“Be Ready in the Morning” [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

MUST-READ: IF YOU don’t wake up swinging, you’re going to get knocked out. You’re going to lose. As God’s child, YOU are in a FIGHT, A WAR – like it or not. A war is raging over your life, for your eternal soul. And you are losing if you don’t get up swinging, every day.

Set your life up for success by hard-scheduling Christ into the first waking moments of your day – in prayer and His Word (Matthew 6:6; Mark 1:35; 2 Timothy 2:15). Build your days upon the Rock – the only immoveable platform, destined to victory!

ANY person who is not beginning his/her day seeking the face of Christ, is not putting God first. They still have the god of self first. Repentance needed – a re-turning to the LORD afresh! Then, watch His beautiful blessings flow into your life – so that no matter happens or comes your way, He’s LORD and Master over it all!

We must love and honor our God “first” as we “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). To seek first the LORD denotes priority – putting Him first and not ourselves. As we honor the LORD, there will be a leading to seek His holy face first thing each morning! When such is the case, the perfect will of God will pervade our lives. That is the promise of our LORD Jesus.

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

Putting Jesus first is literal. If we haven’t settled in our heart, our life, to spend time with God daily (preferably first), we are backslidden, setting ourselves up for failure, doing things our own way instead of God’s, and in utter need of repentance. Today is the day to turn back to Jesus as the “first love” of your life! See Revelation 2:4-5.

“I can do no good to those who come to seek from me if I have forgotten my time alone with God in the early morning.” – Robert Murray McCheyne

“In the past I would use the excuse that I wasn’t awake enough in the morning to read God’s Word. As a result, I spent much less time with the LORD in His Word. Best to do first. I have coffee every morning with Jesus and His Word.” – Meme A.

The disciples day begins with talking with God in prayer and praise and thanksgiving and allowing Him to talk to us by studying his Word.

A quality day with Jesus begins with communion with Him – First thing in the morning.

Saints of Christ – get alone with Your master each morning. Begin your day seeking His holy face – in His Word and prayer (Job 23:12; Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 6:6; Mark 1:35; 2 Timothy 2:15). Run on FULL saints and not on empty. True wise virgins saints fill and run their earthen vessels on full, not empty! (Matthew 25:1-13) These are the “few”, the “little flock” of the Lamb of God who shall forever enjoy the treasures of Heaven for all eternity (Matthew 7:13-14; 25:1-13; Luke 12:32; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21).

“There is no time like the early morning for fellowship with Jesus!” FB Meyer

WHEN God truly is first in your life, it’s proven in that you arise each morning to seek His holy face, to do His holy bidding, to be led by His Holy Word and Spirit (Psalms 5:3; 63:1; Mark 1:35).

“The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.” – EM Bounds

“I seek thee early” – Below is yet another reference to putting God first and early morning prayer communion.

“With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” Isaiah 26:9

“A sinning man stops praying. A praying man stops sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill

The LORD instructed His servant Moses to “be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning … and present thyself.”

Are you “ready in the morning”? Are you presenting yourself before the LORD in the morning? (Exodus 34:2-3)

Do you go up to God in the morning?

Is He your first priority when you awake?

God instructed Moses:

“And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount. 3 And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.” Exodus 34:2-3

Our meetings with God are to be private (Exodus 34:2; Matthew 6:6; Mark 1:35). He desires to meet with Him in private. To further emphasize this point, the LORD tells Moses that not even animals should be in the vicinity.

Concerning Psalms 30:5, one sister in Christ has observed the following:

“Every morning, we have the opportunity to make that morning the first day for the rest of lives.”

Early morning prayer is an absolutely irreplaceable mainstay in the life of every disciple of Jesus.

Do your mornings begin with fellowshipping with the LORD?

Those who choose to be “ready in the morning” to meet with God, will be ready when Jesus suddenly returns. For truly they are setting their heart affections upon Heaven’s King instead of this world (Colossians 3:1-4).

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:35-40

Think you really know Him? The person who does not have a daily prayer communion with the LORD has no oil in his lamp/vessel and is therefore not ready to meet Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom. Read Jesus’ warning parable on the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

Anyone not praying is not seeking God and has already fallen away (Luke 12:40).

Satan is defeated as we are not only positionally but also practically dead and “hid with Christ in God” (Romans 6; Colossians 3:3).

There is no such thing in history as a powerfully used man or woman of God who was not given to our LORD in a life of prayer.

“Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” John Bunyan

“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day.” John Bunyan

“The secret place of prayer is the place to fight our battles and gain our victories.” R.A. Torrey, How to Pray, p. 88

Moses was alone with God. Jesus did and taught the same:

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary (uninhabited; no other man) place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35

Abraham also had established habits for success with the LORD – to meet with and commune with Him “in the morning.”

“And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:” Genesis 19:27

Is Jesus the first One you are going after tomorrow morning beloved?

Isn’t this exactly what the same LORD Jesus taught us when instructing His disciples of the New Testament era on the important matter of prayer fellowship? Listen to our Savior:

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6

Prayer is saving faith in action—the obedience of engaging in a personal perpetual, and intimate relationship with the Savior. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:31). In the divine economy and the personal life of every authentic disciple, knowing the LORD and a life of prayer are inseparable realities.

Satan is defeated
as we are dead with Christ,
hid with Christ in God!
Romans 6; Colossians 3:3

Note that when the LORD called Moses to meet with Him in the morning, he told Moses that He wanted personal time with him: “no man shall come up with thee.” (Exodus 34:3)

As Exodus 34 continues, we will note here below how that Moses went up an empty slate if you will and as the saying goes. Perhaps this refers to the blessed humility in Christ’s servant Moses and therefore his openness to learn of the LORD. He came up in the morning to meet with the LORD with a teachable heart and no preconceived notions or doctrines.

“And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. 5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.” Exodus 34:4-5

Like Moses, are we allowing the LORD to be the Writer of the bless-ed constitution on our hearts? When we come before Christ with open heart, He pens His Precepts upon our hearts, filling us with His Spirit. When speaking specifically of Moses, the apostle Paul writes:

“Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

After meeting with the LORD, Moses came out of that fellowship consumed with the Word and by the Holy Spirit. Watch this:

“And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist (knew) not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” Exodus 34:29-30

Just as Moses experienced, as they meet with Him, the countenance of the people of God today, will be lit – will shine bright for the world to see and take notice of the salvation of our God!

“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

We cannot lead others where we are not willing to go ourselves. Moses arose in the morning to meet with God. He had spent quality fellowship with the LORD. He sought God in private and was now being used of the LORD in public. Now he is “hid with Christ in God” and being used of the LORD to help others (Colossians 3:3):

“And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.” Exodus 35:1

Beloved, never again awake and do anything except seek God in your first moments. That’s exactly how Jesus walked (Mark 1:35). You are kidding no one except yourself to say that reading the Bible at night, the very last thing you, is going to cause you to grow in Christ (Psalms 5:3).

Our Mornings

During a season of ministry in my life, when 140 men had been thoroughly, individually ministered to and repented and received Jesus, with no exception, after each man gave his life to Jesus, discipleship began immediately. Deliberately and with deep conviction, I would look them directly in the eyes and lovingly, firmly say:

“Your day only begins right when it begins at the feet of Jesus! Whatever you do, read God’s Word daily. From this day forward, never begin your day without reading, studying God’s Word and spending time with Him in prayer. It’s more important than breathing and food. Don’t ever begin your day, each and every day from now till eternity, without Jesus, without spending time in His Word and prayer.”

BEGIN YOUR DAY WITH JESUS – IN HIS WORD AND PRAYER – and everything in your life is going to be blessed!

Is Jesus calling you to “Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning”? (Exodus 34:2-3) Is the Savior bidding you to “Come and dine”?

“Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.” John 21:12

Beloved, how can we possibly dish out if we don’t first dine? How shall we feed and we don’t first fellowship, with Jesus, if we don’t feast of the bounty at His banquet table? Is He calling us to answer His call to deepen and prioritize fellowship with Him?

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalms 27:4

“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” Psalms 27:8

Recently, one lady rebuked me for preaching that disciples of Christ should seek His face in the morning, putting Him first. She said this was Americanized. Jesus wasn’t American and neither was Moses or the psalmist. This has nothing to do with what part of God’s globe is living but rather, that they are looking to the One who made all things and is our only salvation – according to His Word. In this message we are looking at what Jesus and Moses said and did about early morning prayer and it’s more than obvious that they sought God early in the morning – they put Him first:

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary (uninhabited; no other man) place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35

HOW DID JESUS begin His days? Did you just see how “a great while before day” Jesus sought the Father when He was on the earth? Are we following Jesus – by beginning our day, every day, before His holy feet, seeking His beautiful face? If we are, we shall begin our days with Him (Mark 1:35; 1 John 2:6).

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6

The Psalmist agrees.

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalms 5:3

“O God, thou art my God; EARLY (Hebrew: dawn) will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” Psalms 63:1

“Morning” appears 227 times in the King James Bible.

“Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.” Oswald Chambers

Men of God have always been seen to wake up early and seek God, first thing. The LORD’s Word is filled with such examples to us. Jesus Himself set that example by rising up a great while before daylight and seeking the Father in a private place, one uninhabited by any other man (Mark 1:35).

“But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and IN THE MORNING shall my prayer prevent thee.” Psalms 88:13

“Prevent” here simply means to go before Thee. In other words, the psalmist, speaking to God, speaks of his seeking the face of the LORD first “in the morning” – putting Him first by rising up to pray, to send forth prayer to the LORD.

Memorizing the following words spoken by the man after God’s own heart (David) as immensely changed the course of this disciple’s life (Acts 13:22).

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

Mark Herridge Sr. writes:

“Give a man a prayer and he can have the victory today. Teach a man to pray and he can have the victory for a lifetime.”

Sister Debbie Lord shares:

“Lately I’ve begun my morning by bowing before the Lord God Almighty and Jesus at His right hand, magnifying Him — His ‘hallowed’ Name — holy, spotless, pristine. Wonderful and terrible is His power, judgment, mercy and love. More pure and true than any other thing or being in all of creation. There is none like Him. None can even begin to match Him in all of His majesty.”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus. Please captivate my heart with Thy holy fear, to hasten my life to Your holy feet. Teach me to pray. Please teach me concerning seeking Your holy face. Let my days begin with You O God – and yes from this day forward each day You give me will begin with seeking Thy holy face. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s Grow Together! Sign up here to begin receiving the Moments with Our Master email devotional that is sure to help you grow in His grace and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:2; 3:18). It’s sent out for the edification of the body of Christ. Sign Up HERE.

At His Feet [podcast]

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15 Job had just lost all of his children and yet held fast his integrity toward the LORD. He would not allow his wife, his friends, or any other circumstance or entity sway his thoughts. This was a man with a real relationship with the living God – one not based on circumstance. First, foremost, and separate from all else, Job loved and worshipped the LORD with his whole heart. We must come to the place where our LORD alone is […]

BEGIN THE DAY WITH PRAYER EM Bounds

From Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds “I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long, or meet with others early, it is eleven or twelve o’clock before I begin secret prayer. This is a wretched system. It is unscriptural. Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place. David says: ‘Early will I seek thee’; ‘Thou shalt early hear my voice.’ Family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness, and I can do no good to those who come to seek from me. The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp […]

Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High [podcast]

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 Prayer is inseparably connected with knowing God (John 17:3). “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:33 “A sinning man stops praying. A praying man stops sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a […]

Articles

LESS than the Least! Filthy Rags Fellowship! [podcast]

The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!

FACT: NO ONE, not one person on this earth needs Jesus more than this fool, this pauper who is nothing without Christ! (Romans 7:18; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15)

Jesus died, was buried, and raised again from the dead to forgive, regenerate, redeem, and grant complete victory in this life to every one of His people. Yet, we must do things God’s way and no other way.

JESUS JUDGED SIN ON THE CROSS SO WE DON’T HAVE TO BE JUDGED FOR OUR SIN AND SO WE CAN EXPERIENCE “THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE” BOTH NOW AND FOREVER (JOHN 12:31-32; EPHESIANS 1:7; 2:7).

What do we truly deserve in and of ourselves, being that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”? (Isaiah 64:6) The term “filthy rags” expresses the image, the reality of utter impurity, putridity.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

No. No. No. Born again believers into Christ are no longer walking in their own righteousness which is as “filthy rags” and yet, they are ever aware of the fact that outside of Christ, if they dare tread, means they are again as “filthy rags” in the sight of a Holy God (Isaiah 64:6; Ezekiel 33:12-13; 2 Peter 2:20-22)..

“And be found in him, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS (“filthy rags”), which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:9

Saints, we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3). We must study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.

“It is then, we say, in the successive stages of his experience, that the believer sees more distinctly, and adores more profoundly, and grasps more firmly, the finished righteousness of Christ. And what is the school in which he learns his nothingness, his poverty, his utter destitution? The school of deep and sanctified affliction. In no other school is it learned, and under no other teacher but God. Here his high thoughts are brought low, and the Lord alone is exalted.” Octavius Winslow

The true disciple sees himself as absolutely undeserving of and infinitely blessed to have been found, forgiven, and saved by the LORD Jesus Christ! He sees himself like Paul – “LESS than the least of all saints.” (Ephesians 3:8)

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15

Like Paul, we should always see ourselves as the one most in need of the great mercy of God given us through Christ our LORD! Pour over Titus 3:5-7 daily this week beloved of God.

We cannot die for our own sins. Jesus alone did that – perfectly paying for them (John 19:30). He lived a sinless life under the law – to keep it perfectly as no sinful man had or could ever do (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3; James 2:10, etc.). Christ then nailed the law to the cross and “took it out of the way,” removing us from under it – from under its impossible weight (Colossians 2:14-19, etc.). Memorize Romans 10:4 and James 2:10 and Galatians 2:16 brother.

Paul’s flesh was and our flesh is a constant reminder of the ever momentary need for the grace of Jesus – which works in us via the cross life. Romans chapters 6-7.

All I have to do to find the man most in need of God’s saving grace and mercy, is to look in the mirror (Romans 7:18, 24; James 1:23-24). As long as we neglect to look in the mirror, honestly, we will continue to be self-righteous as were Jesus’ most evil enemies, the religious frauds, the pharisees of His day (Matthew 23). Are we pharisees or humble, broken, honest disciples of Christ? (Matthew 18:3-4)

“Hell is full of people who think they deserve heaven. Heaven is full of people who know they deserve Hell.” Unknown

All self-righteous religious hypocrites are going to hell (Matthew 21:31). May God save, forgive, and cause us, to bless us to be His authentic disciples. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If we vainly imagine that someone else’s sin is more vile than our own in the eyes of a holy God, this is a tell tale indicator that we still don’t have a Gospel clue – as to our own utter unworthiness, wretchedness, and depravity outside of Christ! (Genesis 32:10; Jeremiah 17:9; James 2:10, 13; Titus 3:3-7, etc.)

How can we possibly begin to understand and appreciate why Jesus came to the earth to die if we still see ourselves as anything except “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” before a holy God? (Isaiah 6:3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18; Revelation 4:8)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.

The apostle Paul had his personal testimony of being saved by the grace of Christ and considered himself to be, not the least, but rather “LESS than the least” of all saints in Christ. In my opinion, this should be the only thing you and I should disagree with Paul concerning. Paul didn’t know us when he said that, right? 😉 Get the point? -you and I, as we see the truth about our own utter iniquitous depravity (Romans 7), we should view ourselves as “LESS than the least of all saints.” (Ephesians 3:8) We should also agree with the divine truth, uttered from the great apostle of Christ and recorded below:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18

Do you realize that outside of Christ, “NO GOOD THING” dwells in you?

“O WRETCHed man that I am! (presently) who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24

It really is true that Jesus “saved a wretch like me” when He mercifully saved me.

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. … And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Genesis 6:5, 12

Now, do we begin to see why we must be “crucified with Christ”? (Galatians 2:20)

Every believer grapples with the downward gravitational pull of the flesh (Galatians 5:17; Hebrews 12:4). Obeying God is the only way victory will erupt, manifest in our personal lives (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Death and burial will be followed by resurrection! And, when Christ is truly reigning is us, victory will be sure! Time to get down low and watch the devil and sin go! (James 4:6-10)

“GOD is able” saith the LORD! (Ephesians 3:20)

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

Defusing the iniquity of self-righteousness increases exponentially when we begin learning the biblical doctrine of fallen mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18; Psalms 39:4-5).

We should see ourselves as the most undeserving of the saving grace of Christ. We should say before our God, with the man who hung his head low as he prayed and said “God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

God calls those whom He saves to relish the great love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy He has shown upon us – “WHILE we were yet sinners.” (Romans 5:6-8) This is the disposition of the true disciple. In fact, He calls us to lift up and prefer others actually ABOVE ourselves.

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

The above passage is a great way to begin our day, every morning.

Those who truly seek and love the LORD, love also all men. Having freely received it, they desire to pour out the message of Christ’s saving mercy on others. Memorize the words of our LORD recorded in Matthew 22:37-40.

Saved by Divine Mercy

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

Do we still think we were worthy to be forgiven, saved? …. Not! God did it out of His sheer love! Can we examine that idea?

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.” Genesis 32:10

Foundations: JESUS came to save man from his SIN, first and foremost and not just to comfort, remove stress, and solve all the other problems that emanate from sin. Seldom is this foundational Bible truth ever heard in the apostate modern church world where it’s all about “what’s in it for me”? Total self-serving, un-repentant counterfeits! Memorize Matthew 1:29; John 1:29; and 1 Timothy 1:15. The essential doctrine of fallen mankind is ignored by modern wolves. | The Sinful Depravity of Fallen Mankind – Man Outside of the Present Saving Mercy of God

How do you see yourself?

Some among us recklessly pretend to be sinless. This seems apparent in the way they harshly, mercilessly judge others. Yet, God’s Word warns each of us:

“be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Instead of covering our sins, denying we’ve committed them, we must admit them honestly and forsake them:

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

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

If we don’t see things from God’s perspective, through the eyes of Holy Scripture, we are completely deceived and in need of repentance and true obedience to the only LORD and Savior.

ALL sin is public to God. He knows every sin we’ve ever committed. Just because you didn’t get caught by mere men, doesn’t negate the fact.

“Some men’s sins are open beforehand (public, known to men), going before to judgment; and some men they follow after (unknown to men).” 1 Timothy 5:24

Some men’s sins are public while others are hidden for now and yet God sees and will bring them all to the light after death. Nothing is hidden from His eyes (Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13).

All we have to see the person most in need of divine mercy is to look in the mirror.

The sin that should concern us the most is our own.

Mercy! Back up the dump truck and unload it on others AS YOU DESPERATELY need it from God! He requires this! Hell is full of self-righteous, merciless hypocrites. Jesus says the harlots will be in Heaven before they will !

“Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31

One commentary on this passage states:

“Christ forces from the unwilling hearers an answer which, at the moment, they do not see will condemn themselves. Unaccustomed to be criticized and put to the question, wrapped in a self-complacent righteousness, which was generally undisturbed, they missed the bearing of the parable on their own case, and answered without hesitation, as any unprejudiced person would have decided. The first; i.e. the son who first refused, but afterwards repented and went. Verily I say unto you. Jesus drives the moral home to the hearts of these hypocrites. The publicans and the harlots. He specifies these excommunicated sinners as examples of those represented by the first son. Go into the kingdom of God before you; προαìγουσιν ὑμας: are preceding you. This was the fact which Jesus saw and declared, he does not cut off all hope that the Pharisees might follow, if they willed to do so; he only shows that they have lost the position which they ought to have occupied, and that those whom they despised and spurned have accepted the offered salvation, and shall have their reward. We must remark that the Lord has no censure for those who sometime were disobedient, but afterwards repented; his rebuke falls on the professors and self-righteous, who ought to have been leaders and guides, and were in truth impious and irreligious.” Pulpit Commentary

In this statement and much more of what we see in Holy Scripture, God expresses to us that the filthiest of sinners He detests are the self-righteous religionists.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12

THINK of the worst sin you have ever committed: Now, if you want all your sins removed “as far as the east is from the west,” God requires that you repent, cease your self-righteous attitudes and words condemnations on others, and relish His mercy that you never deserved but that God proved through the blood of the cross of His only begotten Son. Get your hands from around the neck of others or hell will be your forever abode – not matter what security you vainly believe you have with the LORD (Matthew 18:21-35).

THE WICKED AND THE WONDERFUL: Does the Bible say that You are Wonderful? [podcast]

Attention: Jesus didn’t come to die because you are wonderful. No He came because you are wicked (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, etc.). The testimony of Holy Scripture is that JESUS is “Wonderful” (Isaiah 9:6-7)…. and we are “desperately wicked” without Him (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18, 24). Each of His children, bought by His blood, merely stand as unworthy beggars, shoulder to shoulder in honor of our KING, Jesus! The only righteousness we have is that which our LORD Jesus mercifully, graciously provided for us by the one-time shedding of HIS precious blood for our sin – to […]

The Exceeding Riches of His Grace

Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages Ephesians 2:7 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:4-8 Here are […]

Abiding

God Blesses those who Read His Word [book]

God blesses those who Read His Word

“Blessed is he that readeth” Revelation 1:3

“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and READ.” Isaiah 34:16

“Rightly dividing the word of truth”

“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

YES God’s people are to “study” His Word and how else to do such than to begin by “READING” His words? 2 Timothy 2:15

“Till I come, give attendance to READING, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:13

“Bless is he that READETH ….” Revelation 1:3

Years ago I found that if I don’t get up early to read God’s Word and spend quality moments in prayer first and foremost, it will never happen. God must be put first and this requires ruthless discipline.

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

Reading all of God’s Word is the priority of ever astute follower of Jesus.

There’s no way to learn God’s Word other than reading it yourself (2 Timothy 2:15) God gave you His Word in tangible format in order for you to learn of Him from Him and by Him. Those who leave it to others to teach them God’s Word are self-deceived and will be misled by those they depend on to teach them the Bible.

“I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

O the beauty of doing things God’s way. When things are done our LORD’s way, His blessings ensue! Blessings will chase you down! Are you putting GOD first in your life, truly, literally?

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

“The joy and rejoicing of mine heart”

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

GOD’S WORD

Saints, in order that some may be encouraged, below, let’s talk about our current personal Bible reading…..

“Presently, I am in 1 Kings, reading all the way through the Bible again, and also reading through Revelation backwards. Personally I like to read several chapters every morning to begin the day and like to include OT, Poetic books, and New Testament chapter readings….. along with pouring over passages like 1 Cor 13; Phil 2:3-5; Col. 3:1-4, 12-14;” Todd

“In 1 Thessalonians reading through the Bible.” Jason

“I am reading Mark.” Michele

“Philippians—Paul’s letter in prison—and joy.” Joe

“I Been Reading James And 1st An 2nd Peter This Week.” Connie

“Working my way through 1 Sam (ch 14 finished now) Psalms 77 and John chapter 4 finished. Trying to read through in 6 months. I enjoy listening (KJB on YouTube) while I read also.” Nathan

The Blessings of Bible Reading [podcast]

podcast coming soon “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3 The quickest and surest way to get blessed is to simply read God’s Word. This is so simple that most miss it. Bible reading is the key to learning the things of God (Prov. 22:17-22). Bible Study is paramount to spiritual growth (1 Pet. 2:2). Reading God’s Word etches the image of Christ upon the canvass of the heart (Lk 24:27; Jn 5:39, 46). Bible reading instills the […]

The Real R.E.D. Alert

THE REAL R.E.D. Alert ….Saint of Christ, are you in God’s Word richly and daily, being reminded of His blessed truths? (Colossians 3:16; Acts 2:42) If so, then you are to be putting His children in remembrance of these truths as we look together for His soon return. When we do this, we are considered “a good minister of Jesus Christ.” “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6 Where to Look Jesus […]

IS DOUBTING YOUR SALVATION ALWAYS A BAD THING? [podcast]

Making Sure We are Truly Saved While We Still Can Obviously, the assurance of salvation should concern each and every one of us. “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 Notice “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” Note that those who honestly assess and amend their ways in the LORD will not be judged with the wicked. Those who don’t, will be. They will fall away and not […]

Articles

Summary of Tom Wadsworth’s teaching on modern worship as compared to the New Testament church [video]

The corporate type church buildings begun with the cult of Rome as did the seminaries. This is Satan’s typical centralization model (think tower of babel). Centralization of the church building and the installed wolves go hand in hand in order to control what happens, doesn’t happen and what is taught and not taught. All Satan then has to do is install his unsaved seminarian agent false teachers into those “official” church buildings.

Fellowship and New Testament Gatherings/Assembling

The Truth about Fellowship and Going to "Church" [podcast]

The Simplicity of Fellowship that Exalts and Glorifies Christ “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ” Acts 2:42 MANY today peddle the importance of fellowship because they hear it from their pastors on a regular basis. Yet, much more important than man to man fellowship is God to man, and man to God fellowship. This is little spoken of. And, what passes and is pawned off as “fellowship” today doesn’t fit the biblical description, the prescription for fellowship (Acts 2:42-47; Colossians 3:16, etc.). It’s not even a faint […]

True vs False Fellowship [podcast]

One of the main and stated reasons for fellowship is to prevent God’s people from falling away. Notice: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another DAILY, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” Hebrews 3:12-14 If your “fellowshipping” is limited to Sunday mornings, instead of “daily”, as Scripture prescribes, you […]