ATTENTION CHRISTMAS BASHERS….. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU LED SOMEONE TO JESUS? Are we spending more time and energy Christmas bashing than we are spending ministering the Word of the Gospel?
“Jesus was the greatest gift we have ever received!! Why would we not celebrate Him at all times, everywhere??” Karen Cochran
“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” Titus 1:15
How we choose to view things that are non-essential to salvation.
“Note the marvelous power we possess of viewing things in the light or gloom cast upon them from our own temperament. We see life and the world in a glass colored from within. Oh, that we might possess that pure and untarnished nature that passes through the world like a beam of sunshine, irradiating all but contaminated by none! The true test of the knowledge of God is a holy life. These act and react. The better you know God, the more you will resemble Him; compare Psa_111:1-10; Psa_112:1-10. The more you are like God, the better you will know Him.” FB Meyer
“To the pure – Those whose hearts are purified by faith this we allow. All things are pure – All kinds of meat; the Mosaic distinction between clean and unclean meats being now taken away. But to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure – The apostle joins defiled and unbelieving, to intimate that nothing can be clean without a true faith: for both the understanding and conscience, those leading powers of the soul, are polluted; consequently, so is the man and all he does.” John Wesley
When we honor God we know there is no power greater than Him, right…. unless we give those things power. God’s perfect love in us “casteth out fear” right? (1 John 4:16-18)
In non-essentials such as holidays, if you don’t have faith to do something, don’t do it. And shut your mouth concerning other of Christ’s saints in these things. It’s none of your business. Read Romans 14 and 1 Peter 4:15. Speaking of non-essentials – things NOT essential to salvation – the apostle Paul writes:
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. … 20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. … 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:22-23
Some are so busy bashing paganism that they have said nothing of the Word, nothing of the Gospel, nothing of the absolute necessity of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. The divine command is to “Preach the word.” (2 Timothy 4:2) No one is going to be saved by the exposing of paganism.
Jesus and His holy apostles didn’t seem to spend a lot of time exposing paganism – which is everywhere, EVERY day of every year in this fallen world. This has been the case since the fall, 6,000 years. No, instead Jesus and His apostles brought the SOUL-ution – the Gospel.
With no apology to anyone, I celebrate Jesus Christ and all that pertains to Him, 24/7/365. No I don’t celebrate “Christmas” in any manner as do the heathen.
Some conflate all the paganism which Christians as if they are saying “Oh, we celebrate the roman cult, tammuz, semiramis, nimrod, etc”. Not. They have no idea about all that and are just spending time with their family and friends and hopefully witnessing to them. Are they going to hell for that? No.
Lynne Parker writes:
“There is no question that “Christmas” is highly commercialized and there are elements attached that are pagan or paganistic. And anyone with two functioning brain cells knows that Dec 25 is not Jesus actual date of birth. But it has been set aside to commemorate his birth. Consider also 1. It is not a sin to give someone a gift. 2. It is not a sin to sing hymns or read scripture concerning his birth (children particularly love that). 3. It is not a sin to gather with family and friends and eat together. 4. It is not a sin to decorate one’s home with beautiful lights and greenery to bring joy to the household. 5. It is not a sin to basically attend a candlelight service that glorifies the Lord and read scripture. 6. It is not a sin to bake cookies. 7. It is not a sin to enjoy a quiet fire with your spouse. 8. It is certainly not a sin to share Christ with people whose hearts may be open or somewhat softened at this time to hear the gospel. If someone is convicted about it they shouldn’t celebrate. But I can say my mom made very sure that I understood what Christmas meant – I remember well attending church before anything else. We live in a society ladened with deception and a professing “church” as well – but the truth remains Jesus Christ was born and he was born to be our redeemer. This is the message that’s important.”
It seems that some are so intent on exposing the obvious that they do no ministering and never mention the absolute cardinal necessity of the virgin birth and first coming of Jesus….. Which was specifically celebrated by many…. Instead of celebrating His birth, they spend their time pouncing on the paganism….. acting as if it’s more powerful that God. They lead no one to Jesus.
If the birth of Jesus means nothing to you, that means His death on the cross for our sins means nothing to you. His first coming, His birth was essential to His propitiatory death on the cross for our sins and His glorious second coming. His birth was the grand fulfillment of prophecy and celebrated by the Holy Ghost, the angels of Heaven, Simeon, Ana the prophetess, wise men, and shepherds. Read Luke 2.
On the calendar of the righteous what day do we hand over to Satan? None. EVERY day is the right, the privilege to celebrate any and all things concerning Christ. No one is going to hell for celebrating Jesus 365 days a year, including on Dec 25. This is a NON-essential to which Romans 14 speaks. We are not to judge other Christians on non-essentials (Romans 14). Sounds like some have handed over Dec 25 to satan as if any day is his day.
Feel free to correct, steer, shed light on this direction, observation …..
What darkness did Jesus and His apostles expose by the light?
Seems Jesus and His holy apostles warned most of false doctrines in the church world, not paganism, which is not of the kingdom of Christ at all.
Paul warns of the false teachers within the church world who would draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:20-32). Jesus warned of the same – people posting as His representatives while being wolves (Matt 7:15; 24:11).
Establishing God’s people in Christ – to be ever more rooted and grounded in Him – seems like a prominent endeavor of Christ and His apostles (Col 2:3-10; Matt 7:19-29, etc.).
If you are going to insist upon exposing paganism, you may wish to do it 24/7/365 because it’s happening at all times, in every place in this fallen world.
Are we more busy cursing the darkness than we are shining the light of Christ straight into the darkness of this fallen world? What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:16?
Just exactly what darkness did Jesus and His apostles expose strategically, most prominently? It was those wolves within – not so much without the professing kingdom. The false leaders within the professing church world (Matthew 23; Acts 20:20-32; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-13; 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Revelation 2-3, etc.). Revelation 2 and 3 are Jesus’ letters to the CHURCHES, right?
“Go” do what?
Did Jesus ever command His people to “Go ye into all the world and protest paganism”? No. Did Jesus command us to “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”? Yes (Mark 16:15). That’s the point, where is our energy being expended? What shall we answer to the LORD on Judgment Day? Surely we know He’s not going to say “well done my good and faithful servant for exposing paganism.” WHO are we planting the seed of the Word of God into? Isn’t that how we were born again? Yes (1 Peter 1:23).
It seems that we get lost in condemning the paganism of Christmas. This completely incapacitates us from doing what Jesus directly commanded us to do – “preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) Should we not use every occasion, including the month of December, to redeem the time by ministering to others?
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15
PWT is the apostolic balance – Preach. Warn. Teach. Colossians 1:28.
WHEN did the announcement of the Savior’s birth cease to become “good tidings of great joy … to all people”?
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Luke 2:10
Jesus could never had died for us to bring us back to God if He had not first come to us, been born through a virgin in perfect fulfillment of the prophecies of the prophets of God (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:21-23, etc.).
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1 Peter 3:18
God’s People Celebrate King Jesus 24/7/365, not 364 – including December 25th. They don’t celebrate paganism or “Christmas” – they celebrate Christ.
Is celebrating JESUS, not paganism, on December 25th, a sin? Chapters and verses please.
Beware of the false conflation which is commonly done by the self-righteous of our day. Examples ….
- You praise Jesus on December 25 and thank Him for coming the first time to die for your sins so you are a pagan because there’s a lot of paganism in Christmas. False.
- You voted for trump so that means you worship trump and do not trust God. False.
Hint: You are not a hero for identifying obvious paganism. But that will lead no one to Jesus. What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:13-16? Are you ministering His Gospel to the sinners you scorn?
Read Psalm 1 afresh: IS today the day we repent and get out of “the seat of the scornful”?
If the birth of Jesus means nothing to you, that means His death on the cross for our sins means nothing to you. His first coming, His birth was essential to His propitiatory death on the cross for our sins and His glorious second coming. His birth was the grand fulfillment of prophecy and celebrated by the Holy Ghost, the angels of Heaven, Simeon, Ana the prophetess, wise men, and shepherds. Read Luke 2 for a clue.
In this fallen world who declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on December 25?
“Under Emperor Constantine, the Church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25 in 336. Some say the date was chosen to outshine the Sol Invictus and pagan celebrations.”
YET, some put more stake in Constantine, Rome, than they do the Bible. So who’s really owned by Rome? They are – because Rome dictates what they do and when they do it, not the Bible. Instead of going back to the Bible, Luke 2 for example, they live in reaction to Constantine, Rome…. in other words they are owned by these pagan entities. They give themselves to serve in reaction to them instead of serving the bless-ed Savior according to what the final divine authority of His Word states concerning the first coming, the birth of the only begotten Son of God (Luke 2).
Read Luke 2 before you continue in your error. The Bible reveals that the Holy Ghost, the heavenly host, the angels of God, Joseph and Mary, the wise men, Simeon, and “Ana, a prophetess,” all celebrated the first coming, the birth of Jesus – without which there would be no second coming, there would be no salvation. How could Jesus have died for our sins had He not first come to the earth, had He not be born into the world? Read Luke 2 before you consider continuing in your error. Imagine the excitement to see with their very eyes all the prophecies of the Messiah unfolding before their very eyes!
If you can’t deny, and you can’t, that all those above celebrated the long awaited birth of Jesus, then you may wish to consider your approach.
Pagan worship is sin, not celebrating Jesus’ and His first or second coming.
If Jesus hadn’t come the first time, we would not be looking for His soon return. The Bible calls His return “that blessed hope.”
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13
SOME seem to preach more about, against paganism than they do preach the Word, the Gospel.
Did Jesus say “Go ye into all the world and preach against paganism”? OR “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”? See Mark 16:15.
Hello everyone ….. Read Luke 2 … notice the host who celebrated Christ’s birth which included angels from Heaven, the Holy Ghost (GOD), the angels, the wise men, Ana, Simeon, etc. How could Jesus have come to died for us if He wasn’t born into the earth? Isn’t that why He came – to die? And if He didn’t come in fulfillment of prophecy, how could He have died for the sins of the world?
“I’ve noticed that many of the hardliners against Christmas have also fallen prey to the Hebrew Roots/Torah Keeping! They seem to go together much of the time!” Gloria Marshall Sykes | Beware of the Antichrist Judaizing Hebrew Roots Devils
THE VOICE OF HYPOCRISY SAYS “HOW DARE YOU GET SOMEBODY SAVED ON DECEMBER 25TH!!!!!!!” …
“How dare you help someone on the sabbath, on December 25th!!!”
…. when these same pharisees lead no one to Jesus, any day of the year. They can’t lead someone else to Jesus where they themselves are not willing to go.
Healing of a Man on the Sabbath
“He (Jesus) constantly defied the traditions of the scribes and Pharisees. And He did not do so by accident but with great deliberation”. Pagan Christianity
“And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? 6 And they could not answer him again to these things.” Luke 14:1-6
Divine Love Never Ceases its Activities!
“Luke 14:1-6
Healing of a Man with Dropsy (14:1-6)
14:1-3 One Sabbath day, a ruler of the Pharisees invited the Lord to his house for a meal. It was not a sincere gesture of hospitality, but rather an attempt on the part of the religious leaders to find fault with the Son of God. Jesus saw a certain man there who was afflicted with dropsy, that is, swelling caused by the accumulation of water in the tissues. The Savior read the minds of His critics by asking them pointedly whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.
14:4-6 Much as they would like to have said that it was not, they could not support their answer, and so they kept silent. Jesus therefore healed the man and let him go. To Him it was a work of mercy, and divine love never ceases its activities, even on the Sabbath (Jhn_5:17). Then turning to the Jews, He reminded them that if one of their animals fell into a pit, they would certainly pull him out on the Sabbath day. It was in their own interests to do so. The animal was worth money to them. In the case of a suffering fellow man, they didn’t care, and they would have condemned the Lord Jesus for helping him. Although they could not answer the reasoning of the Savior, we can be sure that they were all the more incensed at Him.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Did Jesus tell us He ceases His mission of mercy to the lost, to His people who are in need, on December 25? Chapters and verses please.
Note: God will not use us to witness and win others to Him if we are too busying judging, condemning them.
“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. … 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:20, 27
“SINNING” ON DECEMBER 24TH????
“So last night we went to the home and took our Jesus tracts. And sang songs about Jesus! Some would say we were sinning. Not one of them had any family visiting. Those residents lit up with the songs about Jesus! What an absolute delight it was to share the gospel and to worship the Lord with these people. They were clapping and Ted even danced! What a joyous time we had in the Lord. It was a worship of our Lord and Saviour!” Tom and Karen Cochran |
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
Some seem to seek to be known by what they are against. Yet, what are they for? WHO are they leading to Jesus? No one.
“Get out of yourself today and go help someone else! Bring the message of the cross to someone who is hopeless. Stop worrying about if it is a sin to celebrate Christmas! It’s never a sin to celebrate Jesus and bring His message to the world is a command! Matthew 28:18-20” Tom and Karen Cochran
The Condemnation of the Christmas Bashers
EVEN though some are erroneously claiming others are going to hell for celebrating JESUS on a certain day….
I never said you are going to hell for bashing the paganism in Christmas. What are we choosing to focus on? Since when is Dec 25 the day we take off, we stop shining Christ’s light into this dark world?
This seems to be a matter of maturity in Christ or lack thereof. Read Romans 14.
Wow, think with me for a moment. Let’s peer into eternity past, based on what we know from God’s Word: Just think, imagine with me of where we’d be – you and I, the worst, vilest sinners ever – IF Jesus had looked down from Heaven and acted like many condemners act today….. Just what if Jesus had said “Father, there’s nothing but paganism, sin, going on in the midst of fallen men, in the earth…. so NO Father I am staying here, I am not going into the middle of that darkness to die for any of those pagan sinners.” Wow.
Aren’t you glad God our loving heavenly the Father “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) ????
Are we more busy cursing the darkness than we are shining the light of Christ straight into the darkness of this fallen world? What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:16?
“Just imagine if Jesus had said ‘no I am not going among those pagan people!’ That really nailed it! How can anyone get saved if we are afraid of anything pagan! The whole world is pagan! So we avoid the lost too?” Karen Cochran
As He personally came into this dark pagan world, the light of the world Himself, Jesus commands His own to personally never be guilty of covering His light in us, never lampshade His glorious light (Matthew 5:13-16) …. No, instead, SHINE HIS LIGHT into the darkness of this world. This is a divine command:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
***IS this the year that we finally choose to get a more godly, biblical, mature, winsome, balanced, Christ-like perspective?
Did God so LOVE or did He so HATE the world that He gave His only begotten Son? Which of these – love or hatred – characterizes your perspective?
Is today the day we repent afresh and get, be busy about our Father’s business – which was obviously not condemnation because the whole world was and is already condemned in their sin (John 3:16-18). HE gave us Himself as the Solution.
Oh, and by the way, I personally do nothing – zilch – to celebrate “Christmas”, nothing. So bear that in mind as you read this.
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37
Jesus came to die. Jesus could not have died for the sins of this fallen world unless He was first born into this world.
“Thank you for posting this. Excellent biblical explanation. Last year was the first I had heard it was a sin to celebrate Christmas because according to them Jesus wasn’t born on Dec. 25th. And there was so much shaming going on! Just as they did telling people they were in sin because they voted. And I believe the same ones who say in God’s economy you are never to divorce. Somehow they have put themselves above everyone else! Hypocrites.” Karen Cochran | The sin of self-righteousness will damn the soul (Matthew 21:31).
Are We Minding Our Own Business?
Jesus says the self-righteous lost souls “have omitted the weightier matters of the law.” That is, they overemphasize the minors and underemphasize the majors. In other words they condemn others for what THEY not God consider a sin – such as worshipping Jesus 365 days per year including December 25. The fact that Jesus uses the phrase “the WEIGHTIER matters of the law (Word)” makes it clear that some things are more important than others in His divine kingdom. Jesus even cites to us, to all, things that are of higher importance in His kingdom – “judgment, mercy, and faith:” (Matthew 23:23)
“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
The pharisees were experts at condemning others. It’s scary how much this severe warning applies to many of the self-righteous in our midst today:
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20
“5:20 To gain entrance into the kingdom, our righteousness must surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (who were content with religious ceremonies which gave them an outward, ritual cleansing, but which never changed their hearts). Jesus uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to drive home the truth that external righteousness without internal reality will not gain entrance into the kingdom. The only righteousness that God will accept is the perfection that He imputes to those who accept His Son as Savior (2Co_5:21). Of course, where there is true faith in Christ, there will also be the practical righteousness that Jesus describes in the remainder of the Sermon.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Except your righteousness shall exceed – περισσευση, Unless your righteousness abound more – unless it take in, not only the letter, but the spirit and design of the moral and ritual precept; the one directing you how to walk so as to please God; the other pointing out Christ, the great Atonement, through and by which a sinner is enabled to do so – more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, who only attend to the letter of the law, and had indeed made even that of no effect by their traditions – ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. This fully explains the meaning of the preceding verse. The old English word is right-wiseness, i.e. complete, thorough, excellent Wisdom. For a full explanation of this verse, see Luk_18:10, etc.” Adam Clarke
EVERY true disciple of Jesus knows that if God could find and save the WORST sinner ever – themselves – He can find and save anyone!!!! Repent now of all self-righteousness. You are as sure for hell as if you were already there if you are self-righteous (Matthew 21:31, etc.).
The angels and wise men celebrated the coming of Christ. Since when would it be inappropriate to celebrate Heaven’s KING? Just WHAT, second, minute, or year would it be God’s will not to celebrate the bless-ed LORD and Savior who came into this world, was born of a virgin to die for our sins? Is is okay with you if God’s people celebrate JESUS – every aspect of Him, His life – every days except December 25th? WHERE does the Bible say that if one of God’s people celebrate Christ on December 25th, they are going to hell?
Why shouldn’t God’s people insert His truth into everything, at all times? – EVERY day of the year, including December 25! Isn’t that what Jesus meant when He said we are His light and salt in the earth? (Matthew 5:13-16) God is good and God is able! Ask Him to use you during this period of the year!
The prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus the Messiah’s birth! There could be no bigger news except “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Christ could never have died for us, accomplishing redemption, had He not come to the earth. In fact, over 300 prophecies of Christ were given in the Old Testament and several dealt with His first coming, exactly where He would be born (Micah 5:2), that He’d be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), that He’d be divine – “God with us” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 9:6-7), etc. Did Christ not split time in half when He was born? Oh and what about the joy in Elizabeth, John the Baptist and a whole host of others in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke concerning the birth of the Messiah?
Are you born again? – Making Peace with God – Before it’s too late.
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Abiding
The Eternal Danger of Trusting Mere Men [podcast]

Idol Shepherds Abounding!
The LORD is Holy and will not share His glory with any other.
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8
Your favorite pastor, evangelist or teacher among men is “at his best state … altogether vanity” (Psalms 39:5). God be thanked for the life of every true servant elder and yet they are mere men. God did not send His only begotten Son to die and be buried and raised again to make you a good church member or fan of a mere man who is supposed to be a servant leader. Jesus came to take away our sins, make us new creatures so we could know Him and His Father – and serve them and not man (John 1:29; 17:3; 1 Corinthians 7:23). We are each called to “know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10). Let’s read the whole verse: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10).
RAVI ZACHARIAS is just another pawn of Satan whom gullible dupes clung to, they hung to his every word. He rarely even mentioned the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith – the holiness of God, the precious blood of Jesus, the crucified life, repentance, etc.. Why did they cling to him, a mere man? They were unrepentant and therefore weren’t choosing to truly worship, seek the face of, love and obey Christ. The vacuum left by their idolatry facilitated their delusion. Then Ravi died in sin. When you love the LORD, truly, you love and devour HIS Word, daily. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? MY HOPE IS IN THEE.” Psalms 39:4-7
When O When will we truly repent and genuinely follow JESUS, pouring over and hanging on HIS every Word – from Genesis to Revelation? Isn’t that why He gave us HIS Word, the Bible? (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” 20:31
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5
The ministries of mere men are not an end in themselves.
They are called to simply teach God’s Word itself – and to get you into God’s Word daily for yourself.
Notice how the apostle Paul reveals how the disciples at Thessalonica “received the word of God.”
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when YE RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
“Ye received the word of God – Ye received the doctrine of God, not as any thing fabricated by man, but as coming immediately from God himself, we being only his messengers to declare what he had previously revealed to us. And ye have had the fullest proof that ye have not believed in vain; for that doctrine, under the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, has worked most powerfully in you, filling you with light, life, and holiness.” Adam Clarke
They were “taught of God”, not men (1 Thessalonians 4:9).
The ministries of the servants of God are merely designed to get you to discern ….. and to get into God’s Word FOR YOURSELF – to study to show your own self approved unto God! (Acts 17:10-11)
” And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:10-11
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
YOU do it.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
The lazy, those who don’t truly love the LORD are being eliminated as goats. This all comes on the heels of their refusal to seek God…. and study His own Word.
No, instead the idolaters of mere men will read and listen to endless messages by mere men, their favorite preachers, mere men. They then bond with those mere men, there is an unnatural soul-tie created.
“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22
“Isaiah 2:19-22 People will seek for shelter wherever they can hide. It will be clear then that fleeting man is unworthy of trust. Only the Lord is worthy of the undivided confidence of His people.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Cease ye – Never admire or place your trust in man. Breath – Whose breath is quickly stopped and taken away. Wherein – What excellency is in him, considered in himself, and without dependence on God?” John Wesley
“Cease ye from man – Trust neither in him, nor in the gods that he has invented. Neither he, nor they, can either save or destroy.” Adam Clarke
The church world is full of wolves in sheep’s clothing. The list of “idol shepherd(s)“ is long…. Here is but a sampling:
See all shorts videos here on ministry youtube channel.
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Abiding
“Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith” [podcast]

Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith and He requires our personal participation both initially and ongoing, as we “endure to the end”, abiding in Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15, etc.).
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66-67
WHERE O WHERE are we going to go if we depart from Jesus? …. does He, the eternal God and Creator of all things not hold the future of every living soul in His holy hand?
FB Meyer on John 6:60-71
“THE SIFTING OF JESUS’ FOLLOWERS
Christ’s pathetic question-Will ye also go away?-elicited from Peter a reply which proved that the inner meaning of His words had already broken upon their souls. ‘Thy words give us and nourish within us the eternal life.'”
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66-67
There are many today, who like the 5,000 who departed from Christ, leave when they hear the cross message – the divine command to be crucified with Christ. Jesus asks us today: “Will you allow He who authored your faith to finish it?”
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness”? Romans 6:1-16
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:3-10
The Gospel, the Resurrection of Christ
1 Corinthians 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
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Abiding
“My Sheep Hear My Voice, and I Know them, and they Follow Me” [podcast]

There are 7 portraits of Jesus in the Gospel of John. One of those seven portraits is Jesus our “the good shepherd.” (John 10)
The first thing the good shepherd of the sheep did was give His life to purchase the sheep with His own blood.
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Jesus who created us, then came to die to buy up back to the Father and Himself.
The Bible, God’s Word, is full of illustrations of who God is, and who He is to us. He is our shepherd….the shepherd of His true sheep. How do we know who His remnant saints, sheep truly are? How do we know if we individually are truly His?
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29
“John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice – But ye will not hear: – my sheep follow me; but ye will neither follow nor acknowledge me. Any person who reads without prejudice may easily see, that our Lord does not at all insinuate that these persons could not believe, because God had made it impossible to them; but simply because they did not hear and follow Christ, which the whole of our blessed Lord’s discourse proves that they might have done. The sheep of Christ are not those who are included in any eternal decree, to the exclusion of others from the yearnings of the bowels of eternal mercy; but they are those who hear, believe in, follow, and obey the Savior of the world.” Adam Clarke
We know He is our shepherd if we are reading, listening for, and walking out the voice of His Word. That’s why He gave us His Word. The voice of His Word is His voice. This is why God gave us the Bible, His Word, the “voice” of His Word. Jesus says “My sheep hear my voice” and the “voice” of Jesus is with us, is God’s written Word. We have the “voice”, the very words of our LORD on record. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The primary way God’s voice is heard by His sheep is the Holy Scriptures….. reading God’s Word is hearing the voice of God.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14
Our LORD, the good shepherd of our souls, told us that His sheep are those who hear His voice, the voice of His Word. Those not in the Word are not hearing the voice of God.
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
Those who are “of the truth” hear the voice, the words of Jesus Christ.
“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37
Jesus made it clear who His true sheep are ….
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21
Jesus’ sheep hear His voice, He knows them, they follow Him. They don’t listen to nor follow their own feelings, human reasoning, their own wicked heart, nor any mere men … “follow your heart”? No. That’s a lie from hell. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus died to save you so you would be His, and that you would follow Him, His voice and none other.
Jesus, on record in John 10:27-29, is telling us that it’s only those who are hearing His voice, the voice of His Word, and following Him, who are going to be kept in His holy hand. After being saved, only those who abide in Christ to the end will be kept by Him and with Him eternally. Read John 15:1-6 where you will see that any whom Jesus saves and yet then they don’t “abide” (remain, continue) in Him will be cast into the fire of hell (v6).
Take a closer look at John 10:27-29. Anchor the promise in verses 28-29 on verse 27 where Jesus identifies who His sheep are—those who hear and continue to hear His voice and continue to follow Him (present tense). The divine promise here to be kept is a conditional
promise requiring the individual recipient of the gift of God to continue to hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27-29). If you are born again, a sheep of Christ’ pasture, and you cease hearing His voice and following Him, you are no long His.
Many today detach, separate our LORD’s words in verse 27 from verses 28-29 of John 10. In doing so, they perpetrate their “eternal security” mythology which is Satan’s first lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Beware as this was the first lie Satan told mankind, which led to the fall (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
The LORD saved you to be His – to hear the voice of His Word and to follow Him, to walk with Him.
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5
To be kept you must live “through faith” – to hear and believe the voice of His Word, and walk with Him accordingly.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
“Eternal security”, otherwise known as “once saved always saved”, is a lie from hell. Run from any and all wolves peddling this, Satan’s first lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
To be “kept” by Jesus, the saved sheep must live his life “through faith.”
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5
The recipient of salvation must “through faith” be “kept.” God never removes man’s free will and requires not only initial but also continued faith. Jesus foretold that some would be saved and then not continue with Him and “fall away” (Luke 8:12-13).
“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:9
Prayer: Father, I know You are holy and require my faith to the end of this life. Make sensitive my conscience, quicken my spirit to repentance and to be holy as You are holy. In Jesus’ name.
Jesus Christ our LORD is “that great shepherd of the sheep.”
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
“For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,” Psalms 95:7
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalms 100:3
“To hear His voice, we submit to the pruning of the Holy Ghost in our heart. The fruit of righteousness can only be produced in an ABIDING relationship with Jesus and cultivated by the Holy Spirit given to them that OBEY him. (John 15:3-5; 14:15-17)” Jon Crane
Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at and amazon. English and Spanish.
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