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The “More Blessed” Life

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

The “more blessed” life is the cross life our LORD calls us to.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

These are the words of the Messiah – who gave His life to purchase His church. And dare we say the eternal Word was “more blessed” as a result, as He brought back His alienated fallen race? (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 

To lose our lives, to abandon them to Christ, is to gain them everlasting. Those living the more blessed life, are giving their lives over to the LORD daily, as Jesus instructed and in preference to Christ, their “first love.” (Revelation 2:4-5) They choose Him over themselves as Romans 12:1 declares to us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

“He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he can never lose.” Jim Elliott

Lose, forsake it all to gain it all.

Our lives are not our own. We’ve been bought with the highest price. – “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Do we begin to realize, to understand the Gospel? – to understand the price God chose to pay to buy us back to Himself out of the world, out of a life of sin, out of separation from Him?

“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 

The way we “glorify God in our body” is to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) This is how we are to be crucified with Christ our LORD and thereby raised up into new life, the life of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17)

Let’s look at and memorize our theme verse again:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

Perhaps many times we view the above statement in terms of giving money or aid to someone in need or to the work of Christ. Yet it seems that more important than giving some thing or some money, etc., is the giving over of our lives to the LORD. And, when our lives are given over to our Maker, our Savior, all we have will be His and giving will be the result of this crucified, raised up disposition (1 Chronicles 29:14; Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

Those who give their life over to the One who gave them life are “more blessed” than what they could ever otherwise be.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

In fact the cross life is the “more blessed” life Jesus is speaking of – the life that is dead, buried, and raised up with Christ (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.). The resurrection is the healing, the wholeness! The life that isn’t “crucified with Christ” doesn’t get blessed with resurrection life and power. Only when the self-life is “crucified with Christ” can the blessing of the resurrection life of God be realized.

Of this, one writer notes:

“Healing is the resurrection. Wholeness, holiness, completeness, entireness, perfectness, undividedness are all words that describe those that are dying and RISING again with Christ.

The religious person, the legalist, humanly moral person are all divided. They are not whole or holy. They cannot be holy even if they, like the Pharisees, are strictly moral.  They do not know undivided unconditional love. Even the tax collectors can do conditional love said Jesus in Matt 5:38-48. They are moral hypocrites. ‘Depart from Me. I never knew you.’ And they never knew Him.

The law says if you sow good deeds you will reap blessing.  Grace says if you sow your old self into death you will reap the resurrection life and power of Christ. Thus, the Bible has redefined the meaning of sowing and reaping in the New Testament.”

The resurrection healing, wholeness, comes to those who are truly “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12)

The LORD our Creator has designed/set things up so that we ourselves can only personally be fulfilled if and when we are walking in His perfect will and meeting the needs and desires of others.

It is the “mind of Christ” to give our lives over to the LORD Jesus and others. This disposition runs counter to all the self-centered notions and philosophies taught among sinful men, including the recovery-addicted false church world.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5

The above passage is a great one to read every morning this whole week. If you do so in sincere prayer to the LORD, your life will never be the same.

We cannot and will not be fulfilled by worldly riches or pursuits but only by obeying God and fulfilling the needs of others

“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:6-8

The LORD requires that all who will follow Him (and go to Heaven), must lay aside their own will. Jesus cried “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”(Luke 22:42) The daily cross is some Jesus mandates and all who truly know and are following Him are learning that daily cross by simple submitted obedience and the enablement of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12-14).

True repentance means laying our lives down at His feet and being dead to self which means we have NO personal agenda! (Romans 6)

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30

Regrettably, most who claim to be saved have not the slightest desire or clue as to what truly following Christ really is. This is because they are trusting what their pastor has told them instead of searching the Holy Scriptures to see what the Judge of their eternal souls says.

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

Today, write Philippians 2:3-5 on an index card and begin to read it daily, to meditate upon it, and assimilate into your mind, thoughts, actions, and life.

Your life is going to change now. God is going to begin undergirding your thoughts and life, orchestrating His perfect will as He conforms you to the image of Jesus Christ.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

Get out of your own world disciple of Jesus. Embark on this cross journey. You are Jesus’ servant and student. Look around you. Anticipate the needs and legitimate desires of your mate, your children, your family, your friends, and those you don’t yet know. If you will help with the business of others, God will take care of yours.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Crying out with John the Baptist….

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 

Jesus came and empty Himself (Philippians 2). The Son of God withheld nothing. Christ gave all. He poured out His whole heart and life to please His Father and to bless fallen mankind (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Acts 3:26). God bankrupted Heaven to redeem us.

The measure of your spiritual maturity and state can clearly be seen in how you are given over with reckless abandon to the LORD and to serving others.

Why would God raise up someone who is already alive, alive to self, in self? He will not. It takes the cross to liquidate the old man – a laying down of our own lives, our will, our agenda, our way. God only raises up, resurrects those who are willingly dead and buried with Christ. Those live in the dead and buried posture, are being raised up in the power of God, blessed, and mightily used of Him! There is no other way for us – just as there was no other way for Jesus to redeem the world without the cross and buried. He defeated sin, Satan, and death by dying and being raised up! (Romans 8:11; Hebrews 2:14-15, etc.).

Here’s the “remnant” of Christ described:

“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: 32 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.” Isaiah 37:31-32

Note in the passage above that the remnant escaped from that which claims to represent the LORD while subverting His truth – “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19) God is calling out His remnant to lay down our lives and in doing so there will be a separation, a coming out of the cross-less apostate modern church world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). If it’s a cross-less gospel, it’s a false gospel. The redemptive cross of Christ and the one He commanded we take up, are at the center of the original Gospel message. This is how we know who is true and false.

Being Jesus’ Disciple

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

Jesus instructed us to “Remember Lot’s wife.” Genesis 19 records the escape from Sodom, from divine judgment upon the inhabitants. As she was obeying the command of the angels not to look back, while she was escaping judgment, Lot’s wife looked back and perished. She was judged with the wicked and make no mistake, this is exactly was our LORD wants us to “remember.” Many today, like Lot’s wife, were saved and yet then they turned back to the old, to the evil, to the fires of eternal judgment that were once behind them. Now they face those same fires of damnation and the torment will be even “worse with them than the beginning.” (2 Peter 2:20-22) They’ve turned back to what they were delivered from and are perishing.

“Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:32-33 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name and ask You to forgive me for my self-idolatry, my heart rebellion, my uncleanness, and ever other sin I’ve committed against You. LORD, I know You are holy and ask You to make me holy as You are holy. Please set me apart unto Yourself and grace a broken, contrite heart of flesh. Here and now I lay my life in Your hands. I am crucified with Christ. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. Thank You this moment Jesus for washing me clean of all sin in Your precious blood LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s learn God’s Word together, one truth at a time. Sign up here to receive the Moments with Our Master email which is sent out for your edification, learning, and discernment.

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Abiding

5 Loaves, 2 Fishes, and 12 Baskets Left Over [podcast]


“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” Galatians 2:9-10

Did Jesus come as a celebrity or servant? Read Philippians 2 each morning this week.

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Matthew 5:42

“Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.” Luke 6:30

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 11  If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12  If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24:12


FEEDING THE POOR IN SPIRIT AND STOMACH: Because you care, you prayed, you gave….. Cenovio, a homeless man, was treated to the hearing of our LORD’s bless-ed Gospel message, a delicious hot meal, hot coffee, fresh water, and a JESUS tract. It was a super blessed time with this man. Thank God and you!

Would you like to pause and pray for Cenovio? | Mission Mexico


Of Jesus feeding the multitudes, one source notes:

Jesus fed a large crowd on at least two occasions, most notably feeding 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves and two fish, and later feeding 4,000 men plus women and children with seven loaves and a few fish. The miracles occurred when Jesus had compassion on the hungry crowds who had been following him, and the food multiplied supernaturally, leaving 12 baskets of leftovers in the first instance and seven in the second.”  


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Articles

The Psychology of Eternal Security [book]

What’s Behind this Popular Belief?

ALL of Todd’s books on Amazon in both print and kindle versions

Grace Perverting Wolves and the People They Deceive Exposed

An epidemic of grace-perverting wolves have hi-jacked the modern church world and are leading millions to damnation, all while fully believing that they are unconditionally eternally secure. We can easily observe a cross-less generation of professing Christians who claim to be saved and hide behind this damning heresy in fulfillment of the Holy Spirit’s severe warning of a people who “heap to themselves” false teachers who despise truth and tickle their ears (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:2-4).

Saving grace does not grant the recipient a license to sin but to ‘live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world’ (Titus 2:11-12).

What is the profile of those who buy this flesh-flattering package of falsehoods which contradict the clear teachings of Christ and His holy apostles? What was Jude’s warning about these corrupted false teachers who pervert the saving grace of God for their own self-serving purposes and whom we are mandated to “earnestly contend” against? (Jude 3-4)

Why do pastors espouse and teach this doctrine? Find out in the enlightening volume.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One: The Psychology of Eternal Security

Chapter Two: The Reason People Believe OSAS

Chapter Three: OSAS and the Dupes Who Defend It

Chapter Four: Sweet Jesus, the Eternal Security Savior?

Chapter Five: Biblical Proof of Being Backslidden

Chapter Six: The Spirit of Antichrist Underlies OSAS

Chapter Seven: How are Jesus’ People Identified?

Chapter Eight: Honest, Prosperous Hearts

Chapter Nine: Will Everyone Jesus has Saved be in Heaven?

Chapter Ten: Unconditional LOVE Examined

Chapter Eleven: Salvation is Not a One-Time Experience but a Lifelong Walk

Chapter Twelve: What is the Root Cause of Believing OSAS?

Chapter Thirteen: Calling Out all Evangelical Pastors on Their So-Called “Doctrines of Grace”

Chapter Fourteen: Calvinism is a Fraud

Chapter Fifteen: Calvinism: The Curse and Apostasy of America’s Evangelical Churches

Chapter Sixteen: The Initial and Perpetual Condition of Salvation

Addendum: Making Peace with God.

BUY HERE ON STORE

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS BOOK:

AMAZON REVIEW: 5 STARS: “Latest book is a beautiful read: Buckle Up reader! This book is going to rock your world and empower you even greater to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and share it effectively. Don’t look for a read that is going to tickle your ears (we have enough of that within the Christian book world today) but look to be enlightened as Todd continues in The Psychology of Eternal Security to expose a not-so-subtle wave that has taken hold of the Church today. God’s Word stands strong and true and stands the test of time. However, knowingly or even unknowingly, the gospel in many fellowships has been seemingly hijacked and replaced with heretical teachings. The “tell me what my itching ears want to hear” teachings. Once again, Todd uses an incredible amount of scripture as he helps unfold what transpires in us when we become truly saved. For me, the underlying theme of his message in this latest book is to maintain a close relationship with God, thereby being strengthened and empowered to endure life’s trials in an imperfect world while being a light to the lost. This book is beautifully written in the no holds barred but lovingly delivered style that is Todd Tomasella. I am glad to add this latest volume to my library and know that, like his other books I’ve read, will return to its pages again and again.”

5 Star Review on AmazonThe Psychology of Eternal Security: “CAUTION: This book is not for those who want to be comforted in a lie! This book is filled with scripture and the message is one that needs desperately to be heard today! This will likely not be a popular book because many do not want the truth, however if you’re tired of having your ears scratched get this book read it. I believe many…if they would search the scriptures would be surprised that they have been misled in this vital Church doctrine! If you want the truth God will open your eyes, if you don’t God will allow you to keep them closed to the truth. Jesus said: “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”

“What a great book! Get all your questions answered—and more—about what takes place in our souls when we first get saved. I asked that question many years ago and couldn’t find anyone who could give me a biblical answer. This book clearly brings home the fact that as born-again believers, we have the responsibility to keep our garments clean by abiding in Christ and following His commandment to die to ourselves and take up the cross and follow Him. If we sin, we need to ‘confess our sins’ and God ‘is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ This abiding in Christ is first and foremost a relationship, out of which our love for God grows, and that love for Christ, fed and empowered by His grace, brings forth “good fruit”—the keeping of His commandments. This book is so loaded with Scripture that you won’t be the same after reading it. You will be equipped to minister to others of God’s saving grace—and what our part is as we abide in Christ, and empowered by His grace “endure to the end” to be received joyfully in Heaven to spend a glorious eternity with our loving Lord who “loved us and gave Himself for us!” Debbie Lord

Buy Print Copy Now (click below)

ALL of Todd’s books on Amazon in both print and kindle versions

Foreword

By Frank Telford

The truth in the chapters you are about to read is the difference between life and death. It is that important. What this author has written about is so vital to the church today that it should be read by everyone.

Paul gave a stern warning to Timothy that in the last days believers would be swept away by seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Think about that for a moment. What this author is saying is that the origin of some teachings from the pulpit do not come from the Holy Spirit. They come from Satan and his demons to seduce believers into a state of ineffective lukewarmness, or even worse, to get them to depart from their faith in Christ completely. We have to ask ourselves how the devil is successful in this mission when believers are armed with the Word of God.

This book will give you a unique insight into two different paradigms. On one side, we have church members who are not really interested in serving God but they want a ticket to heaven. On the other side, we have false teachers who fill their churches by preaching a message of comfort, regardless if its members are spiritually dead. They have enriched themselves by telling their members what they want to hear and not the full truth of the Gospel. Their incomplete message gives those who want to hear it an excuse to live however they please with the comfort that if they profess their belief in Jesus one time, they will be saved for eternity, regardless of their actions.

Consider the deadly ramifications when someone believes “once saved always saved” is true. A person can get saved, walk several years with the Lord, then turn away from Christ and become a homosexual, and believe that he will face no eternal consequences like the rest of the world will. A believer, when faced with the choice to take the mark of the beast, would then be  comforted (falsely) by thinking that he can take the mark and still be saved for an eternity in Heaven.

This book is of vital importance because it is shining a light on this doctrine of devils that has true eternal consequences.

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Abiding

10 Truths to Behold in Isaiah 41:10 [podcast]


“Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not
cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen
thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:9-10

There are 10 truths to behold in Isaiah 41:10:

• “Thou art my servant”
• “I have chosen thee”
• “and not cast thee away”
• “Fear thou not”
• “I am with thee”
• “be not dismayed”
• “for I am thy God”
• “I will strengthen thee”
• “I will help thee”
• “I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”

The soul that prospers is that one who clings to, trusts in and
relies upon Christ alone, day by day, walking ever nearer to
the soon coming Savior. He is with us and promises to “never
leave thee, nor forsake thee”—that is, for those who abide
with Christ (Hebrews 13:5).

1 Peter 1

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Prayer: Dear LORD, thank You for helping me today, and
continuing the good work of salvation You began in me the
moment You saved me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Spiritual WarfareOn the Truth Can Make us FreeNeither Give Place to the DevilResist the Devil and He will Flee from You Be Ready in the Morning [podcast]Fresh Start with God | Making Peace with God | 100’s of Christ-Centered, Scripture-Rich Podcasts | Rooted and Grounded in Christ 

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