Articles

Grace and the Great Commission [podcast]

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]

Fellowship that Fuels

Yesterday was a day of our LORD showing just how much HIS grace is sufficient and working in His people, His body, to bring forth His good fruit (1 Corinthians 15:10) …

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

Did you see that? Do we realize that God’s grace—His divine influence upon our hearts and empowerment in our lives—is working in us, in you, as you are seeking and obeying God? Read that verse above again, real closely. Mega divine revelation.

When we have exerted labor, when we are tired, are worn out, Jesus Christ our LORD, the very “Almighty” God of all that is, is still working mightily! (Revelation 1:8)

God always fuels, works in and through His saints as they worshipfully abide in Him, obey Him.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Okay. Wait. If the power of God works mightily in and through us when we are “weak” …. perhaps a biblical prayer could be:

Holy Father, please make me weak the way You define it – that the power of Christ might reign in this Your vessel, for Your eternal glory. Please do it dear LORD. Make me weak that Your grace in Christ might overpower this Your vessel. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

It was obvious that brother Daniel was greatly edified after the fellowship he and I enjoyed last week, which included an unplanned call from brother Bill Wegener and lengthy conversation between Bill and Daniel.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

When we honor God by letting HIS Word dwell richly, abundantly among us, as His people, great things happen, every time.

In addition to the Word being shared together, brother Daniel was inspired by brother Bill’s phone call (JesusFedMe.com ministry). Daniel told me that reading the Scriptures and praying the prayer each morning through the Moments with Our Master book has truly bolstered his life in Christ, fueling him into daily Gospel action.

(Keep in mind that the Moments book states in the very front that NOTHING takes the place of Bible reading.)

The goal of the vast majority of “pastors” operating out of official church buildings in the modern church world is not the feeding, the equipping of Christ’s saints but rather to build their church business. This is unlike what we see amongst the earliest followers of Jesus (John 21:15-17; Acts 4:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-6; Hebrews 13:7, 17).

Any person not living a Great Commission life, is living a wasted life.
They are out of the will of God.
Read that again.

MAY God grant repentance to any who claim to be Christ’s and aren’t executing HIS Great Commission mandate – they prove to be cross-less, to have reject Jesus as their “first love” in this brief life, and to be all about their own life, business, and not the “Father’s business” (Luke 2:49; Revelation 2:4-5). Repentance needed or irrevocable damnation awaits.

Anyone claiming to be saved and not participating in Christ’s Great Commission is deceived (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).

We know those who have truly repented and are truly right with God, ready for Heaven …. by those obeying the cross and Great Commission commands Jesus gave us. ALL other professing “Christians” are lukewarm at best and ready to be spued, vomited, rejected (Revelation 3:15-16).

The true fellowship of the early church consisted of four things. Can you find them here in the first verse of this amazing passage?

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:42-47

True fellowship, and Christian living (lifestyle) does not increase allegiance to a certain church or pastor but rather to Christ Himself—“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-19).

In the end of Acts 2 we see that these new saints in Christ “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). It was immediately after the birth of our LORD’s church at Pentecost and so there was no time to yet have a pastoral bureaucracy. Paul feared, and warned us of such with tears (Acts 20:20-32). There is no mention of a “head pastor” controlling the gold and the bureaucracy. The fellowship was clean and simple—so that Christ could be magnified. It consisted of:

“the apostles’ doctrine” (Word)
“fellowship”
“breaking of bread”
“prayers”

As we see in the ensuing chapters of the Book of Acts, that such Christ-glorifying fellowship fueled the saints to do great exploits.

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4

Speaking of religious bureaucracy, recently I was made aware of a local church, pastor in the Dallas area, who is raising 16 million dollars to build a pickle ball court. And to think just how dark and lost such a congregation is to even put up with much less fund such a fraud. A basketball or pickle ball court will lead ZERO people to Christ, ever. No such thing as a disciple of Jesus participating or even fellowship with such abomination.

Let me get this straight ….
the wolf you call “pastor” is collecting money to build a new building, to build a basketball court, to increase his real estate portfolio, etc. ….. and you still don’t see he’s a fraud?

WHERE did Jesus or His holy apostles collect one penny to build any building to further Christ’s kingdom? Chapters and verses please.

Any person claiming to be a child of God and yet is not involved in the “Fathers business” of the Great Commission, is a counterfeit. Such a person proves they are not saved, do not care about Jesus and the Father who sent His “little flock” to preach and teach the Word of the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 2:49; 23:12; 24:27; Book of Acts; 2 Timothy 4:2, etc.).

Brother Daniel was calling all excited, etc., and I couldn’t answer his calls till later…. only to see how God was using him later as we spoke. He took it upon himself to hear and be fueled by, and answer God’s call to go minister. And he did just that – just him and Jesus! Imagine that! This type of Gospel action and fruit doesn’t happen when people are told by other Christians, by religious dupes, to “go find a church” or “come to our church” (country club). We all know people who have been “in church” life and are leading no one to Jesus, don’t even have enough fear of God to get up each morning and seek the face of the LORD in the Word and prayer, etc. They aren’t even lukewarm, they are “trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”

“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” Jude 12

Years ago, I ceased to even hint of “going to find a church” to any born again saints, especially new ones. No. Such is a trap and we’ve all seen the fruit it’s produced. Stop. Step back. WHY do you think America, on the brink of destruction has progressively become so apostate, departed from the truth, from decency, from that which is right in the eyes of God? It’s happened at the hands of a perverted priesthood of seminarian and greedy frauds perpetrating a false Jesus, a false gospel, fueled by “another spirit” (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9).

Recently I was blessed to meet and have now fellowshipped with a dear man named Jorge. During our time of fellowship together, brother Jorge informed me that he’s never been part of a local church gathering for the last 42 years after Jesus saved him. He fellowships daily with Jesus and the Father and other of His saints. Jorge told me that he was saved one night 42 years ago on the streets of Mexico at the bless-ed preaching of a disciple of Jesus who was from America and had come down to preach in Mexico. What a beautiful story.

God teaches us “fellowship” is His stated will and that doesn’t mean, that doesn’t equal joining a man’s “church” club to become a member and incubated into hell bound lukewarmness (Revelation 3:14-22).

Haven’t we stopped to see that something is amiss in the waiting till Sunday to “fellowship”? That is, but one day per week, to “fellowship” (if you can call it that)?

The fellowship of the earliest followers of Jesus was “daily” and was not limited to a “temple” but was done everywhere, “in every house,” etc.

“And DAILY in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42

Our walk and fellowship with Christ and His people is “daily” and not weekly (Luke 9:23-24).

See if you can find a “church building” in the following verse:

“But exhort one another DAILY, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

This kind of teaching, from God’s Word, helps enlighten His saints and defund the wolves Jesus and His holy apostles so often warned us about (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1, etc.).

Here we have a modern witness of a man, a new disciple of Jesus, Daniel, having never once attended an official church meeting. Here he is, shortly after Jesus saving him, seeking the face of our LORD daily, evangelizing, spreading Christ’s Gospel on the streets – bringing the Good News to the people. Sound like the Book of Acts? Yes.

Now, how many “good church goers/attenders” do you personally know who have ever witnessed to a sinner, much less early after being saved? In so many cases, they are told to “go find a church” and their lives, time, God-given talents, energy, presence, and finances, are being wasted, exploited. And they shall give full account to God for serving men and not God (Galatians 1:10).

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

To put it lightly, they are in big trouble unless they repent.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

Challenge: Stop. Think about what you have personally witnessed in this matter. Honestly, how many “good church attenders/members” do you know who daily seek the LORD and are fruitful in making Christ known, ministering to the lost and edifying the members of body of Christ.

Honestly, I doubt many of us know 3-5 people who are truly following Jesus, true disciples, who daily worship and serve Him.

Is it any wonder that Jesus calls His flock, a “little flock”? (Luke 12:32)

All who truly Love Jesus Labor for His Eternal Glory

Those who labor for Christ prove they love Him. They are about the “Father’s business” and not their own. Jesus said:

“Wist (knew) ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:49

With these truths in mind, read Matthew 9:35-38 and the Book of Acts.

Each of us is blessed to be surrounded by good ministries. They feed us and they are winning souls (street preachers, God-called Bible teachers, etc). Please pray for and support them saints (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 1:19, etc.). This way we are all, each member of Christ’s body, participating in the Great Commission mandate He gave us—and is coming back to take account of the stewardship of our lives—time, talent, treasure, etc. (Ephesians 4:11-16, etc.). Let’s roll saints. Jesus is coming.

In this hour the vast majority of people alive on this earth waste their time and substance upon this fleeing world, upon obtaining more temporal trinkets. But God calls us—you and me—to pour our lives and resources into Him, into His Great Commission work. It will be forever rewarded. There will be no regrets.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, please forgive me for doing my own thing instead of Yours. Please convict me of all sin, of everything that defiles me in Your holy eyes. Cut off occasion from the enemy. Please don’t let this life You gave, my one life in this world, be wasted. Let it be used up daily for Your eternal glory. Bless me to live in vital abiding union with You LORD Jesus. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Ghost and use me dear LORD. Make me to become Your consummate edifier of Your saints and Your soul winner. In Jesus’ name.

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What is the Great Commission? [podcast]

What is the Great Commission? Who gave it? Who was the Great Commission given to? The Great Commission is simply the spreading of Jesus’ Word by teaching it to the world. Jesus gave it. He gave it to all of His people and holds each of them personally responsible for fulfilling it. Each of us will give full account to Him in this specific matter when we stand to be judged by Him. The Great Commission “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and […]

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 raised […]

Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9). “For MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, […]

Abiding

It’s not all Going to be Pretty [podcast]

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3

One of Paul’s resumes of the sufferings he endured as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

“3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

“Hated”

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

“Ye shall Laugh”

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” Luke 6:20-22

“Through much Tribulation”

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

Eternity with Christ, “with Joy”

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

“To Make them White”

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Daniel 11:32-35

“Made white … the wise shall understand”

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10

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"Endure hardness as a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ" [podcast]

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except […]

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

Jesus taught that the Heaven bound disciple must have root in himself, must “endure to the end”, must have a long term, an eternal perspective (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13). The Cost of Discipleship “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 […]

The More I Suffer, the Freer I Become: Joy in the Fire! [podcast]

Forged in the Fire! Liberty and Blessing through Suffering “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 You have saving faith – and it’s on trial!!!! That alone is cause for celebration!! “Adversity is the companion to every Christian on his way to paradise. The more difficult the path, the more joy for him who follows the LORD.” AW Tozer Have you found more freedom through seasons of testing […]

Articles

7 Sayings of Jesus on the Cross [podcast]

What Final Statements Did Jesus Make on the Cross and What Did They Mean?

Our LORD Jesus Christ said 7 things while as He was offering His body and precious, sinless blood to buy us back to God. He was suffering for the sins of mankind and for no sin of His own (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 3:18). He was shedding His blood to Re-deem (buy us back) and that’s what Jesus did for “the whole world” when He died on the cross, was buried, and raised again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 John 2:2). Do you know Him?

1. “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34; Ps. 22:1).

This concerned those who hung Him on the cross and how He became the sin bearer, the sin sacrifice and how the Father could not look on sin, so temporarily turned His head. Jesus was forsaken so that we might be forgiven (Isaiah 53).

Application to us: Job 19:6-10; Psalms 139:8; 2 Corinthians 12:7-12; Hebrews 13:5-6

2. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34).

He asked the Father to forgive them – a token of what His shed blood would pay for and facilitate – forgiveness of sin for all who come to Him on His terms to be saved. The sacrificial death of the Son of God satisfied the claims of the Father’s justice to justify mankind (Isaiah 53:11).

Application to us: As God forgave us due to Christ’s perfect sacrifice, He mandates, without exception, that we freely forgive all others, from our hearts. Matthew 5:44; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26; Ezekiel 36:24-26; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14

3. “Verily, I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43).

This promise of forgiveness and eternal comfort given to the thief who believed on Christ in his final moments is the same promise for all who come to Him and are saved (John 6:47).

Application to us: Immediate glory, comfort, and bliss with our LORD at the moment of death. Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21:4; Luke 21:28

4. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Lk. 23:46).

Jesus closes with the prophetic words of Psalm 31:5, speaking to the Father. We see His complete trust in the Father (John 5:30, etc.). Jesus entered death in the same way He lived each day of His life on earth, offering up His life as the perfect sacrifice and placing Himself into the Father’s hands (Luke 22:42).

Application to us: This is a great prayer! Stephen emulated his Savior when being stoned to death for Christ (Acts 7:51-60). “Commend” means to submit. Personally I find these words, while in prayer, rolling off my lips – submitting afresh, daily, and asking the LORD to take full control.

5. “Woman, behold thy son … Behold thy mother” (Jn. 19:26-27).

Jesus, looking down from the cross, was still filled with the concerns of a son for the earthly needs of his mother. None of his half brothers or sisters were there to care for her, so He gave this task to the apostle John (Mark 6:3). Here we see Christ’s humanity.

Application to us: We must take care of earthly responsibilities according to the counsel of the written Word of our God (Psalms 119; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

6. “I thirst” (Jn. 19:28)

Jesus refused the initial drink of vinegar, gall, and myrrh offered to alleviate his suffering (Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23). But here, several hours later, we see Jesus fulfilling the messianic prophecy found in Psalm 69:21. By saying He was thirsty, Jesus prompted the Roman guards to give Him vinegar, which was customary at a crucifixion, thereby fulfilling the prophecy which showed that everything was happening according to God’s plan.

Application to us: We must endure hardness, bitter sufferings and seasons (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 2:3; James 1:2-4, 12, etc.).

7. “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30).

This means “paid in full.” The sin debt for all was fully satisfied in the sacrifice of our LORD Jesus Christ, the ultimate price was paid to satisfy the claims of the Father’s justice to redeem fallen mankind (Isaiah 53:11). He is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Application to us: Jesus accomplished our salvation single handedly, satisfying the claims of divine justice to redeem fallen mankind. He died to abolish law-keeping for righteousness and so we must “walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14-19; Hebrews, etc.) Read Romans 3-5; Galatians.

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“It is Finished”!

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30　 What Exactly was “Finished” at the Cross? WHAT Did Jesus Fulfill? What Did Jesus Finish? What did the Son of God Accomplish by Dying for Our Sins on that Cross? Much Divine Truth is Locked Up in This On the cross Jesus declared “It is finished” but what is it that was “finished”? (John 19:30) Let’s peer a bit into this ultimate truth… “It is finished” in John 19:30: “Finished” Strong’s Concordance teleó: to bring to an end, complete, fulfill Original Word: τελέω […]

How We Know the Bible is the only Holy Book on Planet Earth [podcast]

Only God knows the future. Law of probability and the fulfillment of Bible prophecies: Odds of the 332 prophecies of the prophets concerning the coming Messiah, given hundreds of years prior to His arrival coming true are: 8,749,002,899,132,046,697,490,008,908,470,485,461,412,622,723,572,849,745,… 703,082,425,425,639,811,996,797,503,692,894,052,708,092,215,296 to 1 Fact: Only the Almighty could know the future and forthtell it in specific detail, long before it ever happened. THIS is how we know that the Bible is truly the Word of the one true God and that all other so-called “holy books” are frauds. “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” […]

The Supremacy of Jesus Christ [podcast]

Do We Have Time to Learn More About the LORD Jesus today, OR, are We Just looking for Yet Another Quick Fix, Self-Serving Feel-Good Message like so many professing Christians today? The modern church is too busy to study Christ Himself because they’re too busy trying to use Him to get what they want. Let that soak in as you remember how long it’s been since you’ve heard a message specifically about Heaven’s King. Most modern “pastors” probably don’t even know what the word Christology means. God created us to know Him and yet, such doesn’t happen without the recipient […]

Abiding

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

The Cost of Discipleship

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Those who count the cost refuse to count their own life dear to themselves and this is the only way not to be derailed, to finish our course, enduring to the end.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11

Those who balk at and ignore that Jesus says you MUST “endure to the end” to be “saved” into eternal glory, simply do not love Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13, etc.). Jesus is not worth their life. They were worth His life which He gave for them on the cross, yet the Son of God is not worth giving up their own life in this fleeting world. Counterfeits. These are the frauds who hide behind the eternal security sham.

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

EARTHLY FAMILY DOES NOT COME FIRST – THE LORD DOES

By divine design, there’s an order of priority in the Ten Commandments. Here’s the first of the ten:

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

And the fifth:

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

Honoring God supersedes even the love we have for our husband/wife.

“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 commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus knew that if we don’t love Him supremely, we will allow other relationships to interfere and circumvent our relationship with Him.

If we don’t hate those other relationships compared to our love for Him, our decisions will be affected, will be to please them and not Him. When we love the LORD supremely, His will takes precedence, priority over all others.

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

We must love the LORD so much that our love for others is near to being hate in comparison. If we don’t love God supremely, others will without exception, drag us downward and away from Him.

Of this passage in Luke 14, FB Meyer wrote:

“Our love must be greater than the ties of family affection, Luk_14:26; must be greater than our love for our own way, which must be nailed to the Cross, Luk_14:27; must be greater than our love of possessions and property, Luk_14:33. Christ has done more than any other teacher to cement the relationships of human love, but He always asks that they should be subordinated to the claims of God. Oh, for the love that Paul had! See Php_3:8.”

“What a comfort it is to realize that God counted the cost before He set about the task of redemption, whether of a world or of us as individuals. He knew all that it would cost, and surely He did not begin what He cannot complete!”

In Matthew 10, after speaking of the essential of enduring to the end (v22), Jesus gives warning concerning those things most likely to derail and prohibit our enduring to the end in His will.

“And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:36-37

Of this Adam Clarke wrote:

“He that loveth father or mother more than me – He whom we love the most is he whom we study most to please, and whose will and interests we prefer in all cases. If, in order to please a father or mother who are opposed to vital godliness, we abandon God’s ordinances and followers, we are unworthy of any thing but hell.”

Of Matthew 10:34-42, FB Meyer writes profoundly:

“RECEIVING CHRIST’S REPRESENTATIVES

In Jesus Christ we acquire a new affinity, stronger than that of family ties. When we enter into the family of God we belong to all His children. They are our brethren and sisters in the most intimate sense. See Mat_12:48-50. The new love that floods our nature does not make us less but more tender and sympathetic toward our own kith and kin; but if we are compelled to choose, then we must stand with the children of God, though it should rend us from the old happy family life in which we were nurtured.

As to the closing paragraph, may we not illustrate it thus? When the widow who sustained Elijah at Zarephath entered Paradise, she found herself standing amid the great prophets of Israel. When she asked the attendant angel whether there was not some mistake, he replied, ‘Certainly not. In treating the prophet as you did, you proved yourself to be of the same spirit and temper as he; and it is but right that you should share in the prophet’s reward.’”

To those who are entangled with earthly family, namely unbelievers who are not repenting, it would be spiritually beneficial to get free, to cease your dependence on them and to sever the soul ties and cease basing your emotional well-being on them and how they view you and your decisions. Lay the axe to the root as you denounce false obligation to them. “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). Read Matthew 10.

You are no longer your own. You are bought with the price of Christ’s blood (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). You now and forever are a part, a member of the eternal family of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:14-15).

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole FAMILY in heaven and earth is named,” Ephesians 3:14-15

Jesus Addressed the Excuses

Jesus addresses excuses, diversions concerning obeying Him, asserting our highest priority – the LORD, not family. The point becomes even clearer – that we are to be captive to the LORD, our “first love,” supremely, and not family (Revelation 2:4-5).

“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father (wait till parents die). 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-62

Jesus further establishes that He is to be supreme in our lives and those who are His – not natural familial bonds. The body of Christ, its members, are our eternal family.

“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:27-28

The harshest of biblical truth is the delicacy, the delight of the true disciple of Jesus. He runs to all of it and never from any of it. He embraces the cross, never evading it. He delights in the sword of the Spirit that cuts to the core and carves the image of Christ into his life – into the fabric, the innermost core of who he is in Christ! Christ and Christ alone is his sole identity and he counts not his own life in this world dear unto himself so that he is able to finish his course with great joy – hearing from His Savior the sweetest of all words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant … enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21; Acts 20:24; Romans 8:29; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; 2 Timothy 2:3).

Militancy is essential in our abiding relationship with Christ (Matthew 11:12). Heartfelt love also.

So many today who claim Christ view salvation as something they did in the past and not a present relationship with Christ on His stated terms (John 15; Titus 1:16).

Jesus commands His very own to “endure unto the end” to be “saved,” and unless one becomes deliberate, absolute, militant, he will not make it “unto the end” with Christ (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 9:43-49; 2 Timothy 2:3, etc.).

“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage (a messenger to negotiate peace), and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:25-33

“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.” 2 Timothy 3:5-7

Striving Lawfully – That is, According to the Rules, the Terms

Denouncing the crippling, corrupting comforts of Laodicea. Grasping for the obedient love of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-22).

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5

May God bless each of His people to “endure hardness” as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). Take note that “there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). The LORD made His servant Jeremiah obey Him on His terms. God never bends or modifies, bends the rules (2 Timothy 2:5). We must not deceive ourselves and must “strive lawfully” which means according to HIS terms, not our own or any other.

“And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:5

“Be Not Weary in Well Doing”

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

SATAN tempting you to give up? Who wins if you do? Where shall you turn? Turning away from God means we are without Him in our life and trials, right? The LORD, who is your Potter, has a plan. He will absolutely bring you through the floods of water and fire! (Isaiah 43:1-2; Jeremiah 18:1-6) After saving us, God has to bring us to an end of ourselves and that happens through “much tribulation” (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4; 12:7-12, etc.). Read 2 Corinthians 4. When Jesus had fed the flesh of the multitudes, they turned and walked away from the Savior. But…

“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68

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Discipleship | Enduring to the End | Abiding | The Blessing of Suffering

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