Hypocrisy, Persecutions, and Afflictions [podcast]
“True Christiany will cost a man favor of the world. He must be content to be thought ill of by man if he pleases God. He must count it no strange thing to be mocked, ridiculed, slandered, persecuted and even hated.” -J.C.Ryle
If you don’t have people leaving you due to what you’re preaching, you’re not preaching the Gospel Christ’s preached.
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 6:66
Ministry work always comes with “much contention.” There is a devil and he has human agents. Jesus will settle every score, will balance every scale. He’s coming soon.
“But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God WITH MUCH CONTENTION.” 1 Thessalonians 2:2
There will be conflict. Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of conflict. He is the light of the world and He’s in you and that light is shining daily into the darkened hearts of sinful men. Many will rebel. Some will repent.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12
Never be surprised at the attacks or conflict beloved of God. This is part and parcel with the original Gospel as we see in the lives of Christ and His holy apostles, and His prophets of old.
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3
ATTN REBEL: Attacking the mere human messenger of God’s Word does nothing to remove your personal responsibility to your Maker! All you’re doing is bringing eternal rewards and rejoicing to that blessed messenger you persecute! (Matthew 5:10-12)
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
YOU want to see devils manifest? Just preach the Bible truth which tells them they can’t live like hell and go to God’s holy Heaven!
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26
“Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
Ever notice how the prophesied and many ear-tickling wolves today never mention the kingdom reality of the persecution of the righteous? (Matthew 24:11; 2 John 4:1, etc.) Do we realize that the Bible is full of examples and teachings about persecution – beginning in the fourth chapter of the Bible and extending to the last book?
When someone leaves you because you told the truth, you just got delivered of a counterfeit, a fraud. Rejoice!
The cross is the only way to handle persecution, because ….
- Jesus died for us while we were yet His very enemies, His persecutors (Romans 5:6-8) …. “But they (me, you) cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.” (Luke 23:21)
- The crucified life is the only safe place, where Christ’s love is reigning and our unwarranted vengeance is nullified! … “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;” (1 Peter 4:1) Vengeance is God’s not ours (Romans 12:17-21)
EVER been used? EVER been exploited by someone? WHAT did Jesus instruct, command us to do when we are used?
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44
Walking in God’s love can never be separated from walking in God’s truth! They are divinely, eternally married! Don’t you dare claim to be walking in God’s love if you are not speaking God’s truth (Ephesians 4:15; Proverbs 27:5-6).
IF YOU haven’t done anything for Christ (obeyed Him) you know nothing of the war that rages against those who stand and declare His truth – the whole counsel of it. You are clueless and not His disciple and have no business judging anyone who is being afflicted and attacked and persecuted and purged due to obeying Jesus (Daniel 11:32-35; Matthew 5:10-12; 10:22; Hebrews 12:5-12; 1 Peter 4:12-14, etc.). Their suffering may just be God’s hand of approval being seen and worked in their life (John 15:2).
Some seem to think they have the answer for those suffering and yet those same people have never themselves truly suffered for Christ. They are so ashamed of Him who bled on that cross to redeem that they can’t even pass out a Gospel tract to win someone. Yet, they have this arrogant attitude that leads them to believe they have the answers for others, even those who are suffering affliction for actually obeying the God they claim to be serving. Amazing hypocrisy!
ATTN REBEL: Attacking the mere human messenger of God’s Word does nothing to remove your personal responsibility to your Maker! All you’re doing is bringing eternal rewards and rejoicing to that blessed messenger you persecute! (Matthew 5:10-12)
RECENTLY, in Alabama, I reconnected with a man who professes to be in Christ who I haven’t seen in years. He’s been through much since then. The topic of “eternal security” came up and was met with the full force of Holy Scripture. He was called to repent and denounce it completely lest he continue to be plagued by the curses associated with espousing heresy. In reflection upon that conversation, it seems apparent that when people distance themselves from you for telling them the truth, they are doing you a favor. Jesus informed us that “men love darkness rather than light” and that’s their God-given choice to make (John 3:19-21). If the truth of God runs someone off, that’s the separation Jesus spoke of – between darkness and light. Think about it, the truth of God, the Word of God, is the “sword of the Spirit” which divides (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). God be praised!
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
“Cry Aloud, Spare Not, Lift Up Thy Voice Like a Trumpet”
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“They that are Christ’s” [podcast]
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
We “fight” by dying and not by rising up:
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12).
When we die downward, Christ, who is “the resurrection and the life” raises our lives upward, in His infinite divine power to glorify Him (John 11:25). This is exactly how our LORD Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave!
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:14
You may be wondering why you haven’t overcome sin. Here’s how to overcome sin – and beware of those not preaching this cross! (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 5:34, etc.).
“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
Read that again!
No one is “freed from sin” until they are “dead” – crucified with Christ.
The truly God-fearing man realizes his utter need for the grace of Christ. He realizes that he must continue, to abide in Christ, to “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12). He views salvation as a present reality and responsibility—to remain in an intimate, abiding relationship with Christ (John 15:1-16); Colossians 2:6-7).
Those who don’t walk in the cross lifestyle, will revert to type— sinful type.
The authentic disciple builds his whole life around the Bible, the cross and the throne of God (Jeremiah 17:12; Hebrews 4:14-16).
WHEN our love for God is supreme, we will daily seek Him.
When we are hungering and thirsting after His righteousness, He is filling us with His overcoming, victorious grace (Matthew 5:6).
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
WHATEVER you do, never get away from the cross message – the crucified life Jesus calls every one who will be His to.
Many fancy their devotion to very intelligent men in ministry and yet, only God knows what’s in their hearts. Having mega intellectual knowledge, understanding and the ability to articulate, in no way means a man is crucified with Christ. And if he’s not “crucified with Christ” he’s not overcoming sin – which means he’s living in sin.
“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]
Prayer: I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ that liveth in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at the STORE page and amazon. English and Spanish.
The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]
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The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The LORD Desires to Completely CLEAR You!
The reason God gave His only begotten Son was to clear you of all your sin in His regeneration, to bring you into His eternal family for fellowship with Him.
“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3
When God clears a man at the moment of salvation or thereafter, so should we! When any man truly repents there will be definite fruit to prove it. When one obeys sound biblical doctrine the result will always be that he will bring forth fruit to demonstrate he truly repented, and is cleared by the LORD and must be cleared by us. After the fornicator in the church of Corinth repented, he was cleared and the LORD, through Paul, instructed the believers in that assembly to forgive, clear, and love him.
“So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
Remember this from the prodigal son parable our LORD taught us?
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance … 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:7, 10
When someone returns to the LORD from sin, regardless of their past, with or without Christ, there is great celebration in Heaven and should be also among the saints of Christ on the earth.
A fresh reading of Luke 15 is highly recommended where Jesus gives us 3 parables to teach the restorative love of God!
WATCH THIS: When we repent we openly renounce and are clear…. God is good.
Godly Sorrow brings the blessings of God and a clearing of past sin.
“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what CLEARING OF YOURSELVES, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be CLEAR in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:11
Example: Remember how the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5 was turned over to Satan and then repented and God cleared Him? Read 2 Corinthians 2 for the “CLEARING.” In this verse above, Paul is addressing this very issue and the sorrow, diligent obedience, and consequent “CLEARING” the Corinthian saints experienced. First they allowed the fornicator to function in their midst whereas Paul had to come in and instruct them to turn the transgressor over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5). Then, as a result, the backslider repented.
“He says, what clearing of yourselves. This does not mean that they tried to justify or excuse themselves, but rather that by taking resolute action, they tried to clear themselves of any further guilt or blame in the matter. Their change in attitude led to this change in action. What indignation may refer to their attitude toward the sinner because of the reproach he brought on the name of Christ. But more probably it refers to their attitude toward themselves for ever having allowed such a thing to go on for so long without taking action on it. Paul then adds: In all things you ‘ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.’ Of course, we are not to understand by this that they were never to blame, but simply that they had done everything they could to take the proper action and to act as they should have acted in the first place.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
“Clearing of yourselves – From either sharing in, or approving of, his sin. Indignation – That ye had not immediately corrected the offender. Fear – Of God’s displeasure, or lest I should come with a rod. Vehement desire – To see me again. Zeal – For the glory of God, and the soul of that sinner. Yea, revenge – Ye took a kind of holy revenge upon yourselves, being scarce able to forgive yourselves. In all things ye – As a church. Have approved yourselves to be pure – That is, free from blame, since ye received my letter.” John Wesley
“In all things, etc. – In the whole of your conduct in this affair since ye have received my letter, ye have approved yourselves to be clear, ἁγνους; not only to be clear of contumacy and obstinate persistence in your former conduct, but to have done all in the compass of your power to rectify the abuses which had crept in among you. The Corinthians were not clear, i.e. innocent or void of blame in the fact, but they were clear of all blame in their endeavors to remove the evil.” Adam Clarke
The Corinthian saints repented, obeyed God by turning the unrepentant sinner in their midst over to Satan, and were then forgiven and cleared of their sin of allowing the un-repentant fornicator to remain in their company (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2 and 7).
Today, is the LORD showing you something in your life that you must turn back over to Satan where it came from – to rid your heart, your life of a sin?
Interestingly, this 2 Corinthians 7 chapter begins with this:
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
When we simply agree with the LORD, His Word, and turn to Him afresh and away from what He calls sin, confessing it to Him for what it is, He will immediately forgive us and promises to grant us a clearing, a clear conscience.
“Now the end (chief purpose) of the commandment (written Word) is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 1:5
The LORD made it clear that He intends for His children to be possessed with a clear conscience which is a gift He alone provided through the perfect sacrifice of His only begotten Son.
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14
“A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.” Austin Phelps
Have you ever had a past sin nag you for many years after you committed and even confessed and were forgiven for it?
WHEN we DO what is right, then and only then do we have the bless-ed confirmation of a clear conscience. AND, doing what’s right begins with re-turning, turning afresh to our LORD and confessing all sin.
“God is greater than our heart”
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:18-21
In fellowshipping with other men who serve our LORD, I’ve often heard them say how that sins they committed in the past still bother them in a hindering way. Yet, we know that God knows all these things and “is greater than our heart” and provided a complete salvation through the blood of His only begotten Son!
“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3
Even though 90% of today’s pastors prove themselves to be false by never mentioning this, we must never ever lose sight of the truth that God is “Holy, holy, holy” and He commands us to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8).
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Are we presently allowing sin in our own lives, including keeping company with someone who claims to be Christ’s and yet is living in sin? Are you in need of doing an inventory check on your current friends – namely those who name Jesus as their Savior? Read this unchanging divine truth and note the many specific sins listed here:
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
When we truly repent and obey the counsel, the Word of God, only then will we be cleared in conscience and before God and His people. True repentance always, without exception, brings forth a changed life – a life set apart to the LORD (Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 19:1-10).
The fact that our LORD is correcting us today clearly proves how much He loves us. When the LORD points out our sin, it’s because He loves us, He wants us to repent, to return to Him, agree with Him, and depart from that sin. This is all so He can clear us!
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Refreshing Always Follows Fresh Repentance
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Read 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Corinthians 2 and 7.
Yes, we’ve all been hurt by others and we have also hurt others, right? Let’s take accountability for our own evil and watch what God does. Blaming others without taking the blame due to us is a deep, endless ditch.
This morning I prayed “LORD, if I have angered or hurt someone, anyone, please let it be revealed so that amends can be made, in Jesus’ name, amen Father.”
In this passage below, our LORD is addressing being easily angered as well as making amends when we intentionally or unintentionally have harmed another.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly…” Matthew 5:22-25
PRAYER: My Father in Heaven, I come to You now on the sole basis of the holy name and blood of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Here and now I ask You LORD to convict, grant repentance, and complete clearing of any and all sin in my life. Please sanctify my life dear LORD. LORD Jesus thank You for dying on that cross, shedding Your precious blood for all my sins. Please bless me with a oneness with You and the Father and a clear conscience. Be glorified in my life dear LORD. I love You LORD Jesus. Amen.
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Risen with Christ [podcast]
Resurrection Grace (below)
“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.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” Colossians 3:1-7
Those who teach that unholy people will be in glory are false teachers:
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27
Charles Pray writes: “Father, please help us Lord to turn from our wicked ways and let You come into our hearts so we may have eternal life with You in Your kingdom. Time is running out for the hour is late when soon no one will be able to be saved or able to call upon the name of the Lord. Burden our hearts Lord for all those who still do not know you as Lord and Savior in their lives. Let us become the light we are called to be in this darkened world so others will come to know and receive your Son Jesus as Savior in their life. Amen!”
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