“All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14
THERE are children of God who are behind on bills. There are called-out men of God preaching Christ’s whole Gospel fearlessly, and you STILL support a multi-millionaire wolf who is making merchandise of the people to make himself even richer in this fleeting world? (2 Peter 2:1-3) God is calling you to repent. You are in darkness.
Someone has wisely stated that:
“On judgment day many will wonder why they got so excited about money and not Jesus.” Unknown
—– WANT to see what matters to you? Want to see how real you are? How authentic your love is or isn’t for Christ? Do you truly want to know what matters to you? … are you willing to face the truth? …if so, then go look at what you spend your (His) money on and you will see what matters to you (Matthew 6:19-25; Luke 12:15-21, etc.). If His work means nothing to you it’s because He means nothing to you.
— BE HONEST: Which biblical subjects, doctrines, do you dodge? Which get the least attention? Those that deal with financial responsibility/stewardship, right? Does this not clearly reveal how much it’s needed and how much true repentance is needed before it’s too late. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Read Matthew 6:19-24.
— IT WAS when Jesus began to tell His audience that they had to partake of Him, to die to self, to give up their lives in this fleeting world, that they left Him (John 6). Before that He fed their stomachs. They were willing to stay as long as they had their creature comforts. Yes, they were okay as long as their stomachs were being fed by the fish and loaves He multiplied and gave to His disciples to give to them. They did not want to die – to lose their lives in this world – and nothing has changed today among the many who claim to know Christ. That mass of people left Jesus. Only twelve remained. Read John 6.
People today claiming to know the One who came and gave all to save them are okay with “serving” Him as long as it costs them nothing. He’s not worth giving anything up for. He’s not worth sacrificing the junk food they consume in order to rightly steward the resources He gives them. He’s not worth it to them to begin learning how to reach others with His Word in this late hour. He’s not worth losing the friendship with their children so they refuse to tell that child “no” to watching the myriad of corruptions polluting his/her own child’s young mind. He’s not worth feeding a poor soul that is homeless. He’s not worth their reputation so they refuse to live for Him publicly.
This person described above does not fear or know the LORD.
John 6:66 tells us that “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
These are those who are willing to “serve” Christ on their own terms, deceiving themselves all the way to the irrevocable place of eternal suffering.
“Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Psalms 50:22
Love is Giving
All that comes to us is from the hand of God who “so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
The LORD is a Giver and desires that His children willingly choose to freely give as has been given to them (Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, etc.).
The opposite of being generous is to withhold. The word or term “crumbing” in part refers to being stingy, tightfisted, or miserly.
“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal (generous) soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.” Proverbs 11:24-26
Stingy Rich Man Now Eternally Remorseful
—- Question: WHO in the Bible went to hell for not simply chipping off a smidgen of supply to a beggar? Who?
Does this ring a bell? It should. You should become very familiar with the passage this refers to (Luke 16:19-31).
Think about it: What would that once “rich” man not do now to have one more breath on earth to repent and change his wicked ways? He’s already been in hell for some 2,000 years with not even one second having expired from eternity’s time clock. Want to follow his example and go there too? Keep reading friend.
Jesus told us that unfaithful stewards go to eternal damnation (Matthew 25:30, 41, etc.). … Okay, before we go on, let’s get rid of the counterfeits. I can hear it now from the unrepentant who are serving the god of self and are highly offended at someone preaching on the biblical topic of stewardship: “But brother, are you saying I’m going to hell if I don’t give?!”
Yes.
Unapologetically, I am preaching and repeating what Holy Scripture clearly tells us.
Don’t like it?
Bye.
Now, for those willing to render honesty toward God, let’s continue …
Now that the counterfeits are vanquished, disqualifying themselves by their own sin of unbelief and rebellion, let’s talk saints.
So, why would any true believer get upset with another disciple of Jesus because that disciple seeks to make sure those other believers are really going to eternal glory with Jesus?
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
You see, when our lives are truly given over to the LORD, so will be all our resources. If they aren’t, it’s because we’re still serving the god of self and mammon.
Choosing to begin giving a portion of your resources to the LORD is not going to save you from spending eternity in hell. No, and yet, if you aren’t a giver of your resources, it’s because your heart and life are not given over to the LORD.
If you wish to see where your heart truly is, simply look at where your money is going.
If your resources are all being spent on the god of self, it indicates that there is idolatry of self. This would point to self worship instead of Savior worship (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5-9; Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.). A few particular verses come to mind:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14
Jesus taught: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24
—– SATAN is strategically working to stop you from doing YOUR part in the army of the LORD … THIS message from the LORD is for you beloved. He wants to speak to YOUR heart directly from His Word here which is alive now – “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). If this has ever been relevant, it is a message for this hour as much if not more than it ever has been. Will YOU be able to say with Paul “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)? Will you be able to say with the apostle Paul that you “fought … finished” and “kept” the will of God in your personal life by doing your part?
There’s a “certain man” who was once rich (temporarily in his life on earth). This “certain (specific, literal) man” has now been burning in conscious torment in the flames of hell for some 2,000 years. Go read Luke 16:19-31 (King James Bible) and find out exactly why that man is irrevocably in hell and in a million years will still be in hell “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). And what about Esau who traded his soul for a bowl of soup? For what fleeting trinket in this brief life will you lose your soul in eternal damnation in hell?
Can you begin to imagine the horror of remorse this man has been anguishing in for 2,000 years? Wow!
Will you follow his wicked example or will you choose to follow Christ by giving all?
Didn’t Jesus present us with the open ended question we alone can answer? – “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).
Remember, when you truly repent before the LORD, the resources you have will then become His … otherwise you never really repented and are still subject to serving the god of self and therefore mammon (Matthew 6:19-24). Those who know Jesus do not serve mammon, they serve Christ and give as He came and gave.
If you’re truly saved, so is your wallet!
The coffers that fuel God’s work of getting His Word out deserve:
A. To be empty,
B. To be moderately supported and tipped, or
C. To be abundant in order to have no hindrance to the advancement of Jesus Christ’s Gospel message in this late hour.
Your personal answer isn’t seen in which one of the above multiple choice answers you chose but rather in whether or not you’ve been giving to His work.
Keep in mind that if you give, it’s in worship to the LORD from whom all good things come (1 Chronicles 29:14; James 1:17). When you give, you are not doing God a favor or the person or ministry you are giving to. No, you are getting yourself off the hook. You are doing yourself a favor! Of course, giving should be done as a deliberate, “need-no-chill-bump” obedient gesture of worship first and foremost. When you obediently give, you are doing now (giving) what the once rich man in Luke 16 refused to do and is now incarcerated in the flames of hell from which there is no release date and never will be (Mark 9:43-49). God requires that His people rightly steward the resources He allows to come into their temporary possession. Greed, stinginess, withholding, and covetousness have already damned the souls of countless eternal souls who are presently and will burn consciously for all eternity.
“And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:23-25
Christ says it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a man rich in this fleeting world to go to Heaven. In light of this, the Son of God warns 1) “they that have riches” (v. 23), and 2) “them that trust in riches” (v. 24).
Those who possess this world’s riches are prone to trust them instead of God. Beware. Jesus was warning us of this and that’s more the reason to empty our resources on the poor and good work of the LORD.
Apparently, the “certain rich man” Jesus described in Luke 16 was just like many today. He lifted no finger to help a godly man that sat right under his long, evil nose. Many of you reading this know of the needs of individual, godly people around you, and Great Commission New Testament ministry works. You have refused to help. Never mind the supposed “good intentions” you claim to have.
Are you real or are you a fraud?
“Hereby 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. 17 But 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? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1 John 3:16-19
The saying is true that: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Like so many today who claim to be serving the One who came and gave all, the once “certain rich man” who’s now in hell, perhaps had the lame intention to help others, yet didn’t. Like many today, it’s obvious that the once rich man tended to dozens and dozens of other self-serving pursuits and yet took no time to help others, even those right under his nose (Luke 16:19-31).
It’s time to truly come to Jesus in repentance and when you do, everything you have in your temporary care will be directed by Jesus.
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
Any question?
Perhaps it’s been wisely stated that:
“Whatever you compromise to keep, you will lose.”
This is a life and death gauntlet. God’s Word has shown you this in fact. This is a Heaven and hell issue. What we do with what God puts in our hands is a direct reflection of where our hearts truly are.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16
—– WHEN Israel (the LORD’s people) left off to (ceased to) honor Him with their increase (money), He allowed a difficult reaping to come on them, read Haggai 1 today. Also Malachi and watch for this as you read through Scripture. Jesus repeatedly taught that each of us will give account for how we stewarded that which came into our temporary care in this life. Many of Jesus’ teachings come to us via His parables (earthly stories with a heavenly meaning).
Does the LORD receive the first portion of what you earn? Or, does His honor and work get a mere tip when you ‘get around to it’ – that is, when things more important to you aren’t consuming you at the moment? “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). I’m not a bit concerned that you or anyone else is going to get upset with me for toppling your idolatry (idol of you). No, my fear is going to be toward the One who after He has killed me, is able to cast my soul and body into eternal hell (Luke 12:4-5).
It’s better to simply repent and change your ways and factor God into the money you receive in this life. In other words, schedule His %/portion in beforehand in your mind and heart so that it’s already spoken for. If we don’t deliberately slate this into the first priority when we receive pay, it doesn’t happen, right?
Now I wonder what God will do if we render simple, practical, literal, faith-filled obedience to Him in this important subject of stewardship. Well, does this divine promise sound familiar? “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Remember we just read in Proverbs 3:9-10 that those who honor the LORD, the Giver of all good gifts, by putting the very first portion (“firstfruits”) of our increase into His kingdom, that he will fill us with plenty? Is this a promise? Yes. What did the apostle Paul say about all of the promises of God? – “For all the promises of God in him (Christ) are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
What limiting dilemmas is your disobedience causing?
Who’s ministering to Christ’s ministers? Who? Where’s the supply line? We are Christ’s army (2 Timothy 2:1-4). We are His body, each member called to worship Him and do their part. See Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4. What part are you playing? Are you doing that part or sitting back waiting? Are you sending prayers and supplies to those in the fox holes, the front lines? Are those in the fox holes starving? Have they run out of ammo? Are they now vulnerable to be killed – to be taken out – taken off post – because you aren’t doing your part by sending up prayers and sending supplies out of your increase?
Note how unoffended His saints were who suffered great lack as we see on record in Hebrews 11:37-39. <<< read this in the KJB. They loved Him above all else and were just grateful to know Him. Today many of those the LORD has called out to do His work and are obediently doing it, are not being uplifted sufficiently by the body of Christ they serve as unto Christ and have to continue to be thankful to our LORD, the One they serve. His watchmen are despised by the religious and neglected by those who agree with the truth they communicate and work they do .… “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
You are not only as sure for hell as if you were already there, you are a “miserable” individual if you are living for your own self-serving pleasures. You are exactly like the hell bound Laodiceans whom Jesus said were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17
These backsliders had much in the way of earthly riches and yet, like the specific, “certain rich man” Jesus spoke of in Luke 16, they were bound for eternal damnation along with being in this fleeting world “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
The fall-out, the effects of the disobedience of so many is untold. There are many men today whom God called out and who are prepared by Him but they can’t do what He sent them to do due to the disobedience of so many. They’ve left their post and are now working a secular job.
Father please grant us grateful hearts no matter what we face in this temporal world. We will be home with You soon! Revelation 21!
Build the House! (audio)
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“Mar 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mar 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Mar 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
Mar 6:10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
Mar 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mar 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
“For those who are sent will be taken care of by HIS people, and those who will not take care of those whom HE sent will be left, as the one who came to preach leaves them, taking with them the peace of the LORD.” Yvonne S.
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John Wesley on Calvinism, Once Saved Always Saved, and Conditional Security
Abiding
The Flesh will Never be Reformed it Must be Crucified [podcast]
The Divine Prescription is Clear and there are No Shortcuts
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
The law brings repentance, salvation while thereafter the crucified life, the cross keeps us from that sin which once separated us from the LORD, who now has saved us (Psalms 19:7; Romans 6).
There are lots of people peddling the lie of “self care” which is ultimately nothing more than absolute selfishness. Pure evil. Such only perpetuates the prey, the victim, in their misery. The only way to deal with the wicked iniquitous nature, is to crucify it, not pamper it (Luke 9:23-24). It’s your time to get into God’s Word and follow Jesus (KJB). Repent, deny yourself, lay down your life and serve God and others, not yourself. Loving your wicked self IS your problem and so all “self care” is accomplishing is to make your problem bigger, to fortify the evil within (Galatians 5:16-24). Crucifying that evil by the power of the Holy Spirit who is then raising your upward in His grace, glory, and power, is the divine prescription (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:3, etc.). Read Philippians 2:3-5 each morning this week. Jesus commands you to love God. Worship God. Obey God (Matthew 22:37-39).
All whom Jesus has saved make a decision every day, including this day. All who were initially saved and yet aren’t searching out and taking up the cross daily, prove they do not love Him, even though they may claim such. Each of us prove who we really love by who reigns in our lives, and by who dies. See Matthew 6:24.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16
WHO we yield ourselves to today, proves who we truly love – either the Savior or self.
“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” 2 Corinthians 1:9
We must declare and establish “the sentence of death in ourselves” so that our trust is in God who raised Christ from the dead and raises up all of His saints as they are crucified with Christ.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Tired of sinful self and wanting it out of your way? Here’s the divine prescription: “But I keep under (subdue) my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
The fact that Jesus is coming back for a church, a people who are holy, let us peer into what the Bible tells us concerning overcoming the flesh, sin (Romans 6-8).
Jesus never said to try or try harder. no, Jesus says you must die to follow Him (Luke 9:23-24; John 12:23-25, etc.).
Jesus is sanctifying and cleansing by His Word a people, a church “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).
Times of fasting and prayer are doing yourself a favor and not God. Yes. You are crucifying self, getting self out of God’s way so that Christ is reigning in your life in place of sinful self! This should be viewed with absolute delight! (See Psalms 37:4; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13, etc..) You are crying, you are driving a stake in the ground and declaring: “LORD, You must increase but I must decrease!” (See John 3:30.) That’s the “daily” operation of the cross God has ordained to be transpiring in our lives (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.).
What’s your plan for a special time of fasting and prayer this week? There’s no mystery – you will not overcome the flesh, sin, without being crucified with Christ and there’s no better way than fasting and prayer. It’s the most direct route to being dead, buried, and raised up in the victory Christ alone can grant. Lay it all down, now. Memorize Colossians 3:3 and walk it out.
We simply can’t know just how deep we are buried in pride until we begin to obey God in fasting and prayer. Isaiah 58
Overcoming the flesh, walking in victory requires continually delighting in the LORD, worshipping Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
HOW many of us know that the flesh is never going to behave itself, never going to be tamed …. until it’s slain by the cross, crucified?
The flesh IS going to rage, be bent toward and do evil. That’s a given (Romans 7). This is why the cross, the crucifying of the “old man” and putting on “the new man” are essential to God bringing the victory in our lives! (Romans 6-8; Ephesians 4:23-25; Colossians 3:5-10, etc.)
Doesn’t the fact that our flesh does not like the cross, only confirm the need for it? What are the “works of the flesh” that will separate a once saved Christian from God? (Galatians 5:16-21) Though it’s never heard in the apostate modern church world, Jesus commanded the cross in the life of each and every person who would follow Him (Luke 9:23-24). The fact that our flesh hates the cross in no way changes God and what He said concerning the severity in which we are to deal with the flesh, with sin – and the eternal damnation that awaits all who don’t crucify the deeds of the body (Mark 9:42-49; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.). When’s the last time you read the words of Jesus recorded in Mark 9:42-49 and took Jesus at His Word? IF you truly love Him, you will obey Him (John 14:15).
God fully expects for His people to induce, to participate in the crucifixion of our flesh, putting the self-life to death (Isaiah 58; Matthew 6:16; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Galatians 2:20, etc.).
Holiness is not the way to Christ but rather Christ is the way to holiness. Abiding in Christ IS abiding holy – in the divine definition of holy. The key is that holiness is NOT the way to God but rather Christ is the way to holiness, His way, His definition – which is the daily cross (Luke 9:23-24). Abiding fellowship with Christ, on HIS terms, is holiness – being set apart to the LORD, in the LORD (Psalms 4:3; John 15).
Sin is man’s master until Christ is man’s Master (Matthew 6:24).
No one overcomes by accident. Those who love the LORD, truly, not just in mere profession, will seek Him diligently and obey Him and therefore are brought into His victory by Him (Matthew 7:21; 22:37-39; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:3-6; Revelation 2-3, etc.). The disciple must truly repent and cease all excuses for the sin that displeases God and walk as “MORE than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:1, 5-6, 13-14; 37, etc.).
Jesus came from Heaven to earth and successfully confronted evil, sin, death, and the devil by going to the cross and defeating them! Read Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 2:14-15 and 1 John 3:8. In Christ, with Christ, we defeat death by dying, laying down our lives (Hebrews 2:14-15). And Jesus, who conquered death, hell, sin, Satan, and the grave, sends us to the cross – co-death with Him to defeat all of our sin and Satan also (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 8:29, 37; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). His precious blood alone atoned for our sins positionally, and yet to enforce that victory in defeating sin and Satan in our daily lives, Jesus prescribed to us the cross life (the practical).
The only thing we can do about this reality – about the iniquitous fleshly nature – is to crucify it (Galatians 5:16-24). There can be no negotiation.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11
The one way to master sin is bow to Heaven’s Master and let Him master sin! The cross.
BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST ROSE AGAIN, ALL WHO ARE BORN AGAIN IN HIM ARE RAISED UP SPIRITUALLY IN THIS LIFE TO OVERCOME ALL SIN, SATAN, AND THE WORLD, AND WILL SOON be RAISED UP INTO ETERNAL GLORY WITH HEAVEN’S KING.
Rhetorical Question: What’s your fasting and prayer plan beloved? Your answer to this important, prompting question is before you and your LORD….
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
You are not serious about overcoming sin if you’re not yet setting apart regular times of fasting and prayer. The fact that you don’t want to fast is the clear proof that you need to fast. Currently, your flesh is in control! Once you are broken, you will delight in, you will look forward to those times of regular fasting! Read Isaiah 58. | The Amazing Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
Times of Fasting and prayer get YOU out of the way so Jesus can reign supreme! Isaiah 58
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14
“He must increase but I must decrease.” John 3:30
FASTING IS STARVING THE FLESH AND FEEDING THE SPIRIT IN ORDER TO BE BROUGHT BY THE LORD INTO FULL ONENESS WITH HIM AND THE FATHER, AND INTO THE COMPLETE VICTORY AND FRUITFULNESS HE’S ORDAINED YOU TO WALK IN (ISAIAH 58).
Read Romans 6-8.
I am not a good person. Neither are you. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The Bible and our own failing experience in this life clearly reveal such to be the case. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently that there is “no good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a fresh, deeper work in us! See Romans 7:18, 24—the cross!
“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.” Romans 7:18
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Colossians 3:9
The SINNER, the vile wretch I must first and foremost confront, is myself! See Job 19:28; Rom 7:18, 24; Ps 39:4-5 and Eccl 7:20. It’s essential to begin to understand the flesh, the fallen man, the iniquitous old man, in order to realize what we’ve been saved from and what must be crucified daily. The cross is God’s solution, His prescription to “put off the old man with his deeds.”
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;” Ephesians 4:22
The cross subdues the flesh, it separates us from being held captive to the dictates of the old man, the carnal fallen nature.
The Root of the Matter is in Me! | The Daily Cross
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Articles
Gospel Preached at Funeral of a Decorated United States Marine Officer in Mexico [podcast]
This past Sunday, here in beautiful Mexico, a saint’s temporal body was laid to rest. Brother Mark and I were given the opportunity, asked to speak to the whole group.
Our LORD Jesus’ Gospel was preached and everyone there was invited to repent and receive Christ before it’s too late—because Jesus died for them to be forgiven and receive eternal life, and that hell is forever (Revelation 22:17). Oh, the funeral attendees were also informed that “purgatory” is a lie, and that when they die, they will be going to Heaven or hell.
After a bit, an interpreter helped, joined in, and so every attendee heard the Gospel in their language—Spanish or English.
Trevor and Trish are the couple’s names. The way brother Mark met Trish, the now widow was 100% a miracle. Two weeks ago, we were invited to this couple’s home and spent the afternoon with them. Little did we know that the husband would pass shortly thereafter. God knew and orchestrated the events according to His perfect will.
Saints, thank you for your prayers for sister Trish.
After the people disbanded, several came and asked us about further fellowship. The preaching of God’s Word ignited them. A breakfast group fellowship had recently already begun to form, so they were invited.
Life springs out of death – “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die” (1 Corinthians 15:36).
Christ’s economy is a cross economy. Here we see that very thing where out of one of His saint’s death and burial, the life of Jesus is at work, raising up others. Life springs out of death (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalms 116:15
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13
God is so very good, saints. See Psalm 86.
Here’s comfort from “the God of all comfort” for each of you, concerning losing loved ones, namely born again loved ones! You can be assured that they are with Christ and the Father and protected from ANY and ALL danger, forever! See 2 Corinthians 1:2-5, also Revelation 21:4.
“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Isaiah 57:1-2
Interestingly, the LORD brought together 4 United States Marines/Marine vets in Mexico to bring this to pass….
“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15
The Brevity of Life in this World
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14
We all face death and judgment, and the Good News is that Christ’s perfect sacrifice, as we humbly appropriate it, means we are forgiven and will avert the judgment of eternal damnation.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27
Our Prayer with Isaiah for God to Prepare and Send Us
It’s the “Here am I; send me” LORD prayer in action! (Isaiah 6:8)
Child of God, are you ready, today, to lift your heart and hands to your Maker and dare to declare this prayer to Him? – “Here am I; send me!”
If you dare to freshly surrender the life God gave you and cry out to Him, get ready beloved for the fruit-bearing adventure of your life! Remember that Abraham was in Haran (means barren, dry, fruit-less) until he was instructed by God to get up and leave. That’s when the promised blessings began to unfold in his life. See the end of Genesis 11 and thereafter.
When you cry out to Him with the prophet Isaiah, the LORD is going to hear, answer, and do things that are utterly miraculous.
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27
Just “Go” and watch God! (Mark 16:15). Your life is never more richly blessed by God than when you live by faith, when you surrender afresh and ask Him to take all of you, to prepare and use you.
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Articles
The High Treason of False Leaders [podcast]
PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach
“Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28
Did you catch what the apostle Paul did to prepare the church to meet Christ?
- Preach
- WARN
- Teach
Letting God Speak for Himself
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15
Bible truths/words you never hear from wolves: Repent, obedience, the cross – crucified life, holiness, judgment, eternal Hell, the lake of fire, being spotless and ready for Christ’s return, etc..
Many today preach the crown but not the cross, the promise without the condition. They perpetually peddle half truths as they use words like “soar” and “rise up” and “elevation,” a going upward but never the essential non-negotiable condition of going downward before God will raise one upward (Isaiah 37:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Their misleading cross-less messages are “another gospel” and we know that because there is no cross, no mention of dying downward, no crucified life (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9; Philippians 3:18-19). The LORD will raise no one upward who doesn’t first humbly bow downward before His Majestic holiness (Luke 9:23-24; James 4:6-10). | Myth of Elevation without the Cross
“MANY pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.” Jeremiah 12:10-11
Were we not warned repeatedly to beware of those who would spoil us (ruin us eternally)?
This “famine” is here and has been induced by the “MANY false prophets” Jesus and His apostles foretold (Amos 8:11; Matthew 24:11; Isaiah 9:16; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.).
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11
Self-induced “famine”: Those rebels who refuse to repent and get into God’s Word for themselves are starved out and deceived by the false gospel of the apostate modern church world. In contrast, every true disciple will study God’s Word diligently for themselves and feast in the midst of this prophesied “famine” for the Word of God.
“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
PAUL GAVE LITTLE PLACE TO FALSE LEADERS (GALATIANS 2:4-5). THEY ARE TO BE IDENTIFIED, REBUKED, REJECTED, AND MARKED UNLESS THEY REPENT (ROMANS 16:17-18; TITUS 1:13).
Jesus warned:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening (devouring) wolves.” Matthew 7:15
The false leaders Christ speaks of here would have all the trappings of a true Christian leader so as not to be detected. But the true remnant cling to Christ and therefore His Word and are thereby able to discern (Ezekiel 44:23).
“The majority has always believed the lies, gone the wrong way, never changed, and suffered great devastation. The pattern is repeated every third or fourth generation. People warning them are always considered alarmist or fools (conspiracy theorists). But God ordains faithful people. They will not cease to warn them until repentance is no longer an option.” C.
Paul Speaking to the Ephesians
“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20:27-32
God’s Word informs us that Christ’s true servant-elders WILL TEACH God’s people to discern by weighing all against the standard of the Word of God (Ezekiel 44:23; Acts 17:10-11; 1 John 4:1, etc.). Therefore we know that any man in leadership not teaching people to discern between the holy and profane, between true and false, is himself a wolf!
“Even the very elect! We need to be guarding our hearts every moment because the devil loves an idle mind.” Charles Pray
“DISCERN”
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23
For a moment, let’s explore what true ministry is so that we can see what is not true ministry. Perhaps one good definition of what true ministry is would be: Giving people God’s Word in order to endear them to Him by His very own words. Is not the divine Person of the Holy Spirit integrally involved in that exchange? Did He not orchestrate it?
Watch closely at what the elders of Israel did when they stood before the people:
“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly (directly, literally), and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Nehemiah 8:8
Truly God-fearing servants of Christ get people into HIS Word so that they follow Him and not them – mere men. Note that in this important passage in Nehemiah 8, we see the principle for leadership: Leading the souls of men to Christ, not to self.
Those who flatter you by refusing to preach the absolute necessity of repenting, taking up the cross daily and following Jesus…. Are setting you up for the kill …. You may vainly believe that it’s all fun and games now but judgment is coming if you don’t repent and diligently study and adhere to the whole counsel of God’s Word. When you do truly repent, you will no long put yourself under a smooth talking wolf who refuses to preach the whole counsel of the original Gospel of Christ (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).
“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” Proverbs 29:5
All ministers who soft peddle and do not endeavor to unapologetically declare the whole counsel of God’s Word, are deceivers. Run.
JUST because a preacher has a few good quotes does NOT at all mean he’s not a false teacher. If he has one false doctrine, he is false. Speaking of false doctrine, Paul wrote: “A little leaveneth the WHOLE lump” (Galatians 5:9). Example: There are many teachers/pastors of old who left behind good quotes and yet were false teachers. Examples would include the often quoted wolf C.S. Lewis, the diabolical monstrostity John Calvin, and the vile legalist Charles Finney. Also, there are many today who say a lot of good things and yet, then you find out they believe calvinism or the lie of eternal security/OSAS. Run.
One minister of Christ declared:
“People think that because I skin the brethren alive when I preach, that I’m not showing any love. That’s because they’ve been brainwashed by the glass toilet (the TV), and they respond to the tone of my voice much as my German Shepherd would. But I do love the brethren. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t preach against their sins. I would preach on coping and sharing and family values and let them hit a bonfire at the Judgment Seat of Christ.”
Think about how many people are promoting THEIR ministries and how much money is wasted on such trash.
“For THE LEADERS of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16
Leaders who betray the LORD and His people.
Remember that according to the record of the Gospels, it was the wicked religious leaders, the Jews of Christ’s day, who betrayed the Son of God their KING to the Roman authorities, calling out for His crucifixion (Matthew 27; John 19, etc.).
The kingdom of God is not about mere men’s ministries or churches or church organizations. Reading the history of Israel and the New Testament plainly reveals that false leaders have done inestimable damage – they have done so very much to oust Christ right out of the hearts and minds of the people they are misleading while posing as those who are leading them in the ways of the LORD (Isaiah 9:16).
“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer (true worship); but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13
Today is no different – In fact we are told it will get even worse in these final days at the hands of deceivers (2 Timothy 3:13). Like the wolves of old who were constantly exposed by Israel’s prophets, modern beguilers are intercepting the heart affections and resources of those they have misled. Listen to God’s prophet Ezekiel:
“There is a conspiracy of her prophets (false leaders) in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening (devouring) the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening (devouring) the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:25-27
Ready to Magnify Christ?
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalms 34:3
The eternal kingdom of God is all about KING Jesus.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil (ruin) you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power … Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:6-10, 18, 19
Most men in ministry are “not holding the Head” of the body – Christ – and therefore have intercepted the affections of the people in order to exploit them to build their own ministry business.
Any leader who is not constantly doing every possible thing he can to get YOU into God’s Word for yourself, is an absolute wolf of the worst kind.
Revelation: People don’t need you and me – they need the LORD – and He reveals Himself through His Word.
Christ must be magnified, not mere men – “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6).
IT’S SO very important not to over aggrandize any mere man. We must rid our hearts of all idols (Ezekiel 14:3). The personality cults must be seen for what they really are and shunned by Christ’s true remnant. Think about the personalities so many (most) modern popular ministries are built upon? Think about the ingratiating, manipulative, and flamboyant personalities of circus clowns like Jesse Duplantis, Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyer, Rick Warren, and a host of other false leaders who have built their enterprises/empires on THEIR own personalities and telling people what THEIR unrepentant hearts want to hear instead of what God says in the full counsel of His Holy Word (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Others we could name are more subtle and yet nevertheless draw people to THEMSELVES, not Christ! This is robbery – robbing Christ of the glory due only to Himself.
The great apostle went out of his way – he made sure and steadfast provision – to never draw or entice the affections of men’s hearts to himself. That would be theft – high treason against Heaven. In the holy fear of God, Paul took great precaution not to endear the hearts of men to himself, a mere man, but rather he espoused them to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2-5). Listen to him:
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2
Have you memorized the above verse yet?
“I Have Espoused You to … Christ”
Let’s again listen closely to the heart of Paul to the people of God, Christ’s messenger/apostle:
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” 2 Corinthians 11:2-7
Paul espoused those he oversaw to Jesus, not to himself. He caused them to trust Christ through His blessed Word and invited others to compare what he taught to the Holy Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17). Is this what your pastor is doing?
In a recent conversation with my friend Tim, he was edified to hear the encouragement that every time he gets someone into the Word of God for themselves, he is doing much more than most pastors or “Christian” authors who make people dependent upon them – so that they get repeat customers for their business.
Are you in the Word daily friend?
How can God’s Word get into you if you don’t get into it?
Are you drawing and remaining close to the Savior in this late hour like the wise virgins who kept the oil of His presence in the lamp of their lives and were therefore ready when He returned? (Matthew 25:1-13)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (abundantly) in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
Listen to this audio message: Esteeming the Words of His Mouth | Colossians 1:28 PWT Preach Warn Teach
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Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]
The Flesh will Never be Reformed it Must be Crucified [podcast]
Gospel Preached at Funeral of a Decorated United States Marine Officer in Mexico [podcast]
The High Treason of False Leaders [podcast]
Why Did God Give Us His Word? [podcast]
If it’s not the Word, it’s Waste [podcast]
Being Made Whole in Christ [podcast]
Mission Mexico Part 49
Beware of the Hebrew Roots Judaizing Snakes! [podcast]
Can and Will God Use You? [podcast]
The Highest Form of His Creation
Direction in God’s Word? [podcast]
The Name and Witness of Jesus Christ [podcast]
The Daily Cross in Prayer [podcast]
The Joy of God’s Word [podcast]
Current Events and the Name of Jesus Christ [podcast]
Why Did God Give Us His Word? [podcast]
Beware of the Hebrew Roots Judaizing Snakes! [podcast]
False Apostles Exposed!
SINLESS PERFECTIONISM: WHOSE Righteousness are You Trusting? [podcast]
Jesus Answered Questions with Questions [podcast]
The Highest Form of His Creation
The Flesh will Never be Reformed it Must be Crucified [podcast]
Obedience or Love – Which is Most Important? [podcast]
The High Treason of False Leaders [podcast]
Direction in God’s Word? [podcast]
Addiction’s Only Solution [podcast]
Can and Will God Use You? [podcast]
The Golden Rule Life: What’s that Really Mean? [podcast]
The Daily Cross in Prayer [podcast]
Should we Preach “Stop Sinning” or “Repent”?
The Flesh will Never be Reformed it Must be Crucified [podcast]
Gospel Preached at Funeral of a Decorated United States Marine Officer in Mexico [podcast]
The High Treason of False Leaders [podcast]
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