God’s Not Impressed with Your Giftings

Paula White Exposed [video]

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

The gifts you have are not for you but rather for the glory of the One who gave them to you – to be used to edify christ’s body and not draw attention to you (1 Peter 4:10-11).

“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

THOSE who sit around boasting of their gifts and yet not being diligent to obey God in using them in serving HIM, are headed straight for hell. Just as their father, satan, glorified himself in his pride due to his gifts, so shall these rebels be damned irrevocably. Hell is full of rebels who were gifted by God. EVERY gift is from God – to glorify HIM, not you! (1 Peter 4:10-11)

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

You are not special – and will be damned like all other rebels if you choose to live outside of God’s stated will (Matthew 7:21). Repent now. You are wicked and HE is “Wonderful”! (Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 9:6-7)

“For THE LEADERS of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16

One of the ways Satan targets, deceives, and snares saints is via false leaders – wolves who wear sheep’s clothing. Satan uses false leaders to turn the affections of people’s heart away from Christ and onto them. Their personalities and ministries and church building projects are projected in the minds of their prey so regularly, therapeutically that most people never realize it. Study Colossians 2:18-19 closely saints.

We see this happening with David and his son Absalom where his son “Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 15:6) Absalom intercepted the affections of the hearts, directing them upon himself instead of King David. David was a type of Christ and Absalom is a type of false teachers and the antichrist. Anti means in place of. Absalom sought to put himself in place of his father David – to replace him in order to be esteemed, popular, worshipped (Colossians 2:18-19). This is what false prophets do. They get your attention, your support, and your money on them – Not Christ! (Colossians 2:18-19)

The LORD is much more intent upon His children having the FRUIT of the Spirit thank He is the GIFTS of the Spirit. Yes, both are part of His New Testament program and yet one is priority above the other! Read 1 Cor 13.

Self-serving, self-seeking, self-willed, cross-less people seek to relish and use the gifts God gave to bring glory to self (John 7:18). Isn’t this exactly what Lucifer did before he was violently ejected from Heaven by the LORD who “resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”? (Isaiah 14:12-15; Luke 10:18; James 4:8; Ezekiel 28:13-15)

To know your gifts is one thing. To focus on and to proclaim your supposed gift and calling to bring attention to yourself is deceitful and evil.

Jesus told us that those who are self-seeking instead of Savior seeking, seek their own glory and not God’s:

“He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” John 7:18

It’s a dead give away when you hear individuals and ministries relishing, seeking out, and talking about gifts and yet out of those same mouths you never hear them relishing Jesus, His blood, His divinity, His Majesty, the cross, the original Gospel message, and His soon coming. Run!

Those gifts God has given were given strictly to serve the One who gave them, not us (1 Peter 4:10-11). We shall give full account of how we used those gifts (Romans 14:10, etc.).

You are not a celebrity but rather a mere servant of the KING of kings.

WHY not just shut up and SERVE? Memorize Matthew 23:11 and Philippians 2:3-5 today.

MANY wonder what their calling is and there are a whole lot of folk in ministries that will accommodate and yet never call them to the cross. Interesting. There is no Christianity without the cross of Christ and our cross. Nothing of Christ’s kingdom works outside of the crucified, the cross life. There are many books circulating that engage people in seeking out what their gifts are. Yet, we hear very little of truly repenting and laying down our lives. Our calling is to die, to lay down our lives, and serve, serve, serve – God and others, not self – that’s why we must have the daily cross. Funny many ministries never mention this paramount, absolutely essential truth of Christ’s Gospel (Matthew 16:24-25; 22:37-40; Luke 9:23-24; 14:33, 17:33; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). God will show us the gifts He put in us as we obey Him (John 7:17-18). Let’s seek the Giver and not the gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11).

The cross gets us out of the way so Jesus reigns and blesses! It must be!

God gave us gifts so we could glorify Him with them and to bless others by them – never bringing undue attention to ourselves in whom “no good thing dwelleth.” (Romans 7:18)

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11

God is not impressed with the gifts HE gave you. He’s holding you personally responsible for using them to glorify Him not you! 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11

Of the cross and its relationship to God’s gifts in us, one commentator writes:

“Our gifts to benefit others and ourselves (grace) flow out the fountainhead, God the Father, but only thru the cross, Christ Crucified. Moses smote the Rock and the water of life flowed out of, to, and through the followers of God. For I have determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Religion and Law VS the Cross and grace. We must present our bodies to the cross as a living sacrifice just as Shadrach Meshach and Abednego presented their bodies to the cross, the 7x’s hotter fiery furnace. They were freed or “loosed” from their bindings and freed from sin, the law of the golden image which kills, Nebuchadnezzar (Satan) and death. Praise God!! Daniel 3.”

We have all been given gifts from our Maker and those gifts of God are given to us by Him in order to bring Him glory and to bless and serve others with, not ourselves.

—UNLIKE humans, God doesn’t aggrandize or value anyone according to their gifts – remember HE gave those gifts. And, He will judge us all according as we have used the gifts He invested in us. See the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. Learn this Bible chapter well. There is much to be gained. Will you hear “Well done my good and faithful servant” or “cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”? Am I using the gifts the LORD invested in me to bring glory to myself or the nail-scarred, Risen LORD and Savior? Read Matthew 25.

Far too many people have been led by wolves to the altar of self-service, such as searching out your gifts, taking gift tests. etc. We see that no where in the New Testament. Jesus calls those who will follow Him to deny self, take up the cross, and humbly serve, serve, serve – God and others and not to seek out what gifts are in us but rather simply love and serve everyone around us (Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 9:23-24, etc.).

The thing being pointed out here is that many use prophet and apostle as a title to elevate themselves instead of simply humbly serving while drawing all attention to Jesus and not to self – the cross.

Take notice in the following passage how seriously and with trepidation Paul looked toward the judgment to come:

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11

In light of “the terror of the Lord,” the apostle persuaded men to do good according to the LORD who watches and weighs the motives and intentions of the hearts of all men.

“The LORD looketh on the heart (not the gifts).” 1 Samuel 16:7

God is not impressed with our gifts. He gave them. He’s not in awe when we flash them or use them and mere men celebrate us for doing so.

In fact, we are instructed by the LORD to go out of our way and use the energy and faculties He has given to us to lift up the less desirable among His people (to the human eye).

“And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow (hedge about) more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” 1 Corinthians 12:23-25

As good stewards of God’s gifts, we are to use all of our energies and faculties, not to elevate ourselves but rather the Savior and His blessed people. While others flock to the person who can sing or preach well, you and I, as Christ’s disciples, are to look and find that person who is off to the side, neglected, and in need of edification and the love of God through Christ’s body.

“There is NO respecter of persons with God.” Romans 2:11 (memory verse)

Partiality is sin and such a sin is addressed throughout God’s Word. Here’s an example:

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17

God’s Word is the fountain of divine wisdom and, I must say that memorizing the above Bible verse has truly been a blessing in a myriad of ways (Proverbs 3:3; 4:4).

Origin of “Every Good Gift and Every Perfect Gift”

Where do your gifts and everything good in your originate from? Are the gifts in your life your doing or God’s?

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

In light of the truth that “every good and every perfect gift” is from God, why then do you boast?

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

Are you using your money, your looks, or gifts of God to worship and to glorify Christ? What shall the Judge of your eternal soul say to you on that Great and Terrible Day when you stand before Him to give account of your life?

Jesus never said “Ye shall know them by their GIFTS” but rather “Ye shall know them by their FRUIT.” (Matthew 7:16, 20) Good fruit is only born out of an abiding, obedient relationship with Christ (John 15:1-16)

Do you tout you attributes, and use your wealth or looks to draw people to yourself? Or, are you dying to self, laying aside yourself, denying yourself, and pointing people – eternal souls – to the only One who made and bled to redeem them?

Never exalt self, only Christ and others.

“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” Proverbs 27:2

Dare you vaunt yourself against the Most High with your vain elevations of your sinful self?

Get down low disciple of Jesus! Take on the form of a humble servant. Today, find Bible verses on this essential topic and memorize them. Refuse any title except “servant” or “disciple” saved by the mercy of God!

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 (memory verse)

Jesus teaches us not to use titles, coupling it with pride.

“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:8-12

“Altogether Vanity!”

“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5 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 39:4-5

The root of all Christ-denying self-idolatry is refusal to truly repent and put all trust in Christ alone. The fruit of such rebellious refusal is self-exaltation. In his book The Great Falling Away, the late Milton Green captures such a phenomenon:

“We come to the light when our ambition is to please God more than anything or anyone else …. Men who attempt to come to Jesus and still love the flesh nature will still have selfish ambition. They will try to have the biggest church, the largest and best choir, the greatest numbers, and the best reputation for building a church. (All done for God, of course!) Instead of obedience to the Word of God and holiness, their goal is ‘nickles, noses, and numbers’ to fulfill their selfish ambition. They say, ‘Come see mychurch!’ … If a person has a root of pride, his motive will be to build an image for himself. As he builds a name for Jesus in the strength and works of the flesh, he will deceitfully take part of the glory which belongs to Jesus to fulfill his love for pride and reputation. He will show partiality and will exploit all his relationships in order to control others and advance his selfish ambition. He will flatter and deceive others in order to look good and receive the approval of man. Pride always wants to be the center of attention. Pride receives glory from men. Pride is always concerned with its own image. Pride always has to be right. Pride loves the approval of men more than the approval of God. Pride will welcome thoughts and suggestions from Satan to exploit and use people to build one’s self image. … Every man in the world walks in the image and likeness of Satan. He does not love nor honor God; neither does he love his neighbor. Each one in the world lives of himself. The strong deceive, manipulate and lord it over the weak. Everyone greedily gathers and hoards for himself, while all around him his neighbor hurts and suffers in need. ‘The whole world lieth in wickedness.’ (1 John 5:19) Their hearts agree with Satan.” Milton Green, The Great Falling Away Today, p. 17, 28, 31

Are you learning to crucify the deeds of your sinful nature? Read Romans 6 every day for the next week prayerfully. If you think somehow that you have a good pastor or favorite Bible teacher and yet, that person isn’t calling you to Christ, that is, to die to self so that Jesus alone can be glorified, you are sitting under a false teacher who is an enemy of the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:18-21).

Memorize Ephesians 4:3, 32 and Psalms 133:1.

LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: Are you tired of reading Scripture or hearing a good message from the Word and not retaining it for yourself and to help others? We can help you. 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.

Titles and Trappings | Self-Appointed Title Touters

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Abiding

Mary hath Chosen that Good Part [podcast]

Luke 10:38-42

Mary = loving relationship with Jesus, not just being busy with doing, with labor, with performing works such as what Martha was doing. First and foremost, Jesus saved us for relationship with Him and the Father (John 17:3). And here our Savior expresses that knowing, loving, adoring, and listening to Him are at a divine premium, they are most important to God. That’s what God desires – for us to delight ourselves in Him (Psalms 37:4).

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4

David’s brothers looked the part but they couldn’t and wouldn’t even face Goliath, much less slay him. David though, was spending time alone with the LORD, listening to His voice and tending to the sheep. He who is the only man God ever said was “a man after mine own heart,” was used mightily of God to slay the giant (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 17).

Isn’t this how we are with our children? Wouldn’t every parent rather their precious children sit in their mom or dad’s lap telling their parent how much they (the child) loves them (the parent)? That’s the biggest heart melt we know, right?

Like David, the most powerfully used warriors are first worshippers.

Our real, our genuine relationship with the LORD is that place out of which His power and grace (divine enablement) will flow. Like David, we must be primarily, and first and foremost worshippers. Out of that rich communion with the Savior will flow the warrior anointing of the LORD who is “a man of war” (Exodus 15:3).

Many who sense the call of God on their lives to minister go to seminary. Sad. We must go to God ourselves – in prayer, a life of prayer, relentlessly seeking His holy face in His Word for ourselves.

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6

Private prayer with the LORD precedes God using us. Those who seek God in “secret” will be “openly” rewarded by Him.

“The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it.” EM Bounds

“A sinning man stops praying. A praying man stops sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill

Luke 10

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

“Mary hath Chosen that Good Part”

The “good part” Mary chose consists of…

Mary made the only wise choice “Mary hath chosen.”
Mary put Jesus first. She put the Savior first, not herself or her idea of what it meant to serve Him.
Jesus says here that choosing to put and keep Him first is the “one thing [that] is needful” or most necessary (v39, 42).
Sitting before Jesus Himself and not searching for God outside of God Himself, primarily that is. All other learning is supplemental and subservient to that which the LORD tells us specifically, in His Word.

Worshippers become the most powerful workers God uses!

Like many today who are shallow rooted, Martha was a worker but not first and foremost a worshipper. Mary was a worshipper who loved to spend time with Jesus. Therefore she was empowered by God Himself via that fellowship with Him to walk in His holy compassion and to do His works with His power and for His glory (1 Corinthians 15:10).

When our works are not fruitful as they should be, perhaps it can be traced back to our lack of fellowship with our LORD. As we fellowship with Him, putting Him first and not ourselves, our vessel, our cup will run over with His goodness…. it will spill over onto others! (See Psalms 23:5.) That’s when our labor will carry His eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalms 23:5

When Jesus came, it was God bringing Heaven to the people – to forgive their sins and make them whole (Matthew 9:6). This was the foretold fulfillment of His kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

When Jesus came, He went to the people, to heal, to save, to make whole (Matthew 9:35-38; Acts 10:38, etc.).

As we go, Jesus is with us, “even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

Daily, our LORD is using His people to bring Heaven to the people. As the Holy Spirit fills our lives, His blessed presence and fruit in our lives is going to over overflow onto others.

A sister in Christ once told me that “The best Marthas are first Marys.” Think about that one in light of what we read in this passage when Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Those who sit at Jesus’ feet to hear His holy counsel, are changed into His image and become reservoirs for His blessed glory. Their cups run over onto others!

“Prayer is of transcendent importance. Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God’s work. Praying hearts and hands only can do God’s work. Prayer succeeds when all else fails.” E.M. Bounds

When worshiping Jesus is our first priority, the work He uses us to do WILL carry His unction and bring fruit to bear for His eternal glory.

Rote obedience to minister to others, while not anchored in intimacy with our LORD, will not yield an abundant harvest, fruit. In contrast, we can be blessed to have God’s power and grace to do His work and that happens as we are truly communing, fellowshipping in the construct of that oneness relationship He made us for (John 15; 17).

Knowing God’s Word and obeying Him is not an automatic progression (John 8:31-36). One can know the Bible and not its Author. Or, one can know the Bible well and not know the Author well (Job 22:21-28). Obeying God’s Word requires knowing Him, abiding in an intimate fellowship with Him, thereby enabling that saint the grace (divine enablement) to obey Him (John 5:39-40; 7:17; 14:21-23; 15:1-16, etc.).

Martha “received him.” Many of us have “received” Jesus, have been saved by Him (John 1:12), yet like Martha we aren’t sitting at His holy feet, listening to Him speak through His Word. Like Martha, we also are “cumbered about much serving.”

It should be understood that our work can exceed our worship, our hospitality can exceed our holiness, our serving can exceed our sanctification, etc. That would be defined as imbalance (Proverbs 11:1).

In Luke 10:38-42, notice that Mary sat directly at Jesus’ feet and no other. When we arise in the morning to commune with the LORD, such is to be direct communication between you and Him, alone (Matthew 6:6). That would mean perhaps that when you arise in the morning you aren’t reading some other book about God or turning on a podcast or TV program to find and commune with the LORD. No, those things involve others. We must directly commune with the LORD in prayer and in HIS Word. How else shall we be able to discern the “MANY false prophets” Jesus warned us “shall deceive many”? (Read Matthew 24:11; 1 John 4:1.) How can we know the counterfeit if we don’t know the real? We can’t.

In principle, Martha is a person like Cain, a person who chose to do things their own way, not God’s – because they are not truly submitted to God. Does that describe your life friend? Jesus calls us home to Himself (Matthew 11:28-30).

Are we attempting to serve the LORD on our own terms or are we sitting before Him, hearing His voice as we are worshipfully, joyfully submitted to Him on His stated terms?

“The men who have done mighty things for God have always been mighty in prayer, have well understood the possibilities of prayer, and made the most of these possibilities. The Son of God, the first of all and the mightiest of all, has shown us the all-potent and far reaching possibilities of prayer. Paul was mighty for because he knew, how to use, and how to get others to use, the mighty spiritual forces of prayer.” EM Bounds, The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, P. 341

When we are brought to the point of true repentance it will be obvious in that we will do things God’s way and no longer our own. Like Mary, we will be settled at His feet, hearing His Word, His voice. The Mary person is in love with and submitted to the LORD and Savior she so joyfully worships.

“Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to people. Power with God is the first thing, not power with people. Christ loves to teach us how to pray.” –Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, pp. xxiii-xxiv

At His Feet [podcast]

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15 Job had just lost all of his children and yet held fast his integrity toward the LORD. He would not allow his wife, his friends, or any other circumstance or entity sway his thoughts. This was a man with a real relationship with the living God – one not based on circumstance. First, foremost, and separate from all else, Job loved and worshipped the LORD with his whole heart. We must come to the place where our LORD alone […]

The First Love of the True Disciple [podcast]

The words “disciple”/“disciples” are found 273 times in the Bible, all in the New Testament canon with the exception of 1 appearance in the Old Testament (Isaiah 8:16). “Disciple” is married to the word discipline. An un-disciplined life reveals a gross lack of respect and rooting in the Person, the Word, and the cause of Christ and is an un-fruitful life. “And have NO ROOT in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.” Mark 4:17 “They on the rock are they, which, when they […]

Our Sin Should Lay us at His Feet [podcast]

“Sin lieth at the door.” Genesis 4:7 One writer takes a shot at this in the following words: “Jesus died for our sins. He is the sin offering for all humanity: past, present, and future. So the offerings in the Old Testament represent the Cross. So in short, if you reject the offering, meaning Christ and the Cross, ‘then sin lieth at the door.’ This means sin will DOMINATE you if any other method is used.” “Sin lieth at the door” – Temptation to sin presents itself perpetually and this is why prayer, abiding communion, perpetual communication with the Savior, command central, is […]

Apostasy

Modern Day Frauds and How They Operate [RADIO]

THIS is so very important! Please listen and share to help others (Ezekiel 44:23).

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

The Conquering Cross of Christ [podcast]

The LORD is Holy. He will not compete or coexist with any idol – beginning with the idol of self. “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 The LORD Almighty is above all and greater than any idol. “God, the mighty Creator, now addresses the Messiah and tells what He proposes to accomplish through this One whom He has called . . . in righteousness. God will not share His glory with another, and least of all with carved images.” Believer’s […]

Sin: Man’s Core Problem [podcast]

People don’t have a “mental health” problem, they have a SIN problem and sin is what gives way, gives full access to Satan! “When people hear voices telling them to harm themselves or others, that’s not a chemical imbalance, it’s demon possession.” Rachel Gould “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 Jesus taught us that man’s sin comes out of his “desperately wicked” heart (Jeremiah 17:9). “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed […]

Dominating the Devil! [podcast]

Dominating sin and satan only comes to those willing to die and be buried “with Christ.” (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20) The result is His glorious resurrection in their lives and consequent victory over sin and satan! IS JESUS not the Answer? Yes He is….. let’s give the world around us that answer to man’s core dilemma – sin! Jesus is the only Solution! It’s the stated will of God that we walk in His victory – in the victory He provided through Christ. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians […]

Abiding

Putting God First [podcast]

If God’s Word isn’t important to you, it’s because He isn’t important to you.

If anything comes before the LORD in your day, you are an idolater.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

GOD’s WORD cannot get into you if you aren’t into it.

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

Jesus commanded:

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

As you seek God, putting Him first, you are not going to be able to prevent, to stop His blessings coming upon your life. 100%

Memorize this promise from your Savior, today.

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

What putting Christ first looks like:

Prayer.

“Early will I seek thee.” Psalms 63:1

Read. Study.

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

The Bible is far from just amazing information (Psalms 119:98-100; 2 Peter 1:3-4, etc.). More important than vital information coming from our Maker, God’s Word is your spiritual food and without it, without daily ingesting it, you will famish, fall, and ultimately perish.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2

Read that again: The only way to “grow” is to “desire” and to devour the Word of your great God and King Jesus. He made you to know Him (John 17:3).

The only way to keep, to guard your heart before the LORD, is to keep it full of God’s Word.

“Keep (guard, till the soil of) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

In fact, like Job, we must make the spiritual food of God’s Word more important than the food that fuels and keeps healthy our physical body.

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

“He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart RETAIN my words: keep my commandments, and live.” Proverbs 4:4

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalms 1

Find. Eat. Rejoice.

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

YOUR PRAYER: Father please unite my heart to fear Thy name. Forgive my sins of spiritual adultery, of self-idolatry. Here and now I renounce my own ownership on my life. It’s Your life LORD. Reign on the throne of this heart and cut away, circumcise any and everything of iniquity in my heart and life. You must increase but I must decrease, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Be Ready in the Morning" [podcast]

MUST-READ: IF YOU don’t wake up swinging, you’re going to get knocked out. You’re going to lose. As God’s child, YOU are in a FIGHT, A WAR – like it or not. A war is raging over your life, for your eternal soul. And you are losing if you don’t get up swinging, every day. Set your life up for success by hard-scheduling Christ into the first waking moments of your day – in prayer and His Word (Matthew 6:6; Mark 1:35; 2 Timothy 2:15). Build your days upon the Rock – the only immoveable platform, destined to victory! ANY […]

Nourished Up and Enduring to the End [podcast]

Recently a dear brother in Christ related this testimony to me of our LORD’s work in his life: “I had a ‘back to Jesus’ moment after the election. As I was horribly disappointed in our country and the dividing of even my own friends, I was praying: ‘I’ve lost faith in my country, I’ve lost faith in my friends…’ then it hit me… I had put my faith in the wrong things. It’s so easy to depend on others. But now I am trusting only in my Lord and Savior.” “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose […]

Acquainted and Nourished [podcast]

“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” Job 22:21nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, , whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6 Support | STORE | Podcasts | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used […]

Ready for the Return of Christ [podcast]

God Made and Redeemed Man for a Relationship “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 Jesus created you and came and died and rose again in order to procure a relationship with you. Your relationship with Him is predicated upon your own adherence to Him, to what He stated concerning that relationship. “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. 38 This is the first and great […]