Nourished Up and Enduring to the End [podcast]
Just How and When
is Heaven’s “Nourishment
Ministered” to Christ’s Body?
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6
The GOAL and aim of most messages today heard coming from “Christian” leaders does not have Christ as it’s Grand Subject. This makes it more than obvious that God’s Word is not being preached and that the numerous prophetic warnings from Christ and His apostles are being fulfilled. Jesus Christ is the Grand Subject of all Scripture and even when men use Scripture to teach and yet refuse to uphold, elevate, and expound upon the divine Person of Jesus Christ, apostasy has invaded!
Paul said:
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
The apostle Paul’s life and ministry were all about Jesus. Such is an almost impossible thing to find today among those who claim to be followers of Jesus.
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2
As was foretold, there are untold wolves today who “mind earthly things” instead of minding the things of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:18-21).
God sent His only begotten Son to save us and for this reason alone, He alone is worthy to be elevated, extolled, exalted, and glorified! When a true disciple becomes enamored with Christ, that person will cease being impressed by or with any mere man (Psalms 39:4-5).
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world!
The Bible is the story of God’s redemption of His fallen race. He worked through and “was in Christ reconciling (uniting again) the world unto himself.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) The Father gave His sinless only begotten Son “to be sin for us, who knew no sin” so we could be brought back into relationship with Him, that is, made righteous, justified, and cleared of any sin debt by way of the One who bore all our sins on that tree (2 Corinthians 5:21).
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Jesus Christ bridged the gap between God who is “Holy, holy, holy” and His fallen race (mankind). (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)
Jesus “bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
Beloved, we have been reconciled to God by the highest price that has ever or ever will be paid (1 Corinthians 6:9-20). We are not our own and we belong to no man (1 Corinthians 7:23). The LORD will share His glory with no man (Isaiah 42:8). Yet today, a whole priesthood of hirelings has intercepted the worship of the people that is due only to the One who won our salvation with His own blood (Colossians 2).
“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth (exhibited) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:7-11
God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son in order to save us and to clear the way for sinful human beings (His fallen race) to be reconnected with Him and to truly be blessed to worship Him (John 3:16-17; Ephesians, Colossians, etc.).
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14
In the very next chapter, Colossians 2, the apostle goes on to warn the body of Christ about those who would “beguile you” in order to cheat you out of that relationship Christ died to provide in bringing us back to the Father (Colossians 2:4). Paul says in this passage that He preached, warned, and taught in order to prepare the body of Christ to be ready to meet Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Remaining in Christ would mean that deceivers would have to be marked, avoided and overcome. Jesus must be kept as our “first love” which means the absence of any idol (Romans 16:17-18; Revelation 2:4-5). As we uphold Christ as the only “Head” of His body, we shall continue to receive His “nourishment.” (Colossians 2:18-19). So we must be on guard.
God sent us His Son to be the very bread from Heaven that nourishes our souls. Jesus is our Bread of life! (John 6) We must have Him to be saved, and we must abide in Him daily to remain nourished. (John 15:1-6). Heaven’s Nourishment!
Are you being nourished? Are you upholding Jesus Christ in your daily life? When you gather with other Christians, is Jesus truly being exalted through His written Word and in the power of the Holy Spirit?
You see, Jesus Christ is Heaven’s “nourishment.” That is exactly what the apostle is conveying in Colossians 2!
JUST as none of us understand but know the blessing of food nourishing our physical bodies, so the Word of God nourishes our spirit man, our hearts. It’s a daily must. Feeding and being nourished by the words of God is an imperative (Job 12:23; Jeremiah 15:16; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Peter 2:2, etc.). His Word cannot get into us and nourish us until are get into it! Let the nourishment begin!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (abundantly)…” Colossians 3:16
Being aware of and guarding against wolves is not being anti-church or against any kind of organization. Those who think so have been duped by the very leaders of the system they are defending and are still under that cloud of darkness. They can’t imagine walking with Christ without that organization of men. They have no life with Christ in the Spirit or the what they have is shallow just yet. These church-goers only relate to a physical building, elders or a pastor, and a certain meeting place as their authority and headquarters. Their lives are compartmentalized for the purpose of serving their leaders instead of being one contiguous stream of pure worship of Christ. They are being groomed and steeped by mere men who are not teaching them to “worship the Father in spirit and in truth” daily and no matter where they are as Jesus taught (Luke 9:23-24; John 4:23-24).
At this point, some might wonder: “But brother, I guess that means you don’t believe in gathering with other Christians?”
The question is not whether or not to gather but rather just what pattern are we following and who is truly being elevated? Is it Christ?
People have been so brainwashed that they can’t imagine that across the globe and for 2,000 years now, Christians have been gathering in homes with little structure except the praise, worship, and glorify Jesus Christ by reading His Word together, having fellowship, breaking bread together, and praying together (Acts 2:42-47; Colossians 3:16). That’s exactly what the earliest disciples of Jesus did when the church was born and no deception or wolves yet had time to do their evil work (Acts 2:42-47). It wasn’t till later centuries that the separate “church building” concept came into play along with the institution of various other pagan ideas and concepts integrated in their structures and organizations. Is there any wonder that true disciples in this late hour have given up trying to “find a church” and are now just being God’s people, following the simple pattern given us in the latter verses of Acts 2?
The great apostle of Jesus warns us to beware of certain things and also to keep Jesus raised and elevated as the Most High Creator God and Savior, LORD, and “Head” that He is to His people:
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:6-10
The modern day church-goers who meet in physical “church buildings” all across America, are following traditions in their structures that were never instituted or intended by Christ for His people. A whole lot of traditions of mere men that are not biblical are in place. In most cases the pastors don’t even know the origins of those things they are doing but are simply following the traditions of men they were taught. In most cases, they have never stopped to examine and put to the biblical acid test those things they are carrying along and perpetrating on yet another generation. On this note, a book of recent notes:
“All of these pathologies find their root in the history of the pastorate. It is ‘lonely at the top’ because God never intended for anyone to be at the top – except His Son! In effect, the present-day pastor tries to should the fifty-eight New Testament ‘one another’ exhortations all by himself. It is no wonder that many of them get crushed under the weight.” Frank Viola and George Barna, Pagan Christianity, p. 140
It’s biblical to gather to fellowship and so are elders among us and yet, we must test all things against the perfect standard of Holy Scripture (Acts 2:42-47; 14:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 10:24-25, etc.) Yes, the Bible sure does speak about elders among the believers and yet, the place of prominence they take in the modern church world is far more over reaching than was intended by the LORD. It has become a den of thieves where men are hired into a professional position as a “pastor” and they perform in order to earn a salary. This is not biblical and circumvents the every-member-functioning of Christ’s body that He intended for His people and as is seen in the book of Acts, 1 Corinthians 12, 14, and Ephesians 4. In fact, Ephesians 4:11-14 tells us that those elders who are truly serving Christ are divinely called-out to mature and equip His saints to do “the work of the ministry.” So, those elders today who are following Jesus are not doing everything for everyone as if that’s what they are getting paid to do. Eldership is a calling and not a professional position or vocation. Those truly called out by the LORD and prepared to serve Him by serving His people, don’t need a physical building to perform in. They live unto the LORD daily, praying for, feeding, nurturing, correcting, and ministering to Jesus’ beloved sheep (1 Peter 5:1-6).
“Not Holding the Head”
In all our getting, we had better be getting more and more of Jesus or we have lost all!
The problem is not gathering in a “church building” so much as the problem is that Christ is not truly being upheld and glorified when those people gather. There is therefore no virtue or “nourishment” being “ministered” to those people from the LORD Jesus who is the only “Head” of His true body. This is the simple reason why so many church-goers are either not even saved, have back slid and are lost again, or are still babes. They don’t win anyone to Jesus. In fact, they can’t even muster up the courage to put a Gospel tract out there. They don’t have 5 Bible verses memorized, and are not learning the daily cross Jesus repeatedly commanded.
We must ask: Who’s really being elevated in our gatherings? When Jesus, the only “Head” of His body is lifted up, His divine virtue flows into each member gathered in worship of Him. Watch this: “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” (Colossians 2:18-19)
May there be no “idol shepherds” among us! (Zechariah 11:17) May we be blessed to worship Him “in spirit and in truth” according to the pattern He gave us in His Word (John 4:23-24).
The Holy Spirit inspired prayer of the apostle Paul clearly reveals several things, including that it is God’s will that His beloved people “might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
“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, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
May our God bless each of us to seek His holy face as David, the man after the LORD’s own heart did! May unite our hearts to fear His holy name and to want more and more of Him and to denounce and to be delivered from every idol of the heart (Ezekiel 14:3).
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalms 42:1-2
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. … 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” Psalms 27:4, 8
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Articles
The Joy of Seed Sowing

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22
Always remember, there must be a seed sown before there can be a crop reaped.
BEFORE Jesus saved me, He had several of His people along the way drop His precious Word into my sin-darkened, alienated heart. Read Ephesians 2. Wow.
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” Ephesians 4:18
Some of this Gospel action from God’s people toward me, included the tangible, the printed page. These things all culminated into His saving me into His glorious kingdom (Isaiah 55:11).
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
How about you? What was the process of our LORD saving you? Who did He use? How did they sow His seed into your life.
Think about how when we plant a seed in the ground. Do we plant that seed and stand back and expect to see the plant begin to rise up out of the ground? No. Jesus spoke of this very thing.
“As I was reading this article I was reminded of a time when I was at my Dad’s retirement home. And I went and spread Jesus tracts all throughout the home. They had a sanctuary which looked to be mostly Catholic. With rosary beads and a Catholic Bible. So I especially targeted this place. The next time I went back, I looked in the sanctuary, and saw, on one of the chairs, a lady’s sweater and a Jesus tract. But what really stuck out was how tattered this Jesus tract was! Apparently, she had been carrying it around with her for some time. All I did was plant not knowing what God would do! It was getting into the heart of this lady and was she then being used to spread more seeds? I was not blessed to meet this women but from the way this tract looked it was something she carried with her and treasured!” Karen Cochran
Mark 4:26-29
“26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
We don’t know how a seed turns into a plant and a crop. We just plant them and go to bed knowing they will produce the desired outcome (crop), right? Isn’t that the same faith we should have when we plant God’s Word in the hearts and minds of people?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;” Romans 1:16
May God bless each of us to prayerfully and faithfully plant that seed of God’s Word beloved. God’s Word is the seed of salvation (Romans 1:16; 1 Peter 1:23). Just like the ground when a seed is planted into it. GOD will do the rest as we simply, lovingly, wisely, plant His precious truth into the hearts of those around us.
Speaking of such…. Yesterday, I gave a copy of the Moments with Our Master book to a dear young couple (they are about 18). This daily devotional comes in a dark or light cover. I asked if they like to read. As most people, they answered in the affirmative. Then I asked if I could gift them with a book. Most people won’t turn down a free gift, right? Right. She was given the lighter cover version and he the darker. As usual I opened the book (anywhere) and told them that “there is a Scripture at the top, a few words and then a prayer. One devotional for each day of the year.” Show and tell. I encouraged them by saying “this is a great way to start your day.” God was working.
Everyone on earth is being influenced by others on earth and it’s our calling from God to influence people toward Him.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Personally, I love stopping by the thrift stores and finding every King James Bible they have. Great investment and it equips you to be armed and dangerous. Also, I like carrying, always, Scripture-rich resources. God will quicken. By doing these things (equipping) you are showing in earnest to the LORD that you want Him to use you.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6
Keep in mind that sowing the seed of God’s Word IS 100% a Great Commission operation and anyone participating in any fashion is obeying God and laying up treasure in glory – as He instructed you to do (1 Samuel 30:24; Matthew 6:19-21; John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, etc.). Perhaps you’d consider to not only buy yourself a supply of printed page materials for ministry but also supply another saint with the same. King James Bible.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalms 90:12
YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your every blessing and for finding me in my sin and saving me into Your family by the blood of Christ my LORD. Please sanctify and use us for Your eternal glory. I love You Jesus. Please now fill me with the Holy Spirit and wisdom and open doors for me to sow the seed of Your Word in this late hour as we eagerly expect Your soon return. In Jesus’ Name.
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Abiding
The Good Shepherd and His True Sheep [podcast]

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant …” Hebrews 13:20
“To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” John 10:3
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:1-13
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25
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Abiding
“He that Loveth Pureness of Heart” [podcast]

IS YOUR HEART PURE BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY BELOVED?
DO I truly love “pureness of heart”?
“HE THAT LOVETH PURENESS OF HEART, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
Without a pure heart, obtained from seeking, worshiping, knowing, and obey God …. no one “shall see God.” Not one.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
If you or I have every word of the Bible memorized and die today with a heart that is defiled with sin, we’d bust hell wide open – and be trapped there irrevocably forever.
TODAY is our day, it’s your day, to throw up those hands and that heart to the LORD who made you, and cry out to Him to grant you a pure heart, one that is innocent, clean, washed, delighting in Him.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
When the LORD is truly working in a man, that man is learning to love “pureness of heart.”
“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
Coming and continuing to come to the light is essential to final salvation.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
Choosing the Fear of the LORD
WE must surround ourselves with the Word, the people, the praises of our God! FLOOD your ear and eye gates beloved (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus is coming.
“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:21
Coming clean: To be sanctified by Christ, one must repent and believe upon Him. As the LORD works in them, there will be the response of honesty, humble repentance and a coming to the light, continually. If not, judgment will be incurred (Isaiah 1:19-20).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Those who cover instead of bring their depraved hearts into the light to have them changed and cleansed by the LORD, “shall not prosper.” In other words, they are stifled. Those who remain humble, teachable, correctable, rebukeable, and obedient, will receive divine mercy perpetually.
“God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” Psalms 55:19
Those who refuse to “choose the fear of the LORD” have no changes in their lives.
“For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:” Proverbs 1:29
Psalms 73
“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” Psalms 73:23-28
Drawing Nigh (close) to God Afresh
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10
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