Abiding

Beware of False Promises and Half Truths and the Pawns who Peddle them! [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]

BEWARE OF THE MANY PROPHE-LIARS!

Many today dish out God’s promises to disobedient rebels. Those promises are GOD’s, not yours, sinner. And the LORD has stated conditions that must be met to receive those promises (Example: Jeremiah 29:11-15). He didn’t give those promises so you could run around using them for your own self-serving purposes to get people to like and follow you.

There’s so much flattery floating around today, posing as being Christian, as being biblical, and yet, there’s no cross, holiness, judgment, or repentance in it. Counterfeit. False gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Run.

It’s time to stop prophe-lying. It’s time to stop lying to people by giving them promises God is not going to fulfill for them and will not give them unless they do things His way which is to truly repent, to deny self, take up the cross and followed Jesus. God’s blessings of condition. He doesn’t indiscriminately dish out His blessings. WHO exactly is the LORD going to reward? – “…he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

It seems very dangerous to give out indiscriminate promises to everyone. God is not going to bless anyone who is not born again and presently abiding and Christ according to the written Word of God. John chapter 15.

There are conditions for God’s blessings and those conditions are clearly in His Word and yet many ignore them and syphon out on the promises. For example, read Jeremiah 29:11-14 and notice the conditions. Most only read verse 11.

The indiscriminate empty promises demonic frauds perpetuate of how “God is getting ready to bless you” are sickening. As was foretold of this last hour, we live in a day when many run to have their ears tickled (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Because the LORD is not important to them, is not their “first love,” many refuse to get into God’s Word for themselves and just want someone else to tell them about God (Revelation 2:4-5). They are tossing their eternal souls into irrevocable eternal damnation.

We see a continual stream of promises being given out indiscriminately. In other words, people are pushing out the promises of God and yet never the conditions stated in His Word. The LORD is only going to bless, to give His promised blessings, to those who are “willing and OBEDIENT” to Him.

“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:19-20

I don’t know about you, but I want God hearing and answering my prayers!!!!

“The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me” Psalms 18:20

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Psalms 66:18

The LORD does not hear and answer the prayers of those lliving outside of His stated will.

“IF ye abide in me, and my words abide in you (on HIS stated terms, the cross), ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7

God’s promises, His blessing are conditional, not un-conditional.

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT.” 1 John 3:22

You must meet the condition to receive the blessing. The condition is to let go and let God – to lay down your life and let Him take it up. There can be no divine raising upward until there is a death and burial, a surrender.

So many false prophets dishing out promises these days on social media. Everyone and their brother and sister is trying to be the oracle. But the LORD gave us HIS oracles, in the Bible – and commanded that we preach that Word, THE WORD.

“ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness … are given unto us” in the “exceeding great and precious promises” of His written Word (2 Peter 1:3-4).

“If any man speak, let him speak as the ORACLES (written Word) of God.” 1 Peter 4:11

“Preach THE WORD.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Anyone who is truly known of Christ is not impressed with the social media circus clowns who always have a word, a dream, a vision that they falsely claim is from God.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:16

“Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” Jeremiah 14:14

So many false prophets who ALWAYS have “a word” they claim is from God and yet they never point to THE WORD – to your own need to study God’s Word for yourself. Isn’t that exactly what Paul told Timothy? Yes it is.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God (YOU do it), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

These “many false prophets” want you dependent upon them, upon their supposed word from God (Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1).

Make no mistake, these people are operating under the power of the spirit of witchcraft, where they are drawing your heart affections, your attention to themselves and away from Christ, the Head of the body (Colossians 2:8, 18-19, etc.).

God’s promises are conditional – not unconditional. If you truly repent and choose to follow Jesus on His stated terms, your life is going to be blessed beyond measure! When you die and are buried, He will then raise you up and His blessings will flood your life (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). Otherwise you are self-willed and the LORD will not raise you up and bless you and anything that seems, that appears to be God’s blessing is a lie. The “MANY false prophets” who are promising God is going to bless you without including the divinely-given conditions, are misleading you (Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1, etc.). The blind are leading the blind into the ditch of darkness and eternal destruction.

“Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” Luke 6:39

FLASHPOINT: God is not getting ready to bless the life of anyone who isn’t born again and serving Him with a whole heart on HIS terms (Jeremiah 29:11-14). Such a lost soul is hanging by a spider thread over the flames of eternal damnation.

Let’s repent afresh and cease giving people false hope! Be like Jesus! Full disclosure! Only false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, hide the truth, preach half-truths, and refuse to teach the whole counsel of God’s Word! (Acts 20:20, 27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:2-4, etc.).

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalms 84:11

Beware of those who reduce the Bible to a book of promises that God “owes” them or that they can use against God to get what they want. And they are peddling this to others as “ministry.” Ever notice how these types never mention the biblically stated conditions, hell, sin, rebellion, judgment, holiness, or the cross?

False promise peddling false prophets are nothing new. Backslidden Israel were many times cited for their lying prophets:

“Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.” Jeremiah 14:13-16

*Promises without conditions is what we see being peddled. There are so many on social media doing this. The same people never preach the cross or other divinely-required essential conditions to be met. Therefore we must conclude that they are preaching “another gospel” – which is anything but the original Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9; Jude 3).

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).

Jesus told us plainly that in order to follow Him, one must do a few things. What are those things and why are they absent from the modern gospel?

“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.” Luke 9:23-24

To follow Jesus you must die to self – you must deny self daily, otherwise you are not following Him and are going to hell (Luke 9:23-24). Ear-tickling, flesh-flattering counterfeits are a dime a dozen in this late hour as was foretold to be the case (Matthew 24:11; 2 Timothy 4:2-4, etc.). If you don’t like the raw, un-sugar coated truth of the original Gospel, you are not a repentant, honest, truth-seeking disciple (Luke 8:15; Galatians 4:16).

Like Esau who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup, many a church leader today has traded his eternal soul for fleeting temporal trinkets.

So you are listening to some slick talker preach and yet he’s not using the BIBLE essential words like hell, repentance, holiness, the cross, the blood of Jesus, the return of Christ, etc? Repent and RUN!

The ministry continually receives emails from people who have latched on to some mere man, his personality – instead of worshipping Christ supremely (Colossians 2:18-19). And in doing so, they defend those mere men angrily, doggedly, having never stopped to put them to the biblical test.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

What is his doctrine? This is the very first thing to judge (Acts 17:10-11)

“But thou hast fully known my DOCTRINE, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” 2 Timothy 3:10-11

Any person who’s been born again and yet is not continuing in the doctrines of Holy Scripture, no long has the LORD – but rather has departed from the faith! (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

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

False teachers today refuse to preach on paramount biblical doctrines such as:

The divinity and uniqueness of Christ (John 1; 8:58; 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:8, etc.).
Hell (Matthew 8:12; 13:42; Mark 9:43-49; Luke 16:19-31, etc.).
the cross – crucified life (Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.).
forsaking all (Luke 14:33; 17:33, etc.).
judgment (Psalms 9:16; Acts 24:25, etc.).
persecution (Matthew 5:10-12; Luke 6:20-25; 1 Peter 4:12-14, etc.).
repentance (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 3:19, etc.).
holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16, etc.).
readiness for the return of Christ (Matthew 24:10-13; Luke 21:34-36; Ephesians 5:25-27, etc.).
etc.

Yes, there’s truth in this meme featured on this post and yet, it’s interesting that we seldom see any biblically-stated conditions, any cross – crucified life – Scripture in these sayings, memes. So, in the absence of the whole counsel of God being represented, false hope and imbalance are being perpetrated.

The Appeal of Wolves

Satan’s wolves appeal to your flesh. The Holy Spirit told us that “they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19). The Holy Ghost calls you to repent, lay down your life in this world, walk the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 8:12-14, etc.).

“For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” 2 Peter 2:18

“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” Jude 16

Those who withhold vital truth from God’s Word preach a partial and therefore a false gospel and spread a net for your feet – you are their prey.

“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” Proverbs 29:5

The self-serving Savior-rejecting compromised pansies many call “pastor” of the modern church world never speak of “the severity of God.”

“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and SEVERITY of God: on them which fell, SEVERITY; but toward thee, goodness, IF thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:20-22

False prophets simply want to tickle the ears of the people in order to “make merchandise” of them for their own self-serving purpose (2 Peter 2:1-3). But God ordains that we hear His Word and fear Him, obey Him and teach our children to do the same.

“I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.” Deuteronomy 4:10

Indiscriminately giving promises is out of the whole of biblical context. God’s blessings are not coming upon rebels so stop lying to people by indiscriminately putting out promises that God never gave to rebels.

What ever happened to all the “IF”s in Scripture which denote conditions and consequences? For example:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 IF ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But IF ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:18-20

There are no shortcuts in serving the LORD. One must meet the LORD’s stated conditions. Yes He gives us the grace to do so and yet leaves the choice to us.

The more we honestly read God’s Word for ourselves, the clearer it becomes that He is being misrepresented by today’s priesthood of “pastors.”

Here’s another example: Notice the whole text below. Notice how people only post verse 11 and it’s always from some lame fake “bible” version and nearly never the King James Bible. Notice the different picture that painting when you read more of the text, the passage. See if you can find the divinely-stated conditions that must be met:

“when ye shall search for me with all your heart”

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

Beware of those who preach a partial, a false gospel. Half-truth kill !

“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

Notice below how the apostle Paul gave God’s people “ALL” of His counsel and not just bits and pieces of it.

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house … For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:20, 27

David hated “every false way” which includes misrepresenting what the whole of Holy Scripture communicates to us from the LORD.

“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:104

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:128

Jesus and His holy apostles often rebuked and exposed false leaders and false doctrine (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; 20:29-31; Galatians 5:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2; 2 John 7-11; Revelation 2:6, 15, etc.). Therefore we know that part of following Jesus includes doing the same. In fact, the body of Christ is mandated to do just that (Romans 16:17-18; Philippians 1:17; Jude 3-4).

Any man not guarding, not protecting Christ’s flock, by warning of false teachers and false doctrine, is himself a wolf!

The true man of God fears God and therefore fears no man (Luke 12:4-5). He will speak the truth no matter what the cost.

“When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.” Thomas Sowell

Busting Hell Wide Open while Believing You are "Blessed" [podcast]

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Self-Appointed and Greedy Prophetic Pimps [podcast]

—- RADIO …. Self-Appointed and Greedy Prophetic Pimps with Todd Tomasella ….. 30 min. explosive expose’ of false leaders and how to know exactly who they are …. please listen and share to help others in this late hour before our LORD’s return…. The Equipping of Christ’s Saints by the true, unknown servants of Christ is Putting False Prophets Out of Business! (Ephesians 4:11-15) LOTS of witchcraft posing as being the Holy Spirit. Litmus: Are they grounding you in Christ, in the crucified life, in the “MORE sure word of prophecy” which is the Holy Scriptures, the written Word???? (2 Peter 1:19-21) IF […]

Overcoming Whoredom [podcast]

Whoredom vs Wholesome “Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.” Leviticus 19:29 Any land will “FALL to whoredom”…. in other words whoredom causes divine judgment to fall on any people who commit this sin against the Almighty. “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” Hosea 4:11 Read Hosea 4. Wow. The heart is taken away from God, from worshipping the LORD, when we choose to partake of sin. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, […]

Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast]

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Abiding

The Death before the Death [podcast]

Gethsemane Preceded Calvary

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:42-44

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

“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 4:10-12

Shall We Freshly Declare the Cross to be Front and Center in our Personal Lives?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]

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The Cross and the Throne of Grace [podcast]

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3 Resurrections to Celebrate 1. Christ’s resurrection (Matthew 27:64; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, etc.). 2. Your resurrection at the moment of regeneration and daily resurrection (Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:3-14; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:6). 3. Final resurrection into glory or damnation (John 5:28; 29; 1 Corinthians 15). Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours and that we need not fear death. Dancing on hell’s grace. Read 1 Corinthians 15 serveral times. “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and […]

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Abiding

“Rend Your Heart, and Not Your Garments” [podcast]

Who Does God Look to? Who Does God Dwell in?

Beware of any man pretending to represent Christ who isn’t praying and preaching for you to be possessed by a humble and contrite heart.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). A low condition. ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). To mourn over our sin and our utter wickedness before a holy and righteous God. Those are the ones who will receive the comfort and ‘joy in the Holy Ghost’ (Romans 14:17).” Karen Cochran

Abandoning Our Own Sin, Our Own Way, for God and His Better Way!

To “rend your heart” is a biblical phrase meaning to tear open your heart in radical sincerity, true humility, and genuine repentance.

The phrase comes from Joel 2:13 in the Bible: “Rend your heart and not your garments and return to the Lord your God.”

One source notes the following:

“Context and Deeper Meaning:

Cultural Background: In ancient times, the Jewish people would tear (rend) their clothes as a public, highly visible display of grief or repentance.
The Spiritual Message: God is warning that outward rituals (like ripping clothing) are meaningless if the heart remains unchanged. Rending your heart implies breaking through your pride, letting go of excuses, and being completely vulnerable and authentic before God.
The Reward: The verse goes on to say that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Tearing open your heart allows you to experience His forgiveness and restore your relationship with Him.”

To see an example of rending one’s physical garment in representation of rending their heart, see Acts 14:11-18.

Where is the LORD Looking?

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God” Joel 2:12-14

“What a gracious invitation is contained in these words. How tenderly the Lord reasons with his people. And what an encouraging assurance it folds up with. Reader! do not fail to observe that this call of the Lord, the accompanying grace to incline the heart to the observance of it is implied. It is most blessed ever to remember that when the Lord thus comes forth in his endearing invitations, he is secretly inclining the heart to accept them. Grace must first enter the heart, or there will be no inclination to obey.” Robert Hawker

“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe

A Fresh Start with God Always Begins with Humility and True Repentance

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Concerning rending our hearts before the LORD, one source notes:

The classic Bible passage on this concept is Joel 2:13, where God commands: “Rend your heart and not your garments”. In ancient biblical culture, tearing (or “rending”) one’s physical clothing was a customary, visible display of extreme grief, despair, or repentance. Through the prophet Joel, God is essentially telling His people: Stop doing the empty, outward religious ritual of tearing your clothes to show everyone how sorry you are. Instead, let me see true, inward brokenness over your sins.

Examples of Rending Physical Garments

In the Bible, the physical act of tearing clothes was used as a dramatic expression of deep emotion in several well-known narratives:

Joseph’s Brothers (Genesis 37:29, 34): When Reuben realized Joseph was not in the pit, and later when the brothers brought Joseph’s blood-stained coat to Jacob, they tore their clothes in grief and despair.
Job (Job 1:20): After hearing that he had lost all his wealth and his children, Job stood up and tore his robe as an outward sign of his overwhelming sorrow.
King David (2 Samuel 1:11-12): When David received news of the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan, he and his men tore their clothes to mourn.
The High Priest (Matthew 26:65): In a dramatic display of hypocritical outrage, the high priest tore his own garments when Jesus declared He was the Son of God, falsely accusing Him of blasphemy.

The Spiritual Meaning of “Rending the Heart”

The concept of “rending the heart” contrasts an outward show with inward reality.

Genuine Repentance: Tearing your heart means being vulnerable, acknowledging your brokenness, and deeply repenting of sin before God.
Prioritizing Relationships over Rituals: God desires a sincere heart—true sorrow and a desire to change—more than he desires traditional religious pageantry or dramatic, public displays of grief.
The Promise of Forgiveness: In Joel 2:13, the command to rend the heart is immediately followed by the promise of grace: “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love”.

God sees beyond our external habits and religious actions, requiring instead a humble, contrite heart to fully experience His mercy.”

God’s Mercy

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” Joel 2:12-14

In God’s Word, where we see men who tear open their garments…. This holds the illustration of rending our hearts before the LORD.

Don’t render outward tearing, no, rather, tear open your inner man, your heart—be honest, sincere, exposed, and vulnerable to the LORD whom you trust.

Let’s attempt to get at, to ascertain what God is commanding of His beloved people to do in this “rend your heart” passage.

“Joel 2:13: Rend your heart—Let it not be merely a rending of your garments, but let your hearts be truly contrite. Merely external worship and hypocritical pretensions will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments.

For he is gracious—Good and benevolent in his own nature.

Merciful—Pitying and forgiving, as the effect of goodness and benevolence.

Slow to anger —He is not easily provoked to punish, because he is gracious and merciful.

Of great kindness—Exuberant goodness to all them that return to him.

And repenteth him of the evil—Is ever ready to change his purpose to destroy, when he finds the culprit willing to be saved. See the notes on Exo_34:6, Exo_34:7.” Adam Clarke

“Joel 2:12-14: III. DIVINE APPEAL TO JUDAH TO REPENT (2:12-14)
Even now, the LORD calls the people to repentance. It is not too late to return to Him. But it must be more than outward ritual. Their turning was to be with all their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

To rend our hearts is the consistent message, mandate of God to His people of all ages and eras.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17

In Joel 2 the LORD reminds those who are backslidden that He “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? …”

They must meet His stated conditions to receive His blessings ….

He promises that He will forgive them as they…..

“Joel 2:12-27: THE AVERTING OF JUDGMENT
To rend the garment is easy, but a broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. He takes no pleasure in our miseries and if men repent and turn from their sin they find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and home. Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate answer. As the husband yearns over his erring but repentant wife, and is indignant with those who have maltreated her, so will Jehovah remove from us, when we turn to Him, those who have cruelly oppressed us.
The great things Jehovah did against Egypt and Babylon are an earnest of what He will do again. The earth (and all the creation of God) … have good reason to rejoice in what awaits them. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives.” FB Meyer

Religious hypocrites, counterfeits, emphasize the outward to cover their inner darkness, rebellion.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matthew 23:23-25

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6

"Blessed are the Poor In Spirit" [podcast]

Jesus’ longest recorded message to His people stands on the foundation of the very first words our Savior uttered in this sermon on the mount. The foundational truth of the entire sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is found in the very first words of our LORD when unveiling this elaborate, far-reaching, and profound message to His disciples of all ages. Here are His first words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 Note, “poor in spirit.” Not poor financially or religiously. The two should be mutually exclusive. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It […]

"I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice": What does this really Mean? [podcast]

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.” UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross! Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith […]

How to Walk in the Certainty, the Assurance of Salvation [podcast]

Real, actual assurance only comes from possessing authentic salvation – which begins with humility and true repentance, an original Gospel essential (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc.). Heretical calvinists and eternal security frauds rob people of true assurance which ONLY comes from having a faith that works, is obedient to Christ. Read 1 John chapter 3 and embrace what the LORD is saying. Here’s a taste – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the […]

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 David’s Prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they […]

Abiding

Have We Misunderstood Why Christians Meet Together? [video]

“We’ve created a whole culture of Christians who are just known for going to church.” Dr Wadsworth!

“It is hard to convince a man (modern pastor) he is wrong when his livelihood ($) depends on not knowing he is wrong.” Unknown

The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]

Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12 Exhorting God’s People “Daily” – not weekly. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing […]

Church Membership, Manipulation, and Money [podcast]

Is there a connection between church membership and money? “Her princes (leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27 There is no evidence in the New Testament of what we see today perpetrated as “church membership.” Church membership is merely a tool in the arsenal of modern pastors to capture the souls and the money of those ensnared by it. “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 In […]

Is Church Membership Biblical? [podcast]

Churchianity vs Christianity Many use the term “very involved in church” instead of deeply rooted and in love with Jesus Christ. See the difference? Beware. Christ Jesus is your identity. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 What is your identity? Why have you chosen such to be that with which you identify? Most pastors make a big deal out of belonging to some organization, church, or group—because this puts them in charge—instead of Jesus. Beware. […]