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Underscoring the need for the crucified life Jesus calls us to, Debbie Lord writes:

“It’s so easy to forget about the crucified life in this day and age with all the subtle AND the blatant ‘commercials’ (all around us, all day, every day), telling us that ‘number one’ is the one we’ve got to look out for — at all costs. And, not to do or say anything that would jeopardize our most important priority — ourselves! YUCK!”

When is the last time you heard these warning words of Jesus Christ preached?:

“And he said unto them ALL, If ANY man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it…For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:23-26

Also see Mark 8:34-38; 9:42-49, etc.

Why is it that most of the leaders in Christendom purposely avoid these disturbing words? Why are they not loyal to declare the words of the One whom they claim to serve? This was the very same sin of the Jewish leaders whom Jesus said were going to Hell (See Matthew 23). Why do they refuse to declare the Gospel that the Son of God preached?

Could it be due to their self-serving hearts?

“(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: Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly (appetites), and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things).” Philippians 3:18-19

“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his (own personal) gain, from his quarter.” Isaiah 56:10-11

We are told that in the last hour before Christ returns, there will not be a worldwide revival, but rather, a worldwide apostasy:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 

What precedes apostasy in every generation that departs from the Lord, is wicked leaders, most of whom are hard to discern unless measured against the holy standard of God’s written Word. (see Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:12-4:5)

“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16

Of this kind, the Son of God said:

“Let them alone (abandon them): they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, BOTH shall fall into the ditch (destruction).” Matthew 15:14 

In the face of God’s command for them to “preach the word”, we hear everything but pure Biblical substance from American pulpits today. We see entertainment, hear jokes, and are fed with foolish pop psychology, but we starve for the lack of Biblical truth. This time was foretold:

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11

Those who preach a “gospel” which is not according to the whole counsel of God found in holy Scripture, are preaching “another gospel” and are of “another spirit” and are “accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4).

Warning: If you are going to be one of the few wise virgin believers who endure to the end, make sure you are in the Word of God daily for yourself. (2 Timothy 2:15; John 5:39; 1 Peter 2:2) If you are to be one of the remnant you must also keep your lamp full through intimate daily prayer communion with your Savior. You must serve God in the very face of those leaders who refuse to live in the fear of his holiness. “From such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:5b).

The Cross in Our Doctrinal Determinations!

We must acknowledge the truth of Scripture – that what we choose to believe is a matter of our own hearts, reflecting their condition. Watch closely and especially verse 3:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering 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

In this foretelling of the last days, the Holy Spirit informs us that many who have a mere “form of godliness” will listen to false teachers due to their own evil, un-repentant hearts (2 Timothy 3:1-7)!

The cross must be in the center of our doctrinal determinations. We must in Christ-like humility, be crucified with Christ, truly, to lean not to our own carnal understanding and upon study of the whole of Scripture on all matters, simply declare with Paul “Let GOD be true and EVERY man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

“O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” Psalms 96:9 

For more in-depth study on what God says about deceivers in leadership positions, study Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34 and Matthew 23.

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Abiding

7 Ways to Forgive [podcast]


PRAY

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

LOVE AND DO GOOD TO THE OFFENDER

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Romans 12:9

REFUSE TO SPEAK EVIL OF THE OFFENDER

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” Romans 12:14

RELEASE THEM FROM YOUR PUNISHMENT

“Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19

DON’T CELEBRATE THEIR FAILURES

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” Proverbs 24:17-18

TREAT THEM THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31

STOP DWELLING ON THE PAST

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18

The blessedness of being merciful to others:

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

The only way to prevent holding a grudge, is to simply forgive them – as God freely forgave you through the infinite price Christ paid for your sins on the cross, of which you don’t deserve (Psalms 103:10).

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” James 5:7-9

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:30-32

Being kind and forgiving towards others becomes simple as we look in the mirror and declare with Paul the apostle: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” (Romans 7:18)

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:10

Forgiveness becomes easy when we look in the mirror to see the person (us, me) who needs God’s mercy more than any other person alive on the earth! Memorize Ephesians 4:32 now. KJB

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

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:12-14

Forgiveness Quotes

Forgiveness is ultra important to God. If you don’t forgive all others, you are not forgiven of your own sin and are as sure for hell as if you were already there. If you refuse to forgive you damn your own soul, non-negotiably. irrevocably.

“Forgiveness does not mean what happened is okay. It means not letting what happened take any more of your happiness.” Michelle Maros

“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” Bryant McGill

“Love is an act of endless forgiveness. Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me. Forgiveness is the final act of love.” Reinhold Niebuhr

“Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong; it makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak; it sets you free.” unknown

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Abiding

Christ’s Non-Negotiable Original Gospel Imperative [podcast]


“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30

It’s one thing to claim we are with Christ and He with us, and it’s another thing to prove we are with the Savior by adhering to His words. Jesus told us that those who are “of God” hear and obey His words (John 8:47).

If one chooses not to love Jesus enough to obey His stated terms, such a man has rejected the Son of God for the love of sinful self and will perish in his own corruption (Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 9:23-24; 14:33; 17:33; John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).

“Repentance is to TAKE SIDES with God against yourself. It is a CHANGE of attitude toward SELF, toward SIN, toward GOD, toward CHRIST that is so REAL that it RESULTS in a changed life. It is raising the WHITE FLAG in SURRENDER to God and turning to Christ as your only LORD and Savior. Repentance is NOT a work … works are the fruit of repentance (Ephesians 2:8-10).” Trent Austin

Only the counterfeit will get upset at this Gospel message because such a rebel wants nothing to do with taking personal responsibility for his sin, the denial of self, the crucified life to be set apart, holy, and having the Savior reign!

Notice how Jesus knits the denial of self, the daily cross, the putting off the deeds of the body, of keeping under the body (the iniquitous fallen nature) with the destiny of the eternal soul.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

Jesus made it clear here that the cross is an original Gospel essential, an absolute imperative to eternal glory with Him!

Each of us proves exactly who we love the most by the way we are living! – God or self!

Everything that is happening in your life now is being allowed by God in order to get you down low into the death and burial with Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 4.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 

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The Book of Proverbs Alexander Scourby [video]


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