Abiding

Conditions and Consequences: Beware of False Prophets

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]

God is not getting ready to bless any person who has not repented and put their lives in the hands of the nail-scarred risen Savior Jesus Christ.

Beware of the promise peddlers who indiscriminately dish out promises and never mention the necessity of meeting the conditions.

We’d better begin noticing the “IF“‘s in God’s Word – the conditions, the things God requires. Here you go, let me assist….

“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 IFFFFFFFF 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

Beware of those peddling promises without the biblical conditions. False prophets. Read Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34. This week, as usual, seeing the promise peddlers who issue forth promises such as “This week everything you touch will prosper and be blessed.” It’s pretty much just an indiscriminate PMA (positive mental attitude) promise. There’s no condition, no cross in it, ever. It’s an alluring lie to get a fleeting pump to their audience and to be rewarded with likes on their account. There’s no foundation being built in the lives of the gullible who continue to listen to these lies. Hint: God is not going to bless anyone who isn’t worshipfully obeying Him – seeking Him with their whole heart (1 Chronicles 16:11; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Jeremiah 29:11-14; Matthew 5:3, 6, 8; 6:33; John 15:7; 1 John 3:22; 5:14-15, etc.). Every honest student of God’s Word knows that the LORD has conditions for His blessings.

“THEY ARE PROPHETS OF THE DECEIT OF THEIR OWN HEART”

“How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;” Jeremiah 23:26

Their messages are very partial with half-truths. There is no cross nor biblical conditions in them. Jesus says in John 15:7 that only those abiding in Him, obeying His Word, are blessed and can expect their prayers to be answered. God is not going to bless any person who is not truly born again and presently abiding in Christ on His stated terms and so, to indiscriminately put out condition-less promises like this is an erroneous undertaking and is misleading people. God will judge the false prophets who “prophesy lies … of the deceit of their own heart.” (Jeremiah 23:26) Beware of the promise peddlers who never include the divinely stated conditions. These are the same people who post Jeremiah 29:11 (usually using a fake “bible” version and not the KJB) and they never mention the text, the context which includes the LORD’s conditions. Read the whole text to get the context – Jeremiah 29:11-15.

Praying while Robbing

Recently I saw the video of a man trying to rob a store who was consequently locked in. And, he started to pray. Yet we know that all those who do not obey God’s Word which is His stated will, can pray till they are blue in the face and God will not deliver them. Nothing replaces obeying God’s Word. The LORD will bless no person who doesn’t obey Him (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

Just like this man who was praying while robbing someone, so today, many seek to rob the LORD of the glory due His holy name and in the midst of their disobedient, rebellious lives, pray to Him to bless them.

The only way to build your house, your life, from the ground up, is to get honest in fresh repentance, and to make God’s written Word the final authority of your personal life (Mathew 7:19-30). | Rooted and Grounded in Christ

Turning your face and ear away from God’s written Word and believing you are going to be blessed is utter insanity! Repent now and follow Jesus for real.

Memorize Proverbs 28:9 today.

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law (Word), even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9

So, the condition in the verse above is that we hear and obey God’s Word. Otherwise our prayers are not heard by God and are an “abomination.”

The conditions given by God are integrally and inseparably non-negotiably connected to the promise and required in order to receive the promises He gives. Throughout history God gave His people promises but they didn’t always possess those promises due to their own sin (Psalms 107:17). Read 1 Corinthians 10 concerning the 5 specific, exact sins that kept God’s people out of the land He promised them. Just because the LORD gave promises, doesn’t mean everyone is going to possess those promises. Obedience required. | The 5 Sins That Keep God’s People Out of Their Promised Land [podcast]

On social media, I recently ran across just another all-too-typical false prophet who is peddling false promises. Notice “prophet” Tracy’s bait – “YOUR YEAR!” No year is “YOUR year.” God created time and all of it is HIS, not yours. They pretend to determine and control when and if God is going to bless someone in order to flatter them, to get them to give. Yet, pied pipers like this guy, Joel Osteen, and so many others are always falsely promising that “God’s promises, His blessings, are right around the corner.” They tell the people, their prey to “Hang in there. Continue to give because His blessing is coming.” Year after year, the promised blessing never comes and the false prophets continue to milk their audiences of cash. Yet these same frauds do not endeavor to preach and teach the whole counsel of the written Word of God which includes the divinely stated conditions for His blessings. The LORD is never going to bless any person who is not loving Him supremely and obeying Him (Psalms 18:20; 66:18; John 15:7; James 1:22; 1 John 3:22, etc.). What these false promise peddlers are doing is stringing people along in order to continue to syphon money from their wallets.

There are endless memes circulating on social media promising God’s blessings on everyone. Not. They are not qualifying who the blessings of God exclusively belong to and thereby deceiving many.

“God … now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Acts 17:30

Jesus commands all men to repent and will bless no one who doesn’t (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30). All who do not repent and receive Christ are going to hell irrevocably forever and yet professing Christians are promising those unrepentant rebels that God is going to bless them. This is a lie, bearing false witness against the LORD. It’s time to preach the original Gospel which begins with the divine command to “repent.” (Matthew 3:4; 4:17; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30, etc.) Let’s stop giving out promises to people without the conditions that God gave. We are lying to them. Jesus commands us to preach repentance. Those who don’t are not obeying Christ, are not preaching the Gospel He preached and are therefore misleading their audience. They are preaching “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9)

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:47-48

very old trick: The longer they can keep people hanging onto, chasing these false promise carrots they dangle before them, the more money those wolves can milk out of those groundless dupes.

“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

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

“Preach the Word”

“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

It’s real simple, frauds like this are NOT simply preaching the Gospel, the WORD. They only use, misuse Scripture to entice, to deceive, to mislead, to “make merchandise” of the people they prey upon (2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3) False prophets like this give false promises, never mentioning the divinely stated conditions.

Instead of simply preaching the written Word, the “MORE sure word”, false prophets conjure up words, prophecies, visions, dreams, and flattering false promises for their prey as they “make merchandise” of them (2 Peter 1:16-2:3). Beware.

“And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and DIVINING LIES unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.” Ezekiel 22:28

Those who are truly “of God” seek His holy face daily, diligently, and for themselves – just as He commanded (1 Chronicles 16:11; John 8:47; 1 Thessalonians 5:17, etc.).

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

Anyone claiming to know or love God who doesn’t love and devour His words, is a liar and the truth is not in him.

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

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

ALL who truly follow Christ turn their “ear” towards His Word, never from it (Psalms 119; John 8:47, etc.).

God promises are conditional and reserved for those who obey Him (John 15:7).

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8

NO, God is not trying to get rid of any of His own and yet, He’s set the conditions! Meet them or perish! Surrender now – that’s where it all begins.

Does every person on the planet automatically receive the benefits of Christ’s atoning death? No, there are conditions: repent, believe on Christ, and receive Him.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12

There are divinely required conditions to be saved initially and into glory – eternally. God’s promises are conditional and He will only give them to those who meet His stated conditions.

ANOTHER FALSE “PROOF TEXT” BUSTED AND EXPOSED!

Many take the following passage out of its biblical context for their own self-serving purposes:

“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 8:38-39

Question: Does the above passage of Scripture contain the only verses in the Bible to consider when studying the love and divine attributes of God? Are these the final words, the only two verses to be considered or is there more to consider? Do we need to take this verse for what it says and also in context with the whole of Scripture? Yes.

WHO is this promise for? Certainly not everyone. There are divine conditions placed on all of God’s promises and the honest student of Scripture must acknowledge this truth.

In the same chapter where this promise is found, notice the context of several verses that precede it:

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

In Romans 8:1 there are two conditions: 1. you must be saved— “to them which are in Christ”, and 2. you must live in the Spirit and not the sins of the flesh— “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Also, see Romans 8:12-14:

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For IF (denotes free will to choose) ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (be separated from God): but IFFFFF ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (remain in His life). ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, THEY are the sons of God.”

This passage tells us that we are indebted to God who saved us into Christ and out of a life of sin. IF, IF, IF (denotes condition) we go back to living after the flesh, in sin, we shall die which means to be separated from God. Verse 14 tells us that anyone not being led by the Spirit of God but rather living in the flesh, is not a Son of God.

And Romans 8:17:

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; IFFFFFF so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

This verse lets us know that even being the very heirs of God does not remove the conditions this same God requires. Only the law-less counterfeits ignore them.

Christina Richmond writes:

“‘If’ denotes condition. Did you know that ‘If’ Is found about 1,595 times in 1,420 different verses of the KJV? I would say that denotes a lot of condition. Like salvation is conditional. Many, many scriptures prove just that. But sadly so many people like to leave out the word that implies condition (IF)… Like we see in 1 John 2:24-25, and John 15:6… If we fulfill the conditions the promises are then ours. Colossians 1:21-23 notice in this the condition, ‘If’ Indeed you continue in the faith… Hebrews 3:12-14 again see the condition, “If” we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. The same as, we are the Lords friends ‘If’ we do whatsoever he command, John 15:14… Salvation is a gift offered to us by grace, but is activated through faith. You can deny salvation by departing from the faith. We are not forced to remain in Christ. If we do remain in him, we have life to look forward to, but if we don’t remain in him, we are cast forth into the fire. If, is a very important word that should never be overlooked or left out. By leaving it out, it will change the entire meaning of the scripture.”

If we are His truly heirs, we will suffer persecution for His sake and if we endure to the end in Christ we shall be glorified with Him eternally.

“HE THAT OVERCOMETH (divine condition), the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5

If you are truly a child of God, you are suffering for Christ—you are being persecuted.

“Yea, and ALLLLL that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

Consider: Nothing can separate us from God’s love, if we abide (remain) in Christ. Otherwise we will be “cut off” and cast into the fire (John 15:6; Romans 11:20-22).

Jesus teaches that answered prayer is contingent upon the one who is in Him to continue to abide/remain in Him:

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

God is warning all Gentile believers using the example of how He “cut off” (rejected) His own people (the Jews) when they rebelled, and threatens to do the same to all of us if we also rebel:

“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

“If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

“If we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:12

There’s a difference to behold in Scripture between the LIFE and the LOVE of God. The believer can never be separated from the LOVE of God …. not the LIFE of God as in eternal life! The testimony of Holy Scripture reveals that the personal possession of eternal life is not eternal but rather can be forfeited. Eternal Security, OSAS (once saved always saved), and perseverance of the saints busted!

Divine conditions are found throughout Scripture. All of God’s promises to individuals are conditional upon them meeting His stated requirements.

It’s real simple, take a step back… If you don’t choose to agree with the Almighty, who gave us His Word, and comply, you will not be with Him. Instead you will be cast into the lake of fire with all other rebels. He gives you the choice. Agree and comply with DAD or you’re out. Read John 14, the whole chapter. Notice it begins with Christ telling us He’s the only way and promising us a mansion. Then He speaks of obedience and chapter speaks of abiding or remaining in Him to the end.

“Let that therefore abide (remain) in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. IFFFF (conditional) that which ye have heard from the beginning shall REMAIN in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” 1 John 2:24

Who are “ALL the promises of God” reserved for and who are they kept from?

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

Whoever is not presently “IN HIM”—that is, walking in Christ, dead, with their life “hid with Christ in God”—is not included.

The OSAS deceiver will emphasize the promises of God in this verse and deliberately ignore the condition of being “in him.”

Jesus repeatedly taught that God’s promises to man are conditional. Here’s a mere sampling. Notice the conditions and consequences in each of Christ’s statements here in this vital passage out of John 15:

“⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth (continues) in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
⁶ IF (denotes choice, condition) 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.
⁷ IFFFFF ye abide (remain) in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:5-7

WHO does God show mercy to? EVERYONE? No …. read this closely….

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him (the divinely given condition), and his righteousness unto children’s children; 18 To such as keep his covenant (obedience), and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” Psalms 103:17-18

God gave all men free will. Jesus died for “ALL men” (1 John 2:2). God chooses all men to be saved and yet leaves the decision to the individual.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

GOD set the rules and conditions of His kingdom as He chose. Those who comply will be blessed and those who don’t will be cursed.

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Regrettably, so many today who claim to know Jesus do not follow Him the way He prescribed—which is the only way to follow Him. In fact, they aren’t even interested in finding out what Jesus says because of the ear-tickling lies they pay their wolves to tell them (2 Timothy 4:2-4). All those who care to know what the LORD said so they can follow Him accordingly, will daily and diligently devour His Word.

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

Fresh Start with God

God’s Promises are Conditional | OSAS/Eternal Security | The Curse of Calvinism | God Sovereignly gave Man Free Will |

https://safeguardyoursoul.com/busting-hell-wide-open/

https://safeguardyoursoul.com/the-5-sins-that-keep-gods-people-out-of-their-promised-land/

https://safeguardyoursoul.com/the-only-begotten-son-of-god/

https://safeguardyoursoul.com/christ-our-reward-podcast/

https://safeguardyoursoul.com/can-you-forfeit-salvation-by-living-in-sin/

Abiding

How Christ’s Kingdom Evangelism Works [podcast]

**“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”** Isaiah 55:11

“The Word of God, like rain and snow that water the earth and cause it to produce fruit, will be sown in the hearts of men and produce fruit in the moral world (Isa_55:11; Deu_32:2). As the rain and snow fall on various kinds of ground, so does the Word of God (Mat_13:3-8, Mat_13:20-23). Like rain and snow, it will accomplish its best good in the eternal reign of the Messiah, when the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth (Isa_11:9). Thus, the final fulfillment of this scripture will be in the future; there is only a partial fulfillment at present in the preaching of the gospel.” Dake

“God’s word is just as irresistible and effective as the rain and snow. All the armies in the world cannot stop them, and they accomplish their intended purpose. God’s Word never fails to achieve its aims.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

ANY person who doesn’t understand the power of God’s Word, when sown into the hearts of men, has no business pretending to be a pastor or elder in Christ’s body.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The power of God’s Word when it enters the human heart:

“He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29

The Harvest is Plentiful – So many lost souls hungry to hear the Gospel – the Laborers Few

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Sin separates men from God.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

People are born again by the WORD of God which means the Word must be sown in their hearts and germinate.

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Faithfully sowing the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of men assures that God will be glorified in saving each of those souls who receive and believe His truth in repentance and faith.

Here’s how evangelism and our LORD’s kingdom work works—layers of Gospel workers. Usually we are the second, third, etc., Gospel labourer, following up on the seed planted in the hearts of the people we minister to. Let’s gain this vision, this illustration from Christ concerning our work for Him, in His kingdom.

Anyone putting off, pushing into the future, evangelizing the lost, is disobeying Jesus Christ. Anyone not evangelizing the lost around them cannot rightly claim to love Jesus. They are full of self and in need of crying out to God in repentance.

John 4:34 – 38

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.”

“In the elderly home we minister in, we met a new resident, that had been there only a few months. When she came to our meeting, she seemed down, so I began to talk with her. She said, “well I don’t leave my room much anymore as my very good friend just passed away.” She stated her name and said, “before she passed I gave her the gospel and she received Jesus.” God is so good, as we had ministered to her friend as well, and seeds were planted, and this new Lady watered! The more I continued to talk with her, I learned she has been preaching the gospel and some residents are getting saved. Alleluia! Next week, we will give her some Jesus tracts.” Karen Cochran

Picture planting a seed in a garden, then standing back and watching the ground you planted that seed in and expecting to see it sprout up visibly from the soil it was planted in. Not wise, right? Right.

The picture our LORD gives here is planting that seed and then moving on, just like anyone who plants seeds to grow some plant, crop.

The Parable of the Seed Growing

Mark 4

26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Mark 4:26-29

“And should sleep and rise night and day – That is, he should sleep by night, and rise by day; for so the words are obviously to be understood. He knoweth not how – How a plant grows is a mystery in nature, which the wisest philosopher in the universe cannot fully explain.” Adam Clarke

In ministry, it’s always seeding, planting. It’s GOD, not us, who brings the increase. This pertains to the invisible work of God in the hearts of men.

“The parable may be intended to encourage the disciples. Their responsibility is to sow the seed. They may sleep by night and rise by day, knowing that God’s Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish what He has intended it to do. By a mysterious and miraculous process, quite apart from man’s strength and skill, the Word works in human hearts, producing fruit for God. Man plants and waters but God gives the increase.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalms 19:7

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, please break me. Unite my heart to fear Your name. Thank You for choosing and ordaining me to Your kingdom work. Please bear Your fruit in and through this life, this vessel for Your eternal glory. Let that fruit remain dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Harvest is Coming for all those Sowing the Seed of the Word [podcast]

The Joy and Expectation of Seed Sowing What we sow, we can expect to reap (Galatians 6:7-8). As we continue to sow the good, the incorruptible seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men, good news will continue to flow, will continue to be reaped – because God’s Word prospers in the thing where He sends it! See also 1 Peter 1:23. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” […]

The Joy of Seed Sowing

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22 Always remember, there must be a seed sown before there can be a crop reaped. BEFORE Jesus saved me, He had several of His people along the way drop His precious Word into my sin-darkened, alienated heart. Read Ephesians 2. Wow. “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” Ephesians 4:18 Some of this Gospel action from God’s people toward […]

Bearing the Precious Seed of God's Word [podcast]

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6 A harvest of blessed souls is going to be the result, the ministry produce, the fruit of all who bear and distribute, scatter the seed of the incorruptible Word of God into the hearts of men (1 Peter 1:23). The LORD didn’t say “go explain who I am to other people.” No, He said “preach the word” and “preach the gospel” (2 Timothy 4:2; Mark 16:15). Our cute […]

The Seed of Salvation [podcast]

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 When we follow Jesus He makes us fishers of men: “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.” (Mark 1:17-18) We must forsake the nets, the world’s ways in following Him. Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, please use […]

Abiding

Jesus Washes the Feet of His Own [podcast]

What was Jesus demonstrating and teaching us when He washed the feet of His disciples?

The Washed Way – begins with “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” – being born again (Titus 3:5-7; John 3:3, 7).

“On the way back from the public bath, a person’s feet would get dirty again. He didn’t need another bath but did need to have his feet washed. ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean.’ There is a difference between the bath and the basin. The bath speaks of the cleansing received at the time of one’s salvation. Cleansing from the penalty of sin through the blood of Christ takes place only once. The basin speaks of cleansing from the pollution of sin and must take place continually through the Word of God. There is one bath but many foot-washings.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“If these last words of our Lord had any spiritual reference, it is not easy to say what it was. A common opinion is the following: He who is washed – who is justified through the blood of the Lamb, needeth only to wash his feet – to regulate all his affections and desires; and to get, by faith, his conscience cleansed from any fresh guilt, which he may have contracted since his justification.” Adam Clarke

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. – John 13:1-17

Those not happy prove they are not humble nor holy (John 13).

“If loving the person in front of you seems like too small of a ministry opportunity, you’ve forgotten the simplicity of the Gospel.” unknown

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet as an Act of Final Sealing of His Mercy, His Will

“Before the feast – Namely, on Wednesday, in the paschal week. Having loved his own – His apostles, he loved them to the end – Of his life.” John Wesley

Adam Clarke writes:

“He loved them unto the end – Continued his fervent affection towards them to his latest breath, and gave them that convincing proof of it which is mentioned Joh_13:5. That the disciples alone are meant here every man must see.”

Of these cornerstone verses of John 13, F.B. Meyer writes:

“John 13:1-11

JESUS GLORIFIES HUMBLE SERVICE

In the Temple the laver preceded the brazen altar. It was kept filled with pure water for the constant washing of the priests; Exo_30:18-21; Lev_16:4. We cannot have fellowship with Christ at Calvary or on Olivet unless we draw near with our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

The Synoptic Gospels tell us that on their way to the feast the disciples had yielded to contention and pride. It was needful that these should be put away, and our Lord’s love was equal to the occasion. He loved them to the end of His life and to the end of love. Only such love could have made saints and apostles out of such material.

Jesus began a work which has never ceased, and which will continue “till all the ransomed Church of God be saved to sin no more.” When we have contracted guilt, we have not to begin our whole life over again, but to go back to the place where we dropped the thread of obedience and begin there.”

May we never forget how merciful our LORD Jesus was to the woman at the well (John 4), the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8), and the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8).

It’s of interest to note how this 13th chapter of the glorious Gospel of John begins with Christ’s love to His disciples and closes with His command for them to “love one another” as He taught and personally demonstrated to them:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35

“When you fall in love don’t you want to shout it from the rooftops? He, the man you are in love with, is all you talk about! Should be the same with Jesus! You want to tell everyone about this man, the Savior who saved your life! Just as the woman at the well did! She told the whole city. ‘Come, and see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ?’ John 4: 28-29.” Karen Cochran

YOUR PRAYER: Father, in Jesus’ name, please reduce me to love.

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Antichrist or Christ? [podcast]

Recorded at a fellowship in Colorado.

Who is truly reigning in my heart?

“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luke 19:27

Am I an antichrist?

Are there professing Christians who have “the spirit of antichrist” reigning in their hearts, their personal lives?

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

If I am sitting upon the throne of my own heart in this my temple (myself), I am an antichrist. God forbid!

Anti as in antichrist means in place of: It’s the “spirit of antichrist” working through Satan’s false ministers that robs the glory from Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:12-15; Colossians 1:18; 2:8-10, 18-19; 1 John 4:1-3, etc.).

anti – a. Against, opposed to. b. Before, predating. c. Usurping, in place of.

“Deceived people have no idea that they have been deceived, so they fight those who attempt to direct them back to the truth of the gospel.” Jim Borge

Those not excited for Jesus to return simply love this fleeting world and are not ready to meet the KING! Jesus is coming

We know when “that spirit of antichrist” is working through a rebel when he speaks contrary to God’s Word (John 8:47; 1 John 4:3). “That spirit of antichrist” – anti (in place of) Christ is anything that contradicts what God’s Word says, working to subvert divinely stated truth while posing as Christ’s minister (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).

“That spirit of antichrist” is witnessed in the human agents, possessed by devils who make it all about something, anything but Christ. The emphasis is taken away from Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:18-19). They make it about the church, Zionism/Israel, a nation, a genealogical people, a mere pastor, a man or men, an organization, a creed, a fraternal order, etc. This becomes clearer as the word “antichrist” is broken down. Anti means in place of.

Read Colossians 1 and 2 each morning this week.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And 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. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:1-4

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