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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 a brother in Christ who called and spoke with him. 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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Articles

Darwin’s Demise: What they don’t want You to know about Charles Darwin! [podcast]


“Darwin’s theories are hardly irrefutable. He refuted them himself. This is how science works. Even he conceded that his theories would never be proven. Any actual learned Darwinist would have to concede the same. Also, we use the term ‘evolution’ so improperly that it’s become desensitized to actual facts of biology. We misuse it. Evolution is most often times intertwined with ‘adaptation’, which it is not. It’s like saying the term ‘free’ is the same as the term ‘no cost to you.’ Those are also obviously different. In any case, the ‘evolution of hominids’ is nonsense. These are nothing more than piles of various bones cherry picked to put the skeletons that they hope to display together. God made man in His image. Not in a monkey’s image. His.” Dave Fury

Darwin himself described the lack of transitional fossils as, “… the most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory.”

With the theory of evolution, we still lack much evidence. Where do we go from here?

Why do we not have unlimited fossil records of missing links of transitional forms if Darwin’s theory of evolution is true?

For example: If man came from apes, why are there still apes? And, where is the fossil record of the intermediary, transitional stages?

Shocking Charles Darwin Quotes

“But, as by this theory, innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth?” (Darwin, Origin of Species, 1859).

“When we descend to details we can prove that no one species has changed (i.e., we cannot prove that a single species has changed): nor can we prove that the supposed changes are beneficial, which is the groundwork of the theory.” Charles Darwin, 1863

“To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree.” – Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, 1st Ed., p. 186.

“I have asked myself whether I may not have devoted my life to a fantasy . . . I am ready to cry with vexation at my blindness and presumption” Charles Darwin [12].

“Often a cold shudder has run through me, and I have asked myself whether I may have not devoted myself to a fantasy.” (Charles Darwin, Life and Letters, 1887, Vol. 2, p. 229)

“The number of intermediate varieties, which have formerly existed must be truly enormous. Why then is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps is the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against the theory.” (Darwin, Charles, Origin of Species, 6th edition, 1902 p. 341-342)

[Darwin and evolutionary theory is racist]

“The more civilized so-called Caucasian races have beaten the Turkish hollow in the struggle for existence. Looking to the world at no very distant date, what an endless number of the lower races will have been eliminated by the higher civilized races throughout the world.” – Charles Darwin, Life and Letters, p. 318.

“Not one change of species into another is on record…we cannot prove that a single species has been changed.” Charles Darwin, My Life & Letters

Science overwhelming confirms the biblical record of creation. Science clearly disproves the secularist humanism religious mere theory of evolution.

“I am convinced, moreover, that Darwinism, in whatever form, is not in fact a scientific theory, but a pseudo-metaphysical hypothesis decked out in scientific garb. In reality the theory derives its support not from empirical data or logical deductions of a scientific kind but from the circumstance that it happens to be the only doctrine of biological origins that can be conceived with the constricted worldview to which a majority of scientists no doubt subscribe.” (Wolfgang, Smith, “The Universe is Ultimately to be Explained in Terms of a Metacosmic Reality” in Margenau and Varghese (eds.), Cosmos, Bios, Theos, p. 113)

“The origin of life is still a mystery. As long as it has not been demonstrated by experimental realization, I cannot conceive of any physical or chemical condition [allowing evolution] . . . I cannot be satisfied by the idea that fortuitous mutation . . . can explain the complex and rational organization of the brain, but also of lungs, heart, kidneys, and even joints and muscles. How is it possible to escape the idea of some intelligent and organizing force?” (d’Aubigne, Merle, “How Is It Possible to Escape the Idea of Some Intelligent and Organizing Force?” in Margenau and Varghese (eds.), Cosmos, Bios, Theos, p. 158)

“Life, even in bacteria, is too complex to have occurred by chance.” (Rubin, Harry, “Life, Even in Bacteria, Is Too Complex to Have Occurred by Chance” in Margenau and Varghese (eds.), Cosmos, Bios, Theos, p. 203)

“The theory of evolution suffers from grave defects, which are more and more apparent as time advances. It can no longer square with practical scientific knowledge, nor does it suffice for our theoretical grasp of the facts.” (Fleischmann, Albert, Victoria Institute, Vol. 65, pp. 194-195)

Professor Fleischmann sums up his estimate of the Darwinian theory of the descent of man by affirming that “it has in the realms of nature not a single fact to confirm it. It is not the result of scientific research, but purely the product of the imagination.”

“The arguments for macroevolution fail at every significant level when confronted by the facts.” (Haines, Jr., Roger, “Macroevolution Questioned”, Creation Research Society Quarterly, Dec. 1976, p. 169)

Macroevolution refers (most of the time, in practice) to evolutionary patterns and processes above the species level.

“Scientists have no proof that life was not the result of an act of creation.” (Jastrow, Robert, The Enchanted Loom: Mind In the Universe, 1981, p. 19)

“Evolution is accepted by zoologists not because it has been proved or observed, but because creation is incredible.” (Watson, D.M.S., Nature, August 10, 1929)

“Evolution is unproved and unprovable. We believe it only because the only alternative is special creation which is unthinkable.” (Keith, Arthur, forward to 100th anniversary edition of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, 1959)

“The pathetic thing is that we have scientists who are trying to prove evolution, which no scientist can ever prove.” (Millikan, Robert A., Nashville Banner, August 7, 1925, quoted in Brewer’s lecture)

“Scientists have to be humble. We have not said the last word. It is the best story we have got but it has to be amended all the time. It should be regarded not as a doctrine but as a scientific hypothesis. We have to look at it all the time to see its weak points and point them out and not try to cover up the weak points. One of its weak points is that it does not have any way in which conscious life could have emerged, in which living organisms could become conscious in the evolutionary process and how in the end they could become self-conscious as we are.” page 163,- Tom Scharle

“To the unprejudiced, the fossil record of plants is in favor of special creation. Can you imagine how an orchid, a duck weed, and a palm have come from the same ancestry, and have we any evidence for this assumption? The evolutionist must be prepared with an answer, but I think that most would break down before an inquisition.” (E.J.H. Corner “Evolution” in A.M. MacLeod and L.S. Cobley, eds., Evolution in Contemporary Botanical Thought, Chicago, IL: Quadrangle Books, 1961, at 95, 97 from Bird, I, p. 234)

“If living matter is not, then, caused by the interplay of atoms, natural forces and radiation, how has it come into being? I think, however, that we must go further than this and admit that the only acceptable explanation is creation. I know that this is anathema to physicists, as indeed it is to me, but we must not reject a theory that we do not like if the experimental evidence supports it.” (H.J. Lipson, F.R.S. Professor of Physics, University of Manchester, UK, “A physicist looks at evolution” Physics Bulletin, 1980, vol 31, p. 138)

“All of us who study the origin of life find that the more we look into it, the more we feel that it is too complex to have evolved anywhere. We believe as an article of faith that life evolved from dead matter on this planet. It is just that its complexity is so great, it is hard for us to imagine that it did.” (Urey, Harold C., quoted in Christian Science Monitor, January 4, 1962, p. 4)

“At the present stage of geological research, we have to admit that there is nothing in the geological records that runs contrary to the view of conservative creationists, that God created each species separately, presumably from the dust of the earth.” (Dr. Edmund J. Ambrose, The Nature and Origin of the Biological World, John Wiley & Sons, 1982, p. 164)

“The more one studies paleontology, the more certain one becomes that evolution is based on faith alone; exactly the same sort of faith which it is necessary to have when one encounters the great mysteries of religion.” (More, Louis T., “The Dogma of Evolution,” Princeton University Press: Princeton NJ, 1925, Second Printing, p.160)

“There are only two possibilities as to how life arose. One is spontaneous generation arising to evolution; the other is a supernatural creative act of God. There is no third possibility. Spontaneous generation, that life arose from non-living matter was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others. That leaves us with the only possible conclusion that life arose as a supernatural creative act of God. I will not accept that philosophically because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore, I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible; spontaneous generation arising to evolution.” (Wald, George, “Innovation and Biology,” Scientific American, Vol. 199, Sept. 1958, p. 100)

Science overwhelmingly confirms the biblical record of creation. Science clearly disproves the secular humanism religious mere theory of evolution.

“The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalms 14:1

If “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,” the wise people say in their hearts that “There is a God, you’re not Him – and we are all accountable to Him.”

“As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

Not one library the world over contains a stitch of proof that evolution is true.

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” Romans 1:22

Atheism – The belief that there was nothing and nothing happened to nothing and then nothing magically exploded for no reason, creating everything and then a bunch of everything magically rearranged itself for no reason whatsoever into self-replicating bits which then turned into dinosaurs. Makes perfect sense.

It simply doesn’t matter how many scientific sounding words or theories one uses, we know from the first law of thermodynamics that matter cannot appear accidentally, by chance. We didn’t need someone to coin a “law” to know what the very first law of thermodynamics admits – that something cannot come out of nothing.

In His Word, God warns us of “avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20). False science is designed to oppose true science which acknowledges that which is self-evident. Much of what presents itself today, that which comes in the mere name of “science” is nothing more than an atheistic religion designed to deny that creation has a Creator. Consider the source. The atheistic peddlers of the debunked mere theory of evolution can be found to be miserable deniers of the obvious. More in a moment on how it’s been rightly stated that evolution is a “fairy tale for grownups.”

Remember, science is the mere study of the creation of an Almighty infinite Creator by the mere finite human.

Making Peace with God – Before it’s too late. | Atheism/Evolution

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Apostasy

Beware of “Private Interpretation” [podcast]


NO MAN GAVE THE TRUTH AND NO MAN CONTROLS IT

ANY person who doesn’t uphold God’s Word as final divine authority on all matters of faith, is 100% “NOT of God” according to the Son of God (John 8:47).

“Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.” Romans 3:4

Is God or are mere men confused?

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 

Beware of those who violate, who speak contradictory to other parts of God’s Word in order to sell you on their “revelation.” Known truth, biblically stated truth must never be contradicted. The LORD is not confused and so we conclude that anyone upholding what they believe to be truth that contradicts known biblical truth, is confused at best. Beware of what the Holy Spirit calls “private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:19-21) More in a moment on this.

Many seek to use commentaries, historians and the like to paint the picture, the outcome they desire because they do not love the LORD and therefore His truth. If God wanted us to have more it’d be in His Word…. I am not opposed to background information but that’s not divinely inspired Holy Scripture and many people try to change the outcome of biblical truth by using extra-biblical sources. Beware. They attempt to create a path to an unbiblical conclusion because they are “not valiant for the truth.” (Jeremiah 9:3)

It’s convoluted theology to speak against, contrary to the whole of the Word of God which among other things says “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16) Ignoring known, clearly stated Bible truth to perpetrate a certain view is bearing false witness against the LORD, is confusion, and is violence against the Holy Scriptures and the picture painted by the WHOLE of God’s Word. This is also a refusal to rightly divide the Word of truth but instead a deliberate, subjective ignoring of divine truth in order to perpetrate an agenda (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15).

Many today interpret the Bible for their own self-serving purpose or liking, based on being predisposed to certain traditions, philosophies, and clichés. This is exactly what Jesus cited the false religionists of His day for doing (Mark 7:6-9).

God gave His Word to us and will reveal Himself and His will to each of His saints as they seek Him, studying His words thoroughly, diligently, daily. 

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

God gave us the Holy Scriptures to reveal to us who He is and yet, the individual must come to Jesus personally to know Him and understand His Precepts, His kingdom truths. Like the religionists Jesus is addressing above, many who think they know God are not known of God at all because they refuse to truly repent and seek His holy face.

Exactly as Jesus warned, there are “many false prophets” today to accommodate counterfeits, tares (Matthew 7:15; 24:11).

Many times we hear men stand up to speak, claiming they’ve been studying a topic in the Bible extensively – and insinuating that on the basis of THEIR study, you should just buy wholesale everything they’re about the say. There are “many deceivers” operating today (2 John 7-11). Out of the pride of their hearts we hear men preface their message this way, boasting of their study, to set up and snare the unlearned, the gullible when in reality many of them have simply borrowed the errors of other men. Yet we must judge all that is taught against our own personal, diligent study of the whole of God’s Word and never buy the subjective claims of mere men. This is the very reason so many are deceived today. Following man’s supposed revelation, interpretations, instead of getting God’s revelation for ourselves, firsthand, is the recipe to be deceived. There are no shortcuts to personally, thoroughly studying the whole counsel of God’s Word for ourselves. | The Importance of Personal, Organic Bible Study 

This scenario often plays out when someone is teaching on the end times, claiming or insinuating that they have come up with special revelation. At times they will claim to definitely know and have figured out who the antichrist is, the specifics and timing of end time events, and secrets about these last days. Yet, at least some of those things they claim to have special knowledge of are not specifically, expressly written in the Bible. Beware of the “private interpretation” of mere men.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21

God’s Word, the words of God recorded in Holy Writ, were inspired by the Holy Spirit and were not written from any mere man’s “private interpretation”, nor are the words of God to be twisted and done violence to by anyone today for their own “private interpretation” to promulgate their own view, doctrine, or agenda.

Notice in this passage above that through Peter, the Holy Spirit puts the personal responsibility upon the individual disciple to “take heed” to the Word of God, to study it daily, diligently as the revelation of Christ and His will rises in our hearts, dawns on us – “ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”

God expects His people to study thoroughly and to know His Word for themselves.

“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

No man controls the truth nor does he control the interpretation of divine truth which is self-evident and to be first and foremost studied and understood by individual disciples. Yes, God calls elders out to teach HIS Word, to let God’s Word dwell richly among His people, and yet the LORD alone teaches the individual believers heart His truth (Colossians 3:16). This is the individual priesthood of each and every blood bought saint of Christ. Jesus saves the individual sinner first and foremost who is then and only then an individual member of His one body (Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 12).

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. …26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 1 John 2:20-27

Ultimately, and most importantly, God teaches each and every one of His individual saints – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27)

Those who aren’t objective with the whole counsel of Scripture clearly prove their hearts are not honest, not authentic, and sincere before the LORD (Luke 8:15; John 7:16; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Peter 3:16, etc.).

Beware of Being a “Back it Up” Bubba

Personally studying God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation, organically, is ultra-important. | The Importance of Personal, Organic Bible Study 

To “back up” a belief with Scripture seems to really mean: “I believe ABC doctrine and I’m hell bent on finding Bible verses to prove it!” In other words someone like this doesn’t really care what the whole of Scripture teaches as much as they care to hold on to some pet doctrine (it’s usually something to justify their sin such as the falsehood of eternal security).

Some put forth their subjective beliefs and defend those beliefs by saying “I can back everything up with scripture.” Satan can too as we see him do when tempting Jesus (Luke 4). The devil used Scripture out of context as many today do. Are we merely backing up what WE say and what WE currently believe with Scripture or are we simply reading and diligently studying the whole counsel of Holy Scripture and letting GOD speak for Himself as we “compare spiritual things (Scripture, known truth) with spiritual things”? (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15) Big difference. Think about that. Men and devils can deceitfully make the Bible say anything THEY want it to say but that doesn’t make it biblically sound and true. We must beware of our own tendency to espouse and hold on to philosophies, notions, and doctrines that do not line up with the whole counsel of God’s Word and we must be corrected (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The disciple of Jesus, without exception, will be ever more rooted and grounded in the final divine authority of the written Word of God.

Jesus told us exactly who is “of God” and who is “NOT of God.”

“He that is OF GOD heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are NOT OF GOD.” John 8:47

ALL who are “of God” uphold His Word as final divine authority, with no exception.

When discussing any matter, specifically spiritually, the main issue is what God’s Word says, which is His “truth” and when one is valiant for His truth, such a man will not rely on anything except God’s Word (Jeremiah 9:3; John 17:17). God says we can be CERTAIN about what He says concerning any topic revealed in His Word – “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee KNOW the CERTAINTY of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Proverbs 22:20-21)

We must honestly examine our own selves to see WHY we believe WHAT we currently believe. Discernment, “rightly dividing the word of truth” seem to be concretely connected to searching the Scriptures as we see with the Bereans who tested Paul and all that he taught, right? (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:10-11) Lots of people who talk about discernment trust their own subjective discernment instead of letting the written WORD be their two edged sword of discernment (Hebrews 4:12). Many believe they are discerning correctly and yet aren’t daily, diligently being grounded in the written Word, which God will never contradict (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

The Berean Saints are a Great Example to us Today

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10-11

May the reader be exhorted to become intimately familiar with the above passage, noticing that the Bereans didn’t even take Christ’s apostle Paul at his word. No, they “searched the scriptures daily” for themselves to see “whether those thing were so” that Paul was preaching.

As was the case with the Berean disciples who listened to Paul preach, God intends for us to partake in, to hear preaching and yet, all must be cross examined against our own personal searching of His Word for ourselves (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17). On that note, do you remember when the LORD Jesus spoke to the woman at the well and how when He revealed Himself to her as the Messiah she ran out and told everyone? Yet, those men didn’t fully embrace Christ till they personally went to see Him for themselves.

“The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. … 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Acts 4:28-30, 42 

No Greek or Hebrew is needed and is certainly not the main rule of interpretation. We must take God’s preserved Word for what it clearly states in our own language, as we compile, compound, put together Scripture with Scripture (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 2:13). This is the method of priority in apprehending truth, the highest, stated rule of interpreting truth. A thorough gathering of all Scripture pertaining to the given study, is essential.

“TAUGHT OF GOD”

“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all TAUGHT OF GOD. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” John 6:45

“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are TAUGHT OF GOD to love one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9

The LORD alone is “the truth”, gave us His truth – His written Word – and presides over it, teaching it to His people (John 14:6; Psalms 146:6, etc.). His written Word is final divine authority and taught by Him to His people in abiding relationship (John 14:26; 16:13-14).

Beware of “Private Interpretation”

Being crucified with Christ means one is emptied of self, self-will, self-agenda, and abandoned to God’s will. This means that such a person searches out and embraces the biblical truth, no matter where it leads. He never bends the truth to try to fit a tradition or doctrine but rather reject any previous believed notion when the Word says differently (Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17, etc.).

Those who engage in the sinful activity of privately interpreting Scripture, do so because …

  1. They themselves are un-repentant, not denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Timothy 4:2-4)
  2. They refuse to let God be true and every man a liar – beginning with their own wicked hearts (Romans 3:4)
  3. They value tradition about divine truth (Mark 7:6-9)
  4. They do no hold God’s Word as final divine authority though they claim to (John 8:47)
  5. They refuse to be honest with the whole counsel of Holy Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17)

Beware of those who seek to control the interpretation of God’s Word – those who impose their own notions and doctrine onto God’s truth. There are many who read things into Scripture which are not in the Scriptures. Let’s read again our central passage:

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21

“Private interpretation” seems to point to the agenda and act of self application based on tradition or preconceived notions. Not allowing God to speak for Himself via a thorough study of the whole counsel of His written Word. Application or interpretation based on self desires or that which conforms to some extra-biblical notion or doctrine of men.

Here’s the Greek word for “private”

G2398
ἴδιος
idios
id’-ee-os
Of uncertain affinity; pertaining to self, that is, one’s own (agenda); by implication private or separate: – X his acquaintance, when they were alone, apart, aside, due, his (own, proper, several), home, (her, our, thine, your) own (business), private (-ly), proper, severally, their (own).

Greek word for “interpretation”

G1955
ἐπίλυσις
epilusis
ep-il’-oo-sis
From G1956; explanation, that is, application: – interpretation.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

Not only did the Holy Ghost give us God’s written Word, but also it’s the Holy Ghost that teaches individual saints. Here’s how:

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which THE HOLY GHOST TEACHETH; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:13

Believers are “taught of God” as they study and collate Scripture. This is never to be infringed upon or controlled by elders. That’s one reason for the plurality of elders in the local expressions, the gatherings of Christ’s body. There’s safety in a plurality of elders who should thereby be held accountable and rebuked when needed (Titus 1:5, etc.).

As Christ’s saints continue “stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”, they compare, put together, collate line upon line, Bible verse upon Bible verse, in ordain to be “taught of God” His truth (Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16). 

“Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”

RED FLAG: When you witness a man, an elder, who dodges or doesn’t want certain BIBLE verses read, due to that truth contradicting his tradition/heresy, you know you have a man who is in need of repentance (Mark 7:6-9). Such a man’s heart is not captive to the Word of God. He has his own evil agenda. Such a wolf will seek to impose his doctrine of men and devils on others and must be rebuked.

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:19-20

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2

The root reason people choose the lie of OSAS is that they simply refuse to truly repent and lay down their lives in this fleeting world. So they are willing to wax over and avoid mountains of biblical truths and warnings. They have their own agenda they hold in reserve. They are not given over to Christ. They believed and were saved and yet didn’t continue in the truth – which Jesus says is essential.

Many times, the ones who cry “context, context, context” are those taking God’s Word out of context in order to perpetrate their heresy. They don’t want the real context because though they pose as Christians, they are not men of truth and so don’t honestly follow the Word of God honestly, no matter where it may lead. They don’t like the context of Holy Scripture – because it simply doesn’t say what they want it to say. They have a predetermined outcome, a doctrinal goal they want to reach and are willing to bait and switch, do acrobats, and ignore Scripture that doesn’t agree with their heresy. These are not honest people. Their goal is to reach their predetermined conclusion.

The Bible reveals that un-repentant people migrate to false teachers, false doctrines (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Counterfeits invent ways to excuse themselves from accountability to Scripture. Though they regularly and selectively refer to and read the Old Testament Scriptures, when you quote or read them Holy Scripture from the Old Testament to expose OSAS, they will scream “but that’s Old Testament!” Nice try. But “ALL scripture” is given to New Testament saints and we are told that we are taught by those very Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:17; Romans 15;4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). Also, this same truth as is taught in the passage below, is also taught and confirmed all over the New Testament and from Genesis to Revelation.

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:11-13

Eternal Security is a Lie from Hell.

The Ultimate Teacher is Divine

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14

GOD alone “keepeth truth”, is the Divine Source and Steward of His Truth

“…the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:” Psalms 146:6

Notice the Hebrew word for “keepeth” here….

H8104

שָׁמַר

shâmar

shaw-mar’

A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.: – beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).

Total KJV occurrences: 468

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Abiding

The Benefits of Knowing and Delighting in the LORD [podcast]


Delighting ourselves in Him

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

Loving God with a Whole Heart, our Whole Being

“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 22:37-40

Abiding in Christ, Asking

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7

Jesus Must Be Our “First love”

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5

“That Your Joy May be Full”

“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24

“That is the only place I want to be at the feet of Jesus drinking in His word. Soaking up all He has to say to me! I do not ever want to be arrogant enough to believe I can make it without Jesus. Everyday I tell Him how much I need Him. I am nothing without Jesus!! Oh how I long to be with Him! Yearning for the day when I shall see Him in the clouds. Coming to take us home! Hallelujah!” Karen Cochran

Truly Delighting in the LORD

“Many take this verse out of context (Psalm 37:4). For many years all I would hear Christians say was, ‘He will give you the desires of your heart.’ This then becomes all about you. They would leave out the first part, which says you must delight yourself in the Lord. I came to realize that when you delight in Him, He changes your heart, and you begin to desire what He desires. He aligns your heart with His heart!” Karen Cochran

The subject matter of your prayers reveals if you are about you, or about Jesus.

To illustrate our relationship with Christ, one write of old noted:

“The life of self is death.

The death of self is life.”

There cannot and will not be a resurrection until there is a death. Death and burial must precede raising up. Read Romans 6 each morning this week and ask God to help you life a doornail dead life!

Am I delighting in the LORD? If not, how can He possibly grant the desires of my heart?

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

When we delight in the LORD, our lives are crucified with Christ, we are one with Him and He is filling our hearts with His desires – to worship, love, and obey Him. What we ask Him for in prayer will change. Instead of “LORD, please give me this or that fleeting trinket,” it will be “LORD, please let this life be crucified with Thee. Help me to love You more. Use me to edify Your people and minister Your bless-ed Gospel to the lost souls You died and raise against to save.”

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29

Run from any wolf who is not squaring you up regularly to inform you that the LORD mandates your death so that He can fill and raise your life upward, Heavenward, for His eternal glory.

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, thank You so very much for sending Your only begotten Son to find, rescue, forgive, and save me into Your glorious eternal kingdom. Please help me to know and love You more. Sanctify my life and conform me to the image of Christ. Please wash me afresh with Your precious blood LORD Jesus. Use me to help others know You dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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