Are You being Attacked?
Satan’s Attacks are the Springboard for Divine Blessings!
—–WARNING: This one may just cause you to shout for joy the next time you get persecuted for Jesus! Dare to Share.
Satan’s hoards, wolves, and minions have circled the wagons and are like hungry buzzards planning and anticipating the demise of God’s servants. But just as the LORD Almighty did in the case when Haman made hanging gallows for righteous Mordecai and the Jews, so shall the LORD hang and destroy those who plot against the righteous! (Book of Esther) The enemies of the LORD shall be thrown into the very pit they dug to bury the righteous! Read Psalm 35 and thrust your hands up in violent, joyful praise toward your God in Heaven!!!!! – “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”(Psalms 47:1)
Are You Suffering? This will give you a whole new perspective!
New Perspective: GO FROM whining to God “Oh no LORD, helpppp!! I’m being persecuted” to saying to people, “PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, persecute me! I need more of God’s blessings on my life!!!!!” (well, you know what I mean 😉
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing.” James 1:2-4
In response to the many who have called or emailed and asked for prayer and ministry concerning being slandered. As Jesus promised, “the love of many” is waxing (turning) cold (Matthew 24:10-13). LOVE is the measure of whether or not someone is abiding in Christ (John 15:1-6; Galatians 5:22-23). Without abiding/remaining in Jesus, love will vanquish and hell awaits (1 Corinthians 13: 1 John 3:14-15; 4:8, etc.).
Concerning our suffering slander and being misrepresented, F.B. Meyer wrote the following:
“There will come hours in our lives, when we shall be misconstrued, misunderstood, slandered, falsely accused, wrongfully persecuted. At such times it is very difficult not to act on the policy of the men around us in the world. They at once appeal to law and force and public opinion. But the believer takes his case into a higher court, and lays it before his God. He is prepared to use any means that may appear divinely suggested. But he relies much more on the divine clearing than he does on his own most perfect arrangements. He is content to wait for months and years, till God arise to avenge his cause. It is a very little thing for him to be judged adversely at the bar of man: he cares only for the judgment of God, and awaits the moment when the righteous shall shine forth in the kingdom of their Father, as the sun when it breaks from all obscuring mists. ‘When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.’ Ah! what a clearing-up of mysteries, what dissipating of misunderstandings, what vindication of character shall be there! Oh, slandered ones, you can afford to await the verdict of eternity; of God, who will bring out your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noon day.” F.B. Meyer, Joseph, p. 52
Beware of the False Watchmen
Recently, several of Christ’s called out watchmen have undergone attacks from wolves who are posing as watchmen and yet the fruit of their lives is not love (Galatians 5:22-23). As promised, the attacks upon the righteous are increasing (2 Timothy 3:12-13). These wolves cleverly pose behind the guise of being watchmen. This is the thin veil of their sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). They seek to be disguised while they attack, falsely accuse, and seek to discredit God’s true watchmen. You also may have been attacked. We obey our soon coming King who told us to “rejoice” when “all manner of evil” is spoken against us! (Matthew 5:10-12)
Paul was viciously attacked and assailed and falsely accused many times … remember what he said about Alexander the coppersmith and how he warned everyone else to beware of that wolf? (2 Timothy 4:16-18)
Remember that these vicious wolves mean it for evil and God will judge them eternally. The LORD will also use these attacks upon you for His glory and your good as He did with Joseph who later said of his wolf brothers: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”(Genesis 50:20)
Have you noticed that the more the enemy attacks you, the more blessings God brings into you life? Is this biblical? Yes, concerning the people of God and their enemies, the Bible says “But THE MORE they afflicted them, THE MORE they MULTIPLIED and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 1:12) Did you notice in the last part of this insightful verse that the enemies of the LORD are “grieved” because of God’s blessing on your life as you serve Him in sincerity and in truth?
***HAVE you noticed that the more satan attacks you, the more God blesses? This is a fact of history, for all generations of God’s people. Let’s rejoice in this truth together again ….“But the more they (the Egyptian enemies of God) afflicted them (God’s people), THE MORE they MULTIPLIED and GREW. And they (God’s enemies) were grieved because of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 1:12) If you obey God you are going to be getting His Word out to people and you will at times find yourself in a fire storm of satan’s attacks through his human agents, usually the wicked wolves who feign to be Christian leaders (Matthew 7:6; 23; Mark 4:17). Great blessings flowed in many realms when the earliest disciples of Jesus were attacked by the religionists of their day. – “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked …” (Acts 4:33-34)
”Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
Yes, this persecution should be worn as a badge of honor – that you are even worthy to suffer for Christ’s holy name! Rejoice!
Gutless moral cowards who hold positions of influence and leadership refuse to preach on this Bible topic of the suffering of persecution for Christ’s sake. Jesus spoke much about this… so why don’t they who pretend to be representing Him? They are false. To not speak of this topic is to misrepresent Jesus Christ. …. Jesus promised that those who truly followed Him would be “Hated” … “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) ….. The Son of God also promised that great blessings now and in eternity will be given to those who truly follow Him … “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12)
Deceivers like Joel Osteen and many would-be celebrity and local “pastors” preach a message of “blessing” that does not include persecution. They withhold this vital truth and fact so as not to disturb their own popularity and funds. People who are not honestly seeking divine truth will be snared and ultimately damned by this false message (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Beguilers who ignore and withhold vital divine truth, and their prey may appear to prosper in this fleeting life and yet, it’s not what God defines as true prosperity and it shall be short lived.
“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?” Job 20:5
If you truly follow Christ, you are communicating His truth and you will be attacked, lied about, afflicted, and persecuted. Many false witness rose up against David, against our LORD, and against all who have ever served Him (Psalms 27:12; 35:11; Matthew 26:60; Acts 6:13). Jesus promised they would rise up against us yet their tenure shall be brief and their torment eternal (Matthew 5:11). You will also be blessed! When Stephen spoke God’s Word and was being stoned, Jesus actually stood up at the Father’s right hand to cheer on His son Stephen and to welcome him into eternal glory!
“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:55-60
At Stephen’s preaching of the Word of God, the wicked religionists “were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” (Acts 7:54) Jesus promised we would also be persecuted for speaking God’s Word and that if “all men speak well of” us, it’s because we are not truly serving Him (Mark 4:17; Luke 6:26). Persecution is actually proof that one is serving Christ.
Are you personally a part of this “company” – the people in the earth who publish or distribute and communicate God’s Word? – “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Psalms 68:11) If you speak and communicate divine truth, Christ promised that “persecution ariseth for the word’s sake.” (Mark 4:17)
God knows who we are so don’t worry what man thinks for says. Your time in this fleeting world is brief and as a child of the King, you should sprint to the finish, making the Word of God known to many (Psalms 68:11; 126:5-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-22; Hebrews 12:1-3). The LORD knows who YOU are beloved saint. He knows that He forgave your sins when you confessed them and He knows that you do not merit His blessed and sheer mercy, yet He gave and gives it to you anyway – because He loves you and you obey Him in coming to Him, falling upon His mercy in repentance.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 3:5-6
We should not be surprised when the things Jesus promised would happen to us happen such as “ALL manner of evil” (false accusations) being spoken about us (Matthew 5:11).
God is good brothers and sisters. Not one of us ever deserved nor presently deserves the infinite mercy He has and is showing us ONLY THROUGH THE LORD JESUS AND HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD. Remember that the very wolf or wolves who are being used of satan to accuse you, are in need of the mercy of God and they don’t merit it and are sinful, depraved souls who must repent or they surely will perish as unrepentant, slanderous railers (1 Corinthians 5:5-13).
The Bible tells us that “We are more than conquerors THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US” and nothing shall separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:37-39). This righteousness is imputed to us on the behalf of Christ alone and not because we are anything in ourselves outside of Jesus but solely due to who He is (2 Corinthians 5:19-21).
Do you know what these attacks are going to do for you? God is going to use them to conform you to Christ’s holy image (Romans 8:28-29). These attacks are going to cause you to hasten closer to Him, falling afresh upon His abundant mercy. Amen? The work of God in your heart is going to do several good things. You are going to be much more merciful and tender towards others and be able to help and comfort them in their afflictions (2 Corinthians 1:2-5; Ephesians 4:32). His work in your heart is also going to make you ignore slander about others and cause you to actually love that victim of slander and railing more.
Realize it or not, we all (that includes you, I, and all others) so desperately need His blessed, present mercy. Is that not what being broken in spirit and “poor in spirit” will teach us? (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:3)
Someone has wisely noted:
“Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old,… and Lazarus was dead…. Now, what’s YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not? God doesn’t CALL the QUALIFIED, He QUALIFIES the CALLED.”
Paul wrote “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
God Himself really only cares about the NOW! So what if the things being said of you are true – they are in the past and if you have repented and confessed those sins, you are clean and clear from them in the eyes of a holy God who gave us the blood of His only begotten Son for our sins! (Isaiah 1:16-20; 44:22; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-25; 1 John 1:7, 9; 2:1-2, etc.). The person or persons slandering you need prayer and/or to be turned over to satan (1 Corinthians 5:5-13). If they do not repent and confess their sins, they will perish in the lake of fire. Digging up past sins that God already forgiven in the work of “ungodly” people (Proverbs 16:27-28).
Of sufferings and persecutions, one writer notes:
“‘In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.’ Nehemiah 13:15
The grapes had to be trampled before the joyous wine could flow. Embrace those who curse and tread on you. They are really friends in disguise. Love your enemies and bless those who curse you as Matthew 5 says. They are producing more of the joy of Christ in your life. The cross is today’s winepress.”
David knew this truth. Persecution is the occasion for God to stack on more blessings for His persecuted child. The mockings and slander of the wicked becomes the springboard of God for more blessings in your life. So, in light of this, we should boldly declare “Bring it on devil!”
Shimei’s Slander of David
“And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite (repay) me good for his cursing this day.” 2 Samuel 16:5-12
Has God yet allowed a slanderous, accusing wolf like Shimei into your life? ACCORDING to 2 Samuel 16:5-12, what should be our response to those who speak evil, falsely accuse, or try to rub our noses in a past sin? What did David understand that we should understand? Here was David’s response:
“LET HIM ALONE, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite (repay) me good for his cursing this day.” 2 Samuel 16:11-12
In other words King David was saying “Don’t you dare stop that man from cursing me! I need all of the blessings and benefits God will bestow upon me! In fact, this man’s cursings are opening the floodgates for more blessings in my life in order to serve the LORD more fully!”
Personally, I have never been SO blessed in EVERY single area of my life as when satan’s wolves started falsely and fictitiously making up stories about me! Bring it on devil! Now pore over 2 Samuel 16:5-12 and notice how God uses those occasions to multiply His blessings upon His children who are the object of the attacks!!! Bring it on devil! I need more of God’s blessings in my life!!!!
These persecutions actually reveal who the wolves are amongst us, posing as ministers of Christ (2 Cor. 11:12-15). Thank You Jesus!
At first I was horrified by the things that were being manufactured about me. But now, after going through that, the LORD has made my heart much more sound as He promised He would do. Check this out precious saint:
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10
All who slander and do not repent have their place reserved in the lake of fire. Railers are specifically named as sinners who are to be turned over to Satan according to 1 Corinthians 5. Did you realize that? Go read that chapter again closely!
Persecutions are the manifest token/proof that you are a true child of the King!
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
There are hypocrites who have the stupidity and audacity to slander a brother or sister for one of those 6 sins in 1 Corinthians 5 while they are actually COMMITTING another one of those sins – the sin of railing.
But our sentence comes from God, not any mere sinful man – “Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.” (Psalms 17:2)
Many times, those who slander try to make their personal condemnation palatable by putting God’s name on it. This is what the LORD meant when He said “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) They have the audacity to put the holy name of the LORD on their slander (James 1:20). These railers call their evil report against someone created in God’s image His inspiration and truth when in reality it is the fruit of their own wicked imaginations coming out of their own depraved heart.
Saints, do not allow or facilitate any slander of the enemy! Get rid of it immediately and rebuke the evil doer who would dare do Satan’s work like a coward who won’t go DIRECTLY to the person they have a question or concern about! Go read Prov. 25:9; Matt. 18:15. Such a person is a child of Satan himself of whom the Bible tells us:
“Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10
Those who are the remnant of Christ’s elect walk in love and that means they don’t slander others – only Satan’s children slander others and then call it marking their victim. Under the guise of marking a person, some have maliciously slandered and sown discord among the brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).
“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” Psalms 55:21
The clear proof that one is saved is God’s LOVE in their life – “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:13-15)
Remember that it doesn’t matter what people say about you when your whole life is all about Jesus. No sin of the past, if you have repented, defines who you are today. So, don’t let any child of Satan who is posing as a Christian, rub your nose in your past sins. In fact, that’s the time to rejoice.
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
Matthew 10 answers so many questions and sets our expectations as His disciples:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:16-28
If we only knew the blessings that await our being persecuted, perhaps we would say “Bring it on Devil!”
Of sufferings the life and sufferings of the beloved Joseph, F.B. Meyer relates:
“If he (Joseph) could have foreseen the future, he would not have wondered at the severe discipline. If only we could see all that awaits us in the palace of the Great King, we should not be so surprised at certain experiences which befall us in earth’s darker cells. You are being trained for service I God’s Home, and in the upper spaces of the universe.” F.B. Meyer, Joseph, p. 48
Concerning sufferings, the Son of God and His apostles taught this:
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
Of suffering, Janet Hagen notes:
“God puts every one of our tears in His bottle. Out of God’s great fullness and sufficiency He will recompense back to you all that has been temporarily lost. I am so aware in recent months that loss and rejection from people who should love us seems to be our spiritual training ground of sorts. Boy, is it ever a tough painful road. Yet, God WILL recompense if we stay true to him, amen?”
Plagued by the Judgment of Others? | The More I Suffer, the Freer I Become! | For more on the blessing of suffering with Christ, study the life of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. | The Great Benefit of Suffering by F.B. Meyer |
Abiding
“Rend Your Heart, and Not Your Garments” [podcast]

Who Does God Look to? Who Does God Dwell in?
Beware of any man pretending to represent Christ who isn’t praying and preaching for you to be possessed by a humble and contrite heart.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). A low condition. ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). To mourn over our sin and our utter wickedness before a holy and righteous God. Those are the ones who will receive the comfort and ‘joy in the Holy Ghost’ (Romans 14:17).” Karen Cochran
Abandoning Our Own Sin, Our Own Way, for God and His Better Way!
To “rend your heart” is a biblical phrase meaning to tear open your heart in radical sincerity, true humility, and genuine repentance.
The phrase comes from Joel 2:13 in the Bible: “Rend your heart and not your garments and return to the Lord your God.”
One source notes the following:
“Context and Deeper Meaning:
- Cultural Background: In ancient times, the Jewish people would tear (rend) their clothes as a public, highly visible display of grief or repentance.
- The Spiritual Message: God is warning that outward rituals (like ripping clothing) are meaningless if the heart remains unchanged. Rending your heart implies breaking through your pride, letting go of excuses, and being completely vulnerable and authentic before God.
- The Reward: The verse goes on to say that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Tearing open your heart allows you to experience His forgiveness and restore your relationship with Him.”
To see an example of rending one’s physical garment in representation of rending their heart, see Acts 14:11-18.
Where is the LORD Looking?
“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, 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” Joel 2:12-14
“What a gracious invitation is contained in these words. How tenderly the Lord reasons with his people. And what an encouraging assurance it folds up with. Reader! do not fail to observe that this call of the Lord, the accompanying grace to incline the heart to the observance of it is implied. It is most blessed ever to remember that when the Lord thus comes forth in his endearing invitations, he is secretly inclining the heart to accept them. Grace must first enter the heart, or there will be no inclination to obey.” Robert Hawker
“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe
A Fresh Start with God Always Begins with Humility and True Repentance
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, 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?” Joel 2:12-14
Concerning rending our hearts before the LORD, one source notes:
The classic Bible passage on this concept is Joel 2:13, where God commands: “Rend your heart and not your garments”. In ancient biblical culture, tearing (or “rending”) one’s physical clothing was a customary, visible display of extreme grief, despair, or repentance. Through the prophet Joel, God is essentially telling His people: Stop doing the empty, outward religious ritual of tearing your clothes to show everyone how sorry you are. Instead, let me see true, inward brokenness over your sins.
Examples of Rending Physical Garments
In the Bible, the physical act of tearing clothes was used as a dramatic expression of deep emotion in several well-known narratives:
- Joseph’s Brothers (Genesis 37:29, 34): When Reuben realized Joseph was not in the pit, and later when the brothers brought Joseph’s blood-stained coat to Jacob, they tore their clothes in grief and despair.
- Job (Job 1:20): After hearing that he had lost all his wealth and his children, Job stood up and tore his robe as an outward sign of his overwhelming sorrow.
- King David (2 Samuel 1:11-12): When David received news of the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan, he and his men tore their clothes to mourn.
- The High Priest (Matthew 26:65): In a dramatic display of hypocritical outrage, the high priest tore his own garments when Jesus declared He was the Son of God, falsely accusing Him of blasphemy.
The Spiritual Meaning of “Rending the Heart”
The concept of “rending the heart” contrasts an outward show with inward reality.
- Genuine Repentance: Tearing your heart means being vulnerable, acknowledging your brokenness, and deeply repenting of sin before God.
- Prioritizing Relationships over Rituals: God desires a sincere heart—true sorrow and a desire to change—more than he desires traditional religious pageantry or dramatic, public displays of grief.
- The Promise of Forgiveness: In Joel 2:13, the command to rend the heart is immediately followed by the promise of grace: “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love”.
God sees beyond our external habits and religious actions, requiring instead a humble, contrite heart to fully experience His mercy.”
God’s Mercy
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, 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. 14 Who 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?” Joel 2:12-14
In God’s Word, where we see men who tear open their garments…. This holds the illustration of rending our hearts before the LORD.
Don’t render outward tearing, no, rather, tear open your inner man, your heart—be honest, sincere, exposed, and vulnerable to the LORD whom you trust.
Let’s attempt to get at, to ascertain what God is commanding of His beloved people to do in this “rend your heart” passage.
“Joel 2:13: Rend your heart—Let it not be merely a rending of your garments, but let your hearts be truly contrite. Merely external worship and hypocritical pretensions will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments.
For he is gracious—Good and benevolent in his own nature.
Merciful—Pitying and forgiving, as the effect of goodness and benevolence.
Slow to anger —He is not easily provoked to punish, because he is gracious and merciful.
Of great kindness—Exuberant goodness to all them that return to him.
And repenteth him of the evil—Is ever ready to change his purpose to destroy, when he finds the culprit willing to be saved. See the notes on Exo_34:6, Exo_34:7.” Adam Clarke
“Joel 2:12-14: III. DIVINE APPEAL TO JUDAH TO REPENT (2:12-14)
Even now, the LORD calls the people to repentance. It is not too late to return to Him. But it must be more than outward ritual. Their turning was to be with all their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
To rend our hearts is the consistent message, mandate of God to His people of all ages and eras.
“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
In Joel 2 the LORD reminds those who are backslidden that He “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who 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? …”
They must meet His stated conditions to receive His blessings ….
He promises that He will forgive them as they…..
“Joel 2:12-27: THE AVERTING OF JUDGMENT
To rend the garment is easy, but a broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. He takes no pleasure in our miseries and if men repent and turn from their sin they find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and home. Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate answer. As the husband yearns over his erring but repentant wife, and is indignant with those who have maltreated her, so will Jehovah remove from us, when we turn to Him, those who have cruelly oppressed us.
The great things Jehovah did against Egypt and Babylon are an earnest of what He will do again. The earth (and all the creation of God) … have good reason to rejoice in what awaits them. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives.” FB Meyer
Religious hypocrites, counterfeits, emphasize the outward to cover their inner darkness, rebellion.
“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. Matthew 23:23-25
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6
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Articles
God and His Word are Unchanging [podcast]

Because God is Unchanging, So is His Word
“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6
“Which keepeth truth for ever” – Is the Bible “Archaic”? No. Divine truth is everlasting. Has no expiration date. You cannot escape accountability to it, to Him. It’s an open book test. The Savior says “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Mark 13:31). Divine truth is eternal, unchanging, and binding upon all men (Psalms 146:6; Malachi 3:6, etc.).
Every time you open God’s Word and begin reading, you are hearing the voice of God.
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1 (the devil questions God’s Word, questions what God says in His Word.)
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die.” Genesis 3:4
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
“Ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Jeremiah 23:36
“all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:” Jeremiah 26:2
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Articles
Soul Sleep Exposed: Where Do We Go When We Die? When do we Go there? [podcast]

Do you realize that upon death, immediately, each soul is instantly translated, transported to their new and eternal place of existence – comfort and joy or hell fire? Instantly each soul is already judged upon death and literally in hell or Heaven now (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:6, 8; Philippians 1:21-23; Hebrews 9:27).
When the Bible speaks of “slept” or “sleep”, it’s speaking of the body, not the eternal soul. For example, the soul sleep cults use verses like 1 Kings 2:10 to attempt to “prove” soul sleep.
“So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.” 1 Kings 2:10
“For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,” Acts 2:34
Notice here in Acts 2:34 that it says “David is not ascended into the heavens.”
Primarily this is speaking of Jesus, the son of David and the prophecies Peter is speaking of in this message He’s preaching.
“Act_2:34: Ascended not for is not ascended, A.V. For David, etc. The ascension of Christ is inferred from the previous prophecy, “Thou wilt show me the path of life,” etc.; and is there distinctly proved from Psa_110:1, which Peter (remembering, probably, our Lord’s application of it as recorded in Mat_22:42-45, which he had doubtless heard) shows could not apply to David himself, but only to David’s Lord.” Pulpit
David’s eternal soul is in Heaven now.
“[David is not ascended into the heavens] This refers to David’s body in resurrection, not to his soul and spirit which are in heaven (Heb_12:23; Eph_4:8-10; 2Co_5:8; Php_1:21-24).” Dake
Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Philippians 1:21-23; Revelation 22:11 make it clear that when one dies he goes straight to his eternal destination. Any compromise on this doctrine is evil and constitutes that which seduces the believer towards lasciviousness Jude 3-4. There will be no second chance to repent. Death is final and as one dies so shall he be forever (Luke 16:19-31; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 22:11).
Fact: Only cults teach soul sleep.
Praying for someone who’s already dead is futile. At death, the soul goes to Heaven if the person is a born again Christ or eternally, irrevocably to hell. Read Luke 16:19-31 in the King James Bible. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)
The Word of God tells us that anyone living in sin, upon death, is going to hell, immediately upon death. Luke 16:19-31; Hebrews 9:27; Ezekiel 33:12-13, etc Those who are born again and abiding in Christ will be with Him immediately upon death (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23). You have to be born again to be in Christ.
“To Day Shalt Thou be with Me in Paradise”
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
“To day” this repentant former thief who hung next to Jesus was going to be “in paradise” and not asleep in the grave.
The doctrine of soul sleep is taught by many cults including the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Roman Catholic version of this antichrist, diabolical lie is their teaching on purgatory (an in-between state where average Catholics supposedly get their sins burned off by fire because the blood of Christ was not good enough to cleanse away those sins). This false teaching (soul sleep) supposes that when people die they go into a state of sleep or nothingness. Yet, the Bible reveals something very different. These false teachings are a diabolical attempt to remove the severe reality of conscious, eternal torment (Mark 9:43-49).
The flames of eternal damnation shall forever feed upon the conscious souls of all rebels. Mark 9:43-49 KJB Are you born again? Go here now and make peace with God before its too late.
Recently I replied to a post that was pushing the soul sleep heresy. Here it is….
REPLY:
Soul sleep is another false teaching taught only by the cults. Beware of those peddling this lie. Luke 16:19-31 makes it more than clear that upon death, the eternal soul of the individual goes to Heaven or hell based upon the spiritual state at the moment of death. Upon death the soul goes straight to Heaven or hell. Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23
The righteous who have died, are “under the altar” in Heaven, right now.
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw UNDER THE ALTAR the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:” Revelation 6:9
No Sleep, Just Judgment at the Moment of Death
The grave is the “final resting place” of no one. Heaven or hell await – immediately upon drawing one’s last breath on earth. Read Luke 16:19-31 and Hebrews 9:27.
QUESTION RECEIVED:
“Todd where do you believe we go when we die? Why do some preach we go to the grave until Christ returns?”
REPLY:
The Bible tells us we go directly to glory or hell (2 Cor 5:6-8; Phil 1:21-23; Luke 16:19-31; 23:43). It’s false to teach we go to the grave only. Cults teach that. That’s a false teaching that gives us a clue that we are dealing with a cult.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
According to the full-counsel of God’s Word, when a person dies, that soul goes directly, immediately to the destination God has judged them to go.
When someone dies, they are immediately in the place they have merited with God – Heaven or hell. Then, the wicked will be dredged up and will be formerly sentenced. Those not found written in the book of life will be brought before the Throne of God to be terminated or “cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)
As a person dies – that is, in the spiritual state they die in – so shall they be for all eternity. There are no second chances.
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11
The apostle Paul taught us that immediately upon death he was going to “be with Christ”:
“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” Philippians 1:23
“Philippians 1:23: To depart – Out of bonds, flesh, the world. And to be with Christ – In a nearer and fuller union. It is better to depart; it is far better to be with Christ.” John Wesley
“Notice that Paul did not believe in any theory of soul-sleep. He believed that the Christian goes to be with Christ at the time of death and that he is in the conscious enjoyment of the presence of the Lord. How ridiculous it would be for him to say, as some do today: “To live is Christ; to sleep is gain.” Or, “To depart and to sleep is far better.” “Sleep” is used in the NT of the believer’s body at the time of death (1Th_4:14), never of his soul. Soul-sleep is a myth. Notice, too, that death is not to be confused with the coming of the Savior. At the time of death, we go to be with Him. At the time of the Rapture, He comes to us.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Remember how the rich man in Luke 16 died and immediately he was in hell?
“the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Luke 16:22-23
Read Luke 16:19-31 and you will see that immediately upon death, the wicked and the righteous go to their separate places and are fully conscious. No such thing as soul sleep.
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
We are fully confident that the moment we pass, we breathe our last, we shall “be present with the Lord.”
“2 Corinthians 5:8: Present with the Lord – This demonstrates that the happiness of the saints is not deferred till the resurrection.” John Wesley
“2 Corinthians 5:8: [to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord] To die and be absent from the body means we go to heaven to be with the Lord (Php_1:21-24; Heb_12:23; Jas_2:26; Rev_6:9-11). This is proof that the inner man does not go to the grave at death, but to heaven if one is righteous. If one is wicked he goes to hell awaiting the resurrection of his body (Luk_16:19-31, notes; Rev_20:11-15).” Dake
On this matter of where the human soul goes immediately upon death, refuting soul sleep, Donald Stamps wrote:
“Psalms 16:10 THOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HELL. ‘Hell’ (Heb. Sheol) here means the grave. A personal relationship with God will give believers confidence in a future life with God and certainty that He will not abandon them to the grave (cf. 73:24-26). The apostles Peter and Paul both applied this verse to Christ and His resurrection (Acts 2:25-31; 13:34-37).
(1) Sheol, found sixty-five times in the O.T., is translated thirty-one times as ‘the grave,’ thirty-one times as ‘hell,’ and three times as ‘the pit.’ When the N.T. quotes these passages, it generally translates it with the Greek word Hades. Some scholars believe Sheol always means the grave, while others think it never has that meaning alone.
(2) In general, the O.T. views Sheol as a place associated with some sort of punishment. (a) When Jacob indicated that he would go to Sheol because of the loss of his son Joseph (Gen. 37:25), he felt he must be under the judgment of God; thus he refused to be comforted. There is no evidence that he sought God further until after he heard Joseph was still alive. (b) David clearly indicated that Sheol was the place where ‘the heathen’ would go (9:17), and Isaiah said that the heathen king Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, upon his death, would meet in Sheol the kings he conquered (Is. 14:9-10). (c) There are several passages that indicate the Israelites did not expect to go to Sheol at all at death, but would instead go where they would enjoy the blessings of God’s presence. When David died, for example, he anticipated dwelling in the house of the Lord forever (23:6). Another psalmist believed that God would redeem him from the hand of Sheol and receive him to Himself in heaven (49:15; cf. 73:24-25). And Solomon testified that the wise, God-fearing man goes to the place above, ‘that he may depart from hell beneath’ (Prov. 15:24).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 820
Of this biblical doctrine, brother Charlie Anthony writes:
“Concerning the time between the believer’s death and his or her bodily resurrection, Scripture teaches the following. (a) At the time of death believers are brought into Christ’s presence. (2 Cor. 5:8 – Phil. 1:23). (b) Believers exist in full consciousness ( Luke 16:19-31) and experience joy at the kindness and love shown by God (Eph. 2:7). Amen!”
But the wicked go straight to the conscious torment of hell immediately upon death (Luke 16:19-31).
Soul sleep is a lie that only cults teach (Philippians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Revelation 6:9).
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