Abiding

“Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped for”

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

If you don’t understand how your vehicle works, why do you still drive it?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Is there “substance,” that which is substantial in our faith in God?

The Greek word from which “substance” is derived is hupostasis.

Definition:

hoop-os’-tas-is
From a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support), that is, (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): – confidence, confident, person, substance.

In the times, the seasons of testings, of attack, we are undergirded, supported by the substantial presence, the supporting “substance” of this faith God has given us (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Sister Karen Cochran shared this on this topic of faith:

“See John 20: 24-29 . The other disciples were telling Thomas they had seen the Lord but Thomas doubted and needed proof. He wanted to see Jesus’ hands, the print of the nails, and put his finger into the print of the nails and touch the Savior’s side or he would not believe it was Jesus. Jesus showed him his nail scared hands and allowed Thomas to reach his finger into His hand and to touch His side. Thomas then believed and his faith was strengthened. He shouted ‘my Lord, my God.’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.’ 2 Corinthians 5:7 says: ‘We walk by faith and not by sight.'”

Fret Not

Ever see where the wicked plot against the just as they carefully craft questions in order to make their opponent, the righteous, to stumble? Then the wicked rejoice when the righteous can’t answer the question?

They are basically saying to the people of God – “If you can’t understand it, your faith is built on a lie and is futile.”

Is that true? No.

Once again … If you don’t understand how your vehicle works, why do you still drive it?

To say one must understand something completely to be able to enjoy, to experience it, would mean we’d have to cut out far more than half the things we use in our lives…. toaster, refrigerator, washer and dryer, all vehicles, TV, cell phones, computers, etc. Yet this logic is used by detractors, the unrepentant who don’t yet wish to get honest and repent, in a vain attempt to disprove God. Well following this to its logical conclusion means we would have to believe that toasters and washing machines and automobiles, etc., do not exist, all because we don’t understand them.

We all have faith that when we insert and turn the key in our vehicle, it’s going to start and it’s going to carry us to the location we desire, right? Right. And for the born again believer, he knows intrinsically, he is possessed with the substance of the faith of God, knowing that as he serves God by the “substance,” the substantial reality of the faith in his heart, that faith, that relationship is going to carry him into eternity with Christ and the Father.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

Answering questions with questions is something Christ did.

A good question for this type detractor would be something like: “So, basically, if you will follow your own logic to its conclusion, you will no longer drive your vehicle, right? After all, you do not understand the way your vehicles operates, so why do you still drive it? You drive it because it works right? Yes. You are claiming that people shouldn’t believe in God due to not fully understanding everything about Him. Yet you don’t understand all about your vehicle, and you still drive it, right?”

You don’t have to understand something, the how, to know that something works!

The fact is, we are those who are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). We do not understand a mere fraction of what is going on in our own masterfully made bodies, much less the world and universe. Right? Right. Should that stop us from functioning in this world? No. Who ever came up with this idea that you have to understand something fully to enjoy or experience it? Such is a misnomer. If that were the case, that would mean we would do very little.

What we DO know, as Jesus’ regenerated saints, is that we are His and that walking with Him brings blessings untold (Psalms 68:19; 103:2; Matthew 6:33, etc.). We understand that God blesses all who put Him first. Jesus specifically promised He would.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

God’s blessings, His “benefits” are given exclusively to those who are His and they are vast, they are many.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” Psalms 103:2

God loads His children with His “benefits.”

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Psalms 68:19

You may wish to include in your witnessing arsenal this illustration of a car, key, and how it all operates and how we don’t understand the whole process and yet we still drive our vehicles because it works to transport us. In the same way, though we “see through a glass, darkly” in this life, that is, we do not yet see the full reality for what it is, nevertheless we have “the evidence of things not seen” with the human eye and will one day see all “when that which is perfect is come” (Hebrews 11:1; 2 Corinthians 13:10, 12).

Also, how about the wind. Can we see the wind? No. Do we know, are we certain it exists? Yes.

When you, as a child of God, are being assailed by questions about the universe, the natural things of creation, if you’re like most of us, you are not always going to have the scientific answer. Yet, you have the “substance” that is your faith – “the faith of the Son of God” – that is in you (Galatians 2:20). And this “faith” that possessed you is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

A review of our main verse:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

This “substance” of faith cannot be understood by those who do not have it, those who seek to trip you up, those who have not experienced it. Yet every true born again saint knows that he knows, in his innermost man, that God is real, that he is God’s child, that he is saved, and that nothing could be more dear nor more important.

Instead of just letting people fire questions at you, fire the Word of God at them by preaching it.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

When God’s Word falls upon a receptive, and obedient ear, heart, that person can repent and believe upon Christ unto salvation. The Word of God we plant in the hearts of others is that seed of faith by which we are born again (Romans 1:16; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

We are passing through this earth and until we are with Christ and the Father, we look for and see the things in His Word. We cannot see these things with our natural eyes, in the natural, and yet we behold them by faith via the Word. Example: The mansions Jesus is preparing for us (John 14:1-6), and our coming abode, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21).

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

“Death is not to be feared, it ushers us into eternity with God. Life with God eternally is what everyone of us should long for. In everything you do, have eternity in mind. If there is anything in your life that is drawing you away from God, you should realize that it is not worth it.” Unknown

“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

Your prayer should be as was the prayer of Christ’s original apostles …

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” Luke 17:5-6

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of my LORD Jesus. Please purify this heart by faith and increase my faith and trust in You dear LORD. With Your psalmist I ask “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

The King is Coming [podcast]

Those who truly love their neighbor clearly prove they serve He who “is love.” “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8 “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief […]

The Book of Galatians Narrated [podcast]

Summary of Galatians. Justification by faith, not the works of the law. Memory truth. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16 No law-keeping at all is required for divine justification under the New Covenant. Justification is by faith in the blood of the only One to ever keep […]

"Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith" [podcast]

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66-67 WHERE O WHERE are we going to go if we depart from Jesus? …. does He, the eternal God and Creator of all things not hold the future of every living soul in His holy hand? FB Meyer on John 6:60-71 “THE SIFTING OF JESUS’ FOLLOWERS Christ’s pathetic question-Will ye also go away?-elicited from Peter a reply which proved that the inner meaning of His words had already broken upon their […]

Abiding

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

The Joy and Expectation of Seed Sowing

What we sow, we can expect to reap (Galatians 6:7-8).

As we continue to sow the good, the incorruptible seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men, good news will continue to flow, will continue to be reaped – because God’s Word prospers in the thing where He sends it! See also 1 Peter 1:23.

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

The following song captures the need, the importance, and the urgency of reaching the lost souls around us:

Voices, by the band Harvest

Words and Music by Jerry Williams

Voices in the city, voices in the street.

Voices in each home across the land.

Voices in the churches, saying “Peace, be still.”

Where are all the voices in My fields?

Chorus:

Millions and millions dying.

Millions and millions crying.

Millions and millions don’t know who I am.

Children on the highways

Children on the run.

Mothers in the alley ways,

They’re killing all their sons.

The world is blinded in darkness.

I’ve given them the way.

Where are all My voices to lead them out today?

(Repeat chorus)

Where are the millions who love Me?

Where are the millions who say they know Me?

Where are the millions who’ll stand and follow Me?

Exactly where you are is part of “all the world.”

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16

Also, Jesus gives His Gospel as an ultimatum. Is Jesus intending that we bring the hearers of His Gospel to a decision? Seems like it. Read the passage again.

“So today I was driving through our town and saw a guy sitting on his porch reading a Jesus tract! Praise Jesus. I prayed that the words he was reading would be sealed in his heart! They are being left throughout our town. Everyday I put one on top of a newspaper stand. It is always gone next day! Seeds of God’s Word are being planted all over our town and will not return void! Isaiah 55:11. Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran

As Christ’s laborers our duty, getting the seed of our LORD’s Word into the hearts of the people, is of the utmost divine priority.

“The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11

Sinners are brought to Jesus, are born again, by way of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God being sown into their hearts.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 2:23

When His seed is sown, God can bring the increase of conviction, drawing, and salvation (John 12:32; Romans 1:16, etc.).

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

The conversion of the soul to Christ comes by way of the Word of God.

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

What’s the future look like for those who sow, plant God’s Word in the hearts of men?

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6

“Just letting you know I’ve been putting those JESUS tracts in empty gym lockers when I go to the gym and praying that God’s Spirit moves on the hearts of the people that get one! And as you know He can do it! Have a Blessed Day.” Laurie Cox

Read, download the print-ready pdf of the JESUS tract here.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

“1 Corinthians 15: 58. This verse is for all of us who labor for the Lord. We are to be unshakable. Letting nothing move us from the hope of the gospel. We are servants of Christ ever ‘abounding in the work of the Lord.’ Abounding in the furthering of the gospel. Our labor ‘in the Lord’ will be rewarded. Yesterday the Lord gave me a small reward seeing that man sitting on his porch reading the Jesus tract. And since we are laborers together it is a small reward for all of us! We, each member of Christ’s body, the world over, are team Jesus! And He is our eternal reward! We shall be with Him forever in the New Jerusalem!” Karen Cochran

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:10-12

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You sent Your only begotten Son to rescue, to forgive, to save me. If You can find and save me, You can find and save anyone! Please prepare and use me LORD Jesus. Into Thy holy hands I here and now submit my spirit to Thee dear LORD. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus [tract] Read, Download it Here

[JESUS tract English (click to download print-ready PDF) this is the actual text of the JESUS tract of both the English and JESUS tract SPANISH (click to download print-ready PDF] [Okay here’s the text also:] The most astounding event of human history occurred when this man, Jesus Christ, died on a Roman cross. When He died, an untimely darkness covered the land at 3 p.m., and an earthquake occurred as He took His final breath. This man called Jesus was crucified. Three days later He was raised from the dead! Here’s why He died: “But your iniquities (sins) have separated […]

The Joy of Seed Sowing

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22 Always remember, there must be a seed sown before there can be a crop reaped. BEFORE Jesus saved me, He had several of His people along the way drop His precious Word into my alienated heart. Some of this included the tangible, the printed page. These things all culminated into His saving me into His glorious kingdom (Isaiah 55:11). “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto […]

The Demand for the JESUS Tract is at an all-time High! [podcast]

[this is the actual text of the JESUS tract] [JESUS tract English (click to download print-ready PDF)] JESUS tract SPANISH (click to download print-ready PDF] UPDATE: “Thank you for sending me this JESUS tract PDF. I can’t wait to print them out. God is good. His light is going shine. He’s taking ground that the enemy has been taking. I will be praying for you too. I actually pray for you alot. God Bless you as you go forth with God’s Word ” Laurie Cox This week a man came into the coffee shop smiling at me. I smiled back instantly, […]

Articles

“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]

Don’t Miss This Blessing!

EVER Seen This Verse? Just Wow! PRAYERS appropriate the divine fuel from Heaven saints!!!! Check out this verse! Please hit SHARE to bless Christ’s body!

Do we even begin to realize the profound and immeasurable potential that lies in the power link of prayer? Jesus Christ is forever at His Father’s right hand making intercession for all of His beloved people (Heb. 7:24-25; 10:19-22).

Okay are you ready for a truth that is going to change your life forever? Read the following Bible verse slowly and for all it’s worth, drinking it in:

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation (blessings, deliverance, and provision) through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:19

Whatever you do today, grab this Bible verse which will then be with you all your days!

In speaking to Christian people he was in fellowship with, this disciple of Jesus – no different than you and I – said that it was “through your prayer” that “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” was given to him in his life! Did you catch that?!

How does the LORD bless His people when we pray for them? Is it not by giving them a greater portion and measure of “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”?

LIFE CHANGING NUGGET FROM GOD’S WORD

How many of us are thrilled that “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” comes upon us by way of, as a result of the prayers of His saints? Wow!

Let’s read it again:

“For I know that this shall turn to my salvation (deliverance, safety, blessings) through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:19

Did you realize that the person or people you pray for are given a fresh and greater portion of “the Spirit of Jesus Christ”? According to this insightful truth out of the Holy Spirit inspired pen of the apostle Paul, the Father in Heaven blesses those we lift in prayer with the blessed Person and work of the Holy Spirit. “The spirit of Jesus Christ” is dispensed and poured out into the hearts and lives of those we pray for! This is what Paul told us was happening to him as the saints prayed for him.

Prayerlessness is Sin

Make no mistake, prayerlessness is a sin. Prayerlessness is direct disobedience to the command of God. Prayerlessness is a manifestation of faithlessness. Prayerlessness is the epitome of self-trust and self-dependency. Prayerlessness is the rejection of God in your life – the refusal to trust Him (Matthew 26:41).

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

YOUR PRAYER LIFE IS A CLEAR MEASURE OF HOW MUCH YOU LOVE GOD-OR NOT. love, to seek, to worship, and to trust Him. No need to seek God in prayer when pride and self-sufficiency reign on the throne of one’s heart.

The power of God working in us will be according to that which comes into us as we pray (Matthew 26:41).

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, please forgive me for taking prayer communion, supplications (humble requests), praying for others, and prayer requests for granted. Forgive me also for the sin of prayerlessness and for not lifting others in prayer more. Thank You LORD for the unspeakable, incredible blessing of prayer. Your perfect sacrificial blood on that cross made our access to the Father possible and speaks for Your people in Heaven right now and forevermore! Jesus, please bless Your people to be faithful to request those things You have revealed in Your Word for each other! Thank You Father for pouring out Your Holy Spirit upon Your people afresh this hour and also every time we lift each other to You in prayer! Thank You right now for the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ being poured out on Your beloved people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

His Grace is Sufficient for Thee [podcast]

“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3 ALL “BY HIMSELF” Jesus redeemed us, bought, brought us back to God by the shedding of His precious blood on that cross. Jesus needed no help: He alone was sufficient to propitiate, expiate, atone for the sins of mankind. The grace of Christ which saved us through His perfect sacrifice is the same and only grace that keeps us and enables His perfect will in our lives! Here’s how that works in His kingdom economy: He who died, was buried, and […]

The Riches of His Grace

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7 It’s been said that “God bankrupted Heaven to buy us back to Himself!” “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 Jesus judged sin on the cross so we don’t have to be judged for our sin and so we can experience “the exceeding riches of his gracE” both now and forever (John 12:31-32; Ephesians 1:7; 2:7). The claims of the Father’s justification to redeem mankind could only and exclusively have been satisfied in the perfect […]

Resurrection Grace [podcast]

NOTHING – NO MAN, NO DEVIL CAN STOP THIS! Just as no man, no devil could possibly stop the resurrection of Christ, no entity or army can stop the resurrection life of Christ in His saints, as they submit to their own death and burial. Resurrection follows! “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. 11 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. 12 […]

Abiding

The Good Shepherd and His True Sheep [podcast]

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant …” Hebrews 13:20

“To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” John 10:3

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:1-13

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

“My Sheep Hear My Voice, and I Know them, and they Follow Me" [podcast]

There are 7 portraits of Jesus in the Gospel of John. One of those seven portraits is Jesus our “the good shepherd.” (John 10) The first thing the good shepherd of the sheep did was give His life to purchase the sheep with His own blood. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 Jesus who created us, then came to die to buy up back to the Father and Himself. The Bible, God’s Word, is full of illustrations of who God is, and who He is to us. He is our […]

"Feed My Sheep" [podcast]

The Paramount Divine Importance of Nourishing the Saints of Christ “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4:16 Nourishing Christ’s Sheep “Feed the Flock of God.” 1 Peter 5:2 First, it’s God’s flock, paid for with the very blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28). Jesus Christ is “that great shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). He instructed us to follow Him and, in doing so, to “FEED my sheep” (John 21:15-17). Tending to the sheep of Christ’s pasture involves nourishing […]

Favorite Eternal Security "Proof" Text? [podcast]

Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages Does John 10:27-29 Prove “Eternal Security”? WHO are Jesus’ Sheep? Defined by, in God’s Word. John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” ~ John 10:27-29 Verse 27 is the condition necessary to appropriate the promises of verses 28-29. Those […]