Abiding

“Wisdom is Justified of all her Children” [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]

“But wisdom is justified of all her children.” (Luke 7:35)

What does that mean? What did Jesus mean by this? Let’s peer into this a bit ….

Jesus, the Light of the world, came to infiltrate the darkness!

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21

Each of God’s people, are a weapon in His mighty hand.

“The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” Exodus 15:3

The personalities of John the Baptist and Jesus were strikingly different, unique. John the Baptist was all business. As He stated the LORD Jesus, while on earth, was on mission, was about His “Father’s business” and yet in a more sociable manner (Luke 2:49). He interacted more among the people in a social sense it seems.

God gives each one of His people a unique personality and the liberty to operate accordingly, temperately – to be led by Him (Psalms 37:23; Romans 8:14).

“The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” Matthew 11:19

If Jesus didn’t come for “publicans and sinners,” rank heathen, He certainly wouldn’t have drawn to Himself and saved you and me, right?

Of “wisdom is justified of her children,” one writer notes:

“When Jesus challenged His listeners that wisdom is justified by her children, He was saying that the soundness of wisdom can be judged by the fruit of that wisdom. The people of that generation thought they had sound wisdom and were prideful in their own ability to discern and judge. But Jesus challenged their wisdom by looking at the ‘children’ of their wisdom—what did their ‘wisdom’ produce? Their deeds were woeful, in that they failed to recognize both the forerunner of the Messiah and the Messiah Himself.”

Of this truth, found in Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:3, Roy Davison writes:

“Wisdom is often counter-intuitive. It is not what seems sensible to many. Yet, true wisdom will be advantageous in the end. True wisdom because there is also ‘wisdom of this world’ that is futile (1 Corinthians 3:18–20).

Jesus made the proverbial statement, ‘Wisdom is justified by all her children’ (Luke 7:35), in connection with the different approaches that He and John the Baptist used.

‘For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children’ (Matthew 11:18, 19).

Conventional wisdom misrepresented and criticized both approaches. Yet God used John to bring thousands to repentance and He used Jesus to bring salvation to the world.”

Those walking in worldly wisdom will always persecute those walking in God’s wisdom.

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Everything Jesus did, everything children of God do today, is going to be used by antichrists to bring slander – going to be blown out of proportion by Satan’s children. Why? It’s the reaction of the unrepentant to project their own guilt, their own darkness on others, especially the righteous (Romans 2:1-3).

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

In this passage Jesus is exposing the fact that rebels are to blame and not the individual style of the messengers of Christ. Those who love darkness rather than light will always find fault in the mere, the imperfect messenger – yet it’s ultimately God and His beautiful plan they are rejecting and will suffer the consequences for all eternity in Hell for their choice.

“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!” Luke 7:34

Apparently, in His personality, Jesus was sociable and befriended sinners! He joyfully engaged them in friendships in order to win them to Himself, into His eternal kingdom. In this passage of record (Matthew 11; Luke 7), Jesus is rebuking the pharisees for rejecting John the Baptist, who was a purist personality wise. And they rejected the Messiah Himself who approached them from a different perspective. In other words, hard-hearted unrepentant rebels will reject the saving grace of God no matter how it’s presented to them!

WISDOM DOES NOT NECESSARILY COME WITH AGE. WISDOM COMES WITH FEARING THE LORD! ALL THOSE WHO FEAR GOD SEEK GOD – WITHOUT EXCEPTION!

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

Those who seek to squelch, hinder, or shut down the preaching of the Word of God are out of order and children of Satan: Jesus never gave you the authority to try to shut down His truth flowing from one of HIS servants. God makes men with unique personalities and callings – for His glory which is not your business. Read closely what Jesus teaches here below in Luke 7 and note how He culminates His teaching – “Wisdom is justified of her children” (v35). Get to know this truth saints. Children of divine wisdom need no mere man’s approval in administering God’s Word as He made and leads them to do. Jesus speaks here as an example to us of how His personality was completely different than John the Baptist and yet both were 100% of God (of course!):

Fishers of Men – God’s Wisdom Working in each of His Saints

Jesus and John the Baptist had different styles.

At the onset of the record of Luke 7 we read of our LORD healing the centurion’s servant and then raising a widow’s son from the dead.

Messengers from John the Baptist Luke 7:

Luke 7

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

John the Baptist was unique as are all men and therefore his style was of his own choosing. The Son of God came in another fashion to win men. None these stylish ….God makes all men unique and therefore their social habits will differ. Nonetheless, they are still His children if they’ve been born again and are abiding in Christ (John 15). Notice our LORD’s words on record in Luke 7 in light of 1 Corinthians 9:22 which states: “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”:

Self-righteous religious counterfeits like these Christ-rejecting pharisees condemn all messengers of God no matter what their personalities and social likes and dislikes – they find something wrong with them in order to justify their own unrepentant wicked hearts. In other words, because they are deeply entrenched in their own heart rebellion, they find reasons to justify it by condemning the mere messengers. God sees and records all of this to the heart motive level and will judge each and every person accordingly. He gives all men the opportunity to get right with Him, desiring all to repent and be saved and yet some choose to find fault with the mere an imperfect messengers the LORD graciously sends.

John the Baptist was a purist it seems in his social manners and Jesus was more social, mixing with the people He was trying to reach, personality in the flesh.

“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22

OUR PRAYER: Holy Father, in Jesus’ name, please grant Your people Your wisdom as You use us to reach others, each being a unique situation and person. LORD, You sent others to reach me in my sin and I now ask You to mightily use me into the lives of others who need Your salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The unrepentant, those who refuse to repent, are to be rejected.

“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Titus 3:10-11

Jesus closes with this: “But wisdom is justified of all her children” (Luke 7:35).

Not only does wisdom inside the children of God lead them in their social habits to win the lost, it emanates and is accessed from a complete trust in the Ancient of days, from which the fountain of all wisdom resides and flows.

Of this statement, F.B. Meyer writes:

“It ill becomes us to observe the winds of human caprice. If we please one party, we shall displease the other. There is but one path through life, and that is to do the will of God, in which, as Dante puts it, is our peace. But the children of wisdom recognize her alike in the anxiety of the Baptist and in the graces of the Son of man.”

Liberty in NON Essentials (things not essential to ones salvation)

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4

QUESTION ASKED:

“What’s your preaching, ministering style? does it change in different venues…..?” Corey

REPLY:

Could be brother…. keep in mind that Jesus tells us that “wisdom is justified of her children.” JTB walked in his own shoes if you will as did Jesus who makes us all unique. The church world is over populated with soft preachers and preaching. There are JTB’s in every generation and perhaps they blow some people out of the trenches that the softies never could…. “

Luke 7

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

One observation of what Jesus is revealing here is that no matter what the method or style, rebels will find a reason to reject Him while turning on His mere messengers.

I know God is using you mightily. Personally, He’s used guys like you to minister to me. Now, keep in mind that my style in social media ministering is completely different than in person usually….such as the weekly local fellowship and especially street ministry….. in social media, much more shock value preaching happens.

JESUS addressed this very thing and had it put in His Word…. and Jesus is the Judge and we are to preach the Word of the Judge. Jesus warned us to beware of those who dress in fancy religious garb to exploit the people:

“Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, 46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.” Luke 20:25-27

And you still haven’t explained why you call Paul an evil false teacher by saying he should not have used 3 sports to illustrate spiritual truth…. and he never once condemned those sports or those who participate. Waiting?

“We may not like the dressing or the cloth of the messenger but truth is still truth. Some of today’s rough cut persons, who are Christ’s messengers, are of the same spirit of brother John the Baptist.” David Taylor

Was Jesus a Friend of Sinners? [podcast]

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32 YES Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners – because He loves all men and came to die for all men (1 John 2:2). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 Bible 101 Jesus came to die to save sinners. And, anyone not preaching this paramount Gospel truth is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Interestingly, most pastors today avoid the biblical topic of sin which […]

The Riches of God's Grace in Christ [podcast]

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7 It’s been said that “God bankrupted Heaven to buy us back to Himself!” “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 Jesus judged sin on the cross so we don’t have to be judged for our sin and so we can experience “the exceeding riches of his grace” both now and forever (John 12:31-32; Ephesians 1:7; 2:7). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through […]

His Compassions Fail Not

There’s Mercy and Grace for YOU REMEMBER THAT “HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL…… NOTTTTTT” IT doesn’t so much matter WHERE you are right now…. as much as WHERE you are heading. Get those hands and heart up to Heaven…. praise the name of Jesus from right where you are ….. know that God is merciful …… simply take Him at His Word. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD […]

Approaching Sinners with Compassion [podcast]

“He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 God truly cares for us and for others. Do we? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 Father, in Jesus’ name, please grant us YOUR compassion for the lost souls You wish to reach through our lives. Powerful Passage on New Testament Ministry “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 […]

Abiding

5 Soul Damning Sins Named! Learning from History! [podcast]

THE 5 SINS THAT KEPT ISRAEL (God’s own covenant people) OUT OF THEIR PROMISED LAND OF BLESSINGS and will keep us out if not relinquished. Friend, please read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 with all your might. Make this text your meat.

The world seeks to romance sin but if God says it’s sin, that’s what it is. Toning down the terms changes nothing. Judgment Day is on the way.

We are fighting the good fight of faith, “striving against sin” and “more than conquerors” over sin through Jesus who loves us and bought us with His own blood! (1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:4; 13:12; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:37)

There are the 5 sins listed here that kept God’s people out of His blessings. We all need to L.I.F.T.M. up to the LORD in repentance and for His perfect forgiveness and cleansing. God the Holy Spirit warns us here through Paul’s pen (1 Cor. 10:1-13), that Israel and these sins are “examples” (vv. 6, 11) to all NT believers. God destroys those who go back on Him after knowing Him (transgressors – Ps. 68:21; 73:28; 125:5, etc.). If not ridden out of our lives, any one of these 5 sins WILL keep us out of our promised land. God is holy (Heb. 12:14). As taken in order from 1 Cor. 10:6-10, here are those 5 sins:

Lust
Idolatry
Fornication
Tempting Christ
Murmuring

This simple acronym should help us to remember these sins and remain separate from them as we grow today to know and love our Savior more fervently. “Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Committing the sin is one thing (1 John 1:8-10, right) and refusing to repent of it is yet another. Refusing to acknowledge, repent, confess, and cease is what snares the soul and ousts us from Christ (Proverbs 28:13).

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

If the Holy Spirit has quickened any offences of your heart, simply L.I.F.T.M. up to Christ the Redeemer, Forgiver, Cleanser, and Transformer of lives.

WHATEVER it takes – those who choose to get real with God will sever themselves from anything and anyone who causes them to sin. This is what Jesus says about sin and hell:

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:43-50

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

1 Corinthians 10 completely destroys the OSAS / eternal security argument.

Notice the word “OUR” in verses 6 and 11. This is directly spoken to warn NEW Testament saints that they are going to hell if they live and die in sin.

Case closed.

1 Corinthians 10:1-12

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were OUR examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.

7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Eternal security is a false teaching. 1 sin separated Adam and Eve from God and “The wages of sin is (still) death” because God is Holy (Rom 6:23, etc.). Moral coward counterfeits hate, despise the Gospel essential of the cross, the crucified life. They want Jesus to save them to Heaven but not from sin. These are the sin-justifying, grace-perverting “ungodly men” Jude warned us about (Jude 4).

The divine declaration that “The wages of sin is death” which means separation from God, appears throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23).

“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” Proverbs 19:16

Die or death always means separation.

OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell. OSAS was Satan’s first lie and so it’s blasphemy to teach this doctrine of devils and claim it’s part of the Gospel. You are attributing Satan’s lie to the LORD Jesus. Repent now sinner. See Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Jude 4, etc..

The concept of an un-conditional eternal security is not established in Scripture … Except for it being Satan’s first teaching, His first lie – the “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

Eternal Security/Once saved always saved is a lie from hell.

PEACE with GOD

The Myth of Eternal Security [podcast]

“For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.” Psalms 73:27 BAD NEWS FOR CROSS-LESS COUNTERFEITS WHO HIDE BEHIND THE “ETERNAL SECURITY” SHAM: YOU WILL BE ETERNALLY SECURE WHEN AND IF YOU ARE WITH JESUS IN ETERNITY, NOT BEFORE! Can’t leave Christ after He saves you? Think again… dear one who continues to search for a way to justify your sin, for not truly repenting and laying down your life in this fleeting sinful world and overcoming (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27, 33; 17:33; 19:27; Titus 2:11-14; , etc.). All […]

Clear Proof that the Bible is the Only Sacred Holy Book on God's Planet [podcast]

There is only one holy book and name in the earth, the sacred name of Jesus Christ who is the grand subject of all of Holy Scripture (Philippians 2:9-11). God left us with His Word so we can know Him and not be deceived by the “MANY false prophets” He promised would come and deceive many just before His return (Matthew 24:11). God gave us His Word to protect us (2 Timothy 3:15-17). “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the […]

Can a Believer be Cut Off After being Saved? [podcast]

Paul reminds us Gentiles believers of how God “cut off” His own people, the Jews, when they rebelled against Him, and that He will also “cut off” any of us who do not continue in His goodness and severity (Romans 11:20-22). Any person who rejects this truth is a grace-perverting, sin-justifying fraud who has made a fake god in their own image due to the refusal to truly repent. “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches (Jews), take heed lest he also spare not […]

Abiding

“The Unalterable Basis of an Open Heaven is a Grave” [podcast]

Concerning the raising up process of the Gospel of God, T. Austin-Sparks wrote:

“The unalterable basis of an open heaven is a grave, and a crisis at which you come to an end of your own self-life. It is the crisis of real experiential identification with Christ in His death.”

Though we entered into His death upon initial salvation, accepting and experiencing that death is still a daily choice, an individual decision to be made on an ongoing basis. One’s choice to continue to persevere, following Christ as He clearly prescribed, will determine his eternal destination (Luke 9:62; 19:13; 21:19; Romans 6:16; Galatians 6:7-9).

The insidious circumventing of the cross can come in many clandestine ways that are masked with pious outer garb. Today, while refusing to utter the full counsel of the One they claim tobe representing, smiling and charismatic men stand in sheep’s clothing, promising heavenly life to those who live in sin. They only prosper due to the volitional biblical illiteracy of the masses. Ignorance of the truth is a choice with eternal consequences (Hosea 4:6; Matthew 22:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

Of seeds, one source notes:

“Seeds do not technically ‘die’ when planted; rather, they germinate, transforming from a dormant state into an active, growing plant. While the outer shell breaks and the original form changes, the embryo inside remains alive.”

Just as nothing in hell could have held Jesus in that grave, NOTHING in hell can hold down the crucified saint! The divinely volcanic resurrection life of Christ bursting forth in the life of the crucified consenting disciple will be utterly unstoppable!

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive, raise up) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

The true disciple is always “delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:11). He has “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). He is daily putting to death “the deeds of the body” and being “raised up” by the power of the same Holy Spirit “that raised up Christ from the dead” (Romans 8:11, 13). He rejoices in “Christ Jesus” and has “no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).

“I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake … that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you” 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12.

The disciple who is dead and buried with Christ is “dead to sin” (Romans 6:2). There are tell-tale symptoms in one whose self life has not been terminated, put to death. When we justify the sinful things we do, and call those who point them out “legalistic,” it is symptomatic of a life that is not crucified with Christ. The Bible says, “Lie not against the truth” (James. 3:14). If we argue against the truth when we are shown it, we are manifesting rebellion. The “corn of wheat” must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The one whose life is laid down does not make excuses when he realizes that he harbors sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more sanctified and dwelling in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I am crucified with You. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. Here and now I lay my life in Your holy hands, this moment. Please use me now and here forward in the Father’s business of the Great Commission as we eagerly look for Your soon return. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God’s Little Pet Disciple?

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 GOD will remove His presence from you in a heartbeat if you allow pride (James 4:6-10). Memorize and live 1 Corinthians 10:12 now. —- As the LORD told Esther, so He tells you and I – “If you will not DO what He told you to do, I will replace you!” We are to serve God on His terms, not ours – or, He will replace us with someone who will. We need Him – He doesn’t need us – and, we are not irreplaceable! – “For IF thou altogether holdest […]

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

Jesus taught that the Heaven bound disciple must have root in himself, must “endure to the end”, must have a long term, an eternal perspective (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13). The Cost of Discipleship “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 […]

Judgment to Come Necessitates the Crucified Life [podcast]

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 In light of “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2), the apostle speaks here of his preparation for it. Paul knew that eternal damnation awaited him if he dared not keep under his body, to crucify the deeds of the body to “bring it into subjection” by the daily crucified life. Keeping under our bodies speaks of a continual essential. Keeping under means subduing the old man by crucifying it daily. “For […]

Abiding

Faith with Humility: When Love Replaces Judgment [podcast]

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6

Recently I ran across a sobering title for a video by a pastor. It read:

“They have the gospel backwards: Why are Christians so mean?”

Have you memorized Matthew 5:44 in the King James Bible?

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

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