Abiding

“Let the Righteous Smite Me” [podcast]

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]

“The LORD sent Nathan unto David”

Nathan was on mission from the LORD. Why did God send Nathan to David? Remember how the LORD sent Nathan to correct David after David had sinned? Did the LORD do such to destroy or to restore David? Restore. For a most significant revelation of the will and character of god, memorize Luke 9:56 and John 3:17.

“And the LORD sent Nathan unto David…” 2 Samuel 12:1

“The Lord sent – When the ordinary means did not awaken David to repentance, God takes an extraordinary course. Thus the merciful God pities and prevents him who had so horribly forsaken God. He said – He prudently ushers in his reproof with a parable, after the manner of the eastern nations, that so he might surprise David, and cause him unawares to give sentence against himself.” John Wesley

“2 Samuel 12:1-14: THOU ART THE MAN
A year followed on his sin, but David gave no sign. He describes his condition during that awful time in Psa. 32:3-4. Conscience scourged him incessantly, but he did not return to God until Nathan had been sent to fetch him. The Good Shepherd went after that which was lost until he found it. “He restoreth my soul!” But soul-agony is not enough, keen though it be; there must be confession.

Nathan’s parable was the mirror in which the true enormity of the king’s sin was held up to his face. He was judged, and he judged himself. By the manifestation of the truth, Nathan commended himself to the king’s conscience, as in the sight of God. And finally came the home-thrust-Thou art the man. The words of confession were immediate and deeply sincere. There was no thought of the human wrongs he had done. All were included in the great sin against God. “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned.” And the confession was met, as it always is, by an instant assurance of pardon-“The Lord… hath put away thy sin.” FB Meyer

The enormity of his sin was now made real to David and he cried out to the LORD for mercy, knowing and declaring openly that his sin was first and foremost against God who is holy, and then toward man.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalms 51:4

Read Psalms 32 and 51.

“For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” Psalms 38:18

Wow! Can we begin to imagine just how great a reward awaits our brother Nathan for being obedient to our LORD, for being instrumental in restoring the very “sweet psalmist of Israel” whom the LORD later called “a man after mine own heart”? (Read 2 Samuel 23:1; Acts 13:22.)

Remember this? – “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

“What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:15

David experienced the devastation of sin. In his season of darkness, of gross sinning, the LORD was gracious (Psalms 86:5, 15). He sent His prophet, His servant Nathan to bring a parable of rebuke to the “sweet psalmist of Israel” … whereby David was forgiven and restored.

“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Psalms 141:5

Notice David’s prayer. Can we imagine how much depth of meaning were in his words? David knew on a firsthand basis the restorative blessing involved in being rebuked by the righteous. When he penned the words above, he was sitting pretty with the LORD and was in perfect communion with Him, in contrast to his former state of complete separation from the LORD until Nathan was sent by God to rebuke and bring restoration to David’s life.

When the LORD allows us to be rebuked, corrected, it’s “a kindness … an excellent oil” that wounds us to life. It’s the loving corrective action of our heavenly Father to ensure our place with Him eternally. He sees all, including the future.

With a heart after God, one is abandoning his own life and delights to be corrected by His Master, Savior, and LORD Jesus (Hebrews 12:5-11).

“May we all be as David with a humble heart! To actually want the chastising of the Lord. God does love us enough to rebuke and discipline us. But the question is are we humble enough to receive it? It seems the more crucified you are the quicker you recognize when God is chastising you. God lets me know when I am in sin and I have to repent and confess it and get right with Him. And I am not right inside until I do. God doesn’t let me get away with anything! I am grateful for that.” Karen Cochran

DO NOT GROW WEARY

“5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? ⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. ⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. ¹²Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;” Hebrews 12:5-12

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REBUKE A WISE MAN?

Finding favor after rebuking a wise, a teachable man:

“He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.” Proverbs 28:23

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU REBUKE A SCORNER?

In contrast, reaping shame after rebuking a rebel scorner:

“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.” Proverbs 9:7

Unrepentant scorners hate those who dare attempt to correct them in their sin (John 3:19-21). Wise men love those who correct them. It’s a heart posture. The blessings of being a humble teachable, correctable servant of Christ are mountainous. Check this out:

“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.” Proverbs 9:8-12

Teachability and pliability are characteristics of those who fear God.

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” Proverbs 1:5

“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth (remains) among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 15:31-33

PRAYER: Holy Father, I come to You in the name of my LORD Jesus, asking You to forgive all my sins right this moment. Against Thee alone have I sinned and done evil. Please grant my heart to be an heart of flesh. Remove all stony places and cause me to be humble, contrite, and teachable, correctable as was Your beloved David. Let it be said of me by Thee that I am a man after Your heart. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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"I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice": What does this really Mean? [podcast]

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.” UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross! Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and […]

Plenteous in Mercy [podcast]

The LORD is full of compassion and full of mercy toward all. Are you? Unforgiveness, and being merciless in our attitude toward others is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die. Unforgiveness, being merciless in our attitude toward others is sin. God will judge such a man (Matthew 18:21-35). “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13 If the LORD wasn’t so very good, none of us could be forgiven for the myriad of sins each of us have committed. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready […]

Does the Bible Teach Us to "Learn to Love Yourself"?

Recently I saw a clip of a pastor saying that the #1 reason God hates sin is because He loves us and sin separates us from Him. While these things are true, what is missing? #1 reason God hates sin – is not because He loves you…. it’s Because He is holy! Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 1:15-16 And yes He loves you also. It’s time to let Jesus reign in all things and cease making everything about us. HE is first. 1 John 4:19 — Looking outside of God’s Word is sin. “ALLLL things that […]

Abiding

Going Directly to the Source [podcast]

IF you desire to truly hear from GOD, read His own Word for yourself. King James Bible.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Nourished Up” – like a wise virgin Heaven bound saint.

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6

On this biblical topic of fervency, of being “fervent in spirit”, one commentary offers the following:

“Nourished up in the words of faith” is a biblical phrase from 1 Timothy 4:6, meaning to be continually fed, strengthened, and built up by scripture, sound Christian teaching, and doctrine, much like food sustains the body, these spiritual words sustain and grow the soul, leading to spiritual maturity and a deeper walk with God. It signifies a deliberate, ongoing intake of God’s truth, which fosters growth, guards against false teachings, and fuels a believer’s life.” (Source?)

It’s one thing to have a mere human giving you encouragement and yet another thing to get your encouragement, your spiritual nourishment from God—directly. King James Bible.

Psalms 73

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”