Articles

Crossless Counterfeits

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]

EXCUSE ME, what did Jesus say you MUST do “DAILY” to “follow” Him? “Enemies of the Cross of Christ” Exposed

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24

Lots of “fulfill your destiny” type themes in the modern church world to lure in the gullible… but it’s all self-centered and not Christ-centered. If it were according to the original Gospel, the destiny would be recognized as living a crucified life – consenting to death and burial so Christ alone can reign! Just another cross-less heresy peddled by what Paul calls “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Philippians 3:18-19

Read Romans 7:18, 24. Beware of the epidemic man-centered false gospel message which dethrones and denies Christ while enthroning sinful men. Scarcely can a message be heard today that truly glorifies Jesus Christ, beginning and ending with Him – and His cross! (Philippians 3:17-19; Revelation 1:8)

The modern gospel is cross-less and therefore not the Gospel of Christ!

EXCUSE ME, what did Jesus say you MUST do “DAILY” to “follow” Him? -deny self, take up the cross, lay down your life in this world (Luke 9:23-24; 14:33; 17:33; John 12:23-25).

The minister who is not calling you to die – to lay down your life – is a fraud! Run!

ANY man not telling you to die to self is 100% a fraud! He’s preaching “another gospel” and is “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9) He’s talking about blessing, favor, and resurrection without death and burial which MUST precede! Dying must be first or there will be no resurrection blessing of God (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). He’s hiding this truth from you because he’s selling you down the river as a agent of Satan himself! Run. Jesus says you must die to self, you must lose your life, you must lay down your life: so who’s lying?

I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10) Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24)

MANY times people quote verse 11 yet want no part of verse 13. WHY? – “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…. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11, 13)

CLUE: If he’s not calling you to the crucified life it’s because he’s not living it and is therefore a cross-less counterfeit! RUN!

Though it’s clearly God’s will to give “all men” the “expected end” of eternal life with Him, Jesus says only a “few” will enter the gates of eternal glory while “many” will enter hell through the “wide … gate” which is the entrance into the domain of the tormented damned (Matthew 7:13-14).

Many are those who want Heaven, but want no part of rending their heart to the LORD (Joel 2:13).

Counterfeits want creature comforts, but not the crucifying cross. They want Heaven but not the hassle of having to die to self.

There are many who want the promises of God for their earthly lives and eternity. HOWEVER, they want nothing to do with the daily cross that the Savior who bled mandated each of those He saves to take up (Luke 9:23-24). How else can we know Him unless we get ourselves out of the way? They want the Cadillac and the crown but not the cross. They want to dine, but refuse to die. They relish trinkets, but don’t want to be tried and tested. They want to chase the dollar, but refuse to be chastened by the One they claim has saved them. They want ease, comfort, and cotton candy “Christianity,” while denying Christ by not taking up that cross. They do not confess Christ but rather deny Him and Jesus will deny them before His Father (Luke 12:8-9). They want to be politically patriotic, but refuse to make Christ their sole identity and be persecuted for His holy name. They want the promise of eternal life while living carelessly in Laodicea (Revelation 3:15-16). They want the fable they have built up in their minds, but refuse to fear God. In fact, that’s why so many in this prophesied self-worshiping generation like the smooth talking wolves that they have made so popular (2 Tim. 3:1-7). – You know, those mega-star false prophets who refuse to preach the original Gospel – They never mention sin, repentance, the holy fear of God, the essential of personal holiness, the cross, the severity of God, and judgment to come. These who migrate to such ravening wolves are the counterfeits who vainly believe they are going to use Jesus to get what THEY want – to not go to hell for eternity. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.” (Galatians 6:7-8) You see, they want Jesus to save them from hell, but they purposely ignore the “daily” cross that Jesus said MUST be taken up in order to follow Him to that Heavenly safety.

The OSAS beguilers will tell you there’s a difference between Jesus being your Savior, as opposes to your LORD, and that the latter is not required. They say that if you have been saved, you will go to Heaven no matter what and that you may just not have as many rewards. That’s a fable! Yet, the Bible teaches us that if He’s not your LORD, He’s not your Savior. The Son of God whom so many claim to know said: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) He also said “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

Teaching and believing OSAS is purely self-serving and here’s why:

Those who believe this unbiblical false doctrine which does not take the whole of Scripture into account, want salvation to go to Heaven, but not salvation from that which displeases God (sin).

Those who teach un-conditional eternal security desire to keep everything smooth and this makes it much easier for them to run their church business. They are obeying the evil desire of the people by tickling their ears and giving them what they want and not what God said – “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” (Isaiah 30:9-10). These OSAS hirelings do not want the people to be convicted by the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God for their sins, but just to be quiet and believe they are still secure in their sins. This is exactly what the false prophets were condemned for doing in the Old Testament.

In the following verse, false leaders are identified as those who tell people that they shall still “have peace” or security with the LORD even if they “walketh after the imagination of his own heart.” False leaders do not expose sin and call their audiences to repentance, but rather tell people the same thing Satan told Eve in the Garden – “No evil (no divine judgment, no consequence) shall come upon you.”

“They (false leaders) say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil (judgment) shall come upon you.” Jeremiah 23:17

According to the following verse of Scripture, false leaders do not deal with the essential Bible doctrines of the holiness of God, sin, and repentance. They therefore keep people in bondage to sin and on their way to the lake of fire.

“Thy prophets (false leaders) have seen vain and foolish things for thee (dealt with surface issues): and they have not discovered (shown you) thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.” Lamentations 2:14

God-fearing leaders (who are few) give people God’s pure Word. They call and turn them from evil so they can be saved into eternal life with Jesus, instead of eternal damnation in the lake of fire with the devil and his fallen angels:

“But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.” Jeremiah 23:22

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1

God Knows and Sees All and Will not be Mocked – No One Every Has or Ever Will Deceive the LORD Almighty

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸For 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

Every single person who is a counterfeit – seeking to use Jesus to get to Heaven – will be found out soon:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

Using Jesus is the essence of violating what the LORD meant when He said “Thou shalt have no other gods before me …. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” (Exodus 20)

This is why so many love the “eternal security” message so prevalent today that promises eternal glory even if they are living in a spiritual gutter. This false message, the very same lie the serpent told Eve, promises Heaven while people live like hell – as long as they had one true profession of faith in their past.

But God says that He does give assurance to His own when He saves, AND THEN HE WARNS them that if they turn from Him back to sin (don’t abide/remain in Christ) that they will be damned.

“Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. ¹³When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:12-13

Is God now forced to bring to Heaven those He saved and yet, like the 5 foolish virgins, refused to keep Him as their “first love” in their lives? (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 2:4-5) That, my friend, is a falsehood. The LORD plainly told His own people that any person among them who is living in certain sins, will not inherit eternal glory.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are THESE; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

Is Overcoming by Real, Enduring Faith and Trust in Jesus Essential?

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:7-8

Deceivers have created a false god in their own image and in their own liking – That is, they have refused to hear the whole of God’s Word so that they can twist certain isolated verses to make up this fairytale false Christ who will receive them even though they live contrary to what He clearly stated. This is exactly what the eternal security, OSAS mongers have done. Was this exact thing not foretold?

If a teaching doesn’t like up with what God says in His Word we then make a choice as to who we will follow. Our eternity hinges (2 John 9-10).

“Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.” Romans 3:4

So many teach overtly or subtly that no matter what un-confessed sin a person lives in after being saved, they will still go to Heaven. But God’s Word is clear.

Sins that Defile a Man

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20-23

“Defile” refers to being unclean in the eyes of God. Jesus was speaking of all men here – Those whom He saves are included. He made no distinction. Those whom Jesus saves have no license to live in sin but rather have been granted saving grace to live holy as He is holy and if they don’t, they will spend eternity in hell with all those who die in sin (Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 21:8, 27). The proof-less, fairy tale myth of “once saved always saved” is designed to damn the souls of men and it is doing its epidemic work today. If God is “Holy, holy, holy” and He tells us that certain sins “defile the man,” it should be more than obvious that no defiled man is ready to meet Him who is Holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). In fact, the Bible tells us exactly why Jesus came to the earth the first time and the exact people that Christ will return for.

“…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself 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

Make no mistake: Only the LORD can make a man holy and He only makes holy (sets apart) those who truly trust in Him and obey Him. All others do not possess saving faith (1 Jn. 2:3-5; James 2; Heb. 12:14).

The Bible clearly tells us that the LORD Jesus is coming back for His “little flock,” a pure and spotless Bride, one washed in His holy blood according to His holy Word (Lk. 12:32; Eph. 5:25-27; Tit. 2:13-14; 1 Jn. 3:3; Rev. 2-3).

After being washed initially (born again), the recipient of Christ must continue to walk with Him in the light of His holy truth in order to continue to be made clean in His holy eyes and not defiled:

“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

Any honest Bible student knows that the LORD is “Holy, holy, holy,” and therefore washings, holiness, and purification are of the utmost importance in the divine economy. All those who will be with Him eternally must be made holy by His grace which requires their own faith and participation – both initially and to the end of their lives in this sinful world (Num. 19; Matt. 5:8; 10:22; 24:13; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 5:26-27; Tit. 1:15; Rev. 6:11; 7:9, 13).

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Reign of Christ! [podcast]

Resurrection Grace [podcast]

Jesus Conquered Sin, Satan, and Death by Dying [podcast]

Abiding

The Chosen are being Called and Prepared to “Go” [podcast]

Jesus didn’t say “stay.”

Jesus commanded us to “Go” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

“They Desire a Better Country”

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” Genesis 12:1

“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange COUNTRY, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:” Hebrews 11:9

“For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a COUNTRY.” Hebrews 11:14

“And truly, if they had been mindful of that COUNTRY from whence they came out, they might have had the opportunity to have returned.” Hebrews 11:15

“But now they desire a better COUNTRY, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:16

Billions lie unreached.

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalms 2:8

BE WARNED….

That if you dare ask God to prepare and use you, the adventure of serving as you are accomplishing His Great Commission is going to begin and gain steadily increasing traction and fruitfulness! Read John 15:1-16.

It all begins with a simple, sincere prayer, a request to God to use you—and therefore begin now to prepare you.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

The LORD can use us to the degree we’ve sought Him for and submitted to His strippings, purgings, His preparation.

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

God has a plan to remove that which does not belong in you and to establish what does.

“to root out” (destructive)
“to pull down” (destructive)
“to destroy” (destructive)
“to throw down” (destructive)
“to build” (constructive)
“to plant” (constructive)

When Jesus cleansed the temple, after rooting out the evil, He then installed the purity, prayer, praise, and power (Matthew 21; John 2).

God has His order. One thing comes before the other.

When you Go, that’s when you are going to Know!

“Christianity is not American and America does not define Christianity! We need to stop trying to merge the two together. Jesus died for people all over this world, and Christianity existed long before America was even a thought. I am a Christian who physically resides in the USA, but this world is not my home. I long for an eternal kingdom.” Gloria Sykes

When you obey Christ and “Go” there will be a harvest of souls—some you will see and many you will not.

“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 with him.” Psalms 126:5-6

Thanking God and you for pausing to lift up the blessed saved souls to Jesus in PA. From Tom and Karen Cochran:

“God has opened up a door for us to minister in a nursing home. People in there are hungry. They have been stripped of their pride! They need help just to do everyday things we take for granted. Very few have family or friends who visit. All their material possessions are pretty much gone, and once put in a home they know this is probably where they will die. They have no hope. And that is why they are hungry! Jesus gives them hope! We have seen many completely changed by the gospel and power of Christ! Jesus saved a one- hundred- and-five-year-old woman, and after she prayed she began to sing ‘Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so’!”

People are eternal. Are you investing in people, eternal souls?

Are you personally participating in, contributing your time, talents, and treasures into the Great Commission Jesus gave us? See the end of Matthew and Mark.

MESSAGE ON AMERICA:

“Lately I have been seeing many taking to the streets to preach the gospel and it is shocking to see the response of Americans. In their pride and arrogance they keep right on walking and don’t even look up. Too busy in their comfortable lives. Headed for the path of destruction and they could care less.”

REPLY:

Seems this is how America could, should be viewed: “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).

Who are the people who are going to be with Jesus?

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are CALLED, and CHOSEN, and FAITHFUL.” Revelation 17:14

Luke 9:57-62

“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Of this passage at the end of Luke 9, one writer notes the following:

“9:61 The third would-be disciple resembled the first in that he volunteered to follow Christ. He was like the second in that he uttered the contradiction, “Lord … me first.” He wanted first to say goodbye to his family. In itself, the request was reasonable and proper, but even the common civilities of life are wrong if they are placed ahead of prompt and complete obedience.

9:62 Jesus told him that once he put his hand to the plow of discipleship, he must not look back; otherwise he was not fit for the kingdom of God. Christ’s followers are not made of half-hearted stuff or dreamy sentimentality. No considerations of family or friends, though lawful in themselves, must be allowed to turn them aside from utter and complete abandonment to Him. ….

And so we have three cardinal hindrances to discipleship illustrated in the experience of these men:

1. Material comforts.
2. A job or an occupation.
3. Family and friends.

Christ must reign in the heart without a rival. All other loves and all other loyalties must be secondary.”

Matthew 9:35-38

The 3 Ways God’s People Participate in Christ’s Great Commission

1. Praying for Christ’s laborers (Matthew 9:35-38).

2. Witnessing, sowing and communicating the Word (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 8:11).

3. Supporting, supplying those of God’s people who are doing His Great Commission, preaching the Word (Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Philippians 2:25; 4:16-20).

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

PRAYER: LORD, sanctify my life. This is YOUR life. Put me exactly where you want me on Your planet. Use this life dear LORD. In Jesus’ name.

Prepared to be Used of God | Great Commission

Spanish Content on SafeGuardYourSoul

Prepared and Powerful [podcast]

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10 God has a plan to remove that which does not belong in you and to establish what does. “to root out” (destructive) “to pull down” (destructive) “to destroy” (destructive) “to throw down” (destructive) “to build” (constructive) “to plant” (constructive) When Jesus cleansed the temple, after rooting out the evil, He then installed the purity, prayer, praise, and power (Matthew 21; John 2). God has His […]

Weeping Men Win Men [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, eternal reward) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6 “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 “Blessed are the poor in spirit (desperate for God): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are they […]

Mexico needs Missionaries [podcast]

GOD is our Maker and Redeemer and He knows where He has and wants each of His children to be—where you already are or otherwise. The LORD is in control (Psalms 24:1). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23 Last week Jesus saved this beloved woman, Katherine! See more on that salvation story here. Recently I commented under a Mexico video…. which received nearly 100 likes to date…. After leaving the USA and now living in Mexico, I began to see just how un-free and vulturous it was […]

Counting the Cost - Following Jesus to the End of Your Life [podcast]

The Cost of Discipleship “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 Those who count the cost refuse to count their own life dear to themselves and this is the only way not to be derailed, to finish our course, enduring to the end. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and […]

Isaiah's Call and Commission [podcast]

What did the LORD reveal of Himself to Isaiah? What was the result in Isaiah’s life and ours? When the LORD appeared to him, the prophet Isaiah was shown his own depravity, his own wicked heart, his own unpreparedness. What was his response and how does this relate to us? Are you ready this day to say “Jesus please prepare and use me mightily for Your eternal glory! I love You LORD. I am all Yours! Please do Your deeper work in this life You gave!”? One must be prepared by God to be used by God. “If a man […]

Communicating The Gospel in Spanish

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Philemon 6 Saints, here are a few Gospel statements in Spanish to learn in order to open up a whole new world, a waiting mission field! I was overjoyed to share the Gospel in Spanish with a young man recently who was from Mexico. Upon speaking the Word to Him about Jesus Christ being the only way to God, his countenance lit up immediately and he began to smile and rejoice. To make double and triple sure […]

JESUS Tract in Spanish

[this is the actual text of the JESUS tract] JESUS tract SPANISH (click to download print-ready PDF)] [JESUS tract English (click to download print-ready PDF)] El acontecimiento más descatado de la historia de la humanidad ocurrió cuando este hombre, Jesucristo, murió en una cruz romana. Cuando Él murio, una oscuridad intempestiva cubrió la tierra a las 3 de la tarde y se produjo un terremoto cuando tomó su último aliento. Este hombre llamado Jesús fue crucificado. Tres días después resucitó de entre los muertos! He aquí por qué murió: “Pero vuestras iniquidades (pecados) han hecho división entre vosotros y vuestro […]

Articles

“A Just Weight is His Delight” and Gouging is Sin

Gouging is Ungodly – and God is Watching, Sees All, and will Repay Accordingly

“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

Scripture informs us of the LORD that “true and righteous are thy judgments” and God requires that those who know Him will deal justly – in just weights and measures (Revelation 16:7).

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Doing justly before God would mean dealing equitably with men. When you read the following passage, keep justice, greed, and fearing God in mind:

“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.” Proverbs 11:1-8

Wicked unrepentant people forge ahead in their sin, continuing to live separated from God, vainly believing that because He hasn’t yet judged them that He won’t in the future. Justice is a death march to the irrevocable fire of eternal hell.

“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11

So when you go to a store, who has decided the pricing on each item? you or them? obviously when 2 individuals negotiate for the sale of an item between themselves, they come to an agreement on the price. the fact that a person in a situation like this, can pay whatever they wish for something if it has value to them, in no way negates just weights and measures as begins with God Himself …. There are standards to be measured against in determining the value of something. you can’t blank out what we find originating in Scripture. So, have you ever heard of real estate appraisal? If so, what’s this field of work for? What does it measure? What’s its purpose?

Charging more than the actual value is sin unless the buyer requests to pay more for it perhaps in order to obtain the item before someone else does.

Gouging arises from wicked hearts who greedily covet the things of this fleeting world. Greed is not a virtue, it’s a soul damning sin.

“Labour not to be rich (the sin of greed): cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. … 17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 23:4-7, 17

The utmost fear and wisdom of God must be observed from His Word when setting prices for products and services. Seems best to under price a bit rather than over price, gouge. In the flesh, is it not easy to get greedy when setting prices for the product and/or services your company offers? Yet what is the long term affect on your community, your clients?

Think about those people you’ve done business with who price fairly and how that made you feel about them and how it affected your repeat business with them. Seems to me that those who fairly price their product/services are exponentially more likely to be established in a community with good reputation and honor.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1

In every economy there are standards of measure and appropriate pricing or prices set accordingly…. The further a people distance themselves from God, from the instruction of His Word, the deeper in rebellion that nation plunges, the more skewed are the weights and measures. John Quincy was instrumental in laying the foundation for just weights and balances in America.

“John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, liked to measure things – the width of a river, the distance between two points – by counting his steps…. When Adams became Secretary of State in 1817, his fascination with measurements coincided with the desire of Congress to establish a uniform standard for weights and measures across the United States. After three-and-a-half years of obsessive work (which frustrated his wife, Louisa), John Quincy Adams produced his Report Upon Weights and Measures. He thought it would be his most important literary accomplishment.

Fixing the Standard of Weights and Measures

The importance of everyone in the country using the same system of weights and measures was recognized by the founders of the United States. The Constitution gave Congress the power to ‘fix the Standard of Weights and Measures’ (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 5). However, there was no agreement as to which weights and measures should become the national standard. Each of the original thirteen states was using its own weights and measures, which differed from those used by other states. No Congressman wanted to be blamed for changing his constituents’ customary way of measuring things.

All of the early presidential messages to Congress included an appeal for legislation to establish a uniform system of weights and measures. In 1790, at the urging of George Washington, the House of Representatives asked Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to draw up a plan. Jefferson put forward two options: one a refinement of the existing English system of weights and measures; the other a new decimal system based on the foot. Jefferson’s report was transmitted by the House to the Senate, where a select committee concluded that, since Britain and France were each considering national standards of measure which could become a universal standard, it was not desirable, ‘at present, to introduce any alteration in the measures and weights which are now used in the United States.’ (2) In 1796, the House passed ‘An act directing certain experiments to be made to ascertain uniform standards of weights and measures for the United States,’ but the bill was never taken up by the Senate.”

Applying a higher or lower price for what something is actually worth is the definition of unjust weights and balances. Today we see the greed of men manifested when they overcharge or gouge their neighbor by charging more than what is just for a service or product.

Gouging is sin, it’s a form of not loving your neighbor, it’s taking advantage of your neighbor, your fellow man.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12

“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10

A friend of mine told me: “Those in business today who gouge people by overcharging them do it because no one stands up and holds them accountable.” In other words, as long as they can get away with it, they will do it.

He is correct. As I think back, there one particular example that comes to mind of recent, where in my estimation, I was the victim of gouging, of unjust weights and balances.

$22 for a plate lunch, a to-go lunch which was not a large volume of food and no drink was included (which I personally never get anyway) and they didn’t even have empty cups or water available.

These gougers have all kinds of ways, sayings, they use to “justify” their charges, such as “it’s industry standard pricing,” or “standard price charged by everyone in our industry.” etc.

After being gouged, I contacted them, their leadership, and sought to reason. Neither budged and so I exposed them with one star reviews and an explanation as to why I viewed their charges as gouging, as an unjust weight and balance.

“Just balances, just weights… shall ye have.” Leviticus 19:36

“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs 11:1

We usually quote the first part of this verse and apply it to spiritual balance, which is fitting and true. Yet the application of this statement involves charging our neighbor equitably for goods and services.

Isn’t it best to charge fairly and sleep well?

Stealing from others, gouging, unjustly greedily overcharging others, brings curses which includes not being able to sleep soundly. Listen to the wisdom of our God in Solomon:

“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” Ecclesiastes 5:12-16

Covetousness and greed run rampant among fallen men and yet greed and covetousness will reap the just reward of eternal damnation.

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:5-7

“Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15

Overcharging another, gouging, is stealing. Any person who is perpetrating thievery on others, and this includes overcharging/gouging, is ungodly and cannot sleep well. Such is an unrepentant sinner. Is it really worth and unclean conscience? Is it worth spending eternity in hell? Though completely ignored by the professing apostate church world today, all sin must be cut off from our lives, must be crucified (Mark 9:43-49).

“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36-37

“Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:36

“A just weight and balance are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.” Proverbs 16:11

“But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Deuteronomy 25:15

PRAYER: Father You are holy. Please forgive any greed in my heart. Please, from this moment forward, bring deep conviction of sin to my conscience LORD. Break me to the core of my being and grant that all stony places in my heart be replaced with an heart of flesh. Please unite my heart to fear Thy name dear LORD. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

"Thou Fool, this Night Thy Soul shall be Required of Thee" [podcast]

Recorded at a home Bible fellowship Getting ready to die and go to Hell is not success – no matter how “successful” you foolishly think you’ve become by what you’ve obtained in this brief life. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36-37 “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of […]

Honesty Goes a Long Way with God!

Getting Honest, Coming Clean BREAKING: THIS here is all that matters saints…… Jesus is coming and wants to be glorified in forgiving all sin and changing lives…. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 Kingdom news is the only Good News and everything else is going to hell. Are you behind the KING and His work He sent us to do […]

No Cross, No Growth

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 No Cross (death, burial) No Growth (resurrection) If I am not becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ, the One who bought me with His blood, I not only do not understand Christianity, but am not growing in my relationship with the Lord. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10 “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.” Romans […]

Articles

Faith in Resurrection [podcast]

When we die downward and are dead and buried with Christ, we can be assured that God is going to raise us upward.

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

Romans 6:1-14

“1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed (brought to naught, nullified), that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

The Crucified Life | Travis Bryan III

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Stripped and Sanctified with Travis Bryan III [podcast]

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10 “God allowed Job to be stripped. I was also thinking of Jeremiah 1:10. God uses what Satan meant to harm us for His good. Providence. Romans 8:28. As we know he did in Joseph’s life. I could be wrong but in this title is Satan getting credit for stripping us?” Karen Cochran Why Did God allow Job to Suffer, to be Tested? Job’s Suffering, Testing […]

Joy Comes After the Mourning

In Christ’s Kingdom, the only Way Up is Down Mourning Trumps Merriment in Christ’s Kingdom “For his anger (for our sin) endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5 The LORD is so gracious that He gives us His joy after a season, a time of weeping/mourning. “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth (concerns a time of repentance), and girded me with gladness.” Psalms 30:11 Here we see how God clothes His people with His righteousness […]

Why We Need not Fear Death: Resurrection Joy – Fearless in Death [podcast]

Resurrection Joy – Fearless in Death – Dancing on Hell’s Grave “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 Dancing on Fear’s Grave! “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 Those who are ready to die and be with Jesus do not fear death (1 John 4:16-18). Eternal perspective. Hope for eternal rest, glory with Christ and the Father. In Christ, when we close our eyes in death, we awake to the resurrection bliss of eternal joy with Him who is “the resurrection and […]