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And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.Luke 16:9

No different than when He commanded us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” here Jesus instructs us to view our earthly resources as “friends,” as missiles to send up-range into the eternal glory that we are headed, aimed toward! This wisdom is what God calls “durable riches” or those which are forever.

“Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.” Proverbs 8:18-19

Using Our Temporal Money, Investing it, for Eternal Rewards

There is no eternal wealth to be had in this fleeting world, other than to use the temporal to fund the eternal. Yet Jesus taught that we can use the temporal to fund, to create wealth in the eternal. Only that done for the eternal glory of Christ will last, will be waiting for our arrival in the eternal.

As we take a peek into this parable of the unjust, shrewd steward, let us ask “Just what was Jesus communicating here?” What was our LORD trying to teach, to impart into us?

And let us remember that a parable is simply an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

The Parable of the Unjust Steward or Parable of the Penitent Steward is a parable of Jesus which appears in Luke 16:1–13. In it, a steward who is about to be fired tries to “curry favor” with his master’s debtors by remitting some of their debts. Fittingly, this teaching of Christ extends to us just after He taught about the prodigal son who took his inheritance wealth and went off and squandered, wasted it. Jesus then segues into telling His disciples the parable of the unjust steward.

This parable is about how to handle money correctly.

Jesus’ Teaching Luke 16:9-13 – Parable of the Unjust, Shrewd Steward

9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail (die, pass away from this temporary earthly life), they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
13  No servant 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.

Of this teaching, one writer notes:

“God appears, and in the sovereignty of His grace turns that which man has abused on the earth into a means of heavenly fruit. The things of this world being in the hands of man, he is not to be using them for the present enjoyment of this world, which is altogether apart from God, but with a view to the future. We are not to seek to possess the things now, but by the right use of these things to make a provision for other times. It is better to turn all into a friend for another day than to have money now.”

In summation of these words of our LORD Jesus above, John Wesley writes:

“And I say to you – Be good stewards even of the lowest talents wherewith God hath intrusted you. Mammon means riches or money. It is termed the mammon of unrighteousness, because of the manner wherein it is commonly either procured or employed. Make yourselves friends of this, by doing all possible good, particularly to the children of God: that when ye fail, when your flesh and your heart faileth, when this earthly tabernacle is dissolved, those of them who have gone before may receive, may welcome you into the everlasting habitations.”

Adam Clarke on Luke 16:9:

“The mammon of unrighteousness – Μαμωνα της αδικιας – literally, the mammon, or riches, of injustice. Riches promise Much, and perform Nothing: they excite hope and confidence, and deceive both: in making a man depend on them for happiness, they rob him of the salvation of God and of eternal glory. For these reasons, they are represented as unjust and deceitful. It is evident that this must be the meaning of the words, because the false or deceitful riches, here, are put in opposition to the true riches, Luk_16:11; i.e. those Divine graces and blessings which promise all good, and give what they promise; never deceiving the expectation of any man. To insinuate that, if a man have acquired riches by unjust means, he is to sanctify them, and provide himself a passport to the kingdom of God, by giving them to the poor, is a most horrid and blasphemous perversion of our Lord’s words. Ill gotten gain must be restored to the proper owners: if they are dead, then to their successors.

“The expression seems to be a mere Hebraism: – they may receive you, for ye shall be received; i.e. God shall admit you, if you make a faithful use of his gifts. He who does not make a faithful use of what he has received from his Maker has no reason to hope for eternal felicity. See Mat_25:33; and, for similar Hebraisms, consult in the original, Luk_6:38; Luk_12:20; Rev_12:6; Rev_16:15.”

Sending it before you…by using your earthly coins to lay up treasure in Heaven, eternal wealth, capital assets that shall never stop giving, is what Christ commanded us to do (Matthew 6:19-24).

The Believer’s Bible Commentary notes the following about this stewardship teaching of Jesus in Luke 16:

“We should make friends for ourselves by means of unrighteous mammon. That is, we should use money and other material things in such a way as to win souls for Christ and thus form friendships that will endure throughout eternity. Pierson stated it clearly:

‘Money can be used to buy Bibles, books, tracts and thus, indirectly, the souls of men. Thus what was material and temporal becomes immortal, becomes non-material, spiritual and eternal. Here is a man who has 100. He may spend it all on a banquet or an evening party, in which case the next day there is nothing to show for it. On the other hand, he invests in Bibles at 1.00 each. It buys a hundred copies of the Word of God. These he judiciously sows as seed of the kingdom, and that seed springs up into a harvest, not of Bibles but of souls. Out of the unrighteous, he has made immortal friends, who when he fails, receive him into everlasting habitations.’

“This then is the teaching of our Lord. By the wise investment of material possessions, we can have part in the eternal blessing of men and women. We can make sure that when we arrive at the gates of heaven, there will be a welcoming committee of those who were saved through our sacrificial giving and prayers. These people will thank us saying, ‘It was you who invited me here.’”

“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Proverbs 13:7

Those who send their wealth forward into eternity, may appear poor on this earth and yet are full of treasure in heaven!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Jesus taught:

“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

Only that done for Christ with the temporal money of this fleeting world carries an “eternal weight of glory.”

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ Name, asking You to forgive my misuse, my mis-stewarding of the resources You have and are giving me in this temporal life. Please forgive my sin of self-idolatry. LORD I ask You right now to truly be the LORD, the rightful Master of my life from this moment forward. Please grant my heart and mind to be imbued with an eternal perspective. Teach me Your wisdom O God and unite my heart to fear Thy holy Name, as I look eagerly and expectantly for Your soon return Jesus! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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The Return of Christ

Stewardship

Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast]

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

Where to Give and Where Not to Give

Fruit Abounding to Your Account!

Parable of the Talents [podcast]

Proving Jesus Matters [podcast]

Money, Material Wealth, and Riches

Rusted Gold and Fire Untold [podcast]

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Abiding

5 Soul Damning Sins Named! Learning from History! [podcast]


THE 5 SINS THAT KEPT ISRAEL (God’s own covenant people) OUT OF THEIR PROMISED LAND OF BLESSINGS and will keep us out if not relinquished. Friend, please read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 with all your might. Make this text your meat.

The world seeks to romance sin but if God says it’s sin, that’s what it is. Toning down the terms changes nothing. Judgment Day is on the way.

We are fighting the good fight of faith, “striving against sin” and “more than conquerors” over sin through Jesus who loves us and bought us with His own blood! (1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:4; 13:12; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:37)

There are the 5 sins listed here that kept God’s people out of His blessings. We all need to L.I.F.T.M. up to the LORD in repentance and for His perfect forgiveness and cleansing. God the Holy Spirit warns us here through Paul’s pen (1 Cor. 10:1-13), that Israel and these sins are “examples” (vv. 6, 11) to all NT believers. God destroys those who go back on Him after knowing Him (transgressors – Ps. 68:21; 73:28; 125:5, etc.). If not ridden out of our lives, any one of these 5 sins WILL keep us out of our promised land. God is holy (Heb. 12:14). As taken in order from 1 Cor. 10:6-10, here are those 5 sins:

  • Lust

  • Idolatry

  • Fornication

  • Tempting Christ

  • Murmuring

This simple acronym should help us to remember these sins and remain separate from them as we grow today to know and love our Savior more fervently. “Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Committing the sin is one thing (1 John 1:8-10, right) and refusing to repent of it is yet another. Refusing to acknowledge, repent, confess, and cease is what snares the soul and ousts us from Christ (Proverbs 28:13).

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

If the Holy Spirit has quickened any offences of your heart, simply L.I.F.T.M. up to Christ the Redeemer, Forgiver, Cleanser, and Transformer of lives.

WHATEVER it takes – those who choose to get real with God will sever themselves from anything and anyone who causes them to sin. This is what Jesus says about sin and hell:

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
46  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
47  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 
48  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
49  For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 
50  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:43-50

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 

1 Corinthians 10 completely destroys the OSAS / eternal security argument.

Notice the word “OUR” in verses 6 and 11. This is directly spoken to warn NEW Testament saints that they are going to hell if they live and die in sin.

Case closed.

1 Corinthians 10:1-12

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were OUR examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.

7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Eternal security is a false teaching. 1 sin separated Adam and Eve from God and “The wages of sin is (still) death” because God is Holy (Rom 6:23, etc.). Moral coward counterfeits hate, despise the Gospel essential of the cross, the crucified life. They want Jesus to save them to Heaven but not from sin. These are the sin-justifying, grace-perverting “ungodly men” Jude warned us about (Jude 4).

The divine declaration that “The wages of sin is death” which means separation from God, appears throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23).

“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” Proverbs 19:16 

Die or death always means separation.

OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell. OSAS was Satan’s first lie and so it’s blasphemy to teach this doctrine of devils and claim it’s part of the Gospel. You are attributing Satan’s lie to the LORD Jesus. Repent now sinner. See Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Jude 4, etc..

The concept of an un-conditional eternal security is not established in Scripture … Except for it being Satan’s first teaching, His first lie – the “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

Eternal Security/Once saved always saved is a lie from hell.

PEACE with GOD

Support | STORE | | Podcasts | Eternal Security/OSASAccounted Worthy to Escape [podcast] | Eternal Security Exposed | Sealed?The Return of Christ | SupportLie of the Ages [podcast]10 Questions about Eternal SecurityIs Salvation Eternal?The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security [podcast]The Essential of Fearing God | The KING is Coming [podcast]Sound Doctrine for a Glorious Church 

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Abiding

“The Unalterable Basis of an Open Heaven is a Grave” [podcast]


Concerning the raising up process of the Gospel of God, T. Austin-Sparks wrote:

“The unalterable basis of an open heaven is a grave, and a crisis at which you come to an end of your own self-life. It is the crisis of real experiential identification with Christ in His death.”

Though we entered into His death upon initial salvation, accepting and experiencing that death is still a daily choice, an individual decision to be made on an ongoing basis. One’s choice to continue to persevere, following Christ as He clearly prescribed, will determine his eternal destination (Luke 9:62; 19:13; 21:19; Romans 6:16; Galatians 6:7-9).

The insidious circumventing of the cross can come in many clandestine ways that are masked with pious outer garb. Today, while refusing to utter the full counsel of the One they claim tobe representing, smiling and charismatic men stand in sheep’s clothing, promising heavenly life to those who live in sin. They only prosper due to the volitional biblical illiteracy of the masses. Ignorance of the truth is a choice with eternal consequences (Hosea 4:6; Matthew 22:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

Of seeds, one source notes:

Seeds do not technically ‘die’ when planted; rather, they germinate, transforming from a dormant state into an active, growing plant. While the outer shell breaks and the original form changes, the embryo inside remains alive.”

Just as nothing in hell could have held Jesus in that grave, NOTHING in hell can hold down the crucified saint! The divinely volcanic resurrection life of Christ bursting forth in the life of the crucified consenting disciple will be utterly unstoppable!

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive, raise up) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

The true disciple is always “delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:11). He has “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). He is daily putting to death “the deeds of the body” and being “raised up” by the power of the same Holy Spirit “that raised up Christ from the dead” (Romans 8:11, 13). He rejoices in “Christ Jesus” and has “no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).

“I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake … that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you” 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12.

The disciple who is dead and buried with Christ is “dead to sin” (Romans 6:2). There are tell-tale symptoms in one whose self life has not been terminated, put to death. When we justify the sinful things we do, and call those who point them out “legalistic,” it is symptomatic of a life that is not crucified with Christ. The Bible says, “Lie not against the truth” (James. 3:14). If we argue against the truth when we are shown it, we are manifesting rebellion. The “corn of wheat” must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The one whose life is laid down does not make excuses when he realizes that he harbors sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more sanctified and dwelling in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I am crucified with You. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. Here and now I lay my life in Your holy hands, this moment. Please use me now and here forward in the Father’s business of the Great Commission as we eagerly look for Your soon return. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates |The Return of ChristStewardshipWhere to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Consider Your Ways [podcast] | Consider and Build [podcast] | Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] | Dollar DialogueJesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | Escaping Sodom!Waste | Stewardship | Giving | Fellowship | Haggai | 100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich Podcasts

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Articles

2 Marines on Mission in Mexico Depending on God’s Grace: Mission Mexico Part 33

UPDATE: Recently, you guys jumped in and ordered Bibles for sister Teri in FL. What a blessing! As a result of your giving, 30 or more King James Bibles are on their way to Florida to bless the people in this kingdom outreach among English, Spanish, and bi-lingual people. We are blessed to minister the Word each weekend via technology. God is good. And you are supplying the saints to the glory of our King, Jesus.


WELL, last evening, again we ran out of tracts …. many being reached daily with our LORD’s bless-ed and glorious Gospel.

Manuel, father of 4 children, had lots of questions he was just waiting for the occasion to ask. God is working in this man’s life. He received ample portions of biblical truth. Oh and he accepted our invitation to pray for him before he left, and we did.

Your prayers are vital (Philippians 1:19; 2 Thessalonians 3:1).

Mission Mexico


Thank you for lifting Mission Mexico in prayer today – and most of all the beautiful people of Mexico who are super receptive of our LORD’s Gospel.


Now that there are two of us on the ground here, Mark and I, more JESUS tracts are and will be distributed—more souls reached for Christ our King. If anyone wishes to jump in and pay for the next batch of JESUS tracts in Spanish, feel free. Appr. $250. – Give Here. Takes Seconds. | Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.


Jesus sends His disciples out two by two and so is the case with Mission Mexico (Luke 10:1). The market (mercado) was a field day this week, a target rich environment where many gladly received the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And as usual, many stop everything they are doing to instantly open and read the JESUS tract. It’s stunning.

Though we “have no confidence in the flesh”, brother Mark is also a Marine veteran and on mission for King Jesus, something brother Mark has prayed to do for many years. So, by God’s grace and for His glory alone the work is at least somewhat approached with the “storm the beach” or “first in battle” mentality (ha). We glory in Christ alone! (Galatians 6:14) Tempered with the grace of Christ and fruit of His Holy Ghost—fully dependent upon Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our brother Mark is a “good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Please undertake to lift brother Mark in your daily prayer.

Mark was a 0311 grunt, a Marine scout and it shows in his strategic mapping and territorial tactics as he invades for Christ. Interestingly, a few years ago, the LORD impressed upon brother Mark’s heart that he would be ministering to the cartel. Stay tuned!

The following passages comes to mind:

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:1-5


“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9) and are now supporting a pastor in the Philippines who has been associated with the ministry for decades and is a faithful servant of the LORD. His name is Allan Abayon and I invite you to lift him in prayer. For now we are able to send him $100 month and welcome more support so this can be increased. God is able.

Chaplain Jay in south Texas (on the border) is in need of another shipment of the Authentic book in Spanish.

If I may add…. the prayerful goal is to have an additional $1,200 coming into the ministry monthly. For now I am personally supporting a portion of the ministry expenses and glad to do so. Yet it would be selfish to hog up more of the kingdom opportunity than is fair…..much more ministry opportunity is in need of attention. God is able and “God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).


The ministry website feeds many worldwide daily, as well as the podcast which has now reached over 3.5 million downloads to date. Follow the SafeGuardYourSoul here. Feel free to share with others.


Pharmacists Desire and Receive God’s Word

WHILE waiting for Mark last night, I was passing out JESUS tracts and speaking God’s Word to several people at a prominent 3-way intersection. On that corner there is an established pharmacy. After joyfully ministering to a lost soul, I turned around toward that pharmacy only to be staring straight into the face of a smiling older gentleman who was holding out his hands, desiring to hear the Gospel and obtain a JESUS tract. He had seen others receiving and so asked to know about Jesus. His son was standing there next to him, smiling also. They asked to receive the Gospel and they did. While the son opened and was reading the JESUS tract, the older gentleman, the father, was instructed in Spanish to go home and repent and receive JESUS and when he did he would receive new life in Christ!

The elder gentleman, the father, later told me he’s started and was operating that pharmacy for decades and was going to retire and his son would take over….. yet God had a plan to save him before it’s too late! Oh what love! John 3:16-17

God is good saints!
Jesus is coming.
Let’s roll!
“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

Mission Mexico

UPDATE: I went back by this pharmacy to see this man and his son and was gladly received with a big hug and they took a stack of JESUS tracts to distribute at their pharmacy.


Benjamin: Here’s a dear Christian man whom Mark and I fellowshipped with today. We had an idea he was a Christian when we saw the front and back of his shirt. Next week we are scheduled to get him a stack of JESUS tracts to distribute at his restaurant! Gospel Momentum.



This man Miguel was happy to know that God’s people in the USA would be pausing to lift him in prayer.  “WE are labourers TOGETHER with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Mission Mexico

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Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

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