Abiding

Jesus Defines Salvation by Ron Smith

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]

Jesus stands before those who knew Him best.

As He addresses His Disciples…He defines SALVATION:

Matthew 10:22, 34-39 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved…..34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Jesus did not hesitate to make CLEAR that SALVATION would be MUCH more than some simplistic moment in time where a man repeats the “Sinner’s Prayer” and tries to do his best in life.

No…SALVATION can NEVER be measured by the BEGINNING of the race.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 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.

We NEVER win the RACE simply because we START it…we WIN because we FINISH it.

Philippians 3:8-14 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul KNEW his SALVATION had not yet been “attained”…not yet “apprehended”…and…therefore…he continued to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul knew…in SPITE of GRACE…that DISCIPLESHIP required ENDURANCE…and…without it…he would not be found “in Christ.”

You doubt that assessment…that teaching?

Read Paul’s own words:

Philippians 3:10-12 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

You see…Scripture does NOT focus on how we BEGIN…on some MOMENT where we FELT BAD about our SINS and we repeated a “Sinner’s Prayer”…it focuses on how we END…how we ENDURE the TEMPTATIONS of life…how we OVERCOME the “weight which doth so easily beset us.”

Hebrews 12:1-4 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. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

You see…in Paul’s revelation here we discover that there WILL be those who START the race…but…they do not “endure until the end”…never FINISHING…never crossing the FINISH LINE.

ONLY those who ENDURE…those who OVERCOME sin…those who OVERCOME the LIE that says we do not have to live in OBEDIENCE to God…are those who will gain ETERNAL LIFE.

I…like Paul…have not yet “attained”…not yet “apprehended”…and my RACE continues.

Therefore:

“…but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Am I SAVED today?

Yes.

But…the question is:

Will I be saved when my time comes? Will I RUN with ENDURANCE the RACE that is set before me…crossing the FINISH LINE?

When Jesus appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos…His words would ring out with the call to ENDURE.

Seven churches…ALL having STARTED the RACE…yet…only TWO having FAITHFULLY remained in the race.

Of the SEVEN…FIVE were in DANGER of LOSING the RACE due to DISQUALIFICATION.

Ephesus…Pergamos…Thyatira…Sardis…Laodicea:

To each the Lord speaks…and to each He cries “Repent!”

What had gone wrong? How did those who BEGAN the race end up in DANGER of never FINISHING the race?

Scripture gives us that answer:

Ephesus

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Pergamos

Revelation 2:14-15 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

Thyatira

Revelation 2:20-23 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Sardis

Revelation 3:1b I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Laodicea

Revelation 3:15-17 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. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Folks…no one remained SAVED simply because they were “added to the Church daily” on a day when they heard Jesus or Peter or Paul…or any OTHER Disciple…preach a SERMON…resulting in those same soon-to-be “church members” having FAITH and then FOLLOWING Jesus.

Not ONE.

That is the VERY reason Jesus appeared to John…telling him to “Write.”

And…Jesus would make it CLEAR with words similar to these…in EACH and EVERY case:

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Revelation 3:3)

The question is NOT:

Are you saved today?…

…the question is:

Will those of us who are saved TODAY remain FAITHFUL…OVERCOMING sin…ENDURING ’til the END?

You see:

GRACE is the LIFE PRESERVER thrown to us by FAITH…but…we CANNOT jump OVERBOARD once we WERE saved and expect to CLAIM we are STILL saved!

Many will DROWN in the SEA of FALSE GRACE…believing they can DIVE back INTO the RAGING SEA of SIN with some GUARANTEE they will end up back on the LIFEBOAT.

The “Modern Church” has LONG ignored the call to ENDURE…to OVERCOME…to FINISH the RACE.

Be SURE of what I now say…for it is TRUTH:

Being RESCUED from the SEWER does NOT give you some form of IMMUNITY from TOXIC microbes if you CHOOSE to DIVE back IN.

In the same way…being SAVED from your SINS does not give you IMMUNITY if you once again dive into sin.

That is NOT the definition of GRACE.

When we are “saved by grace through faith”…Jesus says:

“Go and sin no more.”…

…not…

“Go and live as you wish! You now have gained an IMMUNITY to SIN!”

Church…hear me:

We have MIS-DEFINED…and REDEFINED…Biblical GRACE.

Being saved TODAY does NOT guarantee our salvation TOMORROW!

Remember THIS parable spoken by Jesus?

Read it…and DISCERN its TRUTH:

Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Will we ENDURE?

Will we OVERCOME?

SALVATION awaits those who FINISH the RACE…not those who simply BEGIN the race.

Yet…today…in churches EVERYWHERE…people stress the BEGINNING of the race…not the END…much less the ENDURANCE needed to even COMPLETE it.

And…it is then cries of “Grace!” become an EXCUSE for lives lived in DISOBEDIENCE…as UNHOLY “Christians” fill TEMPLES of COMPLACENCY…and FALSE DOCTRINE is most often IGNORED due to the DECEPTION of “an ENCOURAGING word.”

Folks…let me be CRYSTAL clear:

It is NOT enough to GET saved…we must STAY saved!

Only by GRACE through FAITH can we BE saved…but…ONCE saved…God requires OBEDIENCE.

Anything LESS is a life lived in DECEPTION…NOT a life lived “in Christ.”

GETTING saved does not equate to STAYING saved.

Folks…here is not only TRUTH…it is COMMON SENSE:

The very reason Satan and his demonic army fights AGAINST us is because we CAN be DEFEATED…because we CAN give IN to TEMPTATION…we CAN be DECEIVED.

Satan is NOT so STUPID as to waste his ENERGY and MAN-POWER on those he CANNOT ever WIN!

Trust me:

We ALL can FALL!

Look at the words of Peter…spoken to BELIEVERS:

2 Peter 3:14-18 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

“Lest ye also” WHAT?

“Lest ye also…FALL.”

“Fall” from WHAT?

“Lest ye also…fall from your own STEADFASTNESS.”

To be STEADFAST means to be SURE…ESTABLISHED…STEADY…FIRM…IMMOVABLE…COMMITTED…

…FAITHFUL.

Under the direction of God…Peter writes to BELIEVERS about the POSSIBILITY of FALLING…saying even though we are faithful NOW…we STILL could ONE day be found UNFAITHFUL.

And…LOOK what Peter says could CAUSE this:

FALSE DOCTRINE…as those that are “unlearned and unstable” USE Scripture ITSELF to DENY the very TRUTHS of Scripture…CLEARLY noted as Peter states:

“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (Verse 16)

In his first letter…Peter had also addressed the issue…noting that SALVATION is “ready to be revealed” for those who ENDURE “manifold temptations.”

1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

The POINT?

The RACE is not WON until the RACE is COMPLETE.

And…MANY who BEGIN the RACE by GRACE through FAITH will not FINISH the RACE…simply because they FALSELY believe their SALVATION is SECURE no matter HOW disobedient they BECOME.

How? Why?

Because they were taught a MOMENT of salvation instead of a LIFE of salvation.

Did you GET that?

Folks…my Mom died January 19, 2017…and my Mom is SAVED…having ENDURED the TEMPTATIONS of this life…now being present with the Lord.

Me?

I am SAVED by GRACE through FAITH…but…I have MUCH more LEFT to ENDURE.

I have NOT yet “made it!”

Be sure…I WILL “make it” IF…IF…IF I will ENDURE…doing so until the very END.

If I FAIL to ENDURE…if I FAIL to remain FAITHFUL to the Lord…if I FAIL to live in OBEDIENCE to Him?

Without ENDURANCE…without taking that “way of escape” when I am TEMPTED…I WILL hear the Lord say “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23)

THAT is the TRUTH as found in God’s Word.

Period.

You STILL doubt that TRUTH?

Notice again the story of the ten virgins:

Note this truth:

All TEN had oil in their lamps. The problem came when FIVE virgins failed to MAINTAIN the oil in their lamps.

Jesus WAS painting a picture of those saved by GRACE…those FILLED with the Spirit…yet they FAILED to MAINTAIN their RELATIONSHIP with God.

I have taught this principle…this TRUTH…before…but I repeat it here again:

Why does Scripture mention being BAPTIZED in the Spirit AND being FILLED with the Spirit?

In my 57+ years…I have OFTEN heard it taught that BAPTISM and FILLING were INTERCHANGEABLE words.

They are not.

You see…these two work TOGETHER…and they are fully noted in the Book of Acts:

Acts 2:1-2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

The ROOM was filled…thus IMMERSING the Disciples in the PRESENCE of the Holy One.

In Scripture…BAPTISM is ALWAYS an IMMERSION.

So…first the Disciples were IMMERSED in His PRESENCE…then they were FILLED with the Spirit:

Acts 2:3-4 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now…all of this did NOT occur simply to allow people to speak in TONGUES.

So…why DID it happen?

The first answer is simple…as Jesus CLEARLY answered that question in Acts 1:8:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

But…Jesus was ALSO teaching the Disciples a POWERFUL lesson…one that would help them MAINTAIN their SALVATION.

Remember:

BAPTISM is an IMMERSION process…as we are BAPTIZED…SURROUNDED by…the Holy Spirit.

But…being FILLED is an INWARD work…and…according to Scripture…THAT process must be MAINTAINED.

Within the New Testament we find that truth played out REPEATEDLY.

But WHY? WHY is being FILLED so CRUCIAL?

I say it as I have said it before:

Imagine an AQUARIUM of water. Now…imagine taking an empty plastic water bottle…a bottle with the cap tightly secured…and placing it in the aquarium.

Having done so…imagine trying to SUBMERGE the water bottle just as it is.

What would happen?

The water bottle would IMMEDIATELY pop back up out of the water…only able to float on the SURFACE.

What would it take to allow the water bottle to be IMMERSED in the water?

The water bottle would have to be FILLED with WATER.

You see…we CANNOT remain IMMERSED in the Spirit if we fail to remain FILLED with the Spirit.

But…WHY is remaining IMMERSED in the Spirit so CRUCIAL to our SALVATION…to our “Christian walk?”

Let me answer that question this way:

Imagine with me a HURRICANE bearing down on the East Coast of the United States.

As the raging storm begins its trek toward Norfolk, Virginia…the SHIPS raise ANCHOR to ride out the STORM at SEA.

Timing is everything.

If the SHIPS fail to SAIL at the proper time…they will be tossed to and fro by the WINDS and WAVES stirred up by the STORM.

You see…SHIPS are more VULNERABLE during a STORM than their Naval COUNTERPARTS:

Submarines.

A SHIP in the MIDST of a STORM is in DANGER…and it can be SWAMPED by the WIND and WAVES.

But…a SUBMARINE can dive DEEP during the STORM…and…no matter HOW strong the WINDS and WAVES may be…the STORM has LITTLE to NO EFFECT on the VESSEL.

Though it REMAINS in the MIDDLE of the STORM…it often cannot even feel the EFFECTS of the storm.

THAT is why we MUST be FILLED with the Spirit…NOT so we can “speak in tongues”…but that we can remain IMMERSED in Christ…no matter the “category” of the STORM!

So…why is all of this SO IMPORTANT?

Just as Jesus KNEW the DANGERS His Disciples would face when He GAVE His INSTRUCTIONS to them to “tarry” in Jerusalem…

…Jesus ALSO knows that in this day and age of FALSE TEACHING…FALSE DOCTRINE…FALSE PROPHETS…HIRELINGS…and WOLVES…

…and…

…in this day and age of FALSE “grace”…FALSE “love”…and FALSE “salvation”…

…that “Christians” would DENY any call to ENDURE.

Jesus knew SOME would QUIT the race right after STARTING the race…simply because they repeated a “Sinner’s Prayer.”

Is that TRULY all there is to it…a “Sinner’s Prayer?”

Not…in…the…least.

BEING saved is just the BEGINNING…STAYING saved is FINISHING the RACE!

And…before someone without WISDOM cries “You promote a works-based salvation!”…let me be clear:

We are SAVED by GRACE through FAITH…but…once FORGIVEN…once CLEANSED…then we must remain PURE before God.

(Questions? Feel free to read Paul’s teaching on this in Romans…as Romans 6:15 says “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”)

It means IF we FAIL…IF we FALL…IF we SIN…we do not IGNORE that sin…nor EXCUSE that sin…by crying “It’s ok! I am under grace!”

Trust me…UNREPENTED sin becomes a HABIT…and HABITS become ADDICTIONS…and ADDICTIONS are PROOF that we FAILED to take that “way of escape” OFFERED by God.

It is like traveling on I-666…KNOWING we should EXIT this ROAD…but we simply drive on…NEVER bothering to take ANY of the EXITS the Lord has PROVIDED.

Be sure:

OBEDIENCE to God is NEVER defined as “works” in Scripture…and ANY definition of GRACE that DENIES the need for OBEDIENCE to God is a LIE.

And…ANY gospel that denies our need to ENDURE the trials and temptations of life…to remain FAITHFUL to God…is ALSO a lie.

If we are to be TRULY saved…we are called to ENDURE.

You see…we ONLY receive the CROWN of LIFE when we FINISH the RACE.

So…are you SAVED?

I pray you ARE.

Will you REMAIN saved?

I pray you WILL.

Is this post LONG?

You bet it is.

So is LIFE…so be willing to ENDURE.

Fresh Start with God

Can You Forfeit Salvation by Living in Sin? [podcast]

Loving not our Lives unto the Death [podcast]

Abiding

The Chosen are being Called and Prepared to “Go” [podcast]

Jesus didn’t say “stay.”

Jesus commanded us to “Go” ( Matthew 28:18-20).

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

“They Desire a Better Country”

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country , and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” Genesis 12:1

“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange COUNTRY, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:” Hebrews 11:9

“For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a COUNTRY.” Hebrews 11:14

“And truly, if they had been mindful of that COUNTRY from whence they came out, they might have had the opportunity to have returned.” Hebrews 11:15

“But now they desire a better COUNTRY, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:16

Billions lie unreached.

” Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalms 2:8

BE WARNED….

That if you dare ask God to prepare and use you, the adventure of serving as you are accomplishing His Great Commission is going to begin and gain steadily increasing traction and fruitfulness! Read John 15:1-16.

It all begins with a simple, sincere prayer, a request to God to use you — and therefore begin now to prepare you.

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

The LORD can use us to the degree we’ve sought Him for and submitted to His strippings, purgings, His preparation.

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

God has a plan to remove that which does not belong in you and to establish what does.

“to root out” (destructive)
“to pull down” (destructive)
“to destroy” (destructive)
“to throw down” (destructive)
“to build” (constructive)
“to plant” (constructive)

When Jesus cleansed the temple, after rooting out the evil, He then installed the purity, prayer, praise, and power (Matthew 21; John 2).

God has His order. One thing comes before the other.

When you Go, that’s when you are going to Know!

“Christianity is not American and America does not define Christianity! We need to stop trying to merge the two together. Jesus died for people all over this world, and Christianity existed long before America was even a thought. I am a Christian who physically resides in the USA, but this world is not my home. I long for an eternal kingdom.” Gloria Sykes

When you obey Christ and “Go” there will be a harvest of souls — some you will see and many you will not.

” They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and forth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him .” Psalms 126:5-6

Thanking God and you for pausing to lift up the blessed saved souls to Jesus in PA. From Tom and Karen Cochran:

“God has opened up a door for us to minister in a nursing home. People in there are hungry. They have been stripped of their pride! They need help just to do everyday things we take for granted. Very few have family or friends who visit. All their material possessions are pretty much gone, and once put in a home they know this is probably where they will die. They have no hope. And that is why they are hungry! Jesus gives them hope! We have seen many completely changed by the gospel and power of Christ! Jesus saved one-hundred- and-five-year-old woman, and after she prayed she began to sing ‘Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so’!”

People are eternal. Are you investing in people, eternal souls?

Are you personally participating in, contributing your time, talents, and treasures into the Great Commission Jesus gave us? See the end of Matthew and Mark.

MESSAGE ON AMERICA:

“Lately I have been seeing many taking to the streets to preach the gospel and it is shocking to see the response of Americans. In their pride and arrogance they keep right on walking and don’t even look up. Too busy in their comfortable lives. Headed for the path of destruction and they could care less.”

REPLY:

Seems this is how America could, should be viewed: “And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Matthew 10:14-15).

Who are the people who are going to be with Jesus?

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are CALLED, and CHOSEN, and FAITHFUL.” Revelation 17:14

Luke 9:57-62

” And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home in my house .

Of this passage at the end of Luke 9, one writer notes the following:

“9:61 The third would-be disciple resembled the first in that he volunteered to follow Christ. He was like the second in that he uttered the contradiction, “Lord…me first.” He wanted first to say goodbye to his family. In itself, the request was reasonable and proper, but even the common civilities of life are wrong if they are placed ahead of prompt and complete obedience.

9:62 Jesus told him that once he put his hand to the plow of discipleship, he must not look back; otherwise he was not fit for the kingdom of God. Christ’s followers are not made of half-hearted stuff or dreamy sentimentality. No considerations of family or friends, although lawful in themselves, must be allowed to turn them aside from utter and complete abandonment to Him. ….

And so we have three cardinal hindrances to discipleship illustrated in the experience of these men:

1. Material comforts.
2. A job or an occupation.
3. Family and friends.

Christ must reign in the heart without a rival. All other loves and all other loyalties must be secondary.”

Matthew 9:35-38

The 3 Ways God’s People Participate in Christ’s Great Commission

1. Praying for Christ’s laborers (Matthew 9:35-38).

2. Witnessing, sowing and communicating the Word (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 8:11).

3. Supporting, supplying those of God’s people who are doing His Great Commission, preaching the Word (Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Philippians 2:25; 4:16-20).

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

PRAYER: LORD, sanctify my life. This is YOUR life. Put me exactly where you want me on Your planet. Use this life dear LORD. In Jesus’ name.

Prepared to be Used of God | Great Commission

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“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10 God has a plan to remove that which does not belong in you and to establish what does. “to root out” (destructive) “to pull down” (destructive) “to destroy” (destructive) “to throw down” (destructive) “to build” (constructive) “to plant” (constructive) When Jesus cleansed the temple, after rooting out the evil, He then installed the purity, prayer, praise, and power (Matthew 21; John 2). God has His […]

Weeping Men Win Men [podcast]

“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, eternal reward) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17 “Blessed are the poor in spirit (desperate for God): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are they […]

Mexico needs Missionaries [podcast]

GOD is our Maker and Redeemer and He knows where He has and wants each of His children to be—where you already are or otherwise. The LORD is in control (Psalms 24:1). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23 Last week Jesus saved this beloved woman, Katherine! See more on that salvation story here. Recently I commented under a Mexico video…. which received nearly 100 likes to date…. After leaving the USA and now living in Mexico, I began to see just how un-free and vulturous it was […]

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

The Cost of Discipleship “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 Those who count the cost refuse to count their own life dear to themselves and this is the only way not to be derailed, to finish our course, enduring to the end. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and […]

Isaiah's Call and Commission [podcast]

What did the LORD reveal of Himself to Isaiah? What was the result in Isaiah’s life and ours? When the LORD appeared to him, the prophet Isaiah was shown his own depravity, his own wicked heart, his own unpreparedness. What was his response and how does this relate to us? Are you ready this day to say “Jesus please prepare and use me mightily for Your eternal glory! I love You LORD. I am all Yours! Please do Your deeper work in this life You gave!”? One must be prepared by God to be used by God. “If a man […]

Communicating The Gospel in Spanish

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Philemon 6 Saints, here are a few Gospel statements in Spanish to learn in order to open up a whole new world, a waiting mission field! I was overjoyed to share the Gospel in Spanish with a young man recently who was from Mexico. Upon speaking the Word to Him about Jesus Christ being the only way to God, his countenance lit up immediately and he began to smile and rejoice. To make double and triple sure […]

JESUS Tract in Spanish

[this is the actual text of the JESUS tract] JESUS tract SPANISH (click to download print-ready PDF)] [JESUS tract English (click to download print-ready PDF)] El acontecimiento más descatado de la historia de la humanidad ocurrió cuando este hombre, Jesucristo, murió en una cruz romana. Cuando Él murio, una oscuridad intempestiva cubrió la tierra a las 3 de la tarde y se produjo un terremoto cuando tomó su último aliento. Este hombre llamado Jesús fue crucificado. Tres días después resucitó de entre los muertos! He aquí por qué murió: “Pero vuestras iniquidades (pecados) han hecho división entre vosotros y vuestro […]

Abiding

Delighting in the LORD [podcast]

Many have set up their altar to the false gods of church, church attendance, mere men in ministry, etc., and not at the feet, the throne of Jesus Christ. These are examples of some of the most insidious, the most subtle forms of damnable idolatry.

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1

Our lives in Christ must be built around His throne and not a certain church building or Sunday morning event (Jeremiah 17:12; Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 4:14-16; Revelation 22:1).

Memory truth:

“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12

Heaven is where God is and He’s your headquarters. The LORD Himself is “the place of our sanctuary.”

For many, going to “church” seems to take the place of diligently seeking and knowing, loving, and obeying the LORD. The foundation of such a person will not sustain them in this last hour (Matthew 7:19-29; 24; Luke 21; Hebrews 12:24-28).

The LORD speaks much of the importance of foundations (Psalms 11:3). Those who base their life in Christ on a certain ministry or church gathering or organization, do not have the sure, divine foundation to sustain them in this late hour. Everything is going to be shaken and only that which is truly and soundly grounded in Christ will be left standing.

Like Abel, who chose to do things God’s way and no other way, those who do the same, will be established in Christ the Rock and not be moved.

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:24-29

Regrettably, so many, who have simply gotten lost in the church crowd, have not established that intimate, individual place in the sanctuary of the LORD. The coming storms will inevitably uproot them if there is no change, no repentance, and seeking the face of the LORD for themselves. Jesus saves us to establish us.

“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

False churches today seek to sell families on the need to join their country club where’s there’s fun for the whole family. These beguilers cater to the urban family to build their church business, with no intention of preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word, the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel (Jude 3-4). Their goal is to entertain and to grow their church enterpri$e and not to ground their prey in Christ (Colossians, etc.). It’s all surface level, cosmetic. There is no blood of Jesus, no King James Bible, no cross – no crucified life, no Holy Ghost baptism, no repentance, no holiness, no Christology, no readiness for the soon return of Christ, etc.

If you memorize this Bible verse below and speak it, often, your heart, your direction, your life will be divinely moved upward to the LORD! Memorize 1 Chronicles 16:11 beginning now.

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

Those who delight in the LORD, delight to do His will.

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalms 40:8

“STAY UPON THE LORD”

This is a Recurring Theme in Isaiah and Throughout Holy Writ

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall STAY UPON the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.” Isaiah 10:20

“For they call themselves of the holy city, and STAY THEMSELVES UPON the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.” Isaiah 48:2

“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and STAY UPON his God.” Isaiah 50:10

The LORD is NOT available to the casual seeker. Think about that.

“He is a rewarder of THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” Hebrews 11:6

Our LORD rewards those who “diligently seek him.”

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 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, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

In the ensuing verses (Jeremiah 29:15-19), God pronounces a judgment on His people for following those false leaders who sit upon the seat of David yet didn’t have an obedient heart after the LORD. Today is no different where you have people following false leaders who pretend to be representing Christ and yet, are compromised with false doctrine and worldliness.

Shannon Cook writes:

“Delight yourself in the LORD (Jesus) and He will give you the desires of thine heart. Jesus Christ IS in fact, the greatest desire of the heart of man. ‘Delight yourself in Me (Jesus), and I will give Me to you.’ Makes perfect sense!”

May God bless us with a John 17 and John 15 oneness abiding relationship with Him, possessed with a poor in spirit disposition, and pure heart after the LORD (Matthew 5:3, 6, 8). In Jesus’ Name.

We have nothing outside of what we have in Christ! Read Colossians 1 and 2.

So love Jesus and aren’t seeking His holy face daily, diligently? Not. Turn back to God in repentance, now.

The bless-ed word “delight” appears several times in God’s Word.

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

TODAY, THERE’s nothing more important for me to be doing than seeking the face of the LORD Almighty – to be “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 12:1-3)

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

Having a heart after God is something that is a daily, a moment to moment choice, a decision, which must be cultivated in us.

David, the man after the heart of the LORD, is a glorious example to us.

“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:22

“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. … When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” Psalms 27:4, 8

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Psalms 57:7

“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Psalms 63:8

As can be seen in the following verse, legal or religious mindset causes obedience, serving God to the LORD to seem like drudgery.

“To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.” Jeremiah 6:10

Those living under grace operate in grace, in their heart of hearts, delight to obey their Savior.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3

No matter what’s going on – good or bad – WE KNOW that the song is true …. that our “God is so good, God is soooo gooood, God is so good, He’s so good to me…..” … There’s NO way to sing this simple song of praise and not get happy in Jesus! Impossible.

The LORD our Maker alone can truly satisfy, all the way to the marrow of the bone, to the depth of the human heart!

“For I have satiated (fully satisfy) the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” Jeremiah 31:25

All who are not full of Christ via knowing and seeking Him, delighting in and worshipping Him perpetually, are full of misery – from which they shall never escape, unless they repent and let Jesus be the King, the LORD, the Master of their lives.

The Bible is music to the ears of truth-seeking followers of Christ! They pour prayerfully of the words of Holy Scripture daily, as they seek the face of the LORD.

Times of fasting and prayer are doing yourself a favor and not God. Yes. You are crucifying self, getting self out of God’s way so that Christ is reigning in your life in place of sinful self! This should be viewed with absolute delight! (Psalms 37:4; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13, etc.). You are crying, you are driving a stake in the ground and declaring: “LORD, You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30) That’s the “daily” operation of the cross God has ordained to be transpiring in our lives (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.).

“We would worry less if we praised more. THANKSGIVING is the enemy of discontentment and dissatisfaction.” Harry Ironside

Powerful resurrection life teeming in and through our lives requires a going down deep into the death the resurrection of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). There is no shortcut.

“WE WOULD SEE JESUS.” John 12:20-21

Detox your inner man! Detox your spirit, soul, and body! How? Fasting and Prayer! Delighting in the LORD (Psalms 37:4). Fasting and prayer begins with being done, being fed up, being exhausted of the iniquitous nature that has driven us into darkness, into dismal ditches with guilt, shame, and forfeited blessings the result! Our desire now and henceforth is for Christ to reign supreme in our lives and not self! Self, sin must be dethroned. Serving self instead of the Savior has ushered in every single evil thing into our lives and we now stand forth and declare that Christ must increase but we must decrease! (John 3:30) We do this now with more than just words – also with a holy resolve, a driving of the stake deep into the ground, singly focused on the reign of Heaven’s coming KING, on the seat, the throne of our hearts. The reins of our lives are reserved for Him to reign, no longer us!

“Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 58:14

“It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God.” Austin Phelps

Anita Villarreal exhorts:

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…..do this and you will live.’ Luke 10:27-28

The death of Jesus. Christ on the Cross is what has drawn men to Himself. Christ did this out of Divine Love for humanity, and LOVE ALWAYS DRAWS. It is the LOVE that men and women need, and wherever they find it they want to come and rest in it’s warmth and tenderness. God’s love is the purest form of true, sincere and unselfish love. Of you haven’t received or known this kind of love, ask Jesus to show you this love and by faith receive it. Let Him cleanse your soul of all impurities and forgive you of all your sins.”

We were created to know Him!

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8

Our union, our oneness with God is from which all else in His kingdom emanates….

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

“We are truly living in a time of great apostasy and I would urge each person to seek to know the Lord for yourself as Jesus said in John 17:3 that this is life eternal that we know the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ. In the book of 1 John 5:20 John states that Christ came to give us understanding of the one true God and His son Jesus Christ. David said in Psalms 27:4 that one thing he desired of the Lord and that he would seek after that He could dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. I urge people to examine the scriptures and stop trusting in flesh (mere men) for the scripture states that curse is the man that trust in man and makes flesh his arm whose heart has depart from the Lord (Jerm 17:5). Any real man that God has called will only point you to Lord not himself. Wake-up Church those who have an ear to hear what Lord is speaking to His true body.” Matthew Washington

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The Hope of Nations [podcast]

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus Christ and ask You to give grace, Your empowerment to those who are doing Your work. At every level of their involvement, may they prosper. May this operation be through the cross life – and Your raising them upward in this exploit. May the wicked, Satan’s human agents, be exposed and brought to swift justice for standing against and warring against You dear LORD. In Jesus’ name, amen. 2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Timothy 2:1-4,8 etc. “Conservatives” or “patriots” will not make the difference in this nation – only […]

YOU are His BABY! You are the very JEWEL of God! [podcast]

He’s Crazy about You – Are You Crazy about Him? O if our children had the slightest clue as to how much we love them…. There’s no chance any parent could begin to explain how much they love their child(ren) …. What a gift from God! It’s a picture of how much He loves us! And, His love for us is far beyond our comprehension and description. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba (Daddy), Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, […]

Abiding

“He Appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of Himself” [podcast]

Why did Jesus come?

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he
said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave
up the ghost.” John 19:30

This revelation in the above words of the Messiah— “It is
finished”—is consistent with the whole divine unveiling of
Holy Scripture—the redemption of mankind after the fall.

Jesus came to do something and that’s why while dying on
the cross for the sins of the world, He declared “It is
finished” (John 19:30). These are the three most powerful
words ever spoken! What exactly was “finished”?

“For then must he often have suffered since the
foundation of the world: but now once in the end of
the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:26

Jesus declared mercy and forgiveness over mankind while
He was dying to provide redemption on that cross: “It is
finished” (John 19:30). This simply means “paid in full.” The
price for sin has been fully paid. The claims of the Father’s
justice were perfectly satisfied, paid in full by the precious,
sinless blood of the Son of God. All men are now invited to
come to Him, repent and believe upon the LORD Jesus Christ
for redemption—mercy and forgiveness (Colossians 1:14).

On that cross, the LORD Jesus declared: “It is finished” and
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”
(John 19:30; Luke 23:34).

Prayer: Father I rejoice in the precious blood of Jesus shed for
my sin—to bring me to You for an eternal relationship.

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"That I may Know Him" [podcast]

Created to Know and be Known of Him Does He know me? “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3 The very reason Jesus created and then came and died for you is that He loves and wants you to be His, just like a man who loves a woman and gives his all to capture and keep her: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 Paul’s whole life’s longing, desire was “that I may know […]

To Walk in Love is of the Highest Priority to the LORD [podcast]

If we die without His love we will not be with Him above. Jesus loved us and all His enemies, even under to death – for our, for the redemption of the world. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 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 (displayed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 Our promised we, His people, will be persecuted […]