No One is Above Another

1 Corinthians 3:6-9

"6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.

8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's co-workers, you are God's building."

Everyone has a job to do in the work of the Kingdom of God. No one's work is better or greater than another, God looks at our obedience to what He has given each of us, not how large the ministry may be.

No one should judge another man's calling or ministry except to be sure it is Biblical and the people are obeying the Word of God.

Believers have got to stop judging others unbiblically, based on human ideas or human traditions.

We have also got to give up the idea that only an "ordained" pastor has a ministry. God has given every single believer the blessing of ministry, whether it is helping other ministries or having their own. Leaders in the church, that is the elders, plural, are not the only ones who serve, all born-again believers serve in many different ways.

The following passage applies to ALL born-again believers men and women and even children who have been born-again.

1 Corinthians 12 "14 For the body is not one part, but many.

15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.

16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired.

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 But now there are many parts, but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;

23 and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable,

24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked,

25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.

26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it."

Every prayer warrior who makes it their mission to pray diligently making intercession for the saints will have their reward for doing that, even if it is all they do.

It is not the size of a ministry but it is whether or not we obeyed what the Holy Spirit gives us. There are many believers who are locked into traditions that are not Biblical, only man's ideas that prevent and discourage other believers from seeking God for their calling

We are better off asking God and seeking the Holy Spirit than asking others what they think we should be doing. No other person can know what our calling is, they can know gifts we may have but it is only the Holy Spirit Who knows what we should be doing with those gifts. Trust HIM!!!!

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2 Timothy 3:1-5

Difficult Times Will Come

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.

Salt and Light is about the Gospel

There is no more important message in these last days than the salvation message through Jesus Christ. We must be about the Lord's Work, which is the Gospel.

Too many people are interpreting the command to be "salt and light" as involvement in politics. The command had nothing to do with politics, it has to do with speaking the gospel to the unsaved and encouraging the born-again believers to keep looking to Jesus Christ.

I once heard someone who was experiencing grief that it didn't help for me to say; "God works all things for good for those who are in Christ Jesus." How could this not be a help to the grieving soul? Only if the person is mostly, if not entirely worldly-minded could anyone say that it does not help to be encouraged by Scripture.

Those who walk with Christ are not crushed by the hard things that happen to them. They are sad and grieve for a time but they remain joyful through their trials, joy that cannot be taken away because of hardship. They even quote scripture to themselves to comfort them as they journey through the trials.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. 1

17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

A lady in a church we were attending once sat by my bedside as I was ailing and quoted scripture to me, I was delighted to hear it because it gave me hope that suffering is not in vain for the born-again believer, it has a purpose and will end either by healing or by the ultimate healing which is the death of the body for the soul to be present with God.

2 Corinthians 5:8 "but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.'

Death of the body is not the end for the born-again believer, it is the beginning of far more wonderful things than anything in this life. So wonderful is the life after death for the born-again believer that we cannot imagine it with our human minds. We know of it because God promised it.

Romans 8:18

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Yes we grieve at times, and yes we become discouraged momentarily in our feelings, but in our Spirit, we are encouraged, believing God, we soldier on with the joy and peace that never leaves us.

Hallelujah for the peace and joy of Christ Who lives in us.

Following the Ten Commandments?

The ten commandments are a part of the born-again experience. They are also what judge the unbeliever.

God said if we break only one of these commandments we break them all. How could this be?

Our heart is what determines our actions. If we steal a pencil from someone we are a thief. It is not the act of thievery that sends us to hell, its the heart that wants to steal.

This is why Christ said if someone lusts after a woman who belongs to someone else, desiring her in his heart is the same as committing the act of adultery.

If someone were able to keep all the ten commandments in their actions they would still go to hell for the desire to break them that is hidden from others, although never hidden from God.

Jeremiah 17:9 "9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "

Without Christ, in our heart, even our good deeds are done to glorify self. As the criminals say, if a criminal does a good thing there is always an angle.

The world says you are not a thief just because you steal one time. The truth is a thief is one before he ever steals even one thing no matter how small. A person who is not a thief cannot steal even one thing, not even the smallest item.

This is why when we become born again the Holy Spirit in us is constantly battling the flesh that we dwell in with Him.

Romans 8:6

"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

Galatians 5:16

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

1 Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

An unbeliever has no power over their own flesh except to protect himself from the consequences.

The born-again believer has the power of the Holy Spirit living in them to be able to resist their actions and thoughts.

We are not saved by trying to be a better person. Our good actions do not save us from hell. It is believing Christ when He died for our sins and trusting in Him to count His payment for sin on our behalf. Then the good deeds we do in obedience to Him bring us rewards in heaven. God does not count our sinful acts against us, but He will discipline us to bring us back to obedience so that we can grow in holiness.

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?"

Those who are born again know they are saved, but those who are not born-again live in constant uncertainty and will not be unless they trust in Christ.

Prayer is not Powerful only Jesus Christ is Powerful

Prayer is not powerful, it is Jesus Christ Who is powerful. If we tell an unsaved person that all they must do is pray they will believe their own words have power.

We are living in a culture that thinks all they have to do is believe and say something and we will have it. They have no concept of a relationship with a Holy God who wants us to seek Him and obey Him.

Even in the churches today most people attending think as long as you say something it is the power within. They have no concept of being sorry for their sinfulness or being changed into a new creation by Christ. In their minds, it is their decision alone that gets them to heaven.

I cannot say this enough, we are not saved because we decided to be Christian and join a local fellowship. A born-again person becomes born again by confessing their sinfulness and desiring to be changed into a new person by Christ.

If there is only a statement that they are a Christian because they chose it, then there is lack of understanding about the salvation message.

Devils enter the church today because they deceive those in the gathering that they are Christians. They are lying to be able to confuse those within the group about what God says in His Word.

Some have even been deceived themselves into believing they can say what they want and nothing else is necessary.

We must believe that Christ is God, that He came to die for the sins of the world and that we must choose to be cleansed by Him. Nothing of ourselves is required except the belief that He is the One Who must change us and seal us with His Spirit.

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 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."

Notice that all one does to be born-again is believe in Christ and what He did. But also what comes with it is the knowledge that we cannot save ourselves, He does all the work of saving us and changing us.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 " 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…'

He seals us after we believe, it's a guarantee of our salvation, He works in us to make us holy, He makes us a new creation, and He keeps us in this condition until He comes for us, either in the clouds in the rapture or at our death.

Notice our only responsibility is to believe and He does all the rest of the work in us. However, after salvation, we are responsible to obey Him. If we do not obey Him then He disciplines His children. And, ALL of His children experience training and discipline because our new Spirit is trapped in this sinful body and must be kept under the discipline of the Lord as we obey Him.

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?…"

Those who have never admitted with brokenness their sinfulness and have no desire to be changed by Christ are not born again. They can say whatever they like but their words mean nothing. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is the evidence of a person having been born-again.

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."

If these character qualities are missing from a person who says they are a Christian, then you know they only believe in themselves and not in Christ, they were never born-again. When God changes a person they can never turn back into the old creation again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 " 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!"

Matthew 7:15-23 "15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes 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. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"

Matthew 7:13-14 "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Lastly, never follow any human being, your family, your husband, your wife, your church leaders, or anyone else who might have influence over you. When we follow Christ all those who are pretenders will fall off, family will hate you because they do not love Christ.

Matthew 10:22-23 " 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.…"

When we find ourselves being persecuted, mocked and demeaned we are told to get away from these people. They will only continually attempt to derail your walk with Christ.

And remember; 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. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

You will find yourself being hated by those who say they are Christians. You don't think like they do because you want to think with the mind of Christ and they are still very much in the world and don't want to leave the world.

Let this comfort you, All that love Christ will be persecuted and hated by the world. ALL!!! That ought to encourage us.

James 1:2-8

"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Hallelujah!!!!

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