Obedience or Love – Which is Most Important?

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“IF ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Have you ever noticed the “If” of this statement by our LORD Jesus?

Okay, reread the words of Jesus above and see what comes first in the sentence – “love” or keeping His commands.

“IF you love me, keep my commandments” says Jesus (John 14:15)…. IF we don’t know and love Him there’s no use trying to keep His Word…. He’s not speaking of keeping His Word in order to earn His justification but rather as the fruit of knowing Him in a saving relationship….

“Few seem to understand the huge difference between obedience and legalism. We obey because we love God and we know obedience doesn’t save us. Legalism believes by obeying they are saved by it. We that are born again know only the blood of Jesus saved us but we also know that obedience proves we are saved and keeps us saved. It is joy to obey the Lord as we love what He loves and we hate what He hates. Amen.” Shirley Bruso

—- JESUS IS NOT GLORIFIED BY THE KEEPing OF HIS INSTRUCTIONS/COMMANDS BY THOSE WHO DON’T LOVE HIM …. LOVE COMES FIRST – LOVING AND WORSHIPPING HIM IS MOST IMPORTANT TO GOD. “IF IF, IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.” JOHN 14:15

LOVE is the governing factor:

“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

Love begins with God and any relationship requires reciprocating love – love flowing from each of the 2 parties.

“And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, FOR THE LOVE HE HAD TO HER.” Genesis 29:20

Jacob didn’t mind serving a whole 7 years for Rachel, because he loved her so much. The true disciple doesn’t view serving God as drudgery but rather delight – because he loves God supremely!

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

IF I don’t love Jesus, do you think He’s honored when I try to obey what He said? No.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God…” Matthew 22:37

“IFFF ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

IF WE LOVE JESUS, OBEYING HIM IS JOY, JUST AS IT WAS FOR JACOB AS HE SERVED A WHOLE 7 YEARS TO OBTAIN A LIFELONG MARITAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS BELOVED RACHEL (GENESIS 29:20).

Perhaps we are not understanding the divine economy as Christ meant us to understand Him. Jesus says “IF IF IF you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 15:14) It’s only IF I love Jesus that He is interested in my doing the things He told HIS true people to do, otherwise, my good works are in vain, even if I suffer martyrdom by burning my body – “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2) IF WE DON’T LOVE HIM – truly – with our whole heart, mind, and strength He’s not interested in us obeying Him (Matthew 22:37-39). Now, of course, if I truly do love Him, I will obey Him and yet Jesus doesn’t want us to think we are impressing Him by outward obedience only. In the divine economy, it all begins with LOVE – “God so LOVED the world that He gave ….” (John 3:16) The Bible informs us that “The Lord looketh on the heart” and if He sees that I don’t truly love Him, He’s not interested in my vain outward show (1 Samuel 16:7).

“IFFFF you love me keep my commandments” and not “prove you love me by keeping my commandments” (John 14:15) … big difference. Jesus isn’t interested in any law keeper keeping His commandments …. He desires and calls His people to love Him! If not, there’s no reason to try to obey Him.

“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

Those who truly know and love Him do His commandments. They don’t live on their own terms but rather on His. They delight to do His will because they truly seek, know, and love Him who bled to redeem their otherwise hopeless, wretched souls. Yet, obedience saves no one. Keeping His commandments doesn’t save you – the pharisees claimed to do that while refusing to come to Christ whom (John 5:39-40). No, God alone can save and He does so on His terms – initial and ongoing faith “which worketh by love” which is relationship. Yes, “faith … worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:6) Remember that even if a person goes so far as to give their body to be burned and has no love – they don’t love God, it’s in vain (1 Corinthians 13:3).

1 Thessalonians 1:3 speaks to those already saved using the phrases “work of faith, and labour of love.” Please pay close attention to the words “faith” and “love.” “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

When God initially saves us, He puts a love in our hearts for Him which is manifested by putting our faith in Christ. Jesus taught that knowing the Father and Himself were cardinal in His kingdom. – “And this is life eternal (the whole purpose for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

DID GOD send His only begotten Son to create an army of mechanical law-keepers OR a family who knows, worships, and adores Him? What does the Bible say is the cardinal reason for the whole plan of redemption? Why did God send His only begotten Son to bleed, be buried, and raised again to justify all who would come to Him? Are you familiar with what the LORD told us in Exodus 25:8, Matthew 22:37-40, and Philippians 3:10? We must have anchored in our hearts this glorious truth of knowing Him! Nothing else matters if we don’t relish Him, adore Him, and worship Him. If you name the name of Jesus Christ, it would greatly benefit your life, understanding. and ministry to memorize the words of the very Redeemer Himself as is recorded in John 17:3. More on that later.

If we love the LORD truly and our neighbor we will not steal, lie, covet, bear false witness, hate, commit adultery, OR any of those other sins and be walking in God’s perfect will. It’s really quite simple actually. But first we must examine this day if we truly love Him.

One writer notes:

“Holiness is first and foremost agape love. Unconditional love for all, including enemies of us and enemies of God. This over-emphasis on repentance can make us the initiator and God the responder if we are not careful. God is always the initiator.”

IT IS MY OPINION THAT WE SHOULD BEGIN TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO OVER-EMPHASIZE OBEDIENCE WHILE NEGLECTING TO PREACH THE COMMAND TO KNOW, LOVE, AND ABIDE IN CHRIST. ALL OF OUR OUTWARD OBEDIENCE IS IN VAIN IF WE DON’T AUTHENTICALLY LOVE HIM. MANY WHO PREACH SEEM TO BE DOING THIS AND ARE CALLING MANY TO WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF SELF BY PERPETRATING THE FALSE NOTION THAT CHRIST’S ONE PERFECT SACRIFICE WAS NOT ENOUGH. THIS SEEMS TO RESONATE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT TRULY AND UNRESERVEDLY SURRENDERED TO CHRIST AND WHO WANT TO FEEL AS IF THEY ARE HELPING TO EARN THEIR OWN SALVATION WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE. WHAT DOES ROMANS 4:4-5 TELL US?

So, while it’s absolute that ALL who have saving faith in Christ are obedient and have good fruit in their lives, those good works and good fruit aren’t what saves them. No, good fruit merely evidences that there is a relationship. Christ alone can save and He does that instantly when a lost soul believes upon Him (John 6:47; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:1, etc.). The Great Shepherd of His sheep keeps His people saved as they keep themselves in the love of God, “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.“ (Jude 21: 1 Peter 1:5)

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21

The story of Jesus, Mary, and Martha is yet another place in the Scriptures of truth that clearly reveal what God is looking for from us – to love and to worship Him supremely.

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Jesus speaks to us of an abiding union/relationship with Him where He calls us His friends. I want to encourage you to read John 15 closely this week. In this discourse on the Husbandman (the Father), the Vine (Jesus), and the branches (us), you will note that the relationship precedes the fruit bearing. While the fruit reveals the root – testifies to the relationship – fruit doesn’t save, neither does obedience. God does require us to obey Him by putting our faith in Christ to save us, but it’s He who saves us. Jesus Christ alone can save. Ephesians 2:8-10 reveals that we are saved by His grace through our faith and that we are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”

Consider that our LORD was “moved with compassion” toward those in need (Matthew 9:36). The great apostle said “the love of Christ constraineth (compels) us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

At times we quote 1 John 2:4 and yet, let’s look at a wider angle of this passage:

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. ⁶He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:3-6

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice…” Matthew 9:13

“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:13

Is loving God more important that obeying God? Both are obviously important and yet, in the divine economy, which is most important?

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

Am I choosing and learning to “love the Lord” with my whole heart?

Andre Alexis writes: “Christianity is more than merely believing and obeying commands and reaping the promises of God. Christianity is not a religion: it is a relationship. And a relationship requires communication. Therefore, prayer is essential, because it is through prayer that you and I communicate with our heavenly Father.” …. This is a simple truth and yet bears stating as brother Andre did above. This is especially important due to the epidemic of charlatans which have promulgated a “what’s in it for me?” self-serving lifestyle upon millions who don’t bother to truly lay down their lives and see with their own eyes the full counsel of our LORD’s Word which actually communicate the very “thoughts of his heart.” (Psalms 33:11). The LORD wants a relationship with each of His children. He’s not just there to answer our every prayer while we commit spiritual adultery by wasting our time/lives in this fleeting world playing games, giving hours to frivolous foolishness, etc. He wants our hearts. Jesus told us the reason the Father sent Him in John 17:3. This was David’s and Paul’s whole goal in their respective earthly lives (Psalms 27:4, 8; Philippians 3:10). Jesus told us He wants an abiding relationship that bears fruit that remains to His eternal glory (John 15:1-16).

After being saved, under the new covenant, it’s not law keeping but rather abiding in Christ, amen? John 15 “Abide in me.”

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

LOVE IS THE CARDINAL EVIDENCE OR FRUIT THAT ONE KNOWS GOD.

Do we truly know Him who “is love”? (1 John 4:8, 16) Love is a divine attribute that is, without exception, resident in every man who is truly in right standing with God (Galatians 5:22-23)

PRAYER: Holy heavenly Father, I come to You impoverished in spirit. For without You dear LORD, we can do nothing. You are love and I am not and yet, I ask You here and now to more deeply imbue my innermost man with and teach me Your love. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Uphold Jesus (audio)

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Abiding

The Curse of a Divided Heart and Blessing of a Whole Heart! [podcast]

Israel’s heart was divided. The solution.

“Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images … 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:2, 12

King Asa: Tragic end of an otherwise obedient, fruitful, God-glorifying life….

Are you blessed or cursed?

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5

King Asa trusted the physicians and not the LORD and he paid dearly.

“And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.” 2 Chronicles 16:12

Feet speak of foundation. Without feet, physically we cannot stand. Without a sound foundation of truth, of God’s Word in our lives, we shall not stand. Read Matthew 7:19-29.

One writes notes the following about the meaning of feet in God’s Word:

“Why Are Feet Important in the Bible? Just as men and women stand upon their feet as the foundation of upright posture, Bible verses also use feet as a euphemism to represent a strong foundation in various circumstances. Feet are not referenced as we see them today, but they are used as symbols to represent greater metaphorical concepts, such as guidance or direction.

The feet represented something that was common to all people but used differently. For example, one of the most noted scripture texts involving feet is Psalm 119:105, ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ This emphasizes how the feet are used to travel and traverse. Yet, without the word, the traveler is left walking in the dark without a known path.

Essentially, the feet are referenced as a critical part of life as walking was commonplace. We naturally travel where our feet lead us and the Bible verses use feet to represent a means of traveling through life itself. If we walk down a dark path, we are likely to stumble. If we walk down a holy path, we are sure to please God. All of this is facilitated symbolically by the feet.”

The foundation truth we learn in God’s Word and obedience to it determines the direction of our lives.

“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.” Colossians 2:6-7

Becoming Rooted and Grounded in Christ

Like Asa, many today trust the counsel of mere men, such as doctors and not God. This doesn’t mean going to a doctor is a sin and yet, the true disciple will primarily trust and obey and be led of the LORD, not men.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Read Hebrews 3-4 prayerfully for the eternal danger of having “an evil heart of unbelief” AFTER being saved. Repentance required.

“They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.” Psalms 12:2

Got depression? Are you seeking the LORD in true repentance whereby He will grant you great joy? (Psalms 51; 2 Timothy 1:7) Or, are you seeking out and trusting the mere human, the finite pundits of this fleeting world?

“But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.” Job 13:4

Those who trust human physicians and not the Great Physician, are cursed, not blessed. Their faith in mere men reveals their utter rebellion.

“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

2 Chronicles 15:17 – Upon becoming king in Judah, Asa, having inherited an idolatrous, lukewarm people, system… he began to command that…

The people do that which is right in God’s eyes (2 Chronicles 14:2)
That all idolatrous altars we torn down (2 Chronicles 14:3)
That God’s people seek His face (2 Chronicles 14:4)
That idol altars in the cities of Judah be removed – “and the kingdom was quiet before him” (2 Chronicles 14:5) ….. Proverbs 1:33
Fenced cities be built …. so the land could be at rest, at peace, and not fear the enemy (2 Chronicles 14:6)
The people be involved in building fenced, walled, protected cities – “Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.” (2 Chronicles 14:7) …… 1 Chron 16:11
Great military be built (2 Chronicles 14:8)

“The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and IFFFF ye seek him, he will be found of you; but IF ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2

“But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.” 2 Chronicles 15:17

“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Hebrews 11:20-22

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalms 9:17

“Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Psalms 50:22

“Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chronicles 20:20

God blesses those who trust Him and curses, removes His blessings from those who once trusted Him and yet now have forgotten Him. When we willingly offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the LORD our God, He avenges us of all our enemies (Judges 5:2) …. “But IF thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.” (Exodus 23:22)

“WHEN” does God avenge us of our enemies? “WHEN” does God judge our enemies?

“Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, WHEN the people willingly offered themselves.” Judges 5:2

When we offer our lives a living sacrifice unto the LORD – that is, we simply surrender this life to Him – the subduing of our enemies begins.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Asa reigned as king in Judah for 39 years (2 Chronicles 14-16).

In his final days, after obeying God and bringing much needed reform to the people of God, Asa forgot the LORD, and had grown cold in his faith and was therefore cursed with a divided heart.

All those who trust mere men, just because they have a white coat on and are called “doctor”, are going to die as did king Asa who trusted in earthly physicians, instead of the Great Physician! Repent now sinner.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

Are you a pessimistic pansy or an optimistic overcomer? Are you like the 10 spies or the 2 who entered the promised land while the 10 sad sack whiners were shut out? “The righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1) Jesus asks “WHERE is your faith?” (Luke 8:25) Repenting for real and putting all your trust in the LORD is essential – and no one will be in the promise land of Heaven without sound, solid faith in God. “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Hebrews 11:6). “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5)

Read Revelation 2-3.

Remember the woman Jesus, the Great Divine Physician made whole of her issue who had previously spent all she had on human physicians?

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him (accessed by faith in Him), turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith (in God not men) hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Mark 5:25-34

You claim to be trusting God but you take a mood drug? I don’t think so. MOOD DRUGS ARE FOR THE WICKED UNBELIEVERS. PERIOD. REPENT.

When a person resorts to using a drug to uplift their mood, they are loving and believing the world more than God, forfeiting the blessing of God for a cheap substitute, and manifesting their contempt for the LORD, their unbelief. A born again, presently abiding disciple of Jesus has all the fruit of the Holy Spirit which include, “Love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22-23) God gives His people “power… love, and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) God’s Word has the answer to “ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness” and that specifically includes a “sound mind.” (2 Peter 1:3-4) Holy Scripture specifically uses the terms “sound mind” and “sound heart” which come only from learning and adhering to “sound doctrine.”

We live in a fallen world and were born in sin. Via the things that have happened to us and that we ourselves have perpetrated on others, fragmentation of our hearts has occurred. Only One can make us whole.

“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:17-19

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3

Counting it all Joy

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:2-8

Through the trials we face in this life, we must learn to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”, trust God not men, ask for and rely on His wisdom and not waver, but rather finished our course trusting and walking with Christ to the end of our lives.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Timothy 4:7

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:10-12

The Whole Heart

“And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.” 2 Chronicles 15:15

The result of seeking the LORD with a whole heart is that He gives us “rest round about.”

“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33

9 Times in the book of Psalms the words “Whole Heart” appear. Here’s the first 3 of that collection:

“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my WHOLE HEART; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalms 9:1

“Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my WHOLE HEART, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” Psalms 111:1

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the WHOLE HEART.” Psalms 119:2

PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, I have sinned against You by not wholly trusting You nor sought You with my whole heart. Here and now I confess this for the evil sin of unbelief and rebellion that it is and ask You to please forgive me now in the name of Jesus. Please wash me afresh from all my sins with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Also please make my heart whole and increase and fill me with Your faith Father, and cause me to trust You will all of my heart, no matter what. I love You my dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Fresh Start with God

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“Hi Todd. I just want to make sure that when I’m talking about salvation but I am being biblically correct. I don’t believe in once saved always saved. While I believe God is always willing to forgive and restore the backslider. I do believe that a person can choose to turn away from God and go back to living a life of sin they’re for forfeiting their eternal life. Any correction would be greatly appreciated. In Christ. Andrea”

REPLY:

Yes amen sister Andrea

Nice to hear from you

Very important doctrinal topic here

All it takes to go to hell after being saved is to be “lukewarm” right? Yes. Revelation 3:15-16

These 2 categories are loaded: Check it out. LOTS of Scripture to shape pure doctrine in your heart and life and ministering.

In Jesus, todd

Lukewarm is Hell Bound | OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell |

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Abiding

“NEVER take a Vacation from God” [podcast]

God’s Word teaches us to be diligent in knowing and following Christ – even when the word diligent is not used.

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

Make the deliberate decision to “set…

“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 22:19

“Don’t you EVER take a vacation from God!” said my first pastor.

This beloved brother knew exactly what happens when the disciple relaxes in his seeking of the LORD. Think foolish virgins. The result can be deadly, irrevocably.

He was dead on in this warning. Give the flesh an inch and it will take a mile, right?

Have you ever slipped backward? If so, you know it started with just not reading God’s Word one day. That one day turned into two, three…. Right?

Never must this happen. The war is won in the now. You must “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

God requires that we “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).

It’s only those who remain built up in Christ like the wise virgins of Jesus’ parable, who “keep” themselves “in the love of God” who are not going to fall away.

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. … Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 20-25

Jesus warns:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

How did this kind of wisdom get lost from us beloved of God?

The disciple must get out ahead of the flesh. He must be one step ahead – knowing by testimony of the Word and by personal experience that there is “NO good thing” in us other than Jesus (Romans 7:18). This is exactly why Paul also said things like:

“I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

Exhorting the sheep of Christ, one pastor said:

“Have fun this summer. Enjoy the outdoors. Travel to see friends and family. Explore the world. Just don’t take a vacation from God. He loves you more than you can imagine and wants to keep refilling your sack with his awesome gifts so that you can keep sharing them with others in your life!”

“The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.” Proverbs 13:19

Various Quotes on the Importance of Diligence

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.”―Calvin Coolidge

“But I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence…”―Charles Dickens

“Prefer diligence before idleness, unless you esteem rust above brightness.”―Plato

“Diligence is the mother of good fortune.”―Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

“Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.”―Chuck Close

“If he [Thomas Edison] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to be, but would proceed at once with the feverish diligence of a bee, to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search.”―Nikola Tesla

“Laziness looks at excuses as something to treasure while diligence always focuses on excuses as an inconvenience to be overcome.”―Dr. Lucas D. Shallua

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.”―Thomas Alva Edison

“That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.”―William Shakespeare

“Active valour may often be the present of nature; but such patient diligence can be the fruit only of habit and discipline.”―Edward Gibbon

“Diligence overcomes difficulties; sloth makes them.”―Benjamin Franklin

“The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.” Proverbs 26:13

“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” Proverbs 14:23

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:13

“Wherefore – Having such encouragement. Gird up the loins of your mind – As persons in the eastern countries were wont, in travelling or running, to gird up their long garments, so gather ye up all your thoughts and affections, and keep your mind always disencumbered and prepared to run the race which is set before you. Be watchful – As servants that wait for their Lord. And hope to the end – Maintain a full expectation of all the grace – The blessings flowing from the free favour of God. Which shall be brought to you at the final revelation of Jesus Christ – And which are now brought to you by the revelation of Christ in you.“―John Wesley

“Slothfulness (laziness, lack of diligence) casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.” Proverbs 19:15

Power Words Power our Lives!

Remember those power words your parents instilled in your growing up? Remember things like “readers are leaders”? How about “The early bird gets the worm”?

What are some of the good words your beloved parents instilled in you as a child that live on in your mind and heart daily?

My beloved father taught us five to “always be consistent.” Oh and these weren’t just words. Oh no. My brother and I are only 13 months apart and so when we started playing football at about 6 years old, my parents set us down and looked us in the eyes and said “If you start this football season, you WILL finish. We require it of you, so count the cost.”

Nothing replaces consistency. Say it out loud with me right now beloved of God – CONSISTENCY.

While we’re on this topic, I hope you won’t mind me saying that it is befuddling to see how people start doing something that works and then quit – from a work out program to a lifestyle change in eating and most devastatingly, serving God then quitting.

Wait a minute, you were doing _______ and it was working, was blessing you, and then you quit?

Hebrews 10:32-39

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

Hebrews 6:9-12

“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

62 times the words “diligent,” “diligence,” and “diligently” appear in Holy Scripture.

Each time we read these words, they pertain specifically to serving God “diligently” with “diligence.”

“Diligent”

“He becometh poor (spiritually) that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich (spiritually).” Proverbs 10:4

“Diligence”

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

“Diligently”

appears 37 times in God’s Word

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“Looking DILIGENTLY lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Hebrews 12:15

“Keep your dukes up!”

Growing up boxing, from home training to being on a golden gloves team in high school, the command of the coaches was always and repeatedly “Keep your dukes up!”

Those who drop their dukes, their hands from covering their face, get hit, get knocked out.

Another sign on the wall of that boxing facility was: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” unknown

We are going to go through what Jesus foretold:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:21-22

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus I come to You now. Please forgive my sins of self-idolatry, slothfulness, and spiritual adultery.

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