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“All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14

THERE are children of God who are behind on bills. There are called-out men of God preaching Christ’s whole Gospel fearlessly, and you STILL support a multi-millionaire wolf who is making merchandise of the people to make himself even richer in this fleeting world? (2 Peter 2:1-3) God is calling you to repent. You are in darkness.

Someone has wisely stated that:

“On judgment day many will wonder why they got so excited about money and not Jesus.” Unknown

—–   WANT to see what matters to you? Want to see how real you are? How authentic your love is or isn’t for Christ? Do you truly want to know what matters to you? … are you willing to face the truth? …if so, then go look at what you spend your (His) money on and you will see what matters to you (Matthew 6:19-25; Luke 12:15-21, etc.). If His work means nothing to you it’s because He means nothing to you.

— BE HONEST: Which biblical subjects, doctrines, do you dodge? Which get the least attention? Those that deal with financial responsibility/stewardship, right? Does this not clearly reveal how much it’s needed and how much true repentance is needed before it’s too late. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Read Matthew 6:19-24.

— IT WAS when Jesus began to tell His audience that they had to partake of Him, to die to self, to give up their lives in this fleeting world, that they left Him (John 6). Before that He fed their stomachs. They were willing to stay as long as they had their creature comforts. Yes, they were okay as long as their stomachs were being fed by the fish and loaves He multiplied and gave to His disciples to give to them. They did not want to die – to lose their lives in this world – and nothing has changed today among the many who claim to know Christ. That mass of people left Jesus. Only twelve remained. Read John 6.

People today claiming to know the One who came and gave all to save them are okay with “serving” Him as long as it costs them nothing. He’s not worth giving anything up for. He’s not worth sacrificing the junk food they consume in order to rightly steward the resources He gives them. He’s not worth it to them to begin learning how to reach others with His Word in this late hour. He’s not worth losing the friendship with their children so they refuse to tell that child “no” to watching the myriad of corruptions polluting his/her own child’s young mind. He’s not worth feeding a poor soul that is homeless. He’s not worth their reputation so they refuse to live for Him publicly.

This person described above does not fear or know the LORD.

John 6:66 tells us that “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

These are those who are willing to “serve” Christ on their own terms, deceiving themselves all the way to the irrevocable place of eternal suffering.

“Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Psalms 50:22

Love is Giving

All that comes to us is from the hand of God who “so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).

The LORD is a Giver and desires that His children willingly choose to freely give as has been given to them (Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, etc.).

The opposite of being generous is to withhold. The word or term “crumbing” in part refers to being stingy, tightfisted, or miserly.

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal (generous) soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.” Proverbs 11:24-26

Stingy Rich Man Now Eternally Remorseful

—- Question: WHO in the Bible went to hell for not simply chipping off a smidgen of supply to a beggar? Who?

Does this ring a bell? It should. You should become very familiar with the passage this refers to (Luke 16:19-31).

Think about it: What would that once “rich” man not do now to have one more breath on earth to repent and change his wicked ways? He’s already been in hell for some 2,000 years with not even one second having expired from eternity’s time clock. Want to follow his example and go there too? Keep reading friend.

Jesus told us that unfaithful stewards go to eternal damnation (Matthew 25:30, 41, etc.). … Okay, before we go on, let’s get rid of the counterfeits. I can hear it now from the unrepentant who are serving the god of self and are highly offended at someone preaching on the biblical topic of stewardship: “But brother, are you saying I’m going to hell if I don’t give?!”

Yes.

Unapologetically, I am preaching and repeating what Holy Scripture clearly tells us.

Don’t like it?

Bye.

Now, for those willing to render honesty toward God, let’s continue …

Now that the counterfeits are  vanquished, disqualifying themselves  by their own sin of unbelief and rebellion, let’s talk saints.

So, why would any true believer get upset with another disciple of Jesus because that disciple seeks to make sure those other believers are really going to eternal glory with Jesus?

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

You see, when our lives are truly given over to the LORD, so will be all our resources. If they aren’t, it’s because we’re still serving the god of self and mammon.

Choosing to begin giving a portion of your resources to the LORD is not going to save you from spending eternity in hell. No, and yet, if you aren’t a giver of  your resources, it’s because your heart and life are not given over to the LORD.

If you wish to see where your heart truly is, simply look at where your money is going.

If your resources are all being spent on the god of self, it indicates that there is idolatry of self. This would point to self worship instead of Savior worship (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5-9;   Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.). A few particular verses come to mind:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14

Jesus taught: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24

—– SATAN is strategically working to stop you from doing YOUR part in the army of the LORD … THIS message from the LORD is for you beloved. He wants to speak to YOUR heart directly from His Word here which is alive now – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). If this has ever been relevant, it is a message for this hour as much if not more than it ever has been. Will YOU be able to say with Paul “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)? Will you be able to say with the apostle Paul that you “fought … finished” and “kept” the will of God in your personal life by doing your part?

There’s a “certain man” who was once rich (temporarily in his life on earth). This “certain (specific, literal) man” has now been burning in conscious torment in the flames of hell for some 2,000 years. Go read Luke 16:19-31 (King James Bible) and find out exactly why that man is irrevocably in hell and in a million years will still be in hell “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). And what about Esau who traded his soul for a bowl of soup? For what fleeting trinket in this brief life will you lose your soul in eternal damnation in hell?

Can you begin to imagine the horror of remorse this man has been anguishing in for 2,000 years? Wow!

Will you follow his wicked example or will you choose to follow Christ by giving all?

Didn’t Jesus present us with the open ended question we alone can answer? – “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).

Remember, when you truly repent before the LORD, the resources you have will then become His … otherwise you never really repented and are still subject to serving the god of self and therefore mammon (Matthew 6:19-24). Those who know Jesus do not serve mammon, they serve Christ and give as He came and gave.

If you’re truly saved, so is your wallet!

The coffers that fuel God’s work of getting His Word out deserve:

A. To be empty,

B. To be moderately supported and tipped, or

C. To be abundant in order to have no hindrance to the advancement of Jesus Christ’s Gospel message in this late hour.

Your personal answer isn’t seen in which one of the above multiple choice answers you chose but rather in whether or not you’ve been giving to His work.

Keep in mind that if you give, it’s in worship to the LORD from whom all good things come (1 Chronicles 29:14; James 1:17). When you give, you are not doing God a favor or the person or ministry you are giving to. No, you are getting yourself off the hook. You are doing yourself a favor! Of course, giving should be done as a deliberate, “need-no-chill-bump” obedient gesture of worship first and foremost.  When you obediently give, you are doing now (giving) what the once rich man in Luke 16 refused to do and is now incarcerated in the flames of hell from which there is no release date and never will be (Mark 9:43-49). God requires that His people rightly steward the resources He allows to come into their temporary possession. Greed, stinginess, withholding, and covetousness have already damned the souls of countless eternal souls who are presently and will burn consciously for all eternity.

“And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:23-25

Christ says it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a man rich in this fleeting world to go to Heaven. In light of this, the Son of God warns 1) “they that have riches” (v. 23), and 2) “them that trust in riches” (v. 24).

Those who possess this world’s riches are prone to trust them instead of God. Beware. Jesus was warning us of this and that’s more the reason to empty our resources on the poor and good work of the LORD.

Apparently, the “certain rich man” Jesus described in Luke 16 was just like many today. He lifted no finger to help a godly man that sat right under his long, evil nose. Many of you reading this know of the needs of individual, godly people around you, and Great Commission New Testament ministry works. You have refused to help. Never mind the supposed “good intentions” you claim to have.

Are you real or are you a fraud?

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:16-19

The saying is true that: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Like so many today who claim to be serving the One who came and gave all, the once  “certain rich man” who’s now in hell, perhaps had the lame intention to help others, yet didn’t. Like many today, it’s obvious that the once rich man tended to dozens and dozens of other self-serving pursuits and yet took no time to help others, even those right under his nose (Luke 16:19-31).

It’s time to truly come to Jesus in repentance and when you do, everything you have in your temporary care will be directed by Jesus.

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

Any question?

Perhaps it’s been wisely stated that:

“Whatever you compromise to keep, you will lose.”

This is a life and death gauntlet. God’s Word has shown you this in fact. This is a Heaven and hell issue. What we do with what God puts in our hands is a direct reflection of where our hearts truly are.

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16

—– WHEN Israel (the LORD’s people) left off to (ceased to) honor Him with their increase (money), He allowed a difficult reaping to come on them, read Haggai 1 today. Also Malachi and watch for this as you read through Scripture. Jesus repeatedly taught that each of us will give account for how we stewarded that which came into our temporary care in this life. Many of Jesus’ teachings come to us via His parables (earthly stories with a heavenly meaning).

Does the LORD receive the first portion of what you earn? Or, does His honor and work get a mere tip when you ‘get around to it’ – that is, when things more important to you aren’t consuming you at the moment? “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). I’m not a bit concerned that you or anyone else is going to get upset with me for toppling your idolatry (idol of you). No, my fear is going to be toward the One who after He has killed me, is able to cast my soul and body into eternal hell (Luke 12:4-5).

It’s better to simply repent and change your ways and factor God into the money you receive in this life. In other words, schedule His %/portion in beforehand in your mind and heart so that it’s already spoken for. If we don’t deliberately slate this into the first priority when we receive pay, it doesn’t happen, right?

Now I wonder what God will do if we render simple, practical, literal, faith-filled obedience to Him in this important subject of stewardship. Well, does this divine promise sound familiar? “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Remember we just read in Proverbs 3:9-10 that those who honor the LORD, the Giver of all good gifts, by putting the very first portion (“firstfruits”) of our increase into His kingdom, that he will fill us with plenty? Is this a promise? Yes. What did the apostle Paul say about all of the promises of God? – “For all the promises of God in him (Christ) are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

What limiting dilemmas is your disobedience causing?

Who’s ministering to Christ’s ministers? Who? Where’s the supply line? We are Christ’s army (2 Timothy 2:1-4). We are His body, each member called to worship Him and do their part. See Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4. What part are you playing? Are you doing that part or sitting back waiting? Are you sending prayers and supplies to those in the fox holes, the front lines? Are those in the fox holes starving? Have they run out of ammo? Are they now vulnerable to be killed – to be taken out – taken off post – because you aren’t doing your part by sending up prayers and sending supplies out of your increase?

Note how unoffended His saints were who suffered great lack as we see on record in Hebrews 11:37-39. <<< read this in the KJB. They loved Him above all else and were just grateful to know Him. Today many of those the LORD has called out to do His work and are obediently doing it, are not being uplifted sufficiently by the body of Christ they serve as unto Christ and have to continue to be thankful to our LORD, the One they serve. His watchmen are despised by the religious and neglected by those who agree with the truth they communicate and work they do .… “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

You are not only as sure for hell as if you were already there, you are a “miserable” individual if you are living for your own self-serving pleasures. You are exactly like the hell bound Laodiceans whom Jesus said were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”  

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17

These backsliders had much in the way of earthly riches and yet, like the specific, “certain rich man” Jesus spoke of in Luke 16, they were bound for eternal damnation along with being in this fleeting world “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” 

The fall-out, the effects of the disobedience of so many is untold. There are many men today whom God called out and who are prepared by Him but they can’t do what He sent them to do due to the disobedience of so many. They’ve left their post and are now working a secular job.

Father please grant us grateful hearts no matter what we face in this temporal world. We will be home with You soon! Revelation 21!

Build the House! (audio)

FEEDBACK:

“Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 
Mar 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 
Mar 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 
Mar 6:10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 
Mar 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 
Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 

“For those who are sent will be taken care of by HIS people, and those who will not take care of those whom HE sent will be left, as the one who came to preach leaves them, taking with them the peace of the LORD.” Yvonne S.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Consider Your Ways [podcast] | Consider and Build [podcast] | Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] | Dollar Dialogue

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Build the House [podcast]

No Pentecost, No Power!

John Wesley on Calvinism, Once Saved Always Saved, and Conditional Security

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Abiding

The Sheep vs the Goats as Defined in Scripture [podcast]


“The goats feed their carnal appetite. The sheep of Christ feed on the Word of God! Jesus’ sheep know His voice. They follow and obey their Lord Jesus (John 10:27). The goats obey their fleshy desires (Galatians 5:16-21), and follow the hirelings and not the Great Shepherd, the LORD Jesus (John 10; Heb 13:20). Christ’s sheep are known by Him! (John 10:14,27; 1 Corinthians 8:3). The goats will be cast out and told, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’ (Matthew 7:23). Terrifying words! Are you Jesus’ sheep, or are you a goat, a counterfeit? Search your heart today. Ask God if He knows you! It matters not if we claim to know Him. He must also know us, as this Scriptures clearly reveal!” Karen Cochran

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24

Of sheep and goats, one source notes:

“Jesus shares the story of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25:31–46 to describe the final judgment. In the story, the Son of Man separates all of humanity just like a shepherd sorts sheep from goats, placing the sheep on His right side and the goats on His left.”

The Naked Truth about Who’s Going to Heaven and Who’s Going to Hell

WANT to see those whom the LORD calls His own? Want to see who the true Heaven bound remnant are? Look at those who are about the “Father’s business” which is the Great Commission (Luke 2:49; 24:47; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts, etc.). Everyone else is doing their own thing.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

With their life, the rebel declares “Not Thy will but mine be done!”

With their life, the righteous declare with Christ “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 24:42).

“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” John 14:21-24

“And hereby we do know that we know him, IF we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:3-6

Walk and live as Jesus lived? Yes. Those who know and love Him are about the work and “the will of him that sent” them.

Take a look:

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). Jesus then speaks of evangelism, something every one of His people are to be doing (John 4:34-38).

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38

“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30

Anyone not fully with Jesus, is against Him, the only Savior.

So you claim Christ as Savior but don’t participate in prayer, support, and Great Commission action? Time to repent for real. The fruit of your life is rotten. You are presently a Savior-rejecting, self-serving counterfeit.

Read 1 Corinthians 9. The first half is concerning our privilege to give to HIS work. Then the apostle Paul speaks of running the race, to the end, becoming all things to all men to see them saved, being crucified with Christ.

The more I read God’s Word, the more convinced I am that the Heaven bound remnant are known in that they are about the “Father’s business” —the Great Commission—and not their own (Luke 2:49). They have laid down and are forsaking their own lives in this fleeting world in their supreme love for Christ Jesus (Acts 20:24). Anyone claiming to be Christ’s and not doing, participating in the Great Commission command … clearly reveals that they are in need of repentance, before it’s too late. Jesus is not their “first love” —which means they are committing spiritual adultery on Christ, the Great and coming Bridegroom (Revelation 2:4-5). Repent and obey Him or perish.

If you are committed to Christ, with no exception, you are committed to studying, knowing, and walking out His Word. You are committed to carrying out the Savior’s Great Commission command.

YOUR PRAYER: Right now dear holy and heavenly Father, please begin a fresh work in this heart. May Your love fill this heart and may You alone be my “first love.” May the love in me for You burn. Let it far exceed all other loves and interests! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Abiding

Dirty Ox Stalls bring Dividends [podcast]


An intriguing proverb that applies directly to our daily lives and the stewardship of the time our LORD has afforded us in this brief life. Gaining traction via the wisdom of our great God and King Jesus Christ. How to avoid spending our lives “spinning our wheels.”

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4 

The blessing of a dirty ox stall…. What’s most important to God is productivity, not neatness, not tidy-ness, not a clean stall.

Here’s a proverb from the Holy Spirit and Solomon which breathe wisdom into our lives. Let’s read it again:

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4

The proverbs of the LORD we have in His Word hold hidden meaning which breathe wisdom into our lives. 

A proverb is a figure of speech, words that impart truth by using natural illustrations to convey spirit truths.

Jesus taught in parables. Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meaning, divine wisdom to establish us in our relationship with Him as we love, worship and obey the LORD.

This is exactly what we have in Proverbs 14:4, where an ox and his stall are featured in order to convey the divine truth that productivity is more important to God than the pettiness of cleanliness.

The proverbs often use simple images to convey a deeper moral or practical lesson.

Active, working oxen bring dirt and dividends. Clean ox stalls glitter but produce no gold.

When commenting on this proverb, one man said: “Don’t be deterred by the dung.”

Fruitful saints aren’t known by how clean their house is but rather how full, how abundant their treasure in in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Their prayer and work is focused upon pleasing their LORD Jesus and not with how clean their temporal living space looks, by how sparkling clean their life looks to mere sinful men.

One pastor notes the following about the divine truth imparted to us in Proverbs 14:4:

“There are some proverbs that stick in our heads more than others and this is one of them for me.  The image is memorable and the lesson is unforgettable.  Solomon paints the picture of a barn without oxen and because of no oxen, the stalls are clean and pristine.  This is a barn that the perfectionist likes; a barn that can be organized, cleaned and maintained without interruption.  This is a barn that the neat freak and the clean freak crave; a barn that they can come into and know that everything is clean and tidy.  This is a barn that needs no work.  This is a barn that, after working in the field, demands no additional time or effort to clean.  This is a barn that needs no attending to after hours.  It demands no thought when heading out of town.  It never smells.  It doesn’t even make a sound.  There is no sickness in this barn nor does death ever visit its crib.  This is a barn that requires no food or water and as such, it doesn’t require any constant removal of dung.  It’s clean and pristine! …  While that sounds appealing to the average man or woman, the average farmer doesn’t pursue an empty crib.  He knows that the tradeoff is well worth it.  It’s the cost of doing business in agriculture.  He knows that he could farm his land on his own and that he could produce “some” increase on his own.  He knows that he doesn’t need oxen to till the ground, to sow the seed or to harvest the crops but if he’s going to have “MUCH” increase, he needs oxen and there are no oxen that clean up after themselves.”

The mess is worth the money.

The dirt is worth the dividends it brings. 

Dirty spaces bring special graces.

The progress and productivity are worth the pile of trash.

Men who are dirty from working all day will go home with fruitfulness for their family. They are satisfied and blessed to do so and so we wake up the next morning and gladly go do the same. The trade off that brings wages is worth it. 

This proverb also brings into mind the harvest that can being produced by you alone, in contrast with the harvest produced having others to labor with you to bring forth “much increase.”

Also, by not inviting others to join you in doing our LORD’s work, we deprive them from being blessed to lay up treasure in Heaven as our LORD commanded each of us who His children to do (Matthew 6:19-21).

The following is from Josh Denhart:

“In ministry we think, “If you want a job done right, do it yourself.” You may avoid messes, but you have just stepped into the “Trap of the Clean Stall”.

Proverbs 14:4 reads, “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. “

In the ancient agrarian world, animals brought a massive advantage. To have an animal meant you could accomplish so much more. Today we refer to a car as having a certain amount of “horse power”. In times past, an animal brought with it a certain amount of power. Power to increase the harvest and get the job done. Here, the writer of Proverbs is referring to “Ox Power”. The power and advantage is brought through the strength of an ox.

The writer of Proverbs says that it is really a trade off. On one hand you get a significant increase through the strength of an ox, yet with it you get, poop. Yes, good, ol’ fashioned ox poop.

Goal: Huge Harvest

Let’s compare the alternative. You have no oxen, but you have an amazingly clean manger stall.

More harvest with a poopy stall vs. a perfectly clean stall and a diminished harvest.

Our goal is not a clean stall. Our goal is a huge harvest. A natural side effect of a huge harvests are messes. What do you want? Do you crave a super clean stall over a bountiful harvest? Listen, a tidy stall in and of itself is a bad trade for a compromised harvest.

Let me shoot straight with you. I have a well-managed case of OCD. I crave order. If you serve in children’s ministry, you probably do too. I hate disorder. Yet the calling of the harvest trumps our neurotic desire for order.

Do not fall into the trap of the clean stall.

You Can’t Do It Alone

We must define our goal for the harvest over and over! Our goal is reaching the lost through equipping the fold. Our ultimate goal is not order for order sake. Our goal is the good news of Jesus going deep into the hearts and heads of kids, which brings messes. Get used to it. And get over it.

the-trap-of-the-clean-stall

We can have order as we achieve a large harvest, but uncomfort with messes can short circuit great harvests.

Let’s take this proverbial analogy a step further. You as a ministry leader are essentially the farmer. You can’t and don’t want to do it alone. You need help. Those willing to help you from a staff or a volunteer perspective can bring great strength and accomplish more for the harvest than you by yourself. And, yes, I am equating associates and volunteers to oxen.

The Harvest is Plentiful

Oxen and people are living beings. Both bring messes. Farming, like ministry, is just messy. Jesus said He came not for the healthy but for the sick. Sick people vomit physically and emotionally, have issues and need attention. That is our job. Years ago, someone sarcastically said, “Ministry would be great were it not for all these people!”

Listen, if you want order more than you want the harvest, you may find yourself doing it alone. Doing it alone equals to a field white for harvest with no one to get the job done. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. More workers means more messes. We as farmers must manage the messes and rise above the stall to see the harvest.

Do you want a harvest more than you want order? Absolutely. Therefore, we had better embrace the reality of a poopy stall.  Do not fall into the trap of the clean stall.”

One has to roll up his sleeves and get dirty to produce dividends to the glory of the divine.

Ever see construction works at the end of a work day? They are dirty and yet earned dollars, dividends. They will do it the next day also. Why? – because the trade off is productivity, earning that which is desirable.

Lots of work brings movement and a mess.

Lot’s of dirt when you much to diligently do and bring dividends.

A clean workspace brings no coin.

Do you want to work and get dirty, cause a mess, and yet make a profit? Or do you want to keep your place clean with the outcome being no coin?

The blessing of “much increase” comes at the expense of a clean crib, work space. It’s a bless-ed trade-off, right?

Personally, I could care less about a disheveled work place. My goal is to be fruitful, fruit-filled for Christ, bearing – “fruit … more fruit … much fruit.” (John 15)

In your business life, would you rather a disheveled work space and work to do, or a clean work space with no work?

It is better to have dirt to clean up with work that brings wages than to have a clean work place with no work.

Increase in material prosperity, productivity, fruitfulness comes by utilizing the oxen for labor and as a result there will be a mess made. The fruit produced far outweighs having to clean the stall, the work place.

“A barn can be kept cleanly swept where there are no oxen, but isn’t it better to have some dust and dirt around, knowing that the labor of an ox will lead to a bountiful harvest? The rewards of toil more than compensate for its disagreeable aspects.

This proverb is not intended to encourage homes or chapels that look like disaster areas. But it does discourage that passion for order and dustlessness that puts the brakes on progress and productiveness.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Dust and dirt bring dividends.

Productivity makes for progress.

The grind brings the goods.

Labor brings some loot.

Someone has wisely stated:

“Salons always have hair on the floor.
Garages always have oil on the floor.”

The oxen serve a good purpose and produce productivity.

What is it to have a clean work place? That just means you aren’t being productive, you don’t have work that is bring wages and blessings.

“Straining at a gnat”…. Swallowing a Camel

This idiom Jesus uses means over-emphasizing the minors while under-emphasizing the majors, “the weightier matters of the law.”

Matthew 23

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 

24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 

25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 

26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 

27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 

28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. “

Martha and Mary – Mary had the Divine Priorities in their Rightful Place

“38  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

At His Feet

No, it’s not a sin to keep things clean, to be organized. Yet, at the judgment, Jesus is not going to say “Oh wow, you kept your living and workspace clean! Enter thou into the joy of the LORD.” No, but rather….

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

At the coming judgment what we did for His glory, in His holy name, will be rewarded.

Matthew 25

“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” 

Read John 15 and underline “fruit” and “more fruit” and “much fruit.” “Fruit” emanates from the life that is soundly grounded in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17  These things I command you, that ye love one another.” John 15:16-17

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Abiding

Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]


DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).

“For MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:7-11

Modern church wolves refuse to preach the original Gospel of Jesus Christ from the pages of Holy Scripture and in the power of the Holy Ghost. No, instead they preach sermonettes that cater to the self-worshiping idolaters they entertain and collect money from (2 Timothy 3:1-7). They don’t even use the King James Bible but rather some cheap counterfeit. Their ear-tickling topics range from healing damaged emotions, 5 love languages, best life now, recovery, learning to love yourSELF, coping platitudes, loneliness, psychobabble band aids, law of attraction, being a successful single, purpose driven delusionment, etc.

Fake “bibles” Exposed

LOTS of lying going on when we have counterfeits peddling affirmation without salvation, the “promise” of things “getting better” when their prey are heading straight to hell. Especially certain social media platforms are flooded with this false gospel coming out of “Christians.” There is no sin or repentance in their message which alone identifies it as a false gospel. You see, the things that are happening to the sinners around us are allowed by God in order to lead them to repentance and yet, the counterfeits among us are assuring those sinners it’s all going to get better and never giving them the 10 Commandments to show them they are sinners (Galatians 3:24) and then, leading them to Jesus (Romans 10:9-10, 13, etc.).  10 Commandments Evangelism

In the modern church world, there is …..

No cross. No Jesus. No blood. No judgment. No sin. No repentance. No hell. No readiness for the soon return of Jesus. No Heaven. No equipping preparation for ministry. No Scripture memory. No holiness. No Messianic prophecies and their fulfillment. No Christology. No fear of God. No repentance. etc., all of which are Bible doctrines essential to salvation and/or essential to sound foundation in Christ and are missing in the modern church world.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

The only reason we, each of us has been deceived in the past is due to our own biblical ignorance (Proverbs 24:5; Hosea 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). Lacking the knowledge of the Word, we didn’t see what they were LEAVING OUT. We didn’t know to discern what they were teaching and what they were NOT teaching. Now, as we grow in the knowledge of the LORD through diligent daily study of His Word, we know to look for the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith.

THE TOP ESSENTIAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINES NEVER HEARD IN THE APOSTATE MODERN CHURCH WORLD!

  1. The divinity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-4, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16). | Jesus Christ is God
  2. The virgin birth of the only begotten Son of God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). | The Virgin Birth of Jesus
  3. The essential precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19). | The Blood
  4. The inherent fallen nature of mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18). | Fallen, Sinful Man
  5. Worshipping God not idols (Exodus 20:3-5). | Idolatry
  6. The essential doctrine and necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3). | Repentance
  7. The Return of Christ and being ready for it (Luke 12:40; 21:34-36). | The Return
  8. Who Jesus is returning for and who will be shut out of His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27). | Ready for Christ’s Return
  9. The essential of enduring to the end to be with Christ eternally, initial and final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-30; Revelation 2:26). | Enduring to the End
  10. The essential daily cross, the crucified life, which Jesus required in following Him (Luke 9:23-24). | Living the Crucified Life
  11. Forgiving all others from the heart (Matthew 18:21-35). | Forgiveness
  12. Walking in God’s love (Ephesians 5:1). | The Love Walk
  13. Holiness – including the necessity of personal holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). | Holiness
  14. Judgment (Psalms 9:15-17). | Judgment
  15. Hell (Matthew 8:12; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:19-31). | Hell
  16. Fearing God (Psalms 2:11; Luke 12:4-5). | Fearing God

When’s the last time you heard verses like this in the modern church?

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33

The modern church is going down in flames into the flames of hell. It cannot be reformed. Come out from it.

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

In 2 Timothy 4:3 to “endure sound doctrine” means to hold oneself accountable to it. WHAT’s at the root of those who refuse to “endure sound doctrine”? – They simply do not love Jesus like He commanded them to (Matthew 22:37-39). They profess Christ as Savior and yet love self supremely and therefore serve the god of self. The Holy Ghost through Paul told us this of those who have a mere “form of godliness” in the last day resumé found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

Notice by divine design the very first thing he reveals is that “men shall be lovers of their own selves.” All the following evil comes out of self love, refusal to love God supremely and therefore repent, deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7

God is toppling all the heart idols (Ezekiel 14:3)… because He’s Jealous and wants us looking to Him and not these mere men, these vile wolves, these celebrity sinners posing as His representatives (Exodus 34:14).

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14

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