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“Work of Faith, and Labour of Love” [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Don’t Bother Obeying If You Don’t Love!

“Sadly… Failing to keep the words and commandments of Jesus Christ and the Word of God is the greatest proof that you really don’t love Him.” Jennifer Leza

If you are in love with someone, you want them to love you back. You want them to want you. That’s what makes chemistry and a good marriage – a man and a woman who spontaneously reciprocate love to each other – because they truly love one another. Think about that. No human would deny such a simple, self-evident truth. Well, the One who made us wants us to want Him – to love Him.

Just WHAT is there not to love about the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ? If we haven’t taken time to get to know about Him and to know Him, we will never begin to uncover His infinite riches, truth, divine attributes, kindness, mercy, grace, love, and much more.

Jesus says: “IF YOU LOVE ME, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) The self-reliant legalist is quick to emphasize the keeping of His commands but that’s utterly in vain if we have not love for Him! Read Jesus’ words again and look closely at what comes first which indicates divine priority – “IF YOU LOVE ME, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) You see, it’s only “IF” we “LOVE” Him that He is interested in our obedience. Obedience to what Christ commanded is of no value to God if we don’t sincerely love Him.

Perhaps our prayer should begin with “Father, You are love. Help me to love You more! Jesus, You must increase but I must decrease! I beg You now to break me LORD!”

EVERY single human being loves someone supremely. For most who claim to know Jesus, they love self more than the Savior (2 Timothy 3:1-7). Token obedience out of guilt doesn’t please God.

One disciple notes: “If I start the day without seeking Him first, getting His agenda for me, I’m serving the god of self. Who I give my first waking moments to shows who is Lord of my life. If I’m happily married, and in love, the first thing I wish to do when I wake is to say good morning to my love…. Shouldn’t it be this way with JESUS our divine Husband? Shouldn’t my love for the One who bled to redeem me burn hotter than any other earthly love?”

When Jesus compared Mary and Martha, which one did He say pleased Him most?

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Note that Jesus here said that the “good part” Mary chose “shall not be taken away from her.” Now, recall with me how Paul taught that love is eternal whereas gifts are not (1 Corinthians 13).

“Charity: the Righteousness of God in action in one’s life.” Gary Nygard

Obeying God does not earn your justification – it’s an expression of your love for Him! Read Romans 3:23-25; 4:4-5 and Titus 3:5-7 repeatedly, pouring prayerfully over these precious passages.

Yes it’s true that those living in sin are hell bound for there is no excuse for sin – because the LORD is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6:1-2; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.). Yet we must not lead people to believe that we are saved by our own works or obedience but rather by CHRIST HIMSELF (Ephesians 2:8-10). Good works is the fruit of knowing and abiding in Christ and yet they don’t save us – CHRIST does! (John 15)

Isaiah De Castro writes: “We are saved by the work of Jesus Christ and not our own works. This is true, but we must honor His works and sacrifices by obeying His words and living in His holiness and righteousness. Anyone who is not living in the godliness and righteousness of God (Words of God) is a fake receiver of grace and ‘this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me’ (Matthew 15:8).”

Obedience is the FRUIT that proves we know and love Him and are in an abiding relationship with Christ. It’s always going to be resident in every one of God’s true children and yet fruit doesn’t save, only JESUS can do that! (John 15)

God’s people are justified by CHRIST Himself, saved perfectly…. And our good works which He commanded, are the fruit of that relationship with Jesus and not what saves us! John 15

Heartfelt Willingness Must Precede Obedience

You know, when His people were backslidden, the LORD told them to “Come ….. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:18-20) Note the order here: Firstly and foremost important to God is that His people be “willing.” Note the order and how “willing” comes before “obedient.” God is only interested in our obedience if and as our hearts are “willing” or desiring Him.

1. “willing”

“obedient”

YOU ARE UNCONTIONALLY LOVED – NOT UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED!!!

“Your Work of Faith, and Labour of love”

“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Our work for Christ must emanate from our “faith” toward Him and our “love” will bear the fruit of “labour” for His glory. You may wish to really grab on to this divinely-inspired phrase – “work of faith, and labour of love.”

The bottom line is that Jesus is not at all interested in you trying to serve and please Him IF YOU DON’T LOVE HIM. Of course, you must repent in order to be His son/daughter to begin with (Luke 13:3, 5). And, repentance is putting your full trust in Him and the beginning of loving Him. The LORD looks upon and wants your heart. – “Rend your heart, and not your garments.” (Joel 2:13)

I believe we can behold this important priority throughout our LORD’s Word and Joel 2 is not exception.

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: ¹³And rend your heart (internal), and not your garments (external things), and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. ¹⁴Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? ¹⁵Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: ¹⁶Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” Joel 2:12-16

In Matthew 9:13 Jesus told us to go and learn something:

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13

Christ foretold that in the last days, the love of many would wax cold – toward Him and consequently, His beloved people.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.¹¹And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. ¹³But he that shall endure unto the end (truly loving Him supremely), the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:10-13

Jesus here says that the love for God among those who once knew Him is fading and waxing cold whereas it was once hot. Is this not exactly what happened to the Ephesians and the Laodiceans? (Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-16). It’s those who are choosing daily to love God above their selves who are longing to be with their glorious Savior. Their love for the LORD waxes hotter daily as they look expectantly and eagerly for His soon return.

Commanded to Love

IF we truly love Him, we will obey Him. Yet, trying to obey Him without loving Him in order to get Him to love us or please Him, is futile.

Many are getting caught up in law keeping type obedience. Many times we hear the fleshly command to “keep Torah.” BUT what did Jesus sum it all up as? Many can be heard saying “Stop Sinning” and “Go and sin no more.” Jesus said the latter but not before He forgave the woman He told that to. Redemption comes before obedience and overcoming (John 8:1-11; 1 John 5:4-5).

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

And just WHY are we privileged to return love to the LORD? – “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

“His Commandments are not Grievous”

Those who love the LORD desire and rejoice to obey Him. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3) Now, go read this passage – begin reading in 1 John 5:1. Notice that it’s only when we are not submitted to, that is, abiding intimately in, Christ that His commands would be “grievous” to us. Otherwise, our obedience to Him is a labor of love. Do you remember how much Jacob loved Rachel? That was his baby wasn’t it? Look what Scripture reveals about that relationship – “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” (Genesis 29:20)

Don’t you just love that verse? – “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.” (Genesis 29:20)

Rachel was a labor of love for Jacob. He didn’t mind working for her because he loved her. Spending those years to be with Rachel was not “grievous” to Jacob because he loved Rachel.

“Anathema Maranatha”

Are you saying “Come Lord Jesus” with those who truly love Him, or, are are you cursed?

“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ…”

“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” 1 Corinthians 16:22

Of this verse, the late Donald Stamps notes:

“ANATHEMA. Paul ends the Corinthian letter by reminding all professing believers that to claim to be believers, yet to “love not the Lord,’ is to be ‘Anathema’ (i.e., accursed, doomed). To ‘love not the Lord’ means to fail to have a heartfelt love toward Him, to not obey Him (John 14:21), and to distort the apostolic gospel of N.T. revelation. To be accursed means being excluded from the true spiritual church on earth and finally from the heavenly kingdom of the age to come. Paul wants his readers to understand that the ultimate test of Christian discipleship is a personal, heartfelt loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 10:9).”

The last word in this verse is “Maranatha” which means “Come Lord.” And this is the heart cry of all who are His blessed remnant! Their hearts are looking for Him and they “love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 9:28) Jesus will soon return for “all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)

As things continue to get darker and the hearts of men more murderous and antichrist, we must rejoice and reflect upon the words of Jesus when He told us: “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

It is of the utmost important that we choose to love and to continue to learn to love and obey our LORD Jesus Christ who bled to save us to the Father.

Friend, are you truly loving God first and foremost? Is Jesus truly first in your daily, personal life? Does the LORD come before YOU? Are you dying so He can live? Do you arise in the mornings to seek His holy face in prayer and reading His Word?

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The Cardinal Characteristic of Knowing God [podcast]

The Book of Jude Narrated [podcast]

1 Thessalonians 3 Discussed [podcast]

G.O.D. = Game Over Devil [podcast]

Abiding

Weeping Men Win Men [podcast]

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest, eternal reward) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17

“Blessed are the poor in spirit (desperate for God): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

The words “mourn” and “mourning” appear 96 times in God’s Word. Ever heard a message on it?

“Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:9-10

“Excellent message/podcast! Thank you. Makes me think of Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn: for they shall be comforted.” We mourn as God shows us our evil wicked flesh. And see how much we are not like Him. As He begins to transform us into the image of Christ, all of the sudden, we begin to be filled with the compassion of Christ. And we see through the eyes of Jesus that the lost are without a shepherd! And need Jesus. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian and has not died to self will never have the eyes of Christ because they are still looking through the lens of self.” Karen Cochran

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

“Sowing in tears suggests a time of hardship or distress, possibly due to famine, exile, or personal trials. The imagery of sowing is often used in Scripture to represent the act of investing or laboring in faith, even when circumstances are difficult. This can be connected to the Israelites’ return from Babylonian exile, a period marked by sorrow and uncertainty. The tears symbolize the pain and suffering endured during such times, yet they also imply hope and trust in God’s promises. The act of sowing, despite tears, indicates faith in a future harvest, a theme echoed in Galatians 6:9, which encourages perseverance in doing good.

will reap with shouts of joy
Reaping with joy signifies the fulfillment of God’s promises and the reward for faithful endurance. The transformation from tears to joy highlights the redemptive power of God, who turns mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11). This phrase assures believers that their labor and suffering are not in vain, as God will ultimately bring about a joyful harvest. The joy of reaping is not just personal but communal, reflecting the collective celebration of God’s people when His promises are realized. This concept is seen in the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, where their restoration was marked by joy and thanksgiving. The imagery also points to the eschatological hope found in Revelation 21:4, where God wipes away every tear, and eternal joy is established. The phrase can be seen as a type of Christ, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2), illustrating the ultimate sowing in tears and reaping in joy.”

“Psalms 126:5
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy – This is either a maxim which they gather from their own history, or it is a fact which they are now witnessing. We see the benefit of humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God; we have now a sweet return for our bitter tears. Or, We have sown in tears; now we reap in joy. We are restored after a long and afflicting captivity to our own country, to peace, and to happiness.” Adam Clarke

“126:5, 6 The first year after their return would be especially difficult. There would be no crops to harvest right away. They would have to make a fresh start by planting their crops and waiting for harvest time. It would be a period of austerity, of doling out the meager food supplies as frugally as possible.

There would be a certain sorrow or frustration about sowing the seed for that first crop. Here is a farmer whose barrel of grain is low. He can use the grain to feed his family now or he can sow most of it in hope of an abundant supply in days to come. He decides to sow it, but as he dips his hand into his apron and scatters the seed over the plowed land, his tears fall into the apron. He is thinking of his wife and children, of the skimpy bowls of porridge, of how sacrificially they will have to live in the days till harvest. He feels as if he is taking food out of their mouths.

But a cheering word goes out to the returned exiles:

He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. So they go forth and sow the seed. Their present anguish will be more than compensated by the joy of bringing their sheaves of ripened grain to the barn.

The principle applies also, of course, in the spiritual realm. Those who live sacrificially for the spread of the gospel may endure present privation, but what is that compared to the joy of seeing souls saved and in heaven worshiping the Lamb of God forever and forever?

It is true also in the matter of soul winning. Someone has wisely said, ‘Winners of souls are first weepers for souls.’ So our prayer should be:

Let me look on the crowd as my Savior did,
Till my eyes with tears grow dim.
Let me view with pity the wandering sheep
And love them for love of Him.”

—Author unknown” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalms 2:8

You are the LORD’s—”Ye are bought with a price”

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Many who were bought by the precious blood of Jesus are now serving mere men – they are serving men who are building their own kingdom instead of Christ’s kingdom.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

JESUS did not come and die on the cross and rise again from the dead to make you a “good church member” or so you could squander your one life on politics. “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). If you are not actively seeking His face for and participating in executing His Great Commission mandate, you are out of the will of God (Matthew 28; 18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47; Book of Acts). Read that again. Share.

All who committed to Christ are absolutely committed to His stated will—the Great Commission.

“Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:60

Jesus repeatedly declares to us the commission He’s sent us on and for which we shall all give personal account.

“Go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:60

All who committed to Christ are absolutely committed to His stated will—the Great Commission.

Those who have forgotten, and are not obeying Christ’s Great Commission command, clearly reveal that they have forgotten and departed from Christ. Matthew 7:21

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:3-4

“It seems the remnant is sensing the urgency of responding to God’s call as they see the hour is late. They are seeing the need to invest in things that are lasting and eternal not temporal. Satan knowing his time is short is coming down with great fury and wrath and will manifest himself with great intensity (Revelation 12:12). As we are beginning to see, Satan wants to take as many souls with him into the eternal flames as possible. Be awakened to the Great Commission that the Lord has called us to (Matthew 28:18-20). Win souls to Jesus so they can be in Glory with Him forever and not burning in the eternal flames of fire from which there is no escape.” Karen Cochran

The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION ON THEM, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus’ compassion that HE puts in us immediately causes them to respond to Him… endears them to Him as their hearts are crying out for Him and His mercy. Amen.

ARE THOSE not engrossed in the Great Commission mandate of Jesus, wasting their one life on earth? Read that again and repent. Obey God. Read the end of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Then Acts. Now.

Let’s roll saints! Ministry updates.

“People are more sold out and supporting politics than surrendering to Jesus Christ and supporting sharing the Gospel. Temporal over eternal is wrong every time.” Dana Phyllis Carter

IF you are not participating in the the “Father’s business,” the Great Commission, it’s because you are full of your self, evil hearted, self-centered….. and in need of true repentance before it’s too late—which will always bring forth the fruit of obedience, of good works, of Great Commission action (Matthew 3:7-10). Repent now and when you do, for real, you are going to scamper, hasten, to fervently seek the face of the Almighty and be all about HIS business, not your own. The reason you’ve been doing your own business and not His, is because you do not know Him (Matthew 7:21). The Great Commission mandate is seen here Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 2:49; 24:47, 49; Book of Acts.

When God matters to you, when you love Him, truly, His work, His mission matters to you.

IF you claim to be saved and aren’t doing YOUR part in the Great Commission…. it’s time to repent. Anyone not doing the mission of Christ is lukewarm at best.

The true remnant body of Christ is about the “Father’s business” of edifying the saints and winning the lost—not their own or any other business. While on earth Jesus said “I must be about my Father’s business” and those who are truly following Him are doing the same (Luke 2:49).

May all who are godly pray for increase in order to increase Christ’s kingdom and not their own standard of living in this fleeting sinful world but rather their standard of giving to His work so others can be saved and the saints of Christ equipped, nourished, fed, fruitful and blessed (2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Ephesians 4:28).

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

The Great Commission is the Father’s Business and all who are known of Christ are participating. Notice how if you are truly a member of Christ’s bride, you are busy about HIS business—“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revlation 22:17).

All of God’s people are LOSERS …. We lose, we give up our own lives in this world to gain HIS—resurrection life now and forever.

As God is stripping us through the daily cross life, the persecutions, the fruit-bearing resurrection victory is going to transpire in our lives!

“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:36-37

“I welcome His stripping. Throw me in the fire of affliction dear Lord. Because the more of His resurrection life is breathed into you the more you want!” Karen Cochran

The Great Commission: Jesus is Holding YOU Accountable to participate with the other members of His remnant body.

Weeping Men also Protect Others, Protect Christ’s Body

Here’s the passage—please read this carefully:

“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:18-21

The 3 Ways God’s People Participate in Christ’s Great Commission

1. Praying for Christ’s labourers (Matthew 9:35-38).

2. Witnessing, sowing and communicating the Word (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 8:11).

3. Supporting, supplying those of God’s people who are doing His Great Commission, preaching the Word (Matthew 6:1-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Philippians 2:25; 4:16-20).

YOUR PRAYER

Father, in Jesus’ name, please grant Your people that heart of flesh to be “moved with compassion” upon those who do not yet have You as their Great Shepherd. Break me dear LORD, please. Use me for Your glory in this last hour as we are on the precipice of Your return dear LORD, Master Jesus! In Jesus’ name.