Abiding

Having a Heart after the LORD

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]

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

IF we don’t have a heart after God today, all we have is dead religion, A MERE FORM OF GODLINESS (Acts 13:22; 2 Timothy 3:5).

Having a heart after God, a heart, a life that relentlessly seeks the LORD is a choice, today.

We are either choosing to be full of self or full of Christ. Here’s how we can be full of Christ:

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

By default, the person who is not fervently seeking Jesus today, is full of self, not the Savior (Matthew 5:6).

Your prayer life or lack thereof is a clear reading of what your life with Christ truly is, or is not.

Who are “THEY”?

IF you are seeking Him…

He’s filling you!

“Blessed are THEY which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for THEY shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

As you are seeking the face of the LORD continually, He’s filling you to motor victoriously through every fear and every trial! Boom Jesus! Memorize the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5:6.

A great prayer right this moment is …. Heavenly Father, please grant me to have a pure heart, a poor in spirit heart, and an heart after Thee. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“We would see Jesus” is the cry of every Heaven-bound child of God (John 12:21).

When the LORD had examined all of Jesse’s son to see who should be king in Israel, He passed by the tall, strong, handsome, established men to get to beloved David. David is the only person in all the Bible called by God “a man after mine own heart.”

“And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:22

The eyes of the Almighty are scanning the earth today, looking, searching for that one heart that pants after Him.

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

What do we learn from this verse?

The LORD is looking, scanning the earth
The LORD is looking for a heart perfect toward Him
The LORD is not looking for perfect performance. If He were He wouldn’t be looking at mankind at all. The present state of your heart is what’s important to Him (1 Samuel 16:7).

May it be said of us, of you beloved of God, that you have a heart that is perfect toward your God, one that pants for more of Him daily.

Notice this Scripture and how it says “heart” that is “perfect toward your God” and not performance. Wow! Selah. Meditate on that one. Your past performance means nothing to the LORD. What matters now, this moment, is whether or not you will turn your heart truly to Him, to cry out to Him.

The true servant of the LORD will always foster in you a love for Jesus, a desire to know Him more (John 17:3; Phlippians 3:10). His love for Jesus is contagious. He will never draw attention to himself but only point all to Christ crucified – as revealed in Holy Scripture!

Religious or bloodline pedigree is zilch in Christ’s kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28; 23:8-12). He aggrandizes the heart that follows hard after Him (Psalms 63:8). Who’d you rather spend a day with?

a seminarian graduate (they are a dime a dozen), or
a humble disciple with a heart after the LORD?

SATAN created the system where people feel like they’ve sought God because they attended Sunday morning church service. Not. So, they coast all week, backsliding more each day for lack of the presence of God filling their lives via daily seeking Him. By biblical definition, foolish virgins are those who were once saved, espoused to the Bridegroom of Heaven, and yet have since fallen away from intimacy with Him and will be shut out of His eternal bridal chamber if they don’t repent and return to Jesus as “first love.” (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 2:4-5)

Jesus promised that those of His people who die lukewarm will be spued from His holy mouth, rejected.

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16

Those who pretend to serve God, those who read His Word and fellowship in prayer with Him only when they feel like it, when crisis hits, when it’s convenient to their own self-serving, self-worshiping, self-idolatrous life, are backslidden and hell bound. Repent now, lay down your life and obey God. The fires of eternal damnation are going to forever feed upon your helpless, conscious soul if you don’t repent and return to Jesus as the “first love” of your life (Revelation 2:4-5).

Personally, I am constantly aware of the danger of the danger of the dehydration of the body and therefore continue to militantly force water into my body hourly. In the same way, and much more importantly with eternal consequence, we must be disciplined followers of Christ, empowered by His truth, the warning, and the Holy Spirit to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) “Men ought ALWAYS to pray and not to faint.” (Luke 18:1) Those who don’t drink lots of fresh water will have physical problems and those who don’t drink from the well of the LORD in prayer without ceasing, will suffer defeat here and eternally (Matthew 26:41) | Pray without Ceasing

Talking to God in prayer is more important than our speaking to men about God (ministering). The greatest temptation we face is rejecting Christ, denying Him the “first love” place in our lives which includes time, our hearts, our lives in the temporal world (Revelation 2:4-5). Those who do not commune with the LORD in prayer, simply will not be imbued with His divine anointing to effectively, powerfully minister to others.

“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, p. xxiii-xxiv The disciples asked Jesus “Teach us to pray” and not “teach us to preach.”

Those not delighting in the LORD daily have self as their idol.

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

Are you lukewarm, fallen away, or are you one “that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee (the LORD)“? (Isaiah 64:7)

Those not delighting in the LORD daily have self as their idol.

Beware of the Pitfalls

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 1 Corinthians 13:5

Ultimately we shall all stand before the LORD to give account and yet, that’s not all the Bible says. Many isolate themselves from God’s people and His Word spoken through His people (Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16). They hide in darkness with the attitude that “God will judge me so leave me alone” because they are not accountable to Christ and therefore want no self-examination or the help of the body of Christ. David said: “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head.” (Psalms 141:5)

The Word of God carries the judgments of God in order that we might know Him and be prepared to meet Him (Psalm 119). The Judge of our eternal souls has spoken and thank God it’s an open book test we can pass if we truly repent, lay down our lives in this world, put our faith in Christ, and say with John the Baptist – “He must increase but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

“Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Proverbs 6:23b

Life in Christ involves continual learning, a never ending classroom of divine instruction and correction, of learning to lay down our lives, to abandon ourselves to Christ – crucified with Him, dead and buried, and raised up by Him! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)

We know when our lives are not practically dead and buried with Christ when the works of the flesh are raising their ugly head! (Galatians 5:16-24) So, we know then to get back to the cross, right? | The Crucified Life

“Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” Hosea 4:11

SIN takes away the heart. In other words, the reason some aren’t full of holy conviction, fervent in spirit, full of the love and zeal of the LORD, is due to their own choice not to repent, be sanctified, and follow Jesus. Self and sin rule their lives, not Christ.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Greed is a soul damning sin. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-17.

SUCCESS is not money. No, it’s an abiding oneness, relationship with Jesus! Jn 15, 17

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

God promises that He will be found of us as and only if we seek Him.

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity…” Jeremiah 29:12-14

“If thou seek him, he will be found of thee.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

By Satanic Design

In the modern church building meetings, there seems to be little in the way of authentic worship, seemingly very little hunger for Christ (Matthew 5:6). False Christs are being preached by Satan’s wolves – exactly as Jesus and His apostles warned (Matthew 24).

All of our sin comes out of our hearts. The Hebrew word for “Heart” means the source. Think about that and realize that when we see faults and sins in our lives, we must run afresh to the feet of our LORD to cleanse, and to change our hearts (Psalms 51; 139:23-24). Listen to the Savior beloved:

“That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20-23

Life in Christ Key

This has worked powerfully for me for many years. Is it biblical? Yes, see the Bible verse below.

Each evening, set yourself to get up in the morning to seek the LORD in His Word, praise, thanksgiving, and prayer.

A nightly prayer to God and declaration to self could go something like…. “Dear Father, in Jesus’ name, if you choose to awake me in the morning, I shall seek Thee, I shall search, read, and study, Your Word and seek Your holy face by delighting in prayer communion, thanksgiving, and praise. I love You Jesus!“

Meditate upon the following verse of divine truth. Make it part of your life.

“Now SET your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God;” 1 Chronicles 22:19

Hebrew word for “set” – to apply, assign, cause, make, thrust, utter.

With this definition of the word “set” in mind, read the above verse of Scripture again.

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Anyone not praying is not seeking God and has already fallen away (Luke 12:40).

Begin every day with Christ!

Jesus says that in order to have the things of God added to your life, to have God richly present in your personal life, you must put Him first:

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

“First” in Matthew 6:33 means first priority. WHEN God truly is first in your life, it’s proven in that you arise each morning to seek His holy face, to commune with Him, to offer thanksgivings, to do His holy bidding, to be empowered and led by His Holy Word and Spirit (Psalms 5:3; 63:1; Mark 1:35).

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I want my life to glorify You, truly, authentically. Dear LORD there are so many inconsistencies in me that do not represent You that I now ask You to amend. Change me Jesus, please. Here and now afresh, I lay my life in Your holy hands. Please sanctify and anoint my life to be crucified with Christ, to be conformed to Your holy image dear LORD Jesus. I love You dear Maker, Master, and Savior of my soul, my life. Father, I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Heart | Seeking God | Set Apart – Sanctified

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“Be Ready in the Morning” [podcast]

Mary hath Chosen that Good Part [podcast]

The Perfect Prayer! 100% Success!

America

Evangelism Adventures: Stories, Reports, and Testimonies of God’s Amazing Love [podcast]

SO, we prayed for God to use us today right? …. He’s hearing our prayer.

So, in the gym this morning, a lady near me was struggling to get a large plate on each side of the barbell. So, I began to help her and she said “No Ingles” which means she does not speak English. So, I affirmed that she speaks Spanish and I began to speak God’s Word to her in her language. Her face lit up and she thanked me. God is good!

Jesus says “The seed is the word of God” and His people are planting it today in the hearts of others in order for God to bring them to Himself. God be praised in Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior today and forever!

How were we, how are others “born again”? – “the the word of God.”

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

Sharing the Gospel in Spanish! YOU can do it! Go here.

The body of Christ in the earth is TEAM JESUS!

The body of Christ is “striving together for the faith of the gospel”, … “WE are labourers together with God.” (Philippians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:9)

Let’s lift this up now….. Holy Father, You are the LORD of the harvest. In the name of Jesus Christ, we here and now ask You to send forth more laborers and supporters into the fields which You told us are ready to be harvested. In Jesus’ name. Thank You LORD Jesus !

Ever notice how some church goers live their life trying to get others to go to their church? Question: As you read God’s Word, do you see Jesus, His apostles, or the earliest followers of Jesus inviting people to their church? Or, do you see them bringing the love, the truth, the Gospel to the people?

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Oh and this…

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

Those in charge in the so-called “church” buildings are perpetuating their own existence and not taking the Gospel of Jesus to the people. Unlike Jesus and all of His true disciples throughout New Testament history, they have no concern for lost souls.

Tens of thousands of saints and sinners are being reached each month with the Word of God via a multiplicity of diverse venues.

Books like the Born Again book and Moments with Our Master, etc. continue to go forth to the incarcerated. Today a copy of the Born Again book was sent to a man who confessed to the murder of 16 people (Sean Lannon). GOD is able saints!

Giving God praise for those who support HIS work. Your support is vital. Jesus Christ is KING! and He’s coming soon! “WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” (1 Cor 3:9) | Because You Care

JESUS HASN’T AND WILL NOT RESCIND HIS GREAT COMMISSION MANDATE. ARE YOU PARTICIPATING? He commanded us to “GO ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Jesus is Bringing Incarcerated, Captive Souls to Himself: YOUR GIFTS ARE REACHING BEHIND THE COLD HARD WALLS OF PRISON CELLS – INTO THE SEARCHING, HUNGERING SOULS OF A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE OF MEN AND WOMEN: Inasmuch as there is financial supply, ministry books continue to flood jails across our nation – touching the hearts of the incarcerated for Christ! These books will be read by many, Captive audience.

Sending the Divine Light into “The Prison House” Here

“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

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, I ask You now to use me for Your glory. Set my life apart to Yourself. Bless this life to be truly crucified with Christ and raised for Your eternal glory my LORD Jesus. I love You Jesus. I love You dear Father. In Jesus’ name.

If we are low spiritually, it could only be for 1 reason – we didn’t stay filled. Get filled! Stay filled! Overflow!

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalms 68:11

Examples and Blessings of Sharing God’s Love

This recent letter below is from Brother John Becknell in Kentucky. John and I met when I called his store after seeing a Fox news article featuring their no-mask policy store front sign. It was a divine connection for certain and we’ve been blessed to continually supply brother John and the believers around him with Bibles and the Moments for Our Master 365 devotional books. Also, John referred us to a women’s recovery home there in his area which we’ve been blessed to also supply with Bibles and copies of the devotional books.

“Brother Todd, To say the least … it’s been busy here. Alvin’s was blessed to give away 510 free Christmas dinners to anyone in the community who came into the store the Sunday after Christmas Day. We had made all the preparations for the dinners to be served on Christmas Day… but we got about 7 or 8 inches of surprise snow and black ice, temperatures dropped into the teens; ice everywhere, broken water lines on Christmas Eve. The ice was really bad; cars off the road all around us. Several stranded people came into the store and stayed until the roads were passable Friday night. We gave away coffee and snacks to those who came in out of the storm. We had to postpone the dinner until Sunday… it was a nightmare, but God saw us through and Sunday we had a glorious time! We were able to give away the Bibles you sent. We made a display and placed them on a table directly in front of our hot bar. We talked with many people and gave the ones that wanted one a Bible… There’s nothing better than being able to feed food to the body and nourishment to the Spirit! As you know Christmas is a hard time for many families and we got to minister Hope and pray with several people… Thanks for all the prayers and support especially during Christmas with the Bibles and devotionals… ‘People need Hope, they need healing, they need to reach out for the Master, they need the Word.’ Matt 9:22. God Bless you and your ministry for sending the Word; it will bring much light in this dark place… John (and yes, we could use a few Bibles and Devotionals).” John Becknell

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” John 4:35-38

Below are recent letters from sister Dana, a dear disciple we have had fellowship with for years and whom the ministry outreach has been blessed to supply – due to the love offerings of Christ’s saints.

Here’s How Our LORD Instructed us to Pray

Feel free to lift a lady named Cindy in prayer….. the following was given to her…

@Cindy – We have all sinned against God and shall all stand before our Maker, the Judge of our eternal souls, to give full account. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalms 14:1) Lying, stealing, coveting, using His holy name in vain, lusting, fornication, etc. are sins we’ve all committed and are 100% guilty and will pay for our own sins in hell for eternity. The Almighty owes you nothing. You need Him. He does not need you.

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Jeremy and Jesus! SAVED! [podcast]

Grocery Basket Evangelism! [podcast]

Abiding

THIS LIFE is about loving GOD and OTHERS [podcast]

THIS LIFE is about loving GOD and OTHERS. It’s that simple. Read Matthew 22:37-40 daily.

WHEN we are walking a life of prayer and helping others, we are dead center in God’s perfect will.

Read that again.

“Walk in love.”

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2

Loving the Brethren is Essential to Eternal Glory

Matthew 22:37-40 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.

1 Peter 4:7-8 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 5:1-2 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The love of many waxing cold and yet for Christ’s remnant, for those choosing God’s way and no other, can our love for the LORD wax hotter? (Matthew 24:8-14)

Just as we have to forbear others, they have to forbear us! Right? To forbear basically means “to put up with.”

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:12-14

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

“EDIFY ONE ANOTHER”

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

To “edify” means to build up, upward – with biblical truth, not flattery.

IF you aren’t regularly, perpetually edifying, building up the body of Christ, you have no business correcting the body of Christ. Repent now and cry out to God for His mercy, for an heart of flesh, and the mind of Christ. Read Philippians 2:3-5 each morning this weekend in prayer.

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may EDIFY another.” Romans 14:19

YOUR PRAYER: Father, please have YOUR way in me. I am crucified with Christ, now. Now, dear LORD please fill this Your vessel with Your love – to be poured out upon Your beloved saints. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. amen.

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Does God Know I Love Him? [podcast]

Our obedience to the LORD should come out of our love for Him. Obedience to God is an expression of our love for Him. Jesus says: “IF ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Notice “IF.” God isn’t interested in us obeying Him if we don’t first love Him. The first 2 commandments are about LOVE and not works or working to earn God’s favor, which is futility (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus says the whole law and prophets, all the Scripture writings to that point, and in the kingdom rested upon loving God and others. Praying God will help you […]

Heavenly Mercy and Love [podcast]

Mega Mercy “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:10-12 You don’t truly think you are alive due to any goodness of your own, do you? “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Psalms 103:10 “Know therefore that God exacteth (required) of thee less than thine […]

The Mind of Christ [podcast]

ARE YOU WALKING IN THE MIND OF CHRIST? WHAT IS THE MIND OF CHRIST? “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5 The Messiah, the Man and His mind we are blessed to know, to be known by, and to follow is seen in Philippians 2. Read it in the morning beloved of God. Life change! Father, please bless Your beloved children with “the mind of Christ.” In Jesus’ name, amen! Jesus left His world with the Father in the pristine and glorious perfection of Heaven to come this is fallen world and show […]

Abiding

“In Due Season We Shall Reap, If We Faint Not” [podcast]

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

Paul’s Sufferings and Warning to Us

“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.” 1 Corinthians 4:9-14

Paul warned the body of Christ that as he suffered, so we would suffer for Christ.

Like Paul, on this earth, in this life, we shall not awake to the absence of temptation or evil lurking in our own hearts or this world. No, evil shall not be vanquished until Jesus returns to put down all evil and secure us unto Himself. For now, may God bless each of us, His children, to be dead and buried with Christ as He raises us upward in His divine grace unto complete victory (1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). Reading Revelation 21-22 today is glorious. The final 2 chapters in our LORD’s Word. Heaven’s KING is coming!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

His Enemies Put Under His Feet

“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up t he kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

Learning to Count it All Joy!

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:2-4, 12

Even though men shall forsake you, God is going to be with you, “even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:18-20).

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Worshipping God in and through our times of testing, the trials, temptations and struggles provides the Christlikeness, the maturity our regenerated inner man desperately desires (Romans 8:28-29; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10). God’s goal is much greater than just snapping His holy finger and delivering you out of the temporary trial. He’s after much more. He has to break down and strip us before He can re-furnish us, making us “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (Jeremiah 1:10; 2 Timothy 2:21). Remember Paul’s thorn? Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel. unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

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

Is the LORD doing a deeper work in you, preparing you for greater fruitfulness?

“Did a bit of a study on testing yesterday, …take note Genesis 22:1 … ‘God tested Abraham,’ even Jesus after His baptism was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil ….even Jesus was tested …how can we expect anything less, we will be tested, …will we be found faithful, one who perseveres, one who endures till the end of our life here on earth?” Sharon

“I’ve learned that ‘the LORD may get me out of this’ trial, but I will have missed the joy and reward of going through whatever ‘this’ is with Him – and what He intended to accomplish in me. Closer intimacy often comes through great conflict in which the foundations of hope, trust, and faith are built. I love you, Jesus!” Jon Crane

“While you’re praying: ‘Get me OUT of this, Lord!’ don’t forget to add: ‘Be with me IN this, Lord!’ Wait ON and WITH the Lord.” Michael Beck

God’s plan for your life….here it is:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Declare this and/or perhaps Colossians 3:3 each morning. Declare it as you sentence yourself to death that the Savior might reign!

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” 2 Corinthians 1:9

Have you fallen, stumbled? JUST get up saint….

Cry out to the LORD. Psalm 51; Philippians 3:13-14.

“For a just man FALLETH (death, burial) seven times, and RISETH up again (resurrection): but the wicked (unrepentant) shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16

The dishonest, the unrepentant will go downward, stay downward, and perish down in the bowels of eternal damnation.

This is a war. We’ve lost some battles and yet, as we learn to live a life of true and humble repentance, as did beloved David, we shall be preserved unto everlasting glory with the soon coming KING! (Psalm 32; 51; Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.

God is going to greatly use those who truly know Him, who are known of Him, who have been submitting to His process (1 Peter 1:7; 5:10, etc.), His chastening, purging, instruction….. who’ve been trusting Him through the fires….

“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

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

WHEN we witness the bless-ed, needed change the LORD does in us as we trust and seek Him in seasons of testing, we begin to “count it all joy” to “fall into divers (various) temptations (trials)“ (James 1:2-4).

Liza Young writes:

“When we say yes to GOD as HIS Spirit reveals HIS will to us through HIS Word, the bitter circumstances of our lives become sweet. We must not grumble against what the LORD permits, instead, we must do all that HE asks us to do.”

Saints, in Psalms we see the psalmist in many dire scenarios, forced and blessed to cry out to the LORD in desperation of spirit. We need, we must have trials. We shall never truly understand and more deeply know God until we are forced to cry out in utter desperation to Him. Recently, I saw a man interviewed who’d been lost in the wilderness for five days. Put yourself in his place. Five whole days, lost. He said he prayed. Now, do we think his prayers were lame, lukewarm? Was he yawning? No, we know he was crying out from the depths of his being to the LORD. What a gift! What a blessed place to be made “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). Are you desperate for Jesus today?

Maureen Lundie writes:

“At the end of my time on earth I want to look back and say that I’ve trusted Jesus during every stage of my life. There were many wasted years that I did not serve God, but the years that I have left, I only want to spend it serving God.”

“Beware of False Prophets”

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15

When you are rooted and grounded in Christ via His own Word, you aren’t looking for any other word from any mere man or woman. Pour over, study Colossians.

EVER hear one of the many false prophets among us declare that “This is your time!” or “This is your year!”. etc.? False prophet. No sinful man decides that it’s their own year or anyone else’s. Typical bait used by wolves. Anyone who can read hear this bait line and not shut it off, discern it as false, needs their eyes opened. THIS IS GOD’S YEAR, NOT YOURS! And EVERY year is God’s year, not yours selfish one! Read Hosea 10:12. – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets (false leaders) that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth (written Word) of the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:16

“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;” Jeremiah 23:25-26

Poor in Spirit: What does that mean? [podcast]

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 Note, “poor in spirit,” not poor financially or religiously. The two should be mutually exclusive. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It means pauper, beggar, poor, desperate and spiritually impoverished. Christ looks to desperate, hungry and thirsty people who want more of Him (Isaiah 66:2). Their hearts pant for more of Him (Psalms 42:1-2). They deeply desire and long for Him. His Word is their meat. “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and […]

Upholding Jesus, the Only Head of His Body [podcast]

YOUR first thought when you hear “God” or “Christianity” should be JESUS! Not some church, pastor, or church program! The ministry continually receives emails from people who have latched on to some mere man, his personality – instead of worshipping Christ supremely (Colossians 2:18-19). And in doing so, they defend those mere men angrily, doggedly, having never stopped to put them to the biblical test. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 “Not everything is at it seems. Their […]

So You Want to be Used of God? [podcast]

“This podcast (So You Want to be Used of God? [podcast]) spoke to my heart today. As I was meditating on Ecclesiastes 1:8. ‘For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.’ In other words God’s light illuminates into our hearts and reveals truth that you can no longer deny. As the Lord was shining His light into my heart, I wasn’t liking what He was showing me. I asked Him to please pull the blinds because it was getting hard to look, but that was only a fleeting thought. I knew I needed […]