Kindness is a Soul Winning Weapon

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]

People are lost.

People are searching.

People feel as if they have no one to turn to.

Searching souls want answers.

People need the LORD.

Will you be that light on a hill, shining the light of Christ’s love to lost souls seeking the refuge that only God can give?

“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” Psalms 142:4

Jesus came for souls.

What is your focus?

He died for all men.

That’s the whole reason He came at His Father’s beckoning. He was the only One qualified to “stand in the gap” between Holy God and fallen mankind (Ezekiel 22:30).

God cares for all those mean, sinful, hurting souls.

Do I care for them?

Do you care for them?

Many lost souls lie desperately pining away in their lost condition. They have no one to talk to about the God who made them and put that knowledge of Himself in their hearts, something they can’t get away from and that nags them day and night (Romans 1:19-20). They don’t know what to do or where to look for help. They try in vain to cover their dismal, empty condition with all kinds of sin and other pleasures of this fleeting life. They cry:

“No man cared for my soul.” Psalms 142:2

Will you care for their soul like Jesus did for yours and theirs? (Luke 19:10)

IF Jesus wasn’t our friend “while we were yet sinners,” we’d all still be doomed (Romans 5:6-8).

Jesus had time and all the wherewithal to come and die for our sins.

Will you have time to be used of Him?

Will you take time to reach those for whom He bled and rose again?

Will you set yourself aside so that they can know Him who is “the life”? (John 14:6)

Will you truly care for the souls of men? If so, read these following words with a sponge-like desire and attentiveness and God will light the way and use you beyond your most most far-reaching imagination.

Through the years I have been blessed to know many soul winners. One of the things that distinguishes them is the kindness in their hearts and lives. They love God and love others as Jesus commanded (Mathew 22:37-40). They abide in Christ. They dwell richly in His love. They have something from out of this world, something from God. They are decidedly not looking left or right. They are therefore “partakers of the divine nature” of God that draws men to Him (2 Peter 1:3-4).

The Secret Weapon of Kindness

“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.” Luke 6:32

Jesus is saying or asking the rhetorical question: “What godly good have you done if you don’t reach out to those who hate God and you – sinners?”

Kindness is a weapon. It comes from that daily dying friends. When our lives are laid down, we are not seeking our own good or our own things (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). No, we are seeking first the kingdom of God and all these other things of His kingdom are being added to our hearts and lives (Matthew 6:33). Kindness is one of those things.

“Let Your Light So Shine Before Men.” Matthew 5:16

There have been numerous people who in the natural would or did hate me due to their natural hatred. For example, many lesbian type women do not like me or any man for that matter. Yet, in so many cases, due to flooding them with authentic kindness and a warm smile, their hearts are melted and open. This happens all the time.

We have a distinct advantage because no one in the world (those outside of Christ) truly care for lost souls. So, when they see God’s love in us, they are drawn and many times delighted.

Taunting lost souls is not what Christ and His apostles or His early church did. They preached Jesus and the Gospel (Matthew 10:1-8; Acts 5:42, etc.). To those who do not receive the Gospel message, Jesus says for us to simply dust off our feet and move on and go spread His love to others. God never forces His blessed salvation upon anyone and we should have that firmly fixed in our thinking. At the same time, we must never deal arrogantly, take it personal, or possess a bad attitude. We must never defame Christ by misrepresenting Him who came to die – to do men good and not evil, to save and not destroy (Luke 9:56; John 3:17). Perhaps leaving a good taste in the mouths of those who at this time are rejecting the Good News, will later work (latently) to lead them to Jesus. This has happened over and over for centuries. Those who once mocked later repented and were saved. Some of us reading these very words did the same thing before Christ saved us. On the cross, speaking of His murderers, Jesus said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen, while being stoned to death, followed Jesus. He also prayed to the Father for those who were killing him. – “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60).

Mercy bridges the gap between divine holiness and human depravity/spiritual poverty. Did God not show abundant, sheer mercy upon you and me when He reached out and found us in our sins and saved us? Read Titus 3:2-7. Jesus bled to make intercession and rescue those precious souls (Isaiah 53). That’s exactly WHY He came (1 Timothy 1:15). Right? Taunting sinners of any flavor (Muslim, Mormon, gothic, Catholic, rank heathen, or otherwise) is not of God. IF you have a certain prejudice with people of a certain nationality, religion or otherwise, please get delivered of that. Prayerfully read the words of our Savior in Matthew 5:44-48 and employ them.

Yes, Elijah mocked the rebellious false prophets on Mt. Carmel but I don’t think that’s the same as unnecessarily taunting as we see some doing today (1 Kings 18). Those who taunt seem to have a hateful spirit like the immature disciples in the early days. See Luke 9:50-60. The disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven and Jesus rebuked them, right?
Well perhaps there is a “sanctified” mocking such as was the case when Elijah faced off the false prophets on Mt. Carmel. But, this obviously had divine warrant. To approach those outside the faith as if they are our enemies and with taunting, isn’t going to accomplish the will of God. Remember what James 1:20 says? If they don’t receive the truth, we simply shake off the dust and move on to tell others.
If you look at this ministry site, you will see a whole lot of very hard Word. Hopefully it’s done in the right spirit. Just saying. I am speaking here about unnecessary, unwarranted, hateful taunting such as is done by some hardened street preachers today who have taken the rejection they receive personally instead of wearing such as a badge of honor that’s going to merit them eternal rewards (if they don’t react wrongly to it). Matthew 5:10-12.
Truth must be declared in its undiluted nature but not using God’s Word to attack folks out of our own hateful disposition.
For the most part, this writing pertains to the way Christians approach the lost. The people we see being most severely rebuked in Scripture are usually the rebellious RELIGIOUS folks that are supposed to know better (Matthew 23).

Just WHAT is motivating some to taunt? Could it be self-righteousness in their own hearts?

“And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” Luke 9:53-56

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17

Is the LORD not bringing souls who have known nothing but their Muslim religion to our doorstep to win to Him? It’s easier that way isn’t it? Well, just think – Just what if you had to go into their land …. It’s much better to have them here to win to Christ. Taunting or showing hatred surely won’t win them to the One who “is love” and is quite a contradictory message to send them. Is hatred what Jesus Christ is all about? God bless each of us to be granted from Him a heart of flesh, mercy, and grace multiplied (Ezekiel 36:26; Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).

Have you prayerfully poured over 1 Corinthians 13 lately friend?

A Simple Smile Goes a Long Way

AS a reflection of the joy of the LORD in our hearts, born again believers should have the easiest time beaming out a loving smile!

I have personally led dozens of people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ by simply showing them neighborly kindness which led to their curiosity of why I was different. All of God’s children are different – in a good way. We are the only people on His planet who have His fruit in our lives due to the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian. There are nine dimensions of the “fruit of the Spirit” and one of them is “kindness” (Galatians 5:22-23). Kindness. Yes, kindness. If we are nothing else to people, let us be kind to them. The Bible says “Be ye kind” (Ephesians 4:32). Kindness – God’s kindness in us – will lead people to HIM who bears that blessed fruit in our lives. Let your light shine today so that others can see God’s love in your which comes only by way of being born into His family through Jesus Christ – “born again” (John 3:3, 7).

Why are some people winning souls and some aren’t?

The answer is simple.

Some people are hungering for more of Jesus, pouring over His blessed promises, and having His beautiful, bountiful fruit produced in their lives. They treasure His “exceeding great and precious promises” because they love Him and want more of His working in their lives. They covet and pray daily to be used more of Him.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

Beloved, go ahead and smile at someone you don’t know today. Look at them instead of ignoring their existence that God gave them and the world.

A smile always increases face value and usually delights the person you care enough about to smile at.

When passing out Gospel literature, smile. Show His loving kindness as He has so abundantly shown you through Jesus Christ (Titus 3:4-7). That kindness you display when handing out a Gospel tract or booklet, will make that person you hand it to want to read it. They will want what you have. Remember, only Christ’s body has His fruit, without exception.

Remember, God wants to use us to draw men to Him and not ourselves and yet, He uses His people to draw people to Him.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Now, just after He makes this statement, our LORD addresses this very issue of loving folks we don’t yet know. First, He instructs us to love even our enemies, then He tells us to get out of our own box, reach out with a smile and a handshake and greet people we don’t know. If God shows kindness to them, how dare we not do so.

Matthew 5

⁴⁴But 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;

⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

⁴⁶For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

⁴⁷And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

⁴⁸Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:44-48

If we do not have joy at this time in our life, it can only be due to our lack of abiding in Christ – in the crucified life He mandated. Read John 15 today friend! When His joy fills our hearts, it will overflow upon those around us and God will be glorified through Jesus Christ our LORD!

Now remember, the joy of the LORD really is your strength.

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

You are His and He is all yours.

“As he is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17

Of this point, a follower of Jesus notes:

“Amen! I have seen kindness, smiles and friendliness to melt icebergs in my life! This is so true! It is upsetting to see Christians not smiling. They rather look like they were weaned on a pickle! If you have God, you have everything! But it seems like they do not value God enough. If you are saved, at least look and act like you received the biggest blessing and gift ever!” Cecilia

He sends you today. He sends you with all the infinite power of Heaven. There is no lack in God and therefore there is no lack in that divine power He will send you forth in to do what He sends you to do.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

Pass This On to Others to Encourage Them.

Revolutionary Evangelism (book)

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STORE

Be Ready in the Morning [podcast]

The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]

That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]

At His Feet

Apostasy

Billy Graham Promoted and Sent People to Go Join the Catholic Church

“One of the most troubling problems within the church today is the unwavering loyalty to a ‘christian’ personality rather than to Christ and His Word. The unwillingness to test every man’s teaching with God’s Word, coupled with a stubborn lack of discernment, produces fertile ground for deception to flourish.” Evangeline DiChristi

from Chick Publications

Billy Graham Still Sending Converts Back to the Pope

Billy Graham. We know that his messages are solid gospel. Few in or out of the Christian World have not heard of him. Since 1949 he has held the spotlight as the most prominent evangelist in Christendom. He has just finished his 416th crusade in Pasadena, California that drew over 300,000 people in four days. 13,000+ responded to his altar calls. Graham is now 86 years old and has one more crusade scheduled in New York City next year, health permitting.

The Pasadena crusade was on the anniversary of his first Los Angeles revival 55 years ago. It was after that meeting that Graham was “kissed by William Randolph Hearst” according to Dr Cathy Burns in her book, Billy Graham and His Friends. This meant that Hearst had decided to promote Graham’s ministry in his nationwide chain of newspapers.

Immediately, reporters and photographers were crawling all over the Graham meetings. Front page articles began to appear in the leading local papers wherever Graham held meetings. One reporter was assigned full time to travel with Graham’s team.

In 1991, Graham claimed that this sudden attention remained a mystery. Burns describes a more complex scenario. Regardless, the publicity propelled Graham into the national, if not international, limelight.

Jesus warned, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you.” Over the years, Graham became the friend of presidents and kings, a beloved “America’s Pastor.”

But the fame came with a price. In his book, Smokescreens, written in 1983, Jack Chick describes how Roman Catholic leaders viewed and used Graham as a key player in their ecumenical plans. As early as 1965, he was a guest speaker at Catholic Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina where he received an honorary doctor’s degree. A college official’s letter describes Graham’s address as “theologically sound” as may have been given by “any other Catholic preacher.” The letter further states, “I would state that he could bring Catholics and Protestants together in a healthy ecumenic spirit.” Graham was also speaking at several other Catholic colleges at that time.

This prediction was fully realized. In Smokescreens, Chick shows various illustrations. In 1971 Graham is shown meeting with Oakland, California, Catholic Bishop Floyd Begin who lauded Graham’s ministry. In 1972 he received a Franciscan Friars’ award for true ecumenism. In 1979 Graham praised the pope as a “moral and spiritual leader that believes in something.”

In 1981 he was closeted for almost two hours with Pope John Paul II. After the 1982 New England crusade, thousands of those who went forward for salvation were turned over to Catholic clergy for follow-up.

And this hasn’t changed. Before the Pasadena crusade this year, The Tidings, official newspaper for the Los Angeles diocese, reported that Cardinal Mahony had written to parish priests to encourage their members to attend the crusade.

Crusade officials bragged that they had “a marvelous agreement” with Graham to give all registration cards to the diocese, of the inquirers who identified themselves as Catholic. The object was to “reincorporate Catholic Crusade participants back into full sacramental life in the Catholic Church.” “This is ecumenicity at it finest,” said Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the archdiocese.

There is no doubt that hundreds of thousands have been swept into the kingdom during the Graham crusades. But how tragic that so many who responded to Graham’s call to salvation were then sent back to the spiritual bondage and pagan rituals of the pope’s prostitute church?

Jack Chick concludes the Smokescreens chapter: “Yes, beloved. Billy Graham, as much as I love him and hate to say it, I believe was cleverly used as a smokescreen and as a pied piper for the whore of Revelation.”

In Graham’s 1952 Pittsburgh crusade, the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph reported that Graham said:

“Many of the people who reach a decision for Christ at our meetings have joined the Catholic Church and we have received commendations from Catholic publications for the revived interest in their Church following our campaigns. This happened both in Boston and Washington. After all, one of our prime purposes is to help the churches in a community. If after we move on, the local (sic) churches do not feel the efforts of these meetings in increased membership and attendance, then our crusade would have to be considered a failure.” [Emphasis in the original.]

Did you notice that Graham was only interested in a church’s increased membership-but nothing was said about a person receiving Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. This is what is important-not church membership! Church membership could increase a 1000-fold but if people are not being saved, then all is in vain.

Graham also gave a boost to the Catholic Church (in 1952) when he added that he “hoped to hear Bishop Fulton J. Sheen at one of the masses at St. Paul’s Cathedral tomorrow. ” [Emphasis in the original.]

“In 1968, Graham was in a meeting in San Antonio, Texas. He said that the Roman Church had given ‘tremendous cooperation’ in areas where he had held crusades. He added, ‘A great part of our support today comes from Catholics. We never hold a crusade without priests and nuns being much in evidence in the audience.”
By 1973 nuns were singing in the choir at Graham’s crusades.

Continuing on with Graham’s ecumenical outlook, the June 10, 1966 issue of Time said that volunteers “will tactfully receive those stepping forward to make a decision for Christ, [and] steer them to the nearest church of their chosen denomination….”

In Poland in 1978, “Graham taught nuns and priests how to evangelize. A picture taken at the famous Polish Shrine of the Black Madonna shows Graham welcoming pilgrims to the worship of their Virgin.”

Historical List of Atrocities of the Popes [video]

Peter was not the first so-called “pope” because there’s no such thing in Christ’s kingdom. Not one mention in the Bible and such would actually blaspheme the only Head of HIS truth believers, the nail scarred risen Savior Him, “the blessed and only Potentate (Supreme Ruler), the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” (1 Timothy 6:15) Therefore we rightly conclude that the pope is the head of a false church. 1 Timothy 2:5 Historical List of Atrocities of the Popes Speaking of things not found in God’s Word ….. Can anyone please show us where there is a novena […]

Paul Washer Exposed: Pope Connection Exposed! [video]

IF we want to see who the antichrists are among us, just look at the frauds who get their picture with the pope. By doing so they told you with shameless impunity that they are antichrists. Should we be quoting this guy? NO. …. Watch the demons manifest when one of the puppet idols of Satan is exposed. Those who’ve put their trust in these false prophets garnered to themselves demons which manifest when these dark agents of hell are exposed. … We already know that Paul Washer is a Calvinist which alone makes him a diabolical heretic. WANT to […]

Did Mary Die for Our Sins? [podcast]

Mary is just one of millions of people who have obeyed their Maker. That doesn’t make the immaculate conception heresy correct, that doesn’t make her anything other than a sinner, which she admitted (Luke 1:47). If Mary had refused to obey God, He would have simply replaced her (Esther 4:14). Did Mary walk on water? Did Mary tell anyone to pray to her? Is there even one prayer in the Bible to Mary? No. Did Mary raise the dead, open blinded eyes, heal the lepers, or die for anyone’s sins? No. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES THAT MARY IS THE MEDIATRIX/co-redeemer: […]

Abiding

“David Encouraged Himself in the LORD his God” [podcast]

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, … but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

Gathering from several commentaries on this passage, one source notes the following:

“Faced with the devastating loss of Ziklag and a mutinous army threatening to stone him, David found supernatural resilience. Rather than yielding to panic or despair, he actively turned his focus away from the overwhelming crisis and strengthened his faith directly in God.

Key Context and Lessons

- The Crisis: Amalekite raiders had burned the city and captured all the women and children, including David’s own wives.
- The Breaking Point: His loyal men were now grieving and broken, turning their deep anguish into violent anger against their leader.
- The Shift: David did not look to his men, his own strength, or his circumstances for hope. He preached truth to his own soul, drawing on his past history with God’s faithfulness and inquiring of the Lord for his next steps.

Practical Takeaways

- Self-Talk: When no one else is around to lift you up, you must learn to speak God’s promises to your own heart.
- Refocusing: Encouraging yourself in the Lord means anchoring your identity and security in His unchanging character rather than shifting public opinion.
- Actionable Faith: David’s inward strengthening immediately led to outward action—he sought God’s direction and pursued the enemy, resulting in complete victory and restoration.”

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

“In the world ye shall have tribulation”

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

During seasons of great stress, this man after God’s own heart sought the LORD. This time only served as a blessing, hastening David to the feet of Christ. Beloved David gave us the most amazing Scriptures concerning seeking God.

“My soul followeth hard after thee.” Psalms 63:8

“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.” Psalms 27:4

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

Prayer: Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, please grant me, Your mere servant, to be possessed with a heart after You dear LORD. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Having a Pure Heart Requires the Cross Life [podcast]

“Great Podcast. Thank you. When I think about Matthew 5:8 I think of Psalm 24:3-4, ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.’ Who is worthy to stand in God’s holy presence? Only those who are living holy and righteous lives! Those disciples who are free from pride and sin and are maintaining inner purity. With no idolatry, hypocrisy and deceit in their hearts! They are hungry and thirst […]

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 David’s Prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they […]

Purifying Ourselves even as He is Pure [podcast]

Ready or Not – Jesus is Coming “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3 Here’s how you know if you are ready to meet Jesus—whether by dying or His soon return. The context of the Bible verse above is the return of Jesus and being ready for it (1 John 2:24-3:3). Those who live for Christ long to see Him and look expectantly for His soon return. This world is not their home. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all […]

Abiding

10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast]

The wise virgin saints are keeping their lamps full of divine oil, they are taking personal responsibility for their own spiritual state with Christ the great and soon coming Bridegroom. Read Matthew 25:1-13.

“The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold”

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:10-14

Did you notice in verse 14 that those who hot for Jesus are participating in the preaching of His Word to the end of the earth (Mark 16:15).

Anyone not devouring God’s Word daily is falling away, is not enduring to the end, is choosing the let their love for Jesus wax cold, and on the wrong, the losing end of this prophecy Jesus gave here on record in Matthew 24:10-14.

“I will spue (vomit, reject) thee out of my mouth”

“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:” Revelation 3:16-17

Praying God will help you love Him more (Matthew 22:37-40). It really all boils down to WHO we love most. THAT is exactly who we are serving (Romans 6:16).

Loving God is everything as far as what’s in our control – because it’s a choice, daily, and will determine if one remains in Christ to the end.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

“Thou hast left thy first love”

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

1. When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in prayer each and every morning… When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in His Word each and every morning (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Chronicles 16:11).

2. When your love for God’s people is being reduced instead of increased (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 5:1) Marks of the True Christian …. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” (Romans 12:9-11) See John 13:35.

“And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” Luke 8:20-21

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1

Reading 1 Corinthians 13 today will refresh your heart and mind on the divine importance placed upon LOVE.

3. You are not denying self and not taking up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24; 19:27; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

4. You aren’t communicating the light of truth to others because you no longer seek or fear the LORD and so His divine virtue isn’t teeming in and flowing out of you. Your cup no longer runs over but instead is running empty (Psalms 23). You have a lampshade over the light and are not letting His light shine in and through your life and words… “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)

5. You live in fear instead of faith and the joy of being with Jesus (Luke 21:28; 1 John 4:16-18; Proverbs 28:1; Psalms 2:11).

6. You preach promises and not conditions…following the apostate modern church and you don’t preach the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel which we are commanded to “earnest contend for.” (Jude 3) You begin meditating on and living by trends instead of truth (Jeremiah 9:3; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Philippians 4:8; Romans 12:1-2).

7. You have little or no true fellowship with other born- again Bible believing disciples of Jesus as is defined in God’s Word and not by the modern church world (Acts 2:42).

The Word of God is to run rich, to be abundant among God’s people … “In all wisdom” and “all in the name of the Lord Jesus” … “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

8. You know you are backsliding when your main thrust and identity become politics, not the work of the Gospel. YOU are a blood bought disciple of Jesus, not a conservative. You are a Bible believing follower of Christ (Luke 9:62; Galatians 6:14).

9. When you love this world…..When you spend more time and money on hobbies and the things of this fleeting world than you do on attending to knowing, walking with the LORD and preparing to be used of Him (Mark 4:17-19; 1 John 2:15; James 4:4).

10. When you spend more money on trash and trinkets then helping the work of the One you claim to love and the poor. You know you are backslidden when you are not obeying God with what He’s placing in your temporal possession. He shall bring you into full account for this.

Regrettably, people will give their money to any and every pleasure under the sun but make excuses when the opportunity to support the work of the One they claim to love and serve. The Holy Spirit foretold that in the final days before the return of Jesus, there would be those with a mere “form of godliness”, “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7) According to the LORD, one of the main ways to measure our true love for Him or lack thereof, is by peering into our personal stewardship of the resources He’s placed into our temporary possession. Luke 12 and 16 offer a plethora of divine wisdom and warning concerning the judgment to come, the judgment we shall endure in giving account for our stewardship in this life.

The clear proof that God is working in our lives, that we are truly following Jesus, is that we are becoming less and less vested in this fleeting, fallen world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). And that we, our good works, our giving are more and more invested in eternity – in the eternal kingdom of Christ, laying up treasures in Heaven, sending them before us, relinquishing the things of this world for the glory of God – putting them to work for the eternal Gospel of Christ – for saints to be fed and equipped and the lost to hear the Word of God (Matt. 6:19-21).

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24

To underscore the importance of stewardship, we should realize that 16 of our LORD’s 38 parables involved stewardship. Those who now do not wish to face and confront this truth, are apparently those who are in the most need of hearing it.

PRAYER: Father I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. Please cause my conscience to be super sensitive to Your conviction, Your leading, and to evade all that defiles me in Your holy eyes, sin. Here and now I submit my life afresh to You dear LORD. You must increase but I must decrease. I am crucified with Christ and thank You for conforming me to His holy image. I am all Yours LORD and thank You that You are all mine. I love You Jesus. Please make me one with You and the Father and with Your beloved body. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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