Self Love vs Savior Love [podcast]
coming soon
Psychology is the world’s band aid for man’s problems. Such a cheap substitute for the real divine solution has invaded the minds of so many who claim to be saved. This has transpired on the wings of the prophesied end time wolves. God’s Word and Holy Ghost are the only solution for those truly following Christ. Regrettably, many have not become rooted in the Word and are therefore deceived, swept away in the prophesied great falling away (2 Thessalonians 2; 2 Timothy 3:1-7). | Sin: Man’s Core Problem
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments (self-serving thinking) of the world, and not after Christ … And ye are complete in him (Jesus Christ)…” Colossians 2:8-9
This will be one of the most important Bible truths you will ever learn and will help you discern the poison in the false me-centered messages in most “Christian” books today and coming from most pulpits.
Not only are most leaders not teaching the cross – self-denial – they are teaching the opposite – self-exaltation! ANY leader not preaching the cross is mis-leading! Run!
Is this self-love invasion not a clear fulfillment of 2 Timothy 3:1-13? Self-love is a curse! The cross crucifies self so that Jesus reigns, not sinful self. Hell awaits all who aren’t serving Christ – on HIS stated terms – the cross. Lay down your life now!
Colossians 2 gives us a severe warning about false philosophies of sinful mere men. The LORD never dealt with man’s problem – sin – by way of most of what goes on today in the name of Christianity which has departed from the Word of God and is therefore largely apostate. It is wise to clear the slate and take a fresh and very close and prayerful look at how we see Christ and His apostle approaching man’s sin problem. Mark 5 and the maniac at Gadara would be a good starting point. God gave us 3 things to walk in the total victory that He alone can give us, 1) The written Word, 2) the Holy Spirit, and 3) the true body of Christ.
Unless I am missing something, it seems that Jesus gave just 2 commands in Matthew 22:37-39 and not 3. Did you catch that in the passage above? The “mind of Christ” is actually loving God and others above ourselves which requires crucifying self (Philippians 2:3-5). And, Christ’s apostle Paul plainly insinuates that we already love ourselves – it comes naturally, from the adamic, the fallen nature – “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh.” (Ephesians 5:29) Jesus introduced to us the only solution – the daily cross (Luke 9:23-24). Loving our self is the root of our problems, our sin, and not something we should learn to do.
Flash Point: Jesus and His holy apostles taught men to deny and crucify self, and not to love self. Repent. Get a Gospel clue. Run from the wolves who mix cheap psychobabble with the Gospel!
ANYONE TEACHING PEOPLE TO LOVE THEMSELVES IS AN AGENT OF SATAN, THE SELF-LOVE KING OF PRIDE WHO IS “king over all the children of pride.” (Job 41:34)
THE SIN OF PRIDE SEPARATES US FROM GOD AND DESTROYS US: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) This is why Jesus commands and we must have the essential cross, crucified life – because pride is a major iniquity of the fallen man (Luke 9:23-24).
The Bible says we already love ourselves. It’s innate – part of the fallen nature. That’s our whole problem and not something we need to do as vile wolves teach (Ephesians 5:29). God’s Word never says to love ourselves but it does say to deny self, to crucify self (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20, etc.). Think about it: If the Bible says “love yourself” then it contradicts itself. When we are living the crucified life, we are 1. loving GOD first, and 2. His love is pouring through us to others as we love our neighbor – anyone and everyone other than ourselves! (Matthew 22:37-40)
“God resisteth (sets Himself against) the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:6-7
Satan tempts us with the exact sin that got him permanently ejected from Heaven, God’s presence (Luke 10:18).
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up (pride) because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.” Ezekiel 28:13-19
We never read where God instructs us to love ourselves because He says we already love ourselves too much innately and that’s our whole problem – “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:” (Ephesians 5:29)
Here’s Who Jesus Commanded Us to Love
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these TWO commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
On what “TWO commandments hang all the law and the prophets?” Can you re-read the above text and count the number of commands our LORD gave upon which the whole message of the Law and Prophets (whole Word of God) hang?
Jesus told us specifically that He gave “TWO commandments” here – not three.
1) “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God” (v37)
2) “Thou shalt love thy neighbour” (v39)
Does Jesus tell us to love ourselves here? If so, please show us where. Does God’s Word anywhere teach that men should learn to love themselves more?
Did you notice here in the words of Christ that there is the complete absence of any command for believers to love themselves? Since there is not even one hint of self-love taught in God’s Word, where do so many modern church leaders get the idea and authority that men are to learn to love themselves?
“For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it…” Ephesians 5:29
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved NOT their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
This week alone, I have heard 2 deluded leaders teaching people to love themselves. Sounds noble doesn’t it? But is it biblical? Did Jesus and His apostles teach men that they needed to learn to love themselves? With all the messages on loving self today, we must ask ourselves; Did our LORD teach self-love or self-denial?
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross (implement of death) daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save (love) his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24
Here the Son of God told us clearly that “any man” who would be His must “deny himself” not elevate or learn to love himself. To “deny” one’s self is to refuse to think upon or do anything that violates the holiness of God as defined by His Word. Self-love is certainly one of those things the LORD identifies as sin and condemns.
If the Almighty wanted us to believe that we are to love ourselves, why didn’t He just come out and tell us? If Jesus Christ, the apostles and prophets didn’t teach it, by what authority do we dare teach such?
Here is the single verse this love thyself (self-love) teaching is based upon:
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39
To get to the point, there is NOT ONE supporting verse or text to this self-love message and this one above (Matthew 22:39) they clearly twist/pervert (2 Cor. 2:17). I think it should be more than obvious that Matthew 22:39 carries the same import as Matthew 7:12 (Golden Rule), when the Master instructed:
“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
The Pride of Lucifer
“The LORD will destroy the house of the proud.” Proverbs 15:25
From where does any self-serving message originate? Who is the author of the self-love teaching and behind all false prophets who are teaching this message? The 5 “I”’s of Lucifer in Isaiah 14 should reveal the answer to this important question. Can you find the 5 “I’’’s?
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Isaiah 14:12-15
The motto and pride anthem of Satan is I, I, I, I, I – and this is true for anyone who is not in the love of God. The self-love message is clearly Luciferian. As with Lucifer who became Satan and the devil in his state of eternal condemnation, hell will be the result of all who teach and buy into the self-love message that is being taught in “Christian” books, pulpits and media.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments (self-serving thinking) of the world, and not after Christ…And ye are complete in him (Jesus Christ)…” Colossians 2:8-9
The age-old and classic message of the pied piper solicits saints to forsake the Savior for temporary, self-serving comforts and earthly gain. Concerning this prevalent love of self message, Oswald Chambers said:
- “Self-realization is anti-Christian. All this is vigorous paganism, it is not Christianity. Jesus Christ’s attitude is always that of anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of man at all; His purpose is to make man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is not self-realization but self-expenditure.”
Self-love is sinful pride. Since the Garden of Eden, self-love has caused every sin ever committed against the one and true holy God in 6,000 years of history. This doctrine of devils is now being taught on an epidemic level within the church world by men who are deceived and even claim that this diabolical message is a Bible doctrine. Astounding!
“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27
Conformed to His Holy Image
“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 8:29
This is an important verse to memorize. We are informed here of the very reason for which He as predestined us – “to be conformed to the image of His Son” who came to give His life – to be a giver and not a taker. Those who are born again are no longer their own. They are Christ’s – bought by His precious blood and called to serve Him not self.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price…” 1 Corinthians 6:19
There is no freedom or blessing in learning to love ourselves more. Such is blatant disobedience to the whole Word of God. We are finite, sinful, “desperately wicked”, and in utter need of God and His divine mercy, not more knowledge of ourselves (Jer. 17:9). The Almighty is infinite. The finite must seek the infinite not the finite (itself). The fallen creation must seek His perfect Creator who bled to give him reconciliation and restoration and set the example of serving others not self.
“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Psalms 39:5
“Vain is the help of man.” Psalms 60:11
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man (including self), and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5
According to the words of our God in Jeremiah 17:5, all those who “trusteth in man (self)…depart from the LORD.” This is what exactly what Lucifer did to become rejected of the Almighty and called Satan, and the Devil. “Depart” means leave – to go away from, to fall away. Men who trust in themselves or look within themselves for virtue and betterment will absolutely “depart from the LORD”, they will fall into a state of condemnation. Dismal Depravity, sinfulness and misery is all man can find within himself, apart from the living and true God. This is why Jesus came into the world – to save men from sin and self. In light of this truth, are we not astounded by the hoards of “Christian” false teachers who have risen up in our midst who teach this diabolical doctrine? Perhaps this truth will also bring a clearer focus upon 1 Timothy 3:6 where Paul is speaking about a young believer being put into a place of leadership before he has learned some things:
“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:6
The Holy Ghost warns us here that the “novice”, or believer who is not comprehensively seasoned in the Word, will be prone to “being lifted up with pride” like “the devil” was, and “fall into the” same condemnation as Satan – separated from a holy God through sin.
The mark of the many wolves in our midst is that they feed self-love instead of teaching men to deny or crucify the self life.
Christ taught those who would follow Him to “DENY…SELF, and take up his cross (implement of death) daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23-24) Following Jesus means doing what He did – denial of self, complete trust in the Father, and serving others not self.
The false gospel of self-love, peddled by so many leaders today, is the antithesis of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who called us to laid down our lives.
The Gospel of our LORD is to learn to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment”and to “esteem others BETTER than ourselves. Look NOT every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…(who) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant…he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:3-8)
Friend, what reconciliation does this text (above) have with the satanic, self-love message we hear peddled today in “Christian” circles? Obviously, the two messages are completely opposite and originate from two opposing entities. One of the ways we know and discern who is truly behind a leader is by whose message that leader is peddling/promoting – God’s or Satan’s. Let’s contrast: Doesn’t the satanic bible say “Do what thou wilt”? The Bible says “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Remember, Love Gives, Lust Gets. God says to “deny thyself.”Satan says “indulge, or, love thyself.” Which of these two messages have you placed yourself under and internalized? Are you being called, through the messages you are hearing, to deny yourself or to indulge yourself?
Karen from West Virginia writes:
- “Yes, in describing the evil of the last days, that is what the Scripture says in 2 Timothy 3:2 and 4. It says in verse 2, “for men will be “lovers of self”… verse 4 “RATHER THAN “lovers of God.” The Bible doesn’t ever imply or say that loving self is a good thing! The bottom line is that when Jesus said “love others as yourself”, He meant to replace your stinking self-love with loving others. He meant when we love others RATHER than ourselves, we are being lovers of God rather than lovers of self. The Bible teaches us to love God first and love others second rather than ourselves! Now we have the full counsel of God when we put 2 Timothy 3:2-4 with Matthew 22:39 and the other Scriptures about loving others. Being lovers of self is just not a good thing! The world will tell you to love yourself and if you are having trouble, they will tell you to go get some Prozac, have a face lift, take a vacation, have a Starbucks, do something good for yourself rather than always for others! Dr. Phil and Oprah and others will tell you and encourage you to love yourself, but they aren’t speaking from the heart of God or teaching what the Holy Spirit would teach.”
Jesus came to be crucified. According to Holy Writ, the Christ-centered life is all about laying down our lives like Christ did for us, and living to bring His blessing to others, not ourselves. Let us consider what the Holy Spirit seeks to communicate to our hearts in these following words of Scripture, and may He grant us ears to hear what He is saying to us – that we might obey Him, be fully pleasing to the Savior, be kept from deception and evil, and be ready for the soon return of Christ.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6
God’s Love Gives
“God so loved the world that he GAVE….” so that all men could have eternal life now and in Heaven and life more abundantly, right? (Jn. 3:16, 10:10).
Contrasting Jesus Christ’s and Satan’s peddlers, the apostle Paul says:
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For MANY walk, of whom I have told you often (warned), and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly (self appetites), and whose glory is in their shame (they proudly teach what they should be ashamed of), who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:17-21
Self-love is the cry of the deceivers who prey upon the unpurged lusts of men. The exploding “seeker-sensitive” movement which is a false form of Christianity and the path to building a “mega-church, is the epitome of this. The self-gratification messages of these smiling wolves cause their audiences to feed the flesh instead of crucifying it and therefore to live in sin against the holiness of Jesus, and self-focused and not God and others focused. Could this be the reason that there is so little evangelism and discipleship transpiring among those who call themselves Christians? The modern-day prophets of Balaam (false) are teaching people to seek self-gain in this fleeting life. These “many false prophets” in our midst arrogantly twist God’s Word, teaching those who listen to use His Word for selfish gain and the betterment of the depraved self. In fulfillment of last days prophetic warnings, this evil is working well on the multitudes who would rather indulge in temporal ease and earthly gratification than what is right in the sight of the One who made them and died to rescue them (1 Tim. 4:1-6; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). This is the ongoing test of life – whether we will serve God or self (Rom. 6:16). The fact we can observe is that these deceivers who are plentiful in the modern church abound only because the loyalty and money given by those who support them allows them to build their kingdoms larger and larger, reaching more and more people who financially embellish them to lead multitudes astray.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (full-counsel Bible truth); but after their own (unpurged) lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 2 Timothy 4:3
The Holy Spirit is saying through Paul here that many do not want to die to self but instead feed/serve self, so they place themselves under those who will tell them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. God help us. Hell awaits all who die worshipping at the altar of self and not the LORD God Almighty – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exod. 20:3)
Esau forfeited his eternal reward due to self-idolatry. He consequently lost his birthright (Gen. 25; 27:36). The Holy Ghost warns us under the new covenant using Esau’s fatal decision to love himself more than the LORD His Maker:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:14-17
ME, ME, ME!!! This is the sin of pride-ridden selfishness that has caused mankind to violate the holiness of God from the beginning and is now being boldly taught from so-called “Christian” leaders. With brilliant detail, our Savior reveals in 2 Timothy the activities within the church-world that He foretold would be evidence of Christ’s soon return. He details the teachings and pride-driven characteristics of those leaders and their adherents who act as “Christians” and have a “form(ula) of godliness”, yet deny the lordship and reign of Christ in their personal lives:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves (self-love), covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (rule; authority) thereof: from such turn away…evil men (false teachers who teach self-love) and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived…For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 2 Timothy 3-4
While posing as God’s servants, these men serve themselves and teach others to do the same.
In light of this prophetic utterance of the Holy Ghost and the apostle Paul, should we be surprised at the onslaught of self-love being taught by so many leaders in the “Christian” world?
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves (self-love)…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God”
It’s real simple: False prophets are fulfilling these prophecies by teaching and feeding self-love, while leaders true to the LORD Jesus Christ declare what Christ did – that it is a necessity to deny one’s self, and to humble themselves, that God may exalt them when and how He wishes (Matt. 23:12; Lk. 9:23-24, etc.). Jesus calls His own to deny themselves, while the enemy of all souls is using his emissaries in our midst to lead people to worship at the altar of self.
Saint of God, be careful of the self-love message which comes in so many flavors to feed the carnal/sinful nature in us. At the root of this message is always “What’s in it for ME?” and the betterment of self – apart from God and His clear Biblical revelation to us. Scripture is even twisted, taken out of context, and used to teach this. Self-love undergirds all psychology whether it claims to be “Christian” or not. Self-love is the root of the message of the false prophets of this late hour. Self-love is the core of the “favor of God” message taught by so many of the TV preachers who call God’s people to worship at the altar of self. Modern-day deceivers speak from pulpits and books and TV of “the favor of the Lord” and the “anointing” as that which can obtain things for self, instead of the Biblical message of the LORD’s blessed favor, power, and anointing in our lives to accomplish His will in glorifying Him who alone is worthy (Acts 1:8; 6:27; 10:38, etc.). In His life on earth, Jesus didn’t use His Father’s power to make Himself famous for His own aggrandizement. He didn’t come to spend His life on earth for selfish gain, but instead to give it in crucifixion so that others could have life. The Son of God expended His life teaching His disciples to lay down their lives and ultimately laid down His own life to serve all of mankind who was and is guilty of sin before the One, true Holy God (Jn. 13:1-8).
Called to Serve not Be Served
Jesus told His 12 and all of us, that He came to serve and not be served. This is fundamental to the Christian faith. When some of His disciples attempted to elevate themselves, Jesus corrected them and told them they were to serve others and not themselves. Do our leaders not read their Bibles? Why don’t they know this elementary truth and command?
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28
The Bible says that love “seeketh not her own.” (1 Cor. 13:5) True godly leaders teach the Bible – which instructs believers to mortify and crucify and put to death the deeds of the body (Ezekiel 44:23; Rom. 6). In contrast, false teachers incite the lusts of the flesh through messages of covetousness (2 Peter 2-3). God calls His own to serve Him and not self. “No man can serve two masters.” (Matt. 6:24)
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
“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
“And they that are Christ’s have (settled issue) crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
God is calling those who will be His to the Christ of the Bible and Biblical Christianity and to forsake all deceivers who lead us from His holy truth that preserves us to the end. Any writer or leader in any medium who does not teach the original Gospel given us – including self-crucifixion – is a false teacher, “accursed”, and to be rejected and marked (Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 16:17-18). Because of the end-time deceptions which were to come, Paul cries with tears for 3 years and warns God’s people:
“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 20:32
When Paul was warned by many in the church that when he went to Jerusalem (which is where he was headed), that “bonds and afflictions” awaited him. Did he change his course? No. What was his response to this great harm that lay ahead of him? Here is what he declared:
“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
If we are to “finish” the “course” of final salvation and fruitfulness in His kingdom, we must like Paul, count or consider not our lives dear unto ourselves.
The Holy Spirit simply never led any writer of the Scriptures to instruct men to love themselves. He had 66 books to do so and simply didn’t. Did the Almighty forget to tell us something we needed to know? Did He lie to us by telling us that everything and all things that pertain to life and godliness are in His Word (2 Pet. 2:3-4)? Not only did the Apostle Paul nor any other writer of the Bible teach Christians to love themselves, but he, in his own life said “neither count I my life dear unto myself.”
“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
Andrew Murray stated:
- “The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Abide In Christ, p. 160
If we still hold out a vestige of hope for preserving ourselves (self-love) in this life, we are not truly dead to self and released to the LORD.
If we still hold out a vestige of hope for preserving ourselves (self-love) in this life, we are not truly dead to self and released to the LORD.
“The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:24-26
Could the words of our LORD be any clearer? The self-life must be lost in order for that person to be found in Christ. This happens when we begin to love our Savior more than ourselves and freely and volitionally ask Him to increase as we decrease (Jn. 3:30). There can be no hold out. There can be no self-preservation. Without a clear and outright death to self and commending our spirit into the hands of the Almighty who loves us, there can be no resurrection to the life of Jesus.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-12
Those who argue to justify loving self, have not yet honestly and diligently studied God’s Word and do not yet understand the life and mission of Jesus Christ. He came to die that we might have life and instructed all who would truly be His to do crucify the self-life that He might reign in us and that others might have the blessing of eternal life.
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps…Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 2:21; 4:1-2
The following excerpt is taken from the PyschoHeresy Awareness Letter (PAL) which is highly recommended:
“…men shall be lovers of their own selves…”
So . . . what do you think Jesus would say to pop singer Madonna? While former reporter and atheist, now assistant pastor at Willow Creek Community Church Lee Strobel admits he’s “not pretending to have divine revelation from God on what Jesus would say,” his book title, What Jesus Would Say, gives the impression he has a pretty good idea about what Jesus would say. But, we have to wonder what Jesus he’s talking about, because his Jesus sounds more like a pop-psych-pastor than God the Son. Strobel’s Jesus identifies Madonna’s problem as a self-esteem issue. Self-esteem? That’s because it’s easier to get someone to come to church if you identify one’s problem as low self-esteem instead of sin. And, contrary to what so many pastors-turned-pop-psychologist like Strobel would have you believe, the Bible says: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves. . .” (2 Timothy 3:1,2).
Promise Keepers also promote self-esteem and self-love. The following is from Promise Keepers Newsletter, Winter, 1993:
- Many Christian single men have fought the battle to build their own self-worth, self-esteem, and self-love. They have learned that it is impossible to have a healthy relationship with others while having an unhealthy relationship with one’s self. Jesus recognized this when He challenged us to love our neighbor as we would love ourself (Mark 12:31).
In their eagerness to embrace psychological teachings of the world, Promise Keepers shift the thrust of the verse and make it sound as if we are commanded to love ourselves. But Jesus gave two commandments: to love God and to love neighbor. Loving self was not a commandment, but rather the manner in which to follow the second commandment. In other words, loving self is the natural human propensity. The very statement of Jesus is built on the fact that people already love themselves (see also Ephesians 5:28,29).
Christianity is about a loving relationship with the Lord and about loving one another. Christ did not teach his disciples to love themselves, but rather assumed that they already did when he said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27). Just as we naturally care for ourselves and want what is good for ourselves, we are to care for others and want what is good for them.
An individual wrote to us and asked how Proverbs 19:8; Proverbs 8:35,36; and Proverbs 15:32 might relate to the idea that “we already love ourselves” and “don’t hate ourselves.”
Here is what we understand these verses to mean and how they do or do not relate to self-love and self-hatred. “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good” (Proverbs 19:8). While everyone already loves himself, not all people are wise. While they may love to indulge themselves in foolishness, they do not care for their soul, their spiritual life; therefore the encouragement is to get wisdom and keep understanding. An analogy might be that we must eat to live, but those who eat unwisely do not properly care for their bodies. This verse does not refute “we already love ourselves.” Proverbs 8:35 continues that same theme regarding wisdom: “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” These Proverbs offer two options:(1) finding God’s wisdom and thereby living a good or godly life, or (2) refusing God’s wisdom and losing the possibility for living a good life.
The next two verses speak warnings to those who choose option 2. “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:36). Those of whom the verse speaks love themselves more than they love God, but in the long run they will destroy themselves. It is not that they actively “love death” or that they hate themselves.
It is that the arrogant self-indulgence of hating God and going one’s own way is spiritual death. The same is true for Proverbs 15:32, “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” It is not active self-hatred here but rather a warning that one’s soul is in jeopardy if one refuses the Lord’s instruction. The contrast is that those who “heareth reproof getteth understanding.”
The following is from our book Prophets of PsychoHeresy II regarding self-hatred:
- Now we are not saying that there are no individuals who genuinely think that they hate themselves. However, what they generally hate is something about themselves or their circumstances. They exhibit actual love for themselves in that they continue to spend most of their time concerned about themselves, even if it is with unhappy thoughts. They generally get to the point where they are unhappy about themselves because a discrepancy exists between their aspirations or desires and their performance or condition. This intensive hate is evidence of high self-interest.
The problem is always the self-focus with people who think they hate themselves or think they need to love themselves more.
In his book Life in the Spirit, Martyn Lloyd-Jones says:
- The real cause of failure,ultimately, in marriage is always self and the various manifestations of self. Of course that is the cause of trouble everywhere and in every realm. Self and selfishness are the greatest disrupting forces in the world. All the major problems confronting the world, whether you look at the matter from the standpoint of nations and statesmen, or from the standpoint of industry and social conditions, or from any other standpoint—all these troubles ultimately come back to self, to ‘my rights,’ to ‘what I want,’ and to ‘who is he?’ or ‘who is she?’ Self, with its horrid manifestations, always leads to trouble, because if two ‘selfs’ come into opposition there is bound to be a clash. Self always wants everything for it-self. That is true of my self, but it is equally true of your self. You at once have two autonomous powers, each deriving from self, and a clash is inevitable. Such clashes occur at every level, from two people right up to great communities and empires and nations.
Self-esteem teachings distort the Bible, reflect the world, and appeal to the natural man. The Bible teaches believers to esteem others better than self, to love one another as we already love ourselves, and to deny self daily. (From PAL V3N2)
OVERCOMERS
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
Speaking prophetically of overcomers, the Bible says that they “LOVED NOT” their own lives even unto there own death in this fleeting world system. If this isn’t a nail in the coffin of the self-love message, then what is it? Those who overcome will be those who “love not their lives unto the death.” This is the Bible. This is the opposite of learning to love self – “they loved NOT their lives unto the death.” This is God’s Word. Self-love is the antithesis of the message of the Gospel of our LORD. Self-love is antichrist. Only the overcomers are promised eternal life in Heaven and only those who love not their own lives even unto death are overcomers and will be in Heaven (Rev. 2-3).
“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. 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
Our thinking must be “transformed” to that which we witness in the Word that we might be fully pleasing to the One we claim to be serving. He tells us here to present our bodies a “living sacrifice.” Nothing can be left alive – all must be laid down (sacrificed) and died. The LORD desires that His “great power” and resurrection life would abide in His children (Jn. 11:25; Acts 4:33; Rom. 8:11).
Knowing God personally, living in the Spirit instead of the flesh, and devouring and obeying His Precepts, is the only safeguard against the deception and sinful desires of self-idolatry being taught by so many in leadership today in these apostate, Laodicean last days (Jn. 17:3; Rom. 8:29; Rev. 3:14-21). Jesus told us that the road was narrow and only a “few” will enter into the “narrow gate” that leads to eternal life – Heaven. As foretold by the Son of God, so very “many” are being swept away in this tidal wave of self-indulgence and deception, designed to lead men to eternal perdition (Matt. 7:13-15).
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:13-15
Ever notice in the above passage how that Christ warned that only a “few” would ultimately be in Heaven and warned that we are to “beware of false prophets” who come to us dressed like sheep and yet they are “ravening wolves.” The term Jesus used here, “ravening wolves”, means that these leaders have spiritual rabies and have come to inject the sheep of the LORD and destroy them.
Any person who, after reading numerous Scripture and finding not one verse in the Bible that teaches men to love themselves, and yet still argues to justify self-love, has been well trained under the tutelage of Satan’s emissaries.
It is when we cry out to the LORD that He cleanses us and that we then have His love and joy in our hearts and have the sense of well-being as He desires.
Look here at the first 13 verses of Psalms 51 and note the progression. It seems that when the believer calls upon the LORD in repentance (because of his sins) for His mercy and the heart is cleansed, the joy of the LORD is restored and evangelism is one of the results. This is the fulness the LORD intends for us and not the deceitful sham and propping up of sinful, depraved self by some kind of self-love that He never intended:
Psalms 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways (evangelize others); and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
The Savior will make us to “hear joy and gladness” and “restore” to us “the joy of” His “salvation” when we cease leaning to our own understanding and acknowledge Him in all our ways, doing things the way His Word clearly prescribes (Prov. 3:5-6).
“Charity out of a pure heart” is the chief design of the Word of God (1 Tim. 1:5). He wants to first purge our hearts of self-love, as we fully trust Him (justifying faith) so that His love may fill us and be “spread abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. 5:1,5)
The “More Blessed” Life
God promises to bless us with all needs met as we seek Him first and place Him as our Supreme Master as we go forth exalting His name and Gospel and building up His holy saints. (Matt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19, etc.) Christ can only reign in the hearts of those who deny themselves. He can never reign in the heart that is full of the pride of self-love.
“I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is MORE blessed to GIVE than to receive.” Acts 20:35
The “MORE blessed” life is found in giving, not in taking honor unto ourselves. It is a futile endeavor to feed the self life. Most importantly, it is utter disobedience to the LORD we claim to be serving. He is holy and commands us “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:16)
Ready OR Not – Jesus Is Coming,
PRAYER of Repentance: Dear heavenly Father, I come to You by the blood of Jesus Christ and the divine grace which I do not deserve. Here and now, I repent of the sin of self-love, self-idolatry, and spiritual adultery and denounce such sin. Please forgive the disobedience which I have exercised myself in by ever espousing such. LORD, please forgive me for buying into this pride-based message. Deliver me now Jesus! I love You supremely as my first love and ask You to grant me a heart of purity, as revealed in Your Holy Word – to serve You and others, elevating them above myself. This moment I am crucified with Christ – to live unto Jesus and not my selfish desires. May this life be a testimony of your saving mercy dear LORD as I go forth to love and to serve You my LORD and Your saints and those lost souls who need to be born again. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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“I just finished reading an article on your website about psychology, and it’s so true! I tried to kill myself (guilt over sins) about 4 years ago, and was put in the pavilion. Afterwards, I loved the attention I got from everyone. I was ordered to go to counseling twice a week, and I looked forward to those meetings. Why? I got to talk about myself. I also used that as an excuse as to why I did stupid things in those few months. After being born again, I realized that I needed to take responsibility for my actions and not blame anyone or some “mental illness.” The doctor still tries to put me on antidepressants. I won’t take them. I don’t need them. I have Jesus.” Misty N.
Articles
Answered Prayer? WHY?
WHY Does God Answer Prayer?
On What Basis Does Our Access
to Him Come?
Salvation is in Christ alone. And so is answered prayer (John 14:6).
We don’t cross our fingers or knock on wood. That’s nothing but a bunch of false hope, luck, witchcraft. God’s people pray to the Father in the name of Jesus and God answers!
24 hour prayer? No. Where do we see the church doing 24 hours in the New Testament other than when Peter was locked up Acts 12? God answers prayers due to the name of Jesus, not because people pray around the clock…. sounds like works instead of faith which God requires, which pleases God (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24; Hebrews 11:6).
There’s no end to the phony gimmicks that Satan is using his human agents to use in replacing Jesus Christ from the center of salvation! There is no salvation without Jesus Christ! Read Colossians 2.
Man’s access to God is Jesus Christ, period (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5, etc.). Anything added to this divine prescription makes it “another gospel”, a heretical false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Jesus Christ plus nothing equals salvation, access to God. There is none beside Him.
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22
God sent just One to die in our place, to forgive our sins and bring us to Himself!
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1 Peter 3:18
Today we see SO much pride-filled witchcraft going on in the name of “prayer warriors” and special “intercessors”. Personally I am learning to stay clear of the “prayer warrior” terminology and those who claim they are such, etc. Seems to lift up us, the mere pray-ers, and not Him and leads to pride in people as they boast of themselves, that they get prayers answered or that their prayers and calling is more important than others. Nonsense! Prayers are answered on one basis – the blood, the cross, the name of Jesus Christ. Any and every child of God can pray in the name of Jesus and God will answer it based on the righteousness of His only begotten Son, not some “powerful prayer warrior” or self-appointed “intercessor” witch (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24).
Beware that in any “prayer group” all it takes is for just one of those members to introduce a sugar-coated stealth request or attitude and the whole group is influenced. The course and direction of that group will be off target from that time forward. This is why many a disciple has and is learning to keep things down to a simple minimum void of the “need” or false obligation to join in with any and every “prayer group” that comes along.
TODAY: Someone was circulating a request for Christians to come together at a certain time tonight to “visualize” something that pertained to our nation.
ANY time you see someone using the word “visualize”, or “visualization” it’s the devil! New Age, occultism that is in open denial of Jesus Christ, it’s antichrist. Satan’s whole job description is to STEAL, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). This is just another way he seeks to steal the glory from the only nail scarred risen LORD and Savior who alone paid the perfect price to bring men back to God! (Colossians 2:8-10, 18-19)
God answers HIS people’s prayer by His own blood that gave access to HIM, not us visualizing it, or quoting it enough times…. this robs the glory from Jesus Christ and gives it to men, sinners. ANTICHRIST!
Praying in Christ’s Kingdom is Definitive and Absolute
In Christ’s kingdom, praying is not a guessing game or a roll of the dice. Believers don’t need to “make a wish” because they have a God who answers all their prayers! The Almighty Himself beckons His children to simply “ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WITCHCRAFT!
I heard a “ministry” commercial beckoning people to send in their prayer requests so the false ministry could pray for those people in the “holy land.” As if that was going to be the reason God answered their prayers! Pure gimmick! Totally phony. WHY? WHY are prayers answered? Is it due to the geographic location on the earth from which prayer is made? Pure antichrist witchcraft! The NAME OF JESUS CHRIST is the only reason God saves and answers prayer! And you must know Him first of all!
If you are not born again, you are not yet a child of God. If you were saved in the past and yet are not praying in the name of Jesus, “the spirit of antichrist” has you (1 John 4:3). You are backslidden and in denial of Christ (Matthew 12:30; John 14:13-14; 16:23-24).
SOME are under the delusional myth that if 1,000 pray that God will answer prayer. Some erroneously believe that the more quantity of people who pray, the more God will answer. Not! Stop it now! Rid your mind of this…. here’s why…
“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20
Two or more Jesus says…. makes no difference if it’s 2 or 2 million BECAUSE PRAYER IS ANSWERED BY FAITH IN AND DUE TO THE NAME OF JESUS, not the amount of people praying (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24).
“And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” Acts 3:16
Answered prayer is just like salvation – it only comes in the name, the divine authority of Jesus Christ.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
YOU have NO clue how much power is at your disposal …. if you simply abide and ASK …. in the ALMIGHTY name of Jesus….. WHATTTT DID HE SAY???? CAN YOU READ??????
SATAN is always trying to remove the worship of CHRIST (Colossians 2:8, 18-19). That’s his job, right? (John 10:10) We do not earn our place with God. Answered prayers from God are not by continuous intercession, fasting, and repentance! NO! While those things, namely repenting are essential, we must realize that all these things are gifts from God which came only by the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Over emphasizing anything else, even good things, is not holding up and exalting the HEAD, Christ but rather robbing the glory due His holy name alone (Colossians 2:18-19). Let’s read what Jesus said about our access to God, praying and the simplicity of it…. John 14:13-14; 16:23-24…. EVERY blessing of salvation comes exclusively through JESUS CHRIST.
When we pray in the name above all names, let us rest in the NAME of Jesus, the only reason why any prayer can be answered! Matthew 11:28-30 amen?
Repentance is a necessity. God requires it (Luke 13:3, etc.). And yet Christ alone paid the way with His own blood for us to be saved and receive all the blessings of God. Book of Hebrews!
PRAYER is ONLY answered by GOD through JESUS CHRIST – not “prayer bracelets,” a pagan rosary used by bead-counting pagans, mary, the phony pope of rome, or any other gimmick…. Repent of the witchcraft now or you will perish. PRAYER CHAIN? 24 Hour prayer (except for in extreme danger situations (Acts 12)? No. ALL FLESH! WHY is prayer answered? Because many are involved? No. Because we pray long? NO! Prayer is answered through CHRIST not a chain or the amount of people or time! This type stuff sounds holy on the surface yet is a ploy of the enemy to rob the glory from Christ.
NEVER formularize God or praying to Him. Many heresies are circulating which sound holy and yet are poisonous! Beware saints. We have access to God by faith and only and exclusively in the LORD JESUS CHRIST who perfectly won salvation for us on that cross in which He bled to redeem us!
The blessings of the kingdom of God are appropriated by faith via the perfect, finished work of Christ! Romans 4-5
Beware of the good luck charm shotgun praying methods men and devils seek to utilize. God set forth a simple, clear plan for His children to have their prayers answered by Him.
The biblical key we should behold is that whether there is one person or many praying, it’s only effective in the eyes of God if the emphasis is placed on JESUS CHRIST’s heavenly priesthood and not anything else. The erroneous idea perpetrated today is that because many people are praying in a “chain” the prayer will be answered. This is evil – seeking to rob the glory from Christ alone!
Justification and all the blessings of God are individually appropriated BY FAITH in the finished work of Christ which alone gives us access to the throne and blessings of God.
Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation and the only way for answered prayer for those who are authentically born again. The unsaved can pray till they faint and those prayers are not promised to be answered, except a sincere prayer of repentance and faith to be saved. How be be Saved
God the Father answers prayer and does miracles in the name of Jesus and on His perfect merit alone! (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24) Anything added is of Satan in order to draw attention from and steal the glory from Christ! (Colossians 2:18-19)
The biblical key to know is that all prayer is answered by the Father through Christ – and not by any fleshly endeavor such as seeing how many people we can get to pray for some situation – as if the name of JESUS CHRIST were not enough for God to answer our prayer! Read John 14:13-14; 16:23-24 afresh.
Jesus for Salvation
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
No one can approach the Father for salvation or answered prayer but through the name above all names – the name of Jesus Christ.
“He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” John 5:23
Ask the Father in Jesus’ Name for Answered Prayer
IS OUR FAITH in our own ability to accomplish a certain thing? OR is our faith in God through Christ? Simply ask Him saints…. here’s how ….
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14
DID GOD say He answers prayers if a lot of people are praying (un-biblical “prayer chain”) OR because an individual or 2 born again Christians pray in the name of Jesus????? (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24) Same principle: Did Jesus or His New Testament disciples have a rosary? No. Counting beads while praying pagan prayers is never going to get a prayer answered from God.
Of many of the prayers we see in Scripture, brother Charles Pray notes:
“Many of the prayers from the mighty men of God and Jesus Himself were prayers they made alone either on the mountain top or in the wilderness by themselves to God directly Amen. As we see in God’s Word, I also believe that worship to God includes corporate prayer and in all cases God is receiving all the Glory and honor only due to Jesus’ ultimate, perfect sacrifice.”
Launching a campaign to get “as many people as possible praying” in a so called “prayer chain” on a certain matter is never seen in the New Testament. The idea of this all by itself is saying that JESUS’ divine Person and perfect sacrifice was not enough to get God to answer our prayers. Read Hebrews. Prayer is a simple, humble request to God through Christ – the only reason we have access to God. Putting the emphasis on numbers of people we can get praying is stealing the glory from the nail scarred risen Savior who bled, was buried, and raised again to give each individual saint access to Him and the Father. Praying together is biblical but not seeing how many people we can ramp up.
“Prayer chains” or things like 24 hour prayer are no where in God’s Word – and take the emphasis off of Jesus, which is Satan’s design – to rob the Son of God of the glory due only to Him (Romans 11:36). Jesus’ blood is the only reason we have access to God – CHRIST’s perfect sacrifice. Take a close look at Colossians 2:18-19.
There doesn’t need to be a whole lot of people praying. No, there needs to be one or more praying with pure, sincere heart full of faith. Jesus promises He will answer when we pray to the Father in His holy name.
Did the LORD ever say anything like “Without working hard it is impossible to please Me.” No.
“But WITHOUT FAITH it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Are you living by faith or do you have “an EVIL heart of unbelief”?
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Hebrews 3:12-14 Fresh Start with God
SATAN’S job is to steal glory from Christ. Let’s not help him! Elevate Jesus, the only Head of HIS body (Colossians 2:18-19)
PRAYERS are answered by God only after one is truly born again and prays to the Father in Jesus’ name.
“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name (on the basis of My authority): ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24
Learn this truth and “your joy” will “be full.” If you for a moment believe that your prayers can be answered by God based upon any goodness or performance of your own, you have been deceived.
Praying in Christ’s Kingdom is Definitive and Absolute
In Christ’s kingdom, praying is not a guessing game or a roll of the dice. Believers don’t need to “make a wish” because they have a God who answers all their prayers! The Almighty Himself beckons His children to simply “ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Pray harder? No! Pray in faith out of a pure heart to the Father in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!
It’s time to cease complicating these simple truths the LORD gives us!
Jesus alone purchased you and your place with God. Prayerfully pour over this truth in Romans 4:4-5 and Titus 3:5-6.
In contrast to the good luck, shot in the dark, bead counting, prayer genie, new age occultic visualization, Christ-denying concoctions of the world’s cults, the Father promises and answers the prayers of His saints, ALL who trust Jesus Christ, His holy name alone, as the exclusive reason for all access to the one true and only God.
BEWARE OF THE GLORY-ROBBERS! Colossians 2:18-19
FIND one “prayer chain” in the Bible. Nowhere. The number of people doesn’t get a prayer answered, the NAME OF JESUS DOES!!!! (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24)
Isn’t the idea of a “prayer chain” paramount to the pagan, catholic rosary? Same devil behind it! It shuns Christ’s perfect sacrifice which exclusively gives us access to God! (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:34-35; 10:19-21, etc.)
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5
JESUS CHRIST alone bought our access to the Father with His own precious blood! (Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-26; 10:19-22) Trying to confess your sins to another sinner – a priest dressed up in a black costume, “Practicing His presence,” or saying a rosary, novena or any other type witchcraft is an occult, works-based, Christ-denying, glory-robbing, works-based, Christ-defying lying philosophy that contradicts Scripture. Repent sinner. Prayers are only answered by the Father in THE NAME OF JESUS!
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2
All of our own good works or righteousness is as putrid in the eyes of the Almighty as can be stated. The Bible puts it this way:
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6
Attention: YOU are a sinner and nothing you could do could change that. Christ alone can justify you – by mercifully granting you HIS righteousness.
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (atoning sacrifice) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” Romans 3:21-25
Here’s the only way to be saved, forgiven, and have God answer your prayers:
“For by grace (unmerited favor) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Are you willing to admit the obvious – that you are a sinner in need of the Savior? If you are ready to make peace with your Maker, go here.
GOD is not a genie or slot machine. We don’t obey Him to get something from Him but because we are choosing to love and worship Him for who He is, the Almighty, supreme LORD our Redeemer!
Bead Counting Counterfeit
Here’s an obvious example of how Satan seeks to rob the glory from Christ by getting his prey focused on something, anything else but the nail-scarred, risen LORD and Savior:
SCAM ALERT: The catholic rosary is an antichrist scam – making people believe that praying and counting beads is going to get them to God or get their prayers answered. Being forgiven, being right with God, and answered prayer, comes exclusively – ONLY – by the LORD Jesus Christ! All else is a scam! The LORD continually warns us to “Beware of false prophets”! Any person who does not come to God in repentance and faith THROUGH CHRIST, will have their eternal soul scammed/cast into hell forever.
Long before the roman catholic cult arose, bead counting to earn favor from God has been around. It’s an ancient pagan practice.
Christ alone gets the glory for access to the Father and answered prayer – not you for all your 24 hour praying, bead-counting rosary praying, supposedly practicing His presence, or any other human effort.
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Matthew 6:7
Many today vainly believe that they shall be heard of God for something other than the blood and mercy of Jesus Christ. They believe they are earning their way to God and answered prayer by their own self effort of much praying, and other forms of asceticism (suffering to earn divine merit). This is paganism and shows they are not trusting the LORD but self.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.” Genesis 32:10
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 3:5-6
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5
Prayer is the divinely granted privilege of all who have truly been born again into Christ and His body. The precious precious blood of Jesus Christ alone purchased them to the Father in salvation and this includes every good blessing that accompanies salvation including answered prayer. Jesus says to His own to simply “Ask and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7) and “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
We have access to God through Christ alone – for salvation and prayer.
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;).” Hebrews 10:19-23
Debbie Lord writes:
“We should always be reminded of what a precious gift prayer really is. Communing directly with the Father–Who was and is and always shall be, and the Great Lover of our souls, This communion made possible by and in the Name of His humble, obedient and beautiful only begotten Son, who overcame all temptation and sin and willingly shed His blood in tortuous sacrifice. The veil was torn at the moment of His death so we could be one in Him, our Lord and King, together with the Father.”
Yes, God requires our faith and obedience and such is vital to our relationship with Christ and answered prayer. Yet, first and foremost, we are brought into relationship with the Father through he merit of Christ Jesus alone and it’s through His holy, wonderful, Almighty name that our prayers are answered. Making Peace with God
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
Beloved, YOUR PRAYERS are not answered because you or your group is so special. Prayers are not answered by God due to any mere flesh or because someone stages themself to be this big “prayer warrior” or “intercessor.” Oh no! No, God has no respect of persons and you and your group are depraved, wretched, and “filthy rags” outside of the present mercy of Jesus Christ (Psalms 139:4-5; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 7:18). God does not answer prayer because any of us are so “wonderful” but rather because of the one and only “Wonderful Counselor”! (Isaiah 9:6-7) Prayers are not answered because someone pretends to have a more direct line to God! – “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) If you are hidden with Christ presently, you can have your prayers answered on Christ’s authority/Name alone! “ALL power (authority) in heaven and in earth” is given to Him, not you (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus is the only direct line or access to the Father, period! Christ alone is the only reason you have access and salvation. When we get impressed with Jesus Christ, all mere men will pale and we shall then repent and put away the idols of our hearts (Ezekiel 14:3). God will share His glory with no mere man (Isaiah 42:8). Answered prayer is due to the perfection of Jesus Christ and let’s make sure that HE ALONE is receiving the glory for buying us back to the Father and making us one with Him. The blood of His cross bought us back to the Father (Colossians 1:20). It’s time to cease robbing the glory from the only One it’s due to – Jesus Christ! His blood alone accomplished such an otherwise impossible task! – “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) When you pray in Jesus’ name, you are praying in His authority and upon HIS MERIT which is perfection! Now, JUST ASK HIM – ASK< ASK< ASK! What are you waiting for?
The title or calling for any mere man of a “prayer warrior” or special “intercessor” appears nowhere in the Bible and in my estimation seems to steal the glory from the One who bled to purchase our redemption and answered prayers. This title seems to place undue importance upon the pray-er (person praying) than upon the nail-scarred risen LORD and Savior, who alone made our salvation and access to God possible.
Those who are God’s are brought into relationship with Him through Christ alone. He hears their prayers. They have such privilege on the basis of the mighty, divine, glorious Name of Jesus Christ!
We are saved by Christ alone and the sheer mercy of the Father given to us due only to the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. We are redeemed and called to glorify His holy name alone!
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalms 34:3
“Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.” Psalms 99:3
“Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.” Jeremiah 10:6
“O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.” Daniel 9:18
Jesus came and died, was buried, and rose again to share His Father’s love with all who will. Yet, Jesus will not, under and circumstance share his divine glory with any mere man.
“I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8
There’s only One to glory in – The only One in whom we have been granted “righteousness”:
“That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:29-31
Jesus Christ’s sinless, holy, divine blood won your access to God:
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
The Great Intercessor
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
When God could find no other to stand in the gap bridging the chasm that separated Him from fallen mankind, in the fullness of times, He sent His only begotten Son.
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30
No one else was worthy or qualified to pay that ultimate ransom price. Jesus Christ alone came – with the help of no other mere man – and paid in full price for his redemption. Christ satisfied the claims of the Father’s justice to buy man back to Himself.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:” Hebrews 1:1-3
Christ now sits at His Father’s right hand, making intercession and mediation for all who will repent and receive Him.
“But this man (Jesus), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Hebrews 7:24-26
Your justification and salvation are because of Jesus Christ alone and not due to your own merit. In fact, you and I deserve only judgment for our sins yet through Christ we get justification! Fallen, Depraved Mankind
It is clear that our LORD wanted to be most remembered for the price He single-handedly paid for our sins:
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Our access to God came at a very high price – the highest price that has ever or ever will be paid. When Jesus was dying on that cross to redeem us, He said “It is finished” which means that the price of our redemption had been “paid in full!” (John 19:30) Jesus was intent upon us remembering this price that He paid. He wants to be “crucified among you (us).” (Galatians 3:1)
LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: This message was sent out to each person who is on the Moments for My Master e-mail devotional list. In supplementation to your personal daily study of God’s Word, we would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (Jn. 5:39; 1 Tim. 4:6, 16; Heb. 5:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:2). Sign up here.
Feedback:
“This is powerful message. Thank you Christ. You are our Provider. He already knows what we have need of even before we pray. He answers us according to his Word. He has answered many of my prayers in the past and He will in the future when we seek Him and empty our selves of our selves. Then the answer comes . Flesh is as grass and it will wither away but the Spirit is eternal and so is His Word.” Carol B.
“This is just wonderful! I love reading these every day! I love where you said, “It’s time to cease robbing the glory from the only One it’s due to – Jesus Christ!” AMEN! He is to get ALL the glory! Going to share this one. 🙂 God bless!” Karen R.
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Articles
The Essential Doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ [podcast]
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
“Begotten” means “to father”
WHY does the King James Bible use the word “begotten” when informing us of the Messiah? (John 1:14, 18; 3:16; Hebrews 11:17; 1 John 4:9) Firstly, the translators faithfully translated as the LORD ordained and oversaw and guided such. Secondly, the arch enemy of Christ, Satan, has been hard at work through evil men to steal the testimony and the glory due to the Messiah (Mark 4:15).
Concerning Jesus Christ, the words “only Son” NEVER once appear in the Word of God. Yet, “only BEGOTTEN Son” appears 5 times in the Bible concerning Jesus Christ – The King James Bible. Make no mistake: This is a Gospel essential. No one can be saved who does not believe the record of God – that Jesus was born of a virgin, “the only begotten of the Father.” (John 1:14)
“The only begotten of the Father – That is, the only person born of a woman, whose human nature never came by the ordinary way of generation; it being a mere creation in the womb of the virgin, by the energy of the Holy Ghost.” Adam Clarke
“Made flesh, not spirit; man, not God; and earthly, not heavenly. This made Him God’s Son, for sonship in connection with Jesus Christ always refers to humanity, never to deity.” Dake
“Jesus is the only begotten of the Father, that is, Christ is God’s unique Son. God did not have any other Son like Him. In one sense, all true believers are sons of God. But Jesus is the Son of God—in a class all by Himself. As the Son of God, He is equal to God.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
When you hear someone say things like “a better translation would be”, you know you are dealing with a person who does not fear the LORD, is believing he is wiser than God, is not trusting that the LORD kept His promise to preserve His Word (Psalms 12:6-7).
There cannot possibly be a perfect sacrifice without a virgin birth by divine operation.
Only by being both deity and humanity could Jesus Christ bridge the sin-caused chasm that divided the two parties after the first man sinned (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16).
One disciple writes:
“The DNA/chromosomes of the Sin Nature (“Sin” Rom 5:12) I believe can only be passed down thru the male. The woman cannot pass it down. Therefore the woman could be impregnated by the Holy Spirit and the child, Jesus, did not receive from Mary a sin nature or flesh. He was 100 % human but without a sin nature. God with sinless skin on. He maintained this state of sinless perfection all his life and had no sin nature until He drank and absorbed the cup of Sin right before He died. He was “made sin” in order that we might get rid of sin and become the righteousness of God having received the life of God in this very real exchange that happens at the cross. 2 Cor 5:21.”
The RECORD!
Holy Scripture tells us that the man who does not believe upon Christ according to the “record” given to us in God’s Word, make themselves “unworthy of everlasting life” … “because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:10; Acts 13:46)
What’s written or recorded of Christ? What’s “the record”?
Could anyone be saved by Christ if He was not virgin born?
No.
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a VIRGIN shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (GOD with us).” Isaiah 7:14
NO ONE CAN BE SAVED WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE “THE RECORD GOD GAVE OF HIS SON” – INCLUDING THAT HE WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN. This is the only way Jesus could have carried and offered the perfect blood of God on the altar of the cross for the sins of the world.
What are the 2 central reasons Jesus had to be born of a virgin – “begotten of the Father” in the womb of a virgin? (John 1:14)
- Because the Messiah had to be sinless in order to be the perfect sin offering to expiate the sins of fallen men (Hebrews 7:26; 1 John 2:22, etc.).
- In fulfillment of Messianic prophecy (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
One writer notes:
“The woman cannot transmit the sin nature to her offspring. The male DNA chromosome is the carrier of Sin that passes it down. Jesus could not be born to an earthly father.
Jesus had to partake (participate) in our plight (Heb 2:14) for us to participate in His resurrection, ascension and session. He was willing to take our sin condition in exchange for His victorious righteousness and glory. He came down to earth and even went under the earth to rescue us to the top of heaven. Eph 2:6.
Jesus demonstrated that it would never be by military might, control, threat, coercion, violence or killing that He would deliver us but only by becoming a helpless little embryo in the woman’s womb then a weak little baby lying in a filthy manger between the ass of ignorance and the ox of self-will. And then a carpenter.
The weakness of God is stronger than man. In the divine economy, power is perfected in weakness.”
It’s one thing to say we believe on Christ and yet, what Christ? Is what we believe according to the record – that which has been recorded in Holy Scripture by the Holy Ghost through “holy men of God”? (2 Peter 1:20-21)
If a person doesn’t believe the whole “record” of God concerning His “ONLY BEGOTTEN Son”, such a person is not of God – “because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” And just what is that “record” – what is RECORD-ed in God’s Word concerning His only begotten Son?
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” 1 John 5:10
That “RECORD” or that which is recorded in the Bible of Christ is that He, of necessity, and by prophetic utterance and divine ordination, was and could only be born of virgin! The virgin birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah is an absolute Gospel essential which means that anyone who doesn’t believe it is a hell bound antichrist. Now do we begin to see why Satan wanted this removed from his new “bibles”? Isn’t it time to burn those counterfeits and get a real Bible – the King James Bible?
“The doctrine of Christ” or that which the Bible reveals about the only Messiah, is essential to know, follow, and believe:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not (does not remain) in the doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT GOD. He that abideth (remains) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9
“The only begotten”
“Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, and if a person doesn’t believe that they are condemned (John 3:15-18 KJB).” D.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
The First prophecy of the Messiah
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it (the Messiah) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15
The Messiah would be born of a “virgin.”
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:18-23
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Abiding
Worshipping the God of all Grace through the Fiery Trials [podcast]
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7
“In the world ye shall have tribulation”
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21
WE the body of Christ, are a separate entity from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We are here on earth for but a short time more—saved and sent to do Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; John 4:34-38). Jesus foretold that these final days before His return would be tumultuous (Matthew 24; Luke 21). And to “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).
“Let not your heart be troubled” … and when we begin to perceive the big picture of the LORD, it will be easier to not be “troubled” in “the sufferings of this present time” (Romans 8:18).
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
Making biblical sense of the suffering.
Makes us want to go home and to live like it (Daniel 12:10).
“The sufferings of this present time” are a mere speed bump saints. We are going to eternal glory with our King Jesus!
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Nothing can separate God and His true saints—those who are hearing His voice presently and following, walking with Him, abiding in vital union with Jesus (John 10:27-29; 15:1-6).
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
DO WE have the “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” spirit and disposition of the beloved Job?
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15
Going though a season of testing and trials and yet not worshipping God through it all, is a waste. Personally I had to learn this the hard way.
God has been so wonderfully gracious to teach this disciple!
“I am understanding Job in a new way. Old Adam wants to see it as a punishment, or an injustice, and this belief is subtle and corrosive.” Justin Ballis
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11
Final Greetings
“By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.” 1 Peter 5:12
Knowing it’s God’s stated will for us to worship, love, and trust Him at all times—and in particular in the midst of that which He sees fit to allow us to go through….. is vital. Personally I chose initially to do laps in the desert and so such delayed getting to His promised land of peace. God is able beloved.
The LORD is “a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons” of His kingdom.
“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15
Are we worshiping our LORD in the midst of our seasons of suffering? Have we of late looked up and said, “Jesus, I love You“?
What’s God worth to me? How much does He matter? Is Jesus truly my very “first love”? See Revelation 2:4-5.
Worshiping God in this presently dark world will bring sufferings and ultimately eternal glory with Him and the true body of Christ.
What would we think of the man, the husband who didn’t defend his wife? He’s a self-serving coward, who loves himself more than his wife, right? What if we refuse to suffer for Heaven’s King that we claim to love? Wouldn’t this prove that we love self more than the Savior?
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11
It’s in our sufferings that we discover, we find out, we come to understand about God’s sufficiency. See James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
Being “hid with Christ in God” is how the LORD powers us through, past the many afflictions to be suffered by Christ’s saints.
“There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen, and unsupported by people. It teaches you to rely on God for everything.” unknown
“the fiery trial which is to try you”
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:5-9
“Weeping (death and burial—suffering the death of self) may last through the night, but joy (resurrection) comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
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Answered Prayer? WHY?
The Essential Doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ [podcast]
Worshipping the God of all Grace through the Fiery Trials [podcast]
Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth
Christ Saved Katherine! Mexico Mission Part 27
The Book of Titus Overview [podcast]
Loving not our Lives unto the Death [podcast]
Word Faith Detox
Hypocrites or Disciples?
The Cross Imperative [podcast]
Overcoming the Antichrists Among You [podcast]
Calvinism Demolished [podcast]
THE ANTICHRISTS ARE MULTIPLYING [podcast]
Mission Mexico Part 26
Somebody Prayed Teddy Swims [video]
Loving not our Lives unto the Death [podcast]
Daily Prayer Guide [podcast]
Calvinism Demolished [podcast]
Answered Prayer? WHY?
WHY IS THE KING JAMES VERSION CALLED THE “AUTHORIZED VERSION”?
Speaking His Truth in Love [podcast]
Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth
Your Life Will Never be the Same [podcast]
Word Faith Detox
Overcoming the Antichrists Among You [podcast]
Hypocrites or Disciples?
Subverted Hereticks [podcast]
“THE GREAT DRAGON” [podcast]
The Essential Doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ [podcast]
The Cross Imperative [podcast]
Answered Prayer? WHY?
The Essential Doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ [podcast]
Worshipping the God of all Grace through the Fiery Trials [podcast]
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Children being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
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Articles8 years ago
Self-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
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SHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True
Providing Christ-centered Scripture-rich resources to feed, edify, and equip the body of Christ (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-15).
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