Abiding

Can the Saint of Christ be “without Spot” before God? [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]

May God bless us in Honoring His Word…. and Exposing Satan’s Lies

Can Christ’s saints can be “without spot”? If so, how?

Heaven bound disciples of Jesus never make excuse for, never cover their sin! No, they confess all sin in true repentance. Reading Romans 6 each morning this week will be a blessing to your life.

Paramount to all things in Christ’s kingdom, His people must understand that “without FAITH it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). Being saved and abiding, remaining in Christ is first by faith, and that true saving faith will always manifest in the life of all who are possessed by it. No man merits Christ’s righteousness. It’s only appropriated “by faith.”

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:14

Not only can the disciple of Jesus be “without spot and blameless,” he’d better be if he wants to be with Christ eternally.

Excuses and those who choose to espouse them instead of truth, will be vanquished irrevocably into the fires of eternal damnation (Proverbs 28:13).

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“1 John 1:8 says ‘if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.’ That means right now, you and I have sin in us that we commit. So while we can say to others that walking in repentance is what needs to occur in their lives, we must also humble ourselves to the fact that our own repentance is faulty at best, tainted by mixed motives, and short lived, even if you or I do not go back to an actual sin. Every Word of God is true in the Bible and must be obeyed. And yet we, if we are heart-level honest with ourselves and God, are changed so little by His grace in respect to completely cutting off sin.”

REPLY:

We must not act as if one part of the divinely inspired words recorded in the book of 1 John is any more or less from God than the other parts of this book of the Bible.

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” 1 John 3:10

Great biblical discussion for sure. You have to read the whole text of 1 John. Note in particular 2:4; and 3:1-10. Must be read as a complete text. Chapter 3 is quite (and by divine design) sobering. Being calvinized or indoctrinated by the eternal security heresy and heretics will definitely be an issue when someone is not willing to truly uphold God’s Word as final divine authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The only reason I would personally have any sin in my life would be that I have not confessed it, right? Yes. To say otherwise would be to say that He doesn’t keep His promise, that God is NOT “faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness” (1:9). –“If we confess our sins, HE IS FAITHFUL and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). More of the whole Scripture: Jesus is coming back for who? – “a glorious church, NOT HAVING SPOT, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and WITHOUT BLEMISH” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

If Jesus’ blood doesn’t cleanse us from “ALL unrighteousness” we must wonder why this verse, this divine mandate would be found in Holy Scripture, right? “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). If it weren’t possible to cry out to God in true repentance and confession of all sin, it would seem odd to read the above verse.

Tell us all WHAT sin could possibly be on your record, against you, if in fact you have confessed all known sin? None. You are cleansed from “all unrighteousness” when you confess your sin (1 John 1:9). We have God’s guarantee on this. It seems that many have more faith in our sin than in the promise of God, than in the power of the cleansing blood of Jesus. Again, 1 John 1:7-10 must be interpreted with (considering) the whole of Holy Writ. “Without spot”:

“Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, WITHOUT SPOT, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:12-14).

Psalm 19:12-14

We can pray as David prayed to God in the spirit of being totally cleansed from all sin and acceptable to God.

“12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults (sins that we are not aware of).

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Another prayer to God by the psalmist for a clean heart:

Psalms 139:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
²⁴and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

His Wife Hath Made Herself Ready [podcast]

Clearly, to say that God’s true remnant cannot be “without spot” – without the spot, the stain of sin, would be to call God a liar. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, WITHOUT SPOT, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

“The truth concerning the new heavens and the new earth should deepen our desire to live holy ‘as to the Lord.’ It is not only a truth that we should hold but one that should hold us. Knowing that we shall soon stand before God should create within us a desire to be without spot and blameless, that is, to be morally clean. It should make us zealous to be found in a state of peace, not strife.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“2 Peter 3:14: Labour that whenever he cometh ye may be found in peace – May meet him without terror, being sprinkled with his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit, so as to be without spot and blameless. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22.” John Wesley

So many false teachers have sown the lie, the excuse that we cannot live “without spot” that the majority of professing Christians live in defeat, they live in doubt that God is able to perform such. They do not hear or know the cross message of the original Gospel and therefore are not blessed to be raised up into the righteous life Christ died to give to all of His children. There is no victory over sin outside of the crucified life. Read Romans 6 each morning asking God to give you His revelation of the cross. | The Cross Life is where the Victory is!

“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7

WHO is “freed from sin”? The crucified saint! THAT’s exactly what’s missing in the modern church’s false gospel message.

So, to say that Jesus came to die for our sins and yet we can still live in those sins, seems to border on blasphemy, right? So Jesus came and died, was buried, and raised again from the dead for our sins and yet we can’t have His victory over those sins He died to save us from?

The Cross Life is where the Victory is!

The saving grace of Christ, when it’s truly possessed, brings forth HIS victory over all sin.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14

Jesus made it clear that once saved, one must “endure to the end” to receive final salvation, entrance into glory. The person, the counterfeit who refuses to be truly accountable before God will angrily react to this truth and run back behind the veneer of their false security blanket.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

“If a man abide (remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” Revelation 2:26

The forgiveness of future sins is conditional upon the abiding of the saved person. All sins were paid for on the cross and yet there are divinely mandated conditions for that forgiveness to be appropriated by the individual saint.

“But IF we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

The cross-less want to make salvation a “one and done.” Not.

Future sins are paid for but not necessarily appropriated, forgiven. The forgiveness of future sins is conditional, not un-conditional.

Memorize: “But IF we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). … “the remission of sins that are PAST” – “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:24-25).

The Forgiveness of our Sin Came at the Highest Price

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

Did you catch this? – “Mercy” for immediate forgiveness and “grace,” divine enablement, the operational power of God in your life to overcome and be established in His holiness.

YOUR sin does not cancel God’s love for you. Such is impossible (Romans 8:38-39). From WHEREVER you find yourself at this moment…. seek the face of the LORD. Cry out to Him. He will hear and forgive, save, deliver, and make you whole – as He alone can do (Hosea 14:1-2; 1 John 1:9). Take God at His Word – He declared that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Read that again, and ask: Did God say He might think about forgiving us? NO! He declared that HE WILL DO IT. Simply take God at His Word. He promised this and made the full provision for it via the precious blood of His only begotten Son.

Falling upon His mercy afresh – re-penting, getting back to God, to the top – is where the refreshing comes.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;” Hebrews 2:3

O the glories of His precious redemption! | Redemption Through Christ’s Sacrifice [podcast]

“BUT brother, you don’t understand the sin I’ve committed.”

REPLY: I’ve probably done the same thing in the past.

Question: “Is your sin greater than the power of the precious blood of Jesus?” No.

Question: “Were you ever worthy to be forgiven?” No.

“How can God possibly forgive me?!”

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:31-34

You are going to dance on sin’s grave – you may not realize that yet, but that’s what’s ahead for you beloved…. as you simply come to and take God at His bless-ed Word….

YOU may be fighting. You may be struggling. You may be in the fight of your life – for your eternal soul. But keep praying precious. Keep asking. Keep knocking. Keep asking God to grant you HIS mercy and a heart that desires nothing more than Him. When you can’t see in the darkness, where there seems to be no light … Ask. Ask. Ask. Just ask Him! Whisper your prayer. He will hear and answer.

You cannot allow that sin which separates you from Him. You must fight by faith – by simply asking God to give you His mercy, His grace, His desire – to delight Him.

Don’t you dare slip over the edge. No. No. No. Ask Him beloved. Just ask Him….

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

O the “So Great Salvation” our LORD Wrought for us!

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” Hebrews 2:3

WHERE O WHERE is Our Faith?

Did God send His only begotten Son so that His own children would be relegated to be still stuck in their sins? Or did Jesus come and die and rise again from the dead to give us His full victory over all sin?

Do we have more faith in our sinning that we do in Christ’s power to grant us HIS victory over it?

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

At this point someone might be thinking “But what if I sin?” Answer: Just confess it, crying out to the LORD for grace – His divine operational power in your life – to overcome from that point onward! Do we not with Christ’s perfect sacrifice get mercy for any sins and grace to overcome? Yep! Coming “boldly unto the throne of grace” is an ongoing and ever active element in our life in Christ. We are exhorted to “ GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Firstly, let it be established in our hearts that we – you and especially I – have no righteousness of our own other than “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Can the disciple of Jesus live with no sin on their record? Yes, by “HIS righteousness” and not by the work of the flesh.

Seems that understanding the fuller portrait of our LORD’s “so great salvation” is somewhat like putting the pieces of a puzzle together….. with each piece put into the whole, the picture becomes a bit clearer. Isn’t this why Jesus instructs us to “Search the scriptures” right? (John 5:39)

“Faith” is paramount in the Divine Economy – righteousness is instantly appropriated upon putting sincere faith in God based on HIS promises – namely of “His righteousness,” justification, and forgiveness of sins.

“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

“His Righteousness” is appropriated “BY FAITH.”

We are saved, we are justified in His holy eyes by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:23-28

This is Key: Will I Cover or Will I Confess All, Every Sin?

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

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, please set me apart in Your holiness – to be holy even as You are holy. Multiply Your grace to bless this life You gave to be dead and buried with Christ and raised up by Christ to fulfill Your perfect will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Redemption Through Christ’s Sacrifice [podcast]

The Glories of the Scarlet Thread (Few things could be this important to your spiritual life) Of the scarlet of redemption, one writer notes: “The Wonder of Redemption: The blood is the power of redemption and you will see this as we follow through the Bible from the beginning to the end of God’s revelation of Himself to man as recorded in the Bible.” “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into […]

Justification in the Divine Economy [podcast]

Understanding the salvation of our God in Christ does wonders to envelope us in His love, to forge sonship in our heart as “we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans […]

7 Questions on Justification [podcast]

7 Questions on Justification How is fallen mankind made righteous, justified in the eyes of a holy God? What law makes New Testament believers “free from the law of sin and death”? (Romans 8:2) What could the law not do? (Romans 8:3-4) What is fulfilled in the life of the born again, Spirit-led New Testament follower of Christ? (Romans 3:31; 8:3-4) How does the Law apply to saints? How does it apply to sinners? (1 Timothy 1:9-11) Let’s discuss/Please read and become intimately familiar with Galatians 2:4-5, 16; 3:1-3; 5:4. What is the over-arching divine revelation of Hebrews 8-10? We […]

Clear Proof that You are Saved, or Not [podcast]

Those who truly know, love, and worship God obey Him as an expression of their love and relationship with Jesus (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6). These are abiding in Christ truly and will be persecuted for it! Persecution for Christ’s sake is the occasion of great rejoicing! (Matthew 5:10-12) PROOF that a person is divinely blessed – “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: […]

The Correlation of Grace and Good Works [podcast]

“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Ephesians 2:10 We are saved by God through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, by grace through faith, and yet true saving faith ALWAYS produces the fruit of an obedient, holy life. Obedience saves no one and yet is the fruit, the proof one truly knows and is known of God. Anyone teaching otherwise is fulfilling the grace-perverting prophesy of Jude 4. Read James 2; 1 John 2:3-6, chapter 3, etc. We are doing God’s Word empowered by our LORD’s Holy Ghost and grace through the cross life, and having our […]

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

Regrettably, so many today who profess to know Christ have a mere “form of godliness, but denying the power (authority) thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). They want the crown but not the cross. They want to have security, the assurance, but have not truly repented and are not living a crucified, raised up life (Luke 9:23-24). Assurance only comes from obeying God. Assurance does not come from assuring ourself of assurance or that we’re eternally secure. God’s promises are conditional, not un-conditional (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 6:33; Revelation 2-3, etc.). Only the rebellious balk at such a truth due to […]

Abiding

“If God be For Us Who can be Against Us?” [podcast]

WHO is God truly “with”?

“And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and IF YE SEEK HIM, he will be found of you; but IF ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2

What happens when one of His children deny Him?

“It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Those who reject Him shall be rejected by Him. OSAS/eternal security is a fairy tale espoused by the moral cowards who refuse to serve God on HIS stated terms – repentance, faith, true worship, obedience, holiness, the crucified life, etc.

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Matthew 10:14-15

Persecution and the Disciple of Jesus

1 Peter 4

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Suffering as a Christian

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Romans 8

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, etc. – “In this and the following verse the apostle shows how our calling is an argument that all things work together to advance our eternal happiness, by showing the several steps which the wisdom and goodness of God have settled, in order to complete our salvation. In order to this he first gives us, in this verse, the foundation and finishing, or the beginning and end, of the scheme of our redemption: For whom God did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. To foreknow, here signifies to design before, or at the first forming of the scheme; to bestow the favor and privilege of being God’s people upon any set of men, Rom_11:2. This is the foundation or first step of our salvation; namely, the purpose and grace of God, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began, 2Ti_1:9. Then, he knew or favored us; for in this sense the word to know is taken in a great variety of places, both in the Old and New Testaments. And as he knew the Gentiles then, when the scheme was laid, and before any part of it was executed, consequently, in reference to the execution of this scheme, he foreknew us. This is the first step of our salvation, and the end or finishing of it is our conformity to the Son of God in eternal glory, Rom_8:17, which includes and supposes our moral conformity to him. When God knew us, at the forming of the Gospel scheme; or, when he intended to bestow on us the privilege of being his people; he then destinated or designed us to be conformed to the image of his Son; and, as he destinated or determined us then to this very high honor and happiness, he pre-destinated, fore-ordained, or pre-determined us to it. Thus we are to understand the foundation and finishing of the scheme of our salvation. The foundation is the foreknowledge, or gracious purpose of God; the finishing is our being joint heirs with Christ. Now, our calling or invitation (see on Rom_8:28 (note)) stands in connection with both these.” Adam Clarke

Hypocrisy, Persecutions, and Afflictions [podcast]

“True Christiany will cost a man favor of the world. He must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God. He must count it no strange thing to be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, persecuted and even hated.” -J.C.Ryle If you don’t have people leaving you due to what you’re preaching, you’re not preaching the Gospel Christ’s preached. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66 Ministry work always comes with “much contention.” There is a devil and he has human agents. Jesus will settle every score, will […]

The Persecution Podcast [podcast]

“Think it not strange” in 1 Peter 4 simply means to not be surprised. If you love the LORD you will want to hear all He says in His Word, including the reality of persecutions for Christ’s sake (John 8:47). Any man posing as a leader among God’s people and isn’t preaching regularly on the reality of Christian persecution, is absolutely an ear-tickling wolf! Run! Part 1 Below Part 2 Below Part 3 Below Part 4 Below Sounds like our LORD is saying that WHATEVER, WHOEVER we lose in this life due to following Jesus, God […]

Abiding

The Song of Moses: God’s Favor upon His People [podcast]

“And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.” Deuteronomy 31:30

Everything we read of the children of Israel was pointing to Christ and to His perfect salvation He would later come and accomplish and bestow upon His beloved people, the body of Christ which is “the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:16) And so this song is written to us (Romans 15:4; Corinthians 10:11).

At the end of his days, at the end of the 5 books he penned, God gives us through Moses a summation of His salvation work among His beloved people.

“He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. 13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; 14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.” Deuteronomy 32:10-14

“32:10-14 The birth and childhood of the nation of Israel are described in verse 10. After the Exodus from Egypt, God guided, instructed, and preserved His people with the love of a mother eagle (v. 11). There was no foreign god who had a part in Israel’s preservation. Why then should the nation turn to idolatry and ascribe the goodness of Jehovah to another? Beginning in verse 13, the song is prophetic. He brought them into the blessings of the Promised Land.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“Deuteronomy 32:10
a    [He found him in a desert land …] The sevenfold preservation of Israel:
1.    God found (literally, sustained) him in the wilderness (Deu_32:10).
2.    He led him around (Deu_32:10-12).
3.    He instructed him (Deu_32:10).
4.    He kept him as the apple (pupil) of His eye.
5.    He preserved him from idolatry (Deu_32:12).
6.    He exalted him among the nations (Deu_32:13).
7.    He gave him material prosperity (Deu_32:13-14).
b    [apple of his eye] Hebrew: ’iyshown (H380), the dark pupil of the eye; the hole, gate, or door of the eye (Psa_17:8; Pro_7:2)” Dake

“Deuteronomy 31:30-32:14
MOSES’ SONG: THE LORD’S FAVOR UPON ISRAEL
The song of Moses, like the fabled song of the swan, was his last and sweetest. It is probably the noblest ode in the whole compass of the Bible, and is the source from which subsequent singers derived suggestions for their noblest outbursts. The marginal references prove how deeply it dyed the national sentiment.

It excels in the names and designations of the Almighty. He is the Rock: Deu_31:4; Deu_31:15; Deu_31:18; Deu_31:30; Jehovah: Deu_31:6; Father: Deu_31:6; the Most High: Deu_31:8; God: El, the strong, Deu_31:15, etc. What a study are the names of God, scattered through the Bible! Each was coined to meet some need of the human soul. What the rocks of the desert are to its shifting sands God is amid the changes of this mortal existence.

This earlier part of the song is very tender. We are God’s portion; the apple of His eye; as young eaglets, whom the mother-bird is carefully teaching to fly, the favored recipients of God’s richest gifts, Deu_31:13, etc.” FB Meyer

Notice the descriptive language, the metaphors—how the LORD illustrates how He loves, protects, and provides for His people. In Scripture, the LORD uses imagery to communicate truth.

“Moses’ song and what our LORD reveals in this message, is such a beautiful picture of God finding us in our hopeless, miserable, and lost state. He pulls us out of the miry clay and gives us His supply of grace. He then clothes us with His righteousness, seating us in heavenly places in Christ and surrounding us with His care and protection. God’s love and goodness to us.” Karen Cochran

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will

say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my

God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee

from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome

pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers,

and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall

be thy shield and buckler.” Psalms 91:1-4

Read Psalm 91 often so this truth permeates you. Here the LORD uses the imagery of His “winged fowl” creation (Genesis 1:21). GOD made this very creature/bird for the express purpose of showing us how much He loves us and how He comforts, cares and provides for, guides, and protects His own (Psalms 91:1).

“The Song of Moses is recorded in Deuteronomy 32 of the King James Version (KJV), spanning verses 1 through 43. It is a prophetic poem given by Moses to the children of Israel just before his death, serving as a witness and a reminder of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s potential turning away.”

Prayer: Father, please grant that I know and understand You more and more. I love You LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Peace, Protection, and Provision [podcast]

Divine Comfort, Care, and Protection “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1 In this chapter God paints the picture of His oversight, His divine watch care, His provision and His protection over His beloved people. Each verse is this amazing chapter is inseparable connected to and anchored in the very first verse – which is the divine thesis statement for the whole chapter. As is the divine case made throughout Holy Scripture, it’s all about relationship! See also Jeremiah 17:12, John 17:3, and Philippians 3:10. Read Psalm […]

Understanding how Divine Protection Works in Christ's Body [podcast]

Have pity on deceivers? Absolutely not. “Mark them.” (Romans 16:17-18) “Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:” Deuteronomy 13:8 Read Deuteronomy 13:1-10. Anyone who downplays warning the “little flock” for whom Christ’s died and rose again, is not being led by the Holy Spirit and we know that because such a person is contradicting the Word of God given to us by the “inspiration” of the Holy Ghost (Luke 12:32; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). “For God is not the author of […]

Clear Proof that the Bible is the Only Sacred Holy Book on God's Planet [podcast]

There is only one holy book and name in the earth, the sacred name of Jesus Christ who is the grand subject of all of Holy Scripture (Philippians 2:9-11). God left us with His Word so we can know Him and not be deceived by the “MANY false prophets” He promised would come and deceive many just before His return (Matthew 24:11). God gave us His Word to protect us (2 Timothy 3:15-17). “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end […]

Abiding

The Book of 1 John Narrated [podcast]

Love. Truth. Know.

Note: The Book of 1 John has at least 3 power words and truths to behold: 1. Love, 2. Truth, 3. Know

“Love” appears 44 times in 1 John.

“Truth” appears 10 times in 1 John.

“Know” appears 28 times in 1 John.

Some have called the book of 1 John “the book of certainties” as Christ’s apostle John is blunt, curt, strong, forceful in/with the truth, and loving – a true man of steal, and velvet.

Reading any book of the Bible 10-20 times, reading straight through it, is powerfully effective in getting that Word of our God and its divine thoughts into our heart and mind.

Chapter 1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; ²(for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) ³that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

⁵This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Chapter 2

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ²and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ³And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. ⁶He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

⁷Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. ⁸Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. ⁹He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ¹⁰He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

¹²I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. ¹³I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. ¹⁴I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

¹⁸Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. ²⁰But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. ²¹I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

²²Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. ²³Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. ²⁴Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. ²⁵And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

²⁶These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. ²⁷But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. ²⁸And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. ²⁹If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Chapter 3

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

⁴Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. ⁵And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. ⁶Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. ⁷Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ⁸He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. ¹⁰In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

¹¹For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. ¹²Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. ¹³Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. ¹⁴We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. ¹⁵Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. ¹⁶Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. ²⁰For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. ²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. ²²And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. ²³And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. ²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Chapter 4

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ⁴Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ⁵They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. ⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. ¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. ¹²No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. ¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. ¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. ¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. ¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. ¹⁹We love him, because he first loved us. ²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? ²¹And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Chapter 5

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ⁴For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁶This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ⁸And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. ⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. ¹⁰He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. ¹¹And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. ¹⁴And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. ¹⁸We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. ¹⁹And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. ²⁰And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ²¹Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Here are a few of the key words in 1 John:

Outline of the Book of 1 John
Scriptures and Topics Covered:
Fellowship with God – Chapters 1-3
Brotherly Love – Chapter 4
Victory over the World – Chapter 5

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