discern whether or not they are walking as circumspectly as they wish to believe about themselves.
If a person can point to others as worse than themselves, they can remain oblivious to their own flaws that offend God. If they can focus on "making the country great again," they can blame others instead of looking into their own heart of rebellion.
Yes, it is rebellion against God to accept divorce and remarriage as normal and acceptable within the Christian community.
It is rebellion to place unbiblical rules and standards on others that God never made, merely to make oneself seem superior.
It is rebellion to refuse to look into the Scriptures to discover what God wants for us. The more a person ignores some scriptures and uses others out of context to justify their sin, the more they harden their own hearts.
Even worse, those who live in rebellion punish those who call out the sin of rebellion. Isolating them, gossiping against them, withholding love from them, and more as they seek to ruin relationships with those who know their sin and refuse to accept it as normal.
We cannot change anyone's heart; we can only make the truth known and walk away, leaving the results to God. Continuing to remain friends with those who hate Christ and hate us makes no sense; it merely keeps the drama going without results. Human results based on manipulation are useless; it is God's results when He works that matter.
To remain friends with those who despise us is pride; that if perhaps I will just hang around and be friendly, they will like me and like what I say, is nothing more than subtle manipulation.
Luke 17:3 "Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
Leviticus 19:17 "You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him."
God considers it hatred toward our brother when we refuse to tell them the truth. Love of self is what motivates us to remain silent when we should speak. The Holy Spirit can help us with this, He will give us the words to say when He wants us to say them. And, He will help us walk away when no one is listening.
It is rebuke, correction, and admonition that restore a relationship on God's terms. To ignore the sin is to be indifferent to the soul of another person. Love corrects for restoration. When someone refuses to discuss rationally and reasonably a matter, then we have no choice but to give up and give it to God.
It is not good for our souls or walk with Christ, nor is it good for the one who will not listen, to remain in companionship with those who refuse to admit their sin.
Proverbs 27:5-6 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
May we become so strong that we no longer consider what someone thinks of us, but become wildly in love with Jesus Christ that He is the only one who matters.
Monday, September 29, 2025
Dr. Hawkins reveals 7 Common Traits of Narcissistic People
1. Always have to be right
2. Think they are superior to others
3. Hate to be challenged
4. Think they have a right to be hurtful
5. Don't care what you have to say
6. Won't listen to anything they don't want to hear
7. Believe they are special
2. Think they are superior to others
3. Hate to be challenged
4. Think they have a right to be hurtful
5. Don't care what you have to say
6. Won't listen to anything they don't want to hear
7. Believe they are special
Spiritual Growth Depends on Confession of Sin
There is only Spiritual growth in a person if they confess their sin of pride or rudeness to be cleansed of it. Too many people think that because they are born again, they never again have to admit sin or they are free to ignore it and continue in it.
We only grow when we confess sinful attitudes and actions to be cleansed of them. Relationships are only mended when there is sorrow over sin and expression of that sorrow.
Christ did not save us so we can overlook sin and remain in it, He saved us to be cleansed from it. If we refuse to confess sins we quench the Holy Spirit and He will go silent until we admit the sin and desire to be changed from those habits of sin.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
1 John 1:9 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us."
It is unlikely that those who lack the fruit of the Spirit were never born again. If they do not have the first fruits of Love, enough to be sorry for harming someone, then perhaps they are not saved. One cannot have any of the other fruits if they lack the first one, which is love.
Broken relationships because of unconfessed arrogance and disrespectful attitudes are an indicator of a broken relationship with God, or worse, never having been born again.
Psalm 32:5 "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. "
Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
There can be no joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control if there isn't first LOVE!
Love is the first and greatest fruit that is present in all the other fruits.
IF LOVE IS ABSENT, THEN ALL THE OTHER FRUIT WILL BE ABSENT TOO. Someone without any of the fruit is someone who is not saved.
We only grow when we confess sinful attitudes and actions to be cleansed of them. Relationships are only mended when there is sorrow over sin and expression of that sorrow.
Christ did not save us so we can overlook sin and remain in it, He saved us to be cleansed from it. If we refuse to confess sins we quench the Holy Spirit and He will go silent until we admit the sin and desire to be changed from those habits of sin.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
1 John 1:9 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us."
It is unlikely that those who lack the fruit of the Spirit were never born again. If they do not have the first fruits of Love, enough to be sorry for harming someone, then perhaps they are not saved. One cannot have any of the other fruits if they lack the first one, which is love.
Broken relationships because of unconfessed arrogance and disrespectful attitudes are an indicator of a broken relationship with God, or worse, never having been born again.
Psalm 32:5 "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. "
Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
There can be no joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control if there isn't first LOVE!
Love is the first and greatest fruit that is present in all the other fruits.
IF LOVE IS ABSENT, THEN ALL THE OTHER FRUIT WILL BE ABSENT TOO. Someone without any of the fruit is someone who is not saved.
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Those Who Hate to be Proven Wrong Rather than Desiring to Learn the Truth
Recently, I have been confronted with people who seem to dislike hyperbole, as though it is wrong to use an extreme example to illustrate a point.
Some examples of hyperbole in the bible are as follows.
Luke 6:41 "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother 's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?"
Mark 10:25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."
Matthew 6:3 "3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,"
Judges 20:16 "16 Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss."
John 21:25 "25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."
Psalm 18:29: "By my God I can leap over a wall."
Amos 2:9: "The Amorites' height is compared to cedars"
Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. You ought to have done these, without neglecting the others"
Luke 14:26 reads, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple"
God used Simile in many cases, one such case is:
Matthew 23:26-28 "…26 Blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Were the Pharisees actually blind? NO, Were they sepulchers of stone in a cemetery? No. God was using a simile to describe the deadness of their hearts of stone. He compared the appearance of righteousness as opposed to the actual heart of stone that people did not see when encountering them.
Luke 11:44 "Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
God used examples of simile and hyperbole often in His Word. Telling a story to demonstrate a point more fully can bring proud people to the end of themselves to repent of wrong thinking or they can become irritated and angry, claiming we did something wrong by presenting a hypothetical situation that clarifies the truth.
It is interesting to me that as soon as a stubborn person realizes they have been proven wrong, they will ignore the message entirely and complain about the way the truth was presented. This allows them to place the blame on us for "making trouble" by questioning them or presenting the truth that proves them wrong.
When someone has a stubborn heart and a prideful spirit, they will avoid answering directly, either through silence or by attacking us personally as though we did something wrong in the delivery. These people are intimidated when confronted with the truth. The blame game is their go-to tactic rather than pondering what was said and desiring to know the truth. Preservation of their elevated image is first and foremost in the hearts of those who do not care about the truth; they care only about winning and appearing superior.
My response when I find out someone is unwilling to have an honest discussion and look at all sides of the scriptures to find truth is when I am finished with them. There is no spiritual growth in dishonest conversation based on personal preservation more than the truth of the Bible.
We must keep speaking truth as led by the Holy Spirit, and learn to walk away from those who don't want the truth.
1 Timothy 6:4-5 "He is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain."
Some examples of hyperbole in the bible are as follows.
Luke 6:41 "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother 's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?"
Mark 10:25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."
Matthew 6:3 "3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,"
Judges 20:16 "16 Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss."
John 21:25 "25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."
Psalm 18:29: "By my God I can leap over a wall."
Amos 2:9: "The Amorites' height is compared to cedars"
Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. You ought to have done these, without neglecting the others"
Luke 14:26 reads, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple"
God used Simile in many cases, one such case is:
Matthew 23:26-28 "…26 Blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Were the Pharisees actually blind? NO, Were they sepulchers of stone in a cemetery? No. God was using a simile to describe the deadness of their hearts of stone. He compared the appearance of righteousness as opposed to the actual heart of stone that people did not see when encountering them.
Luke 11:44 "Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
God used examples of simile and hyperbole often in His Word. Telling a story to demonstrate a point more fully can bring proud people to the end of themselves to repent of wrong thinking or they can become irritated and angry, claiming we did something wrong by presenting a hypothetical situation that clarifies the truth.
It is interesting to me that as soon as a stubborn person realizes they have been proven wrong, they will ignore the message entirely and complain about the way the truth was presented. This allows them to place the blame on us for "making trouble" by questioning them or presenting the truth that proves them wrong.
When someone has a stubborn heart and a prideful spirit, they will avoid answering directly, either through silence or by attacking us personally as though we did something wrong in the delivery. These people are intimidated when confronted with the truth. The blame game is their go-to tactic rather than pondering what was said and desiring to know the truth. Preservation of their elevated image is first and foremost in the hearts of those who do not care about the truth; they care only about winning and appearing superior.
My response when I find out someone is unwilling to have an honest discussion and look at all sides of the scriptures to find truth is when I am finished with them. There is no spiritual growth in dishonest conversation based on personal preservation more than the truth of the Bible.
We must keep speaking truth as led by the Holy Spirit, and learn to walk away from those who don't want the truth.
1 Timothy 6:4-5 "He is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain."
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Where Do You Go to Church is the Popular Modern Day Question
I hear all the time, "Where do you go to church?" Or, "I am going to church" when someone is describing what they do according to their religion.
What I rarely hear is "I am the church, gathering with others who are the church."
I hear, "What church do you attend?", but never hear "who do you gather with to edify one another?"
God commanded us to gather together, wherever we choose, to edify one another in the Lord. No fansy building, no pulpit just people who love Jesus Christ all interacting together, each one led by the Holy Spirit without a progam or script.
Edifying one another means building up one another in the faith, so that we grow and become more effective as ambassadors of Christ in the world.
Sometimes they say, "What does your church believe?" rather than "What does Jesus Christ teach?"
All of this verbiage that demands that a born-again believer go to a place called church has led people to believe they must attend a building led by an authorized preacher educated by men in a place called a seminary. None of this is mandated in God's Word. It has destroyed edification because the focus is not on Christ but who is in control and the ritual of the gathering focused on one man and now "worship leaders" who have taken the place of the Holy Spirit in leading the gathering.
Most of these gathering places led by a hireling, educated by men, disobey more of the scripture than they obey, violating God's principles while upholding cultural concepts mixed with some scripture out of context to justify the violations.
And, worse yet, the program-oriented places forbid anyone from the pews from participating.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
This passage was written to ALL believers, not a special class educated by special schools that God never commanded.
John 16:12-14 "…12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
In these days of apostasy, the paid man who is educated in man's schools is revered over and above the Holy Spirit. People will talk all day long about their favorite "pastor" and never mention the name of Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit.
Those who attend these ritualistic gatherings led by men often speak of the activities or the music they enjoy, but never utter from their mouths what the Holy Spirit taught them.
John 14:26
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."
When the Holy Spirit is in fullness within a believer, they will be growing and learning to teach others.
When the Holy Spirit is the teacher and leader within the church gathering, Christ is magnified. When there is a man chosen by men to teach as long as he is educated by man's system, then the man is magnified.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready."
Those who depend on men as their teachers are always learning man's ways but not necessarily God's.
2 Timothy 3:7 "who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth."
When we are growing in wisdom according to the Holy Spirit, then God is glorified. Those who gain knowledge without the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be puffed up, arrogant, and impossible to be taught.
We are living in the end times when there is more wrong in the churches with their buildings than there is right. They have become lumps in the pews listening with ears that are dedicated to hearing what they want, not what is true. They have little ability to question what is being said from that pulpit because they are not engaged at home with their Bibles or the fellowship of those who do obey the Bible.
Prayers are only uttered by most when there is a disaster from which they need to be rescued. The prayers from the pulpits are offered by the designated "Pastor", while the people in the pews remain silent. In other words, these designated men do their praying for them, tell them what songs to sing, and demand money at the end of the gathering to fund the activities of the church.
Those in the pews do not interact with the others in the pews during the week. They don't even know the lives of those who attend because the gatherings are too large and the people tend to hide in their section of the pew so as not to be bothered.
Many years ago, I was visiting a woman at her home. When I began to speak about the Bible and Jesus Chris, she told me "religion is a private thing, that we shouldn't push it onto others." This woman attended a protestant church for over 50 years, and yet she wanted to remain secretive and separate from others in the church. She knew very little of the Bible, only her favorite comforting verses that she clung to for a sense of safety.
This same woman told me she heard it was right to worship angels. Just the opposite of what God teaches in His Word. When I corrected her with Scripture, she went silent and showed no interest.
Is it any wonder I am convinced we are in the end times, in which most people want to make up their own religion of their choosing and call it Christian?
What I rarely hear is "I am the church, gathering with others who are the church."
I hear, "What church do you attend?", but never hear "who do you gather with to edify one another?"
God commanded us to gather together, wherever we choose, to edify one another in the Lord. No fansy building, no pulpit just people who love Jesus Christ all interacting together, each one led by the Holy Spirit without a progam or script.
Edifying one another means building up one another in the faith, so that we grow and become more effective as ambassadors of Christ in the world.
Sometimes they say, "What does your church believe?" rather than "What does Jesus Christ teach?"
All of this verbiage that demands that a born-again believer go to a place called church has led people to believe they must attend a building led by an authorized preacher educated by men in a place called a seminary. None of this is mandated in God's Word. It has destroyed edification because the focus is not on Christ but who is in control and the ritual of the gathering focused on one man and now "worship leaders" who have taken the place of the Holy Spirit in leading the gathering.
Most of these gathering places led by a hireling, educated by men, disobey more of the scripture than they obey, violating God's principles while upholding cultural concepts mixed with some scripture out of context to justify the violations.
And, worse yet, the program-oriented places forbid anyone from the pews from participating.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
This passage was written to ALL believers, not a special class educated by special schools that God never commanded.
John 16:12-14 "…12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
In these days of apostasy, the paid man who is educated in man's schools is revered over and above the Holy Spirit. People will talk all day long about their favorite "pastor" and never mention the name of Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit.
Those who attend these ritualistic gatherings led by men often speak of the activities or the music they enjoy, but never utter from their mouths what the Holy Spirit taught them.
John 14:26
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."
When the Holy Spirit is in fullness within a believer, they will be growing and learning to teach others.
When the Holy Spirit is the teacher and leader within the church gathering, Christ is magnified. When there is a man chosen by men to teach as long as he is educated by man's system, then the man is magnified.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready."
Those who depend on men as their teachers are always learning man's ways but not necessarily God's.
2 Timothy 3:7 "who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth."
When we are growing in wisdom according to the Holy Spirit, then God is glorified. Those who gain knowledge without the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be puffed up, arrogant, and impossible to be taught.
We are living in the end times when there is more wrong in the churches with their buildings than there is right. They have become lumps in the pews listening with ears that are dedicated to hearing what they want, not what is true. They have little ability to question what is being said from that pulpit because they are not engaged at home with their Bibles or the fellowship of those who do obey the Bible.
Prayers are only uttered by most when there is a disaster from which they need to be rescued. The prayers from the pulpits are offered by the designated "Pastor", while the people in the pews remain silent. In other words, these designated men do their praying for them, tell them what songs to sing, and demand money at the end of the gathering to fund the activities of the church.
Those in the pews do not interact with the others in the pews during the week. They don't even know the lives of those who attend because the gatherings are too large and the people tend to hide in their section of the pew so as not to be bothered.
Many years ago, I was visiting a woman at her home. When I began to speak about the Bible and Jesus Chris, she told me "religion is a private thing, that we shouldn't push it onto others." This woman attended a protestant church for over 50 years, and yet she wanted to remain secretive and separate from others in the church. She knew very little of the Bible, only her favorite comforting verses that she clung to for a sense of safety.
This same woman told me she heard it was right to worship angels. Just the opposite of what God teaches in His Word. When I corrected her with Scripture, she went silent and showed no interest.
Is it any wonder I am convinced we are in the end times, in which most people want to make up their own religion of their choosing and call it Christian?
Correction the New Hate Speech
In our culture, it is considered a personal attack to correct or rebuke someone who is sinning or off base in their theology.
It is not an attack to correct someone in error.
Proverbs 27:5 "Better is open rebuke than hidden love."
1 Timothy 5:20 "As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
Titus 2:15 "Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
The irony of those who feel attacked is that they correct others all the time, playing the hypocrite to allow themselves the right to correct, but not allow others to correct them if the correction is toward them. They will correct us for correcting, irrational at best.
Luke 17:3-4 "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Notice the criteria for extending forgiveness is repentance. Relationships cannot be mended without the offending party caring enough to be sorry about their offense to confess it.
1 John 1:8-10 "8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us."
It is not an attack to correct someone in error.
Proverbs 27:5 "Better is open rebuke than hidden love."
1 Timothy 5:20 "As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
Titus 2:15 "Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
The irony of those who feel attacked is that they correct others all the time, playing the hypocrite to allow themselves the right to correct, but not allow others to correct them if the correction is toward them. They will correct us for correcting, irrational at best.
Luke 17:3-4 "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Notice the criteria for extending forgiveness is repentance. Relationships cannot be mended without the offending party caring enough to be sorry about their offense to confess it.
1 John 1:8-10 "8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us."
Friday, September 26, 2025
Railing on People Is Based in Pride
Railing on people after one rebuke is trusting in oneself to batter hard enough to change another person. We are not responsible for changing anyone; we are only responsible for giving them the information that allows them to make their own choice.
The problem with this is that we are not called to change a person's heart, only to speak the truth in love and leave their decision to God.
Sure, someone could treat another person disrespectfully enough that a weak person would give in and change their behavior around their persecutor, but it would only change behavior, not the heart, and only around that one person.
Someone who is in sin will not listen better because we bludgeon them with disrespect. Speaking the truth in loving warning and leaving them to decide is God's manner of rebuke.
Many instructions in God's Word guide how we do things with others.
One principle is that we speak the truth in love, meaning we approach someone because we love them, not just to make them do what we think is right. Our concern is about their walk with God or lack of it.
Another principle is that when we have warned in love, and the person will not listen, we are to walk away and remain absent from their lives until they make the right choice.
God also tells us to be discerning in our friendships that we make no friendship with a rebellious and angry person.
Ephesians 4:15
"15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,"
Most people focus on the word love as though it means to be very careful not to offend, but it really means we approach them with the heart that wants to help them avoid disaster. We ought rather to focus on both the love and compassion for the person's heart, to help, not to act superior to them.
2 Corinthians 2:4-6 "…4 For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you. 5 Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me but all of you— to some degree, not to overstate it. 6 The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.…"
Feelings are not relevant; snatching them from disaster is the goal.
Galatians 6:1
"Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Ezekiel 3:18-19
"18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You will certainly die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way so that he may live, that wicked person shall die for wrongdoing, but his blood I will require from your hand.
19 However if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die for wrongdoing, but you have saved yourself."
2 Corinthians 2:6-8
"The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him."
There are those we must avoid because they have no interest in resolving the trouble they caused.
Proverbs 22:24-25 " 24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, 25 or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.…"
If someone repents, we are to forgive and treat them as though the offense never happened. If there is no repentance, then the relationship remains broken until confession is made and they are forgiven.
Luke 17:3-4
"Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Very few relationships today are reconciled because people are more comfortable not bothering to admit their flaws or offenses. They would rather it just go away on its own or pretend it never happened. This never makes for a quality and loving relationship.
When we love someone, we want to make sure things are right between us because they are more important than the pride that prevents someone from confessing their bad attitude or behavior.
It takes humility and strength of character to confess a flaw; those who are prideful and weak cannot do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
"And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone."
The problem with this is that we are not called to change a person's heart, only to speak the truth in love and leave their decision to God.
Sure, someone could treat another person disrespectfully enough that a weak person would give in and change their behavior around their persecutor, but it would only change behavior, not the heart, and only around that one person.
Someone who is in sin will not listen better because we bludgeon them with disrespect. Speaking the truth in loving warning and leaving them to decide is God's manner of rebuke.
Many instructions in God's Word guide how we do things with others.
One principle is that we speak the truth in love, meaning we approach someone because we love them, not just to make them do what we think is right. Our concern is about their walk with God or lack of it.
Another principle is that when we have warned in love, and the person will not listen, we are to walk away and remain absent from their lives until they make the right choice.
God also tells us to be discerning in our friendships that we make no friendship with a rebellious and angry person.
Ephesians 4:15
"15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,"
Most people focus on the word love as though it means to be very careful not to offend, but it really means we approach them with the heart that wants to help them avoid disaster. We ought rather to focus on both the love and compassion for the person's heart, to help, not to act superior to them.
2 Corinthians 2:4-6 "…4 For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you. 5 Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me but all of you— to some degree, not to overstate it. 6 The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him.…"
Feelings are not relevant; snatching them from disaster is the goal.
Galatians 6:1
"Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Ezekiel 3:18-19
"18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You will certainly die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way so that he may live, that wicked person shall die for wrongdoing, but his blood I will require from your hand.
19 However if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die for wrongdoing, but you have saved yourself."
2 Corinthians 2:6-8
"The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him."
There are those we must avoid because they have no interest in resolving the trouble they caused.
Proverbs 22:24-25 " 24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, 25 or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.…"
If someone repents, we are to forgive and treat them as though the offense never happened. If there is no repentance, then the relationship remains broken until confession is made and they are forgiven.
Luke 17:3-4
"Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Very few relationships today are reconciled because people are more comfortable not bothering to admit their flaws or offenses. They would rather it just go away on its own or pretend it never happened. This never makes for a quality and loving relationship.
When we love someone, we want to make sure things are right between us because they are more important than the pride that prevents someone from confessing their bad attitude or behavior.
It takes humility and strength of character to confess a flaw; those who are prideful and weak cannot do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
"And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone."
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