“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8

“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psalms 141:3

10 Steps to Restoring a Brother

“Moreover if thy brother (not a lost soul or wolf) shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” Matthew 18:15-17

This passage is often misapplied. DOES Matthew 18:15-17 apply to wolves? No. Notice how He begins – “Moreover if thy brother (not a lost soul or wolf) shall trespass against thee…” What Jesus was teaching us in Matthew 18:15-17 is for the members of His body exclusively. Wolves are Satan’s plants to deceive His body and not members His body but rather ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).

Restoring those in sin is the duty of the members of Christ’s body and “shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20

“Concerning restoration of a sinning saint and the necessity of repentance (James 5:19-20) …. the apostle Paul taught this to the Corinthian church, instructing them to godliness in rebuking a certain man caught in fornication and I bet that man is still singing the praises of God in heaven to this day! This is a divinely ordained and mandated function of the body of Christ (James 5:19-20). That the church in Corinth was obedient to Christ in cutting off the man in fornication that brought about godly sorrow leading to repentance and eventually restoration and eternal glory!” Jon Crane

BROTHERS in Christ …. If you have an issue with another brother, below are the biblical steps to correction. … Please open your Bible to read and learn passages well in order to incorporate them into your daily body life….

1. Go directly to him in private Matthew 18:15-17. Do not start a public campaign against him directly or indirectly. Now, if he is publicly teaching a heresy, he should be addressed either or both publicly and privately. If he refuses to repent after the first or second admonition, “reject” him. Read Titus 3:10-11 closely and obey God in this His instruction.

2. When you are led by the Holy Spirit to help a brother grow or correct something in his life (doctrine or practice), go meekly, realizing that you also are frail, imperfect, and subject to temptation. Get very familiar with Galatians 6:1-2. Verse 2 tells us we are going to bear the burden of a brother and not with the goal of ostracizing or condemning him. Memorize Ephesians 4:3, 32.

3. Approach: Go to God and them with the prayer-filled goal to restore and no condemn (Galatians 6:1-2).

4. Remain humble and teachable and understand beforehand that something you don’t understand about the brother you are approaching, or something he is teaching, may be due to your own need to learn something more of the revelation of Christ through the full counsel of His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

5. Oh, if you are not a mature, seasoned believer who is amply supplied with the knowledge of God’s Word, the LORD is not sending you to correct anyone, be sure of that because to do so would be to contradict His own Word (Galatians 6:1).

6. Do not attempt to correct a brother based on a non-essential. Read and become intimately familiar with what the Holy Spirit is communicating to us about this in Romans 14. Galatians 5:19-21 lists 17 soul damning sins.

7. If you don’t have a life of prayer and deep study of God’s Word daily, you are not a mature Christian and unfit to correct anyone else since you have not even corrected your own life (Matthew 7:1-5; Galatians 6:1-2).

8. If the brother is simply walking “disorderly” (out of step with what is right but not a soul-damning sin), just have no company with him – avoid him – so he will become convicted and ashamed. Admonish him. Pray for him from a sincere heart that knows its own great, desperate, present, and utter need for the grace of God. Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15 closely.

9. Ultimately, it’s the divine Person of the Holy Spirit who quickens each of our hearts to change and leads us into all truth which always brings the magnification of Jesus Christ and not mere man (John 14:26; 16:13-14).

10. Spend time praying for that brother you sense an impression to approach. Bathe the whole thing in prayer and ask the LORD to convict and stop you if you are being led of self. Admit aloud to the LORD that no one needs Jesus more than you! Announce aloud to Him that “the root of the matter” is in you (Job 19:28).

Also, we should not rebuke an elder but rather entreat him as a father figure. Rebuking those older than us should be left up to the LORD and other older men.

“Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;” 1 Timothy 5:1

Blessed ladies, the LORD didn’t not call you to overtly correct other men, not even, and especially not your husband. Read 1 Peter 3:1-6 closely and prayerfully. Also, there is not one New Testament example of a woman correcting a man. The LORD has made His creation with order and we should observe such. Women of God

Read this: The Root of the Matter

Church Discipline | Discipline and Restoration | What Sins Does the Bible List as Soul Damning?

WHEN you witness a brother or sister becoming weak, having a fault, or committing sin, GOD’s call for you is to help them be restored to Him and not to run them through with the rusty sword of your own self-righteous judgment (Galatians 6:1-2; James 1:20; Romans 8:33-34).

Jesus teaches that if we presently have any sin at all in our own lives, we are 100% disqualified from pointing out or condemning anyone else for any sin they have in their own life.

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7

Any questions?

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20

WHEN we deal with someone in error, the key to remember is whether or not the person in error is teachable or prideful. “God resisteth (sets Himself against) the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) Watch what David prayed in Psalms 141:5:

“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Psalms 141:5

Memory Truth:

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual (mature in Christ), restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

HAVE YOU noticed this phenomenon, this scenario? …..

It seems that some people come around, they lurk around, only to pounce on you when they get that open they’re looking for…. You stand back and scratch your head and remember how that person never once agreed with the truth or edified anyone… yet jumped down hard on you or someone else their demons targeted to rebuke or correct them?

FLASH POINT: If you aren’t edifying the members of the body of Christ, you have NO business correcting anyone but yourself (Galatians 6:1-2). Repent now and consider, realize that no one on the planet or in history needs Jesus more than you. Time to get a Gospel clue saints (Romans 7:18, 24; 1 Thess 5:11, etc.).

Church Discipline and Restoration

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“The Root of the Matter” Job 19:28 [podcast]

WHY WOULD A DISCIPLE OF JESUS THINK SOMEONE ELSE’S SIN IS WORSE THAN THEIR OWN – IN THE EYES OF A HOLY GOD? SUCH CARNAL THINKING REVEALS AN UNCIRCUMCIZED HEART AND THE NEED TO LEARN OF THE LORD, TO BE INCREASED IN THE GRACE OF GOD (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18). Think about the foolishness and utter futility of a hand cuffed violent robbery suspect and a rapist judging each other in the lobby of the court they’re getting ready to go in to stand before the judge to be sentenced. The point? God calls us to get our […]

The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!

The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You! The reason God gave His only begotten Son was to clear you of all your sin in His regeneration, to bring you into His eternal family for fellowship with Him. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, […]

The God Who Is Ready To Forgive [podcast]

“A GREAT WAY OFF” Luke 15:20 Luke 15 – 3 parables of that which was lost (SSS): Lost Sheep Lost Silver Lost Son What is the overriding divine theme communicated in this beautiful Bible chapter? THE whole of Scripture testifies to the reality that the LORD delights to restore when we simply come to Him humbly, on His terms. “And he (the wayward son) arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 From a […]

Jacob’s Ladder: What Does it Mean to Us?

Jacob’s ladder was a prophetic prefiguring of how God was going to open up access to His throne of saving, divinely enabling grace by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Jacob means supplanter, deceiver. To supplant means to displace another from what is theirs. It’s when someone or something takes the place of another, as through usurping force, scheming, strategy, or the like.

The sin, the work of the flesh called “emulations” in the New Testament Scriptures seems to best fit Jacob’s nature of striving to excel at the expense of others (Galatians 5:19-21). This is exactly what Jacob did to his brother Esau who as the elder brother, and as such, was supposed to receive the blessing of the firstborn son from their father (Isaac). Jacob cheated his older brother Esau out of the birthright which was due to the firstborn son, Esau (Genesis 27:36). Like Jacob, every born again believer has iniquitous tendencies that God graciously deals with and delivers us from, yet only as the saint continues, remains and abides in Christ (John 15).

Genesis 28:10-22

10  And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran (parched). 
11  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 
12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 
13  And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed (here God confirms the promise of Abraham, the Abrahamic covenant); 
14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 
15  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 
16  And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not (confirmation). 
17  And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 
18  And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 
19  And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 
20  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 
21  So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 
22  And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. 

Notice, “the LORD stood above it.” (v13) This speaks of Christ and how He is Creator and rules and reigns over all the earth and this is prophetic as to Heaven’s King coming to the earth to redeem mankind, paying the ransom price in full, redeeming the world, bridging the gap, as only He could do. No one else qualified because sinners can’t save or forgive sinners.

“The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” Matthew 9:6

The ladder Jacob was shown in his dream speaks of the beautiful “access” to the Father and Son made possible via the perfect sacrifice, redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It reveals the work of Heaven, the work of God and His holy angels in the earth among men – to bring to Himself every “willing and obedient” soul “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Isaiah 1:19-20; John 1:12-13; Romans 11:25)

Christ Gave Us “Access”

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Ephesians 3:12

Only Jesus Qualified to Stand in the Gap – to Bridge the Gap Sin had Caused, our Separation from God

“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30 

This ladder that was shown to Jacob, set up and extending from the earth to Heaven, Christ Himself peering over the top, expresses the “access” to Heaven’s saving grace and all that He died to purchase for His people! (Hebrews 4:14-16, etc.) Jesus Christ was the only One in history who qualified to pay the perfect price for the sins of the whole world – to bring us back to the Father! (Ezekiel 22:30; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1-2, etc.).

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

William MacDonald on Jacob’s dream and ladder:

“At Bethel, Jacob had a wonderful dream in which he saw a ladder or staircase extending from earth to heaven. This suggested ‘the fact of a real, uninterrupted, and close communion between heaven and earth, and in particular between God in His glory and man in his solitude.’ … Believers even now can enjoy moment-by-moment fellowship with the Lord. At this time when Jacob’s heart was probably filled with regret for the past, loneliness in the present, and uncertainty about the future, God graciously made a covenant with him as He had with Abraham and Isaac. ‘I am with thee’; safety; I ‘will keep thee in all places whither thou goest’; guidance; ‘will bring thee again into this land’; personal guarantee; ‘I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.’” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p 64

As they were with God’s provisionary work in Jacob’s life, so angels are busy ministers of God in the lives of His New Testament saints. The words “angel” and “angels” appear 180 times in the New Testament. Here’s but a sampling:

“But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:13-14

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2 

Adam Clarke on Jacob’s Ladder

“Genesis 28:12
He dreamed, and behold a ladder – A multitude of fanciful things have been spoken of Jacob’s vision of the ladder, and its signification. It might have several designs, as God chooses to accomplish the greatest number of ends by the fewest and simplest means possible. 1. It is very likely that its primary design was to point out the providence of God, by which he watches over and regulates all terrestrial things; for nothing is left to merely natural causes; a heavenly agency pervades, actuates, and directs all. In his present circumstances it was highly necessary that Jacob should have a clear and distinct view of this subject, that he might be the better prepared to meet all occurrences with the conviction that all was working together for his good. 2. It might be intended also to point out the intercourse between heaven and earth, and the connection of both worlds by the means of angelic ministry. That this is fact we learn from many histories in the Old Testament; and it is a doctrine that is unequivocally taught in the New: Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? 3. It was probably a type of Christ, in whom both worlds meet, and in whom the Divine and human nature are conjoined. The Ladder was set up on the Earth, and the Top of it reached to Heaven; for God was manifested in the Flesh, and in him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Nothing could be a more expressive emblem of the incarnation and its effects; Jesus Christ is the grand connecting medium between heaven and earth, and between God and man. By him God comes down to man; through him man ascends to God. It appears that our Lord applies the vision in this way himself, first, In that remarkable speech to Nathanael, Hereafter ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man, John 1:51. Secondly, in his speech to Thomas, John 14:6: I am the Way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

Think about how Heaven was opened to fallen mankind when Jesus died on that cross, declaring that “It is finished” or the price for man’s sin was paid in full (John 19:30). The veil that separated man from a holy God was ripped in half, was parted, signifying that God had accomplished redemption in His Son and now has come out to meet each man on a personal basis for fellowship and communion. That’s the stated reason for the creation of mankind and why Jesus came to the earth (Exodus 25:8; John 17:3).

“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8 

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

The veil that separated God and man was removed when Jesus died on the cross.

“And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” Mark 15:38

Jesus’ blood satisfied the claims of the Father’s justice to redeem, to buy back to Himself fallen mankind from sin.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21

FB Meyer on Jacob’s Ladder

“Genesis 28:10-22
JACOB’S VISION AT BETHEL
This is the Ladder chapter, in which a wayward, weak man is seen holding fellowship with the Eternal God, who loves us, notwithstanding our unworthiness, and desire to lead us into a life of power and blessedness. It is all wonderful! Notice the four Beholds! Gen_28:12-15. Sunset. Overtaken on a moor by the swift fall of the Oriental night, Jacob had no alternative than to sleep in the open. But he slept to see! Night. There is an open way between heaven and earth for each of us. The movement of the tide and circulation of the blood are not more regular than the inter-communication between heaven and earth. Jacob may have thought that God was local: now he found Him to be omnipresent. Every lonely spot was His house, filled with angels. Morning. Worship, consecration, the vows of God. Put down thy foot on God’s promises. He will do more than He has said. Thou shalt come to thy Father’s house in peace.”

In the night, in the darkest hour of his life, Jacob wrestled with the angel of the LORD and was subdued, was brought down to nothing, dead and buried (Genesis 32). This was the cross that preceded and must precede the resurrection.

Like Jacob, the man who is broken by God will walk with a limp of dependency for the remainder of his days on earth!

“One sign you’ve encountered God is you walk with a limp, not a strut.” unknown

Read Genesis 32.

“I would rather limp into to Heaven than walk into HELL!” Charles Pray

Christ is depicted here in this ladder from the earth to Heaven. Jesus Christ alone bridged the gap between Heaven and earth, the chasm caused by sin, at the fall of mankind in the Garden.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Jacob’s ladder depicted here connecting Heaven and earth is not to be viewed as something we climb in order to merit or earn the favor, grace, mercy, salvation, and blessings of God (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7). No, it seems to speak of the activity, the busy, active involvement of Heaven in the work of redemption concerning the operations of Christ’s kingdom on earth. This is what Jesus was speaking of when He spoke to Nathaniel:

“And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” John 1:51 

When Jesus said these words it concerned Him and His ministry and mission on earth the first time He came. Thereafter it pertains to making good on His perfect salvation plan for mankind where now having accomplished redemption, He now reigns again in glory at His Father’s right hand, ever living to provide what He died to purchase! Books of Hebrews.

In this illustrative ladder from Heaven vision, God is saying that He will and is providing everything needed for everyone who desires to be His, straight from His holy throne in Heaven. The redemption that is Christ, the Word, the Holy Spirit, and His holy angels come to mind as agents of the redemption of Heaven working in the earth today.

As glory’s Great Intercessor, Jesus lives to provide what He died to purchase for His beloved people.

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:24-26 

Jacob’s ladder, Heaven opened to fallen mankind, is a type of Christ who is man’s only “way” to God, the only “Mediator” between God and man and to God, who is in Heaven.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5

Christ alone accomplished such blessed reconciliation for us and every blessing from God comes through our LORD Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). So Jacob’s ladder is a type of Christ who is man’s only “way” to God, the only “Mediator between God and men” who is now in Heaven intercedoing for us on the right hand of His Father (Hebrews 7:24-26).

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

John Wesley on Jacob’s Ladder:

“Behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached heaven, the angels ascending and descending on it, and the Lord stood above it – This might represent The providence of God, by which there is a constant correspondence kept up between heaven and earth. The counsels of heaven are executed on earth, and the affairs of this earth are all known in heaven. Providence doth his work gradually and by steps; angels are employed as ministering spirits to serve all the designs of providence, and the wisdom of God is at the upper end of the ladder, directing all the motions of second causes to his glory. The angels are active spirits, continually ascending and descending; they rest not day nor night. They ascend to give account of what they have done, and to receive orders; and descend to execute the orders they have received. This vision gave seasonable comfort to Jacob, letting him know that he had both a good guide and good guard; that though he was to wander from his father’s house, yet he was the care of Providence, and the charge of the holy angels. The mediation of Christ. He is this ladder: the foot on earth in his human nature, the top in heaven in his divine nature; or the former is his humiliation, the latter is his exaltation. All the intercourse between heaven and earth since the fall is by this ladder. Christ is the way: all God’s favours come to us, and all our services come to him, by Christ. If God dwell with us, and we with him, it is by Christ: we have no way of getting to heaven but by this ladder; for the kind offices the angels do us, are all owing to Christ, who hath reconciled things on earth and things in heaven, Col_1:20.”

David W. Dyer on Jacob’s ladder:

“JACOB’S DREAM: While Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau, he spent a night in the wilderness. There he used a stone for a pillow. While he slept, he dreamed a wonderful dream. In the dream he saw “…a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it” (Gen 28:12). When he woke up, he realized that this was a special place. He named it “Bethel” which means “the house of God.” You see, when we are truly being God’s house, when we are fulfilling the requirements of being in the Spirit and led by our Head, in that place and at that time the heavens are opened. The presence of God becomes real to us. We actually experience being the “house” or habitation of God in a corporate way – the “Bethel” of today. At these times there is truly an open heaven. The presence of God is very real. His authority or “throne” is known to us. Revelation, enlightenment, and spiritual understanding is occurring. Further, the ministering spirits, the angels, are coming and going – “ascending and descending” – bringing messages from the throne and perhaps “carrying” the praises and petitions of the members back with them. Of course we are describing something spiritual here with earthly words. Perhaps exact details of this angelic traffic cannot be known exactly. Yet, in such heavenly situations, the proximity of ministering angels is very real. Perhaps we are not very aware of it, but it is occurring. We, God’s people have the wonderful privilege of entering into His presence together. When we meet, we can enjoy an “open heaven” where the invisible things of His kingdom become real to us. As we enter into the Spirit together, the unimaginable wonders of Jesus and His will for us are available for us to possess. We, insignificant human beings, can enjoy the reality of being the habitation of the Most High God. May we never be satisfied with anything less!” Let My People God!

PRAYER: Father, we come to You now, in the name of Jesus Christ, our sole, our only access, ladder, way to You. Please teach us Your ways. Let us be truly crucified with Christ as we enjoy all the benefits You provided to us through Him. May our communion and fellowship with You and Your people be sweet, blessed, and fruitful to Your eternal glory as we eagerly look for Your soon return LORD. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Christ Lives to Provide What He Died to Purchase

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How I Discovered the Corruption of the New Bible Versions: Personal Testimony [podcast]

  Reading a fake “bible” is like still watching CNN. Let that sink in. Fake news. The NASB (New American Standard “bible” OR more accurately the NASB = North American SINNER “bible”) … is how I found out there were differences…. check this out … Notice that in 1 Timothy 3:16 the new versions seek to deprive the Almighty LORD Jesus Christ of His divinity! “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” […]

Christ’s True Church is Identified by the Ongoing Washing and Adherence to Sound Doctrine

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not (does not remain) in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth (remains) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9

SO, will those who don’t continue to the end in “THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST” be in Heaven? No. And, the “doctrine of Christ” is that which God reveals of His only begotten Son and His will in His Word, the Bible, Holy Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).

3 Types of Doctrine in the Bible and the World:

1. “Doctrine of God”, “Sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:1, 10; 2 John 10-11, etc.).
2. Doctrines of men (Mark 7:6-10).
3. “Doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Are YOU enduring sound doctrine? (2 Timothy 4:2-4) Are you receiving the rebuke of the LORD or are you forsaking His mercy by rejecting His truth? If so, GOD Himself is sending “strong delusion” to your life (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). Repent sinner – before it’s too late.

“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Our LORD made it clear that His abiding disciples are only “clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3) This is not a one-time event but an ongoing experience of every true follower of Jesus who is abiding/remaining in Christ and not departing from the faith (John 15:1-6; 1 Timothy 4:1, etc.). Christ is going to return for a people who are being washed by His blessed Word. This we understand to mean that His true remnant are those who are enduring sound doctrine and not shunning anything that comes from Him in His written Word. Sound doctrine is an integral part of Jesus’ washing. Making oneself accountable to sound doctrine is evidence that one is abiding in Christ and not departing from the truth.

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” Titus 2:1

Those who truly know and follow Jesus hear His Word and do not shun “sound doctrine,” but rather fall on that blessed “sword of the Spirit” for continual shaping and circumcision (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).

MANY who claim to know Jesus hate Him in reality and that’s exactly why they refuse to “endure (hold themselves accountable to) sound doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:3)

Wolves patty cake with you because they want your money and could care less about your eternal soul (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Enduring Sound Doctrine is Crucial

Are YOU enduring “sound doctrine”? – “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  2 Timothy 4:2-4

To “endure sound doctrine” involves opening our hearts and lives to the full counsel of God’s Word. The word “endure” here comes from the Greek word anechomai which means to hold one’s self up against, to bear, endure, suffer. Are you suffering “sound doctrine”? Are you bearing “sound doctrine”? Friend, are you holding yourself up against “sound doctrine”?

“Sound doctrine” hurts at times and yet, later it will yield the greatest of rewards. Enduring sound doctrine requires the cutting away or circumcising of those things in our hearts, thinking, and lives that are not of God. It’s a cutting away of the old and of that which does not please our LORD. If you are like me, you still have things in your life that the LORD is dealing with.

The LORD is still working on us. Jesus said that when He causes good fruit to be born in our lives, He then purges us so that more fruit can be produced (John 15:1-6). So, we learn from this that our LORD’s purging is the result of measured victory and the facilitating of greater victory!

Why do we resist the blessed deliverance of our Father? It’s always a blessed outcome when He delivers us from something that is not of Him, right?

Guys, do you remember when you were a boy and got a splinter in your finger or foot? Everything that touched that splinter hurt and so you complained to your daddy and he got out the tweezers. Then, you resisted, pulled back, and said something like “But daddy it’s going to hurt if you pull out the splinter.” Your father then still proceeded, going against your will, and forcefully held down your hand where the splinter was. He then plucked that foreign object from your body and you were immediately comforted and the healing began.

Yielding our will to our heavenly Father is so very important. Telling Him today that He is the One in control, and not us, is a good place to start.

Many among us migrate to smiling, entertaining, ear-tickling hirelings who refuse to preach on sin, the holiness of God, the need for repentance and confession of all sin, the daily cross, dying to self, giving of ourselves and substance to God and others, and judgment to come. If this is not amended, it will result in eternal damnation. Avoiding truth speakers – those who preach only God’s holy truth/Word – is deadly. Rebellious, unrepentant, backslidden Israel did just this and they called out for the phony false prophets to give them “smooth things.” (Isaiah 30:9-10)

Saints, you are bought with the price of the very blood of Christ, and called to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. ⁵ And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5

Jesus and His apostles never said that enduring hardness and sound doctrine would be easy. Yet, they did promise that the rewards will be eternal (Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Peter 4:12-14, etc.).

Those who drop out of the race before the end will lose all (1 Corinthians 9:19-24; Hebrews 12:1-4). All things are being and going to be “shaken.”

Hebrews 12:24-28

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. ²⁵ See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: ²⁶ Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. ²⁷ And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:24-29

Earlier in this chapter the Holy Spirit is speaking to us about the chastening of our LORD upon EVERY one of His children (Hebrews 12:1-6). If our Father in Heaven who loves us is chastening us, He is shaking those things from our lives that do not belong so that we may “remain” in the end and not be washed away in the tidal wave of His wrath, which He warned us that many would be – “many” who claim to know Him but don’t (Matthew 7:21-29).

Now, read 2 Timothy 2 and seek the LORD to properly “suffer” so you can “reign with him” and to “purge” out those things which don’t belong in your thinking and life. It’s only then that you can be His “vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” Pore prayerfully over our LORD’s words in this blessed chapter of 2 Timothy 2. Get this divine wisdom in your heart and share it with others. Underline, highlight, and put some of the verses in this royal chapter on index cards to learn, memorize, and meditate upon them.

Avoiding Sound Doctrine is Easy to do in this Last Hour

There are many options available to dodge and avoid enduring “sound doctrine.” Satan’s wolves are the overwhelming majority of all those in leadership positions in the apostate church world today. The LORD wasn’t lying when He foretold us of this hour. These beguiling, devouring wolves make it very easy to insulate ourselves from the truth. They entertain, tickle our sinful fancy, and do anything but preach the raw Word of God in the holy fear of God. They therefore lull their gullible, unrepentant, non-abiding, un-vigilant hearers further to sleep, burying them in Laodicean lukewarmness, and this will seal their eternal doom (Revelation 3:14-21). They once knew the LORD, but have since fallen away, allowing “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things” to choke out the Word from their lives (Mark 4:17-19).

Regrettably, most modern “preaching” is a joke. Those who preach are moral softies – pansies – who are woefully “at ease in Zion.” (Amos 6:1) They refuse to “Preach the word.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Wolves always migrate to and morph themselves into roles and titles that hide the fact that they are antichrists – subversive to truth while claiming to represent Christ. Many today who claim to be watchmen are wolves. Beware!  Hirelings do not wish to be detected. They must keep themselves hidden AT ALL COSTS!  They are thriving on your dime as they deceptively scam you in order to build their church industry business. Did our LORD not tell us they would be disguised in sheep garb? (Matthew 7:15; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15) The wolf must at all costs speak ear-tickling, “smooth things” to you – to make sure he doesn’t interrupt your life the way it is, calling you to repent and truly lay it all down (Isaiah 30:9-10; John 12:23-25; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). The absolute necessity of the daily cross and personal holiness must never be mentioned (Luke 9:23-24; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). The condition and essential of enduring to the end with Christ and overcoming sin and Satan all means dying to self and so that must be left out of the message (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Revelation 2-3). They have “crept in unawares (undetected)” and that’s how they are able to do their work of subverting truth in the guise of representing the LORD (Jude 3-4). They ever seek to remain hidden from the view – the discernment – of those they prey upon and are deceiving. This is exactly why the LORD gave us so much instruction concerning knowing/discerning them by their fruits – namely that of their doctrine. We are told to “earnestly contend” against them and “mark them which cause division contrary to the DOCTRINE” our LORD gave us in His Word (Romans 16:17-18; Jude 3-4). Did not our LORD, the very “Great shepherd of the sheep,” repeatedly warn us because He loves and desires to protect us? (John 10:1-10; Hebrews 13:20)  Dear Pastor

You see saints, ANY so-called “Christian” leader who is not teaching you to die is false. It’s real simple – Jesus taught the daily cross and it’s all over each of the 4 Gospels which feature what our LORD taught. Any writer, blogger, or leader who isn’t teaching what Jesus taught is a fraud. Paul said that the person who does this is an enemy of the cross of Christ and minds “earthly things” – anything except that which our Heavenly Savior said and therefore counted as important to Him and those who will know Him (Philippians 3:18-21).

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

“Whose God is their belly” – Regrettably, most people in ministry are out to make a name for themselves and not to make Christ Jesus’ name glorious. The remnant disciple has to be wiser than to patronize such and to thereby shun Jesus and do despite unto Him with whom we have to do (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). Sound doctrine teaches us that all glory goes to Christ alone and He will share that glory with no man (Isaiah 42:8).

The Original Gospel

FEEDBACK:

“Excellent Truth righting divided. Balance makes all the difference so we do not fall into condemnation overcome with sin or even self righteousness which is pride the most damming sin of all. But for the grace of God in my life giving sound teaching and chastening me makes me appreciate my salvation and increase my love for God and sound teaching. Also makes me more patient with those being taken captive by false teachers and teaching. Knowing God gave me grace so must I give grace with truth to others. We are still on the potters wheel we need to remember we are all in different places in our salvation experience. But are we humble enough to say are we teachable and correctable this we must always ask ourselves to see what type of spirit we are operating under. Brings to mind the old hymn…grace grace God’s Grace that is greater than ALL our sin.” Nancy Cote

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“What this world needs is Christian Unity, not denominations that misguide and divide us!”

REPLY:

Well, truth does divide. Sound doctrine is made to divide between God’s true people and those who are counterfeit.  “Heretics” (those who do not believe the truth but rather espouse lies) are to be rejected (Titus 3:10-11). They are to be marked – scoped out, identified, and rejected (Romans 16:17-18).

MESSAGE STATED:

“The Word of God is not about doctrine or theology, it is all about Jesus Christ and His Love, Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness. The Scriptures teach and guide us to a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through the understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit….May the love of Christ be upon you all, Praise God for all glory is given to our Father in Heaven.”

REPLY:

Those things ARE doctrine brother. “Doctrine” appears 51 times in God’s Word. But you left out the uniqueness of Christ and how He – the only Messiah – fulfilled over 300 prophecies, holiness, the life and mission of Christ, repentance, sin, the soon coming of Jesus, the daily cross He commanded us to take up, etc.  Now, do we begin to see why the Bible and studying the full counsel of God’s Word is so important – so we are not misled by half truths and people who leave out so many truths from the whole message of God’s Word? Memorize 2 Timothy 3:16 in KJV and notice the very first stated reason God gave us His Word – “doctrine.”  Sound doctrine is not legalism – it’s essential for the growth and protection of God’s people (Acts 20:20-32)

When people are being taught a feelings-based spirituality instead of biblical Christianity, they want to throw overboard doctrine but God says that’s EXACTLY why He gave us His written Word – so that His divine truth (doctrine) can be firmly established as the foundation of our beliefs and lives and protect us from false teachings that Satan gives us through wolves in sheep’s clothing to subtly seduce us away  from Christ (Colossians 2:4-10). Those who do not endeavor to learn and to disclose the full-counsel of God’s Word, selectively teaching half-truths, are preaching “another gospel” and “another Jesus” as fueled by “another spirit” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-10). They are fulfilling prophecy – on the wrong side of that which is foretold – “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

WHY did God give us His Word?

This just in – Here’s a blessed testimony of a brother I was privileged to meet and go to Bible school with 20 years ago:

“Hi brother. I hope everything is well with you. I am going forward in the call of God. It’s been great learning so far. One thing that has become clear to me is the necessity of the minister (all who name Christ as LORD) to die to self, and daily at that. I’m starting to look for enough strength to get through one day and then worry about the next. Since I started learning this recently, I thought of you and your book (I Die Daily). There really is something to this dying to self thing. Any advice would be gladly received as my goal is the same as it was at IBC.”

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

Yeah, your book I Die Daily overwhelmed me the first time around. I think I am more ready for it now. I want all to count for Jesus.”

REPLY:

Amen. I am praying for you. Brother, you are hearing the voice of the Savior and are therefore dead center in His will …. Isaiah 37:31

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