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“Blessed are the Poor In Spirit”

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Jesus’ longest recorded message to His people stands on the very first words our Savior uttered in this sermon on the mount.

The foundational truth of the entire sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is found in the very first words of our LORD when unveiling this elaborate, far-reaching, and profound message to His disciples of all ages. Here are His first words:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

Note, “poor in spirit.” Not poor financially or religiously. The two should be mutually exclusive. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It means pauper, beggar, poor…..desperate and spiritually impoverished. Christ looks to desperate, hungry and thirsty people who want more of Him (Is. 66:2). Their hearts pant for more of Him (Ps. 42:1-2). They deeply desire more of His presence and Word. | Sin: Man’s Core Problem

Of this pillar truth of being “poor in spirit”, F.B. Meyer says:

“Note the passive side of the blessed life. To be poor in spirit, that is, to be lowly in one’s self-estimate; to be meek, not always interested in one’s rights; to mourn for the evils of one’s own heart and for the sin and sorrow around; to hunger and thirst after Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. These dispositions do not purchase blessedness, but to cultivate them is to be blessed. On the positive side are mercy, purity, peace and willingness to suffer all things for Christ. Here is 1Co_13:1-13 anticipated!”

Of this foundational cornerstone biblical essential, William MacDonald writes:

“This first blessing is pronounced on the poor in spirit. This does not refer to natural disposition, but to one’s deliberate choice and discipline. The poor in spirit are those who acknowledge their own helplessness and rely on God’s omnipotence. They sense their spiritual need and find it supplied in the Lord. The kingdom of heaven, where self-sufficiency is no virtue and self-exaltation is a vice, belongs to such people.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Jesus said: “without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

“The more we know Christ the more we are aware we NEED Him!” Anita Villarreal

The path to victory is humbling ourselves in repentance and announcing our own utter poverty!

“But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2

The absence of a “poor” or desperate for more of Christ “spirit” is the clear indicator that the self-righteous person is trusting in self and not Christ.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit (desperate, beggar, pauper): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

The phrase “poor in spirit” speaks of being in a perpetual heart posture of being desperate for the LORD, being fully dependent upon Him as a beggar, a pauper.

“We never feel Christ to be a reality, until we feel Him to be a necessity.” Austin Phelps

God allowed Judas to betray Jesus and God allows our enemies to bless us to be broken. Judas the betrayer, was instrumental in Christ being delivered to be crucified, in His body being broken and blood poured out for the sins of the world.

The betrayal of our enemies also allows us to be broken.

“I have been to this place more than once. It has only been me and Jesus! It is a hard place to be. I have said ‘Jesus if You don’t help me, I am not going to make it!’ Looking back I can see that He has shown up, every time, even though at the time I wasn’t seeing it. Jesus has saved my life!! For that I am very grateful! Thank You Jesus!” Karen Cochran

Jesus commands us to love our enemies and oh how much easier this is to do when we realize how He is using our enemies to bring us to the bless-ed place of brokenness (Matthew 5:44).

“God uses the bad things that happen to us to save, sanctify and glorify us.”

The LORD has no interest in the empty worship of men or religion which is vastly prevalent today as it was in Christ’s day.

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-9

No other sin so grieved the Savior as un-engaged religious pride and worship which actually insulated men from Him. Religious groups where this is found misrepresent Christ while claiming to be the only way to Him. No other group received more harsh and dooming words from Jesus Christ as those who were the very leaders of the religion He started 2 thousand years earlier (Judaism). The Jewish system of religion is the only religion God ever started or ever will start, and it is now obsolete. Christ came to bring all people into a personal relationship with Him and the Father and Holy Spirit (John 14:6, 17:3, 1 John 1:3, 7…).

Though it may appear outwardly to be different, today we have so much empty “worship” in the modern church world and this is why true disciples are coming out of her by the millions – “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev. 18:4). If Jesus commanded those who will be His to “Come out of her,” there must be something to come out of! The Son of God is no lunatic – He is “the Great Shepherd of the sheep,” who gave His life for His people and seeks to feed them with His pure Word and protect them (Ps. 23; Jn. 10; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:2).

Relevant?

In today’s everything-and-anything-goes, trying-to-be-relevant-instead-of-Christ-like, church world of ungrounded people, a myriad of things have replaced Christ and His holy Word. In the world of evangelical religion today, there is anything but the pure Word of God. Here are some of the things that have crept in and are in full blown emphasis today in the modern church:

a thrust to be “relevant” – a cloaked word used often by the emergent/seeker-friendly movement which boils down to being just like the world in order to win the world. Win them to what?! – to aself-serving “form of godliness” that denies Jesus instead of self?

new Bible versions which are taken from corrupt manuscripts and are weak at best (see Amos 8:11 and BIBLE VERSIONS)

fictional books from fad authors who misrepresent the Almighty through their caricatures and have and are leading many into idolatry as a result.

soft, spineless leaders who do not present the biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ with repentance, the holiness of God, and necessity of personal holiness, hell, and judgment to come, etc.

an emphasis on entertainment using music and arts at the expense of declaring divine truth in its pure form

Does the LORD call His true people to be like the world (relevant), or to follow Christ and be unlike the lost? Think about this: what are the lost being won to if the church world is no different than they are?

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (conditional), And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

Jesus Didn’t Lie to Us

In this late hour, just as He foretold numerous times, “many” are being led astray by false prophets who have come in sheep’s clothing and are deceiving “many.” (Matt. 7:15; 24:3-5, 11, 24; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:13; 4:2-4; Jude 3-4, etc.) Eternal damnation awaits (2 Pet. 3).

The prophecies of the final days are dancing on stage in our faces.

In the vast majority of modern assemblies of “worship,” Jesus is no longer tended to or bothered with, much less elevated as the Creator, Redeemer, and “Head of the body.”(Col. 1:15-18; 2:18-19) No, instead, men and women who having “itching ears” are making popular false prophets who tell them what their sinful hearts desire to hear (2 Tim. 4:2-5).

Why should we be surprised? This was all foretold. The adulterous emphasis in the apostate church world, perpetrated by wolves who wear sheep’s clothing, is clearly enumerated as it is shown in resume’ form in 2 Timothy 3:1-7. – They are leading astray those who are just like themselves – “lovers of their own selves…lovers of pleasures MORE than lovers of God…”

Christ told us differently. Who are you following? Jesus said: “If ANY (that includes you)man will come after me, let him DENY himself, and take up his cross daily (die), and follow ME. For whosoever will save (preserve) his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it….So likewise, WHOSOEVER he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Lk. 9:23-24; 14:33) These are the very words of the Alpha and Omega – when is the last time your pastor preached these words?

Instead of laid down lives, studying His Word to know and find out more about Him, self-serving and idolatrous emphasis bombard the people as they are constantly asserted by false leaders. “How to Get Rich,” “How to Live a More Fulfilled Life,” “How to Use God’s Word to get what YOU Want,” “12 Steps to a Better Life,” “How to have Better Relationships,” “How to Have Your Best Life Now,” “How to get Your Miracle from God,” “7 Keys to a New You,” “How to be a better Husband/Wife/Father/Mother,” “How to Get More for ME, Me, Me!!!,” etc. To the un-discerning eye, these things may seem harmless, but they are deadly. A man-centered gospel is a false, soul-damning heresy (Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Pet. 2:1-3). One can get a miracle, become a better wife or daddy, learn conflict resolution, read polluted fad “Christian” books, and use principles to get some self-help, and still die and go to hell. God is calling His people to become more intimate with Him, to repent of our sins, to know Him, to turn fully to Him, to become His disciples, and all else will follow (2 Chron. 7:14; Matt. 6:33; Jn. 17:3).

Jesus Christ is the Supreme God and Divine Creator of All that Is – the Whole Universe

“For by him (Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17

Whenever and wherever the living and eternal Word, the divine Person of Jesus Christ, is NOT being sought after, studied, emphasized, worshipped, upheld, elevated, adored, praised, feared, and obeyed, false teachers are the leaders (Col. 1-2). Walking in these things nurtures saints and fosters in them a heart after God (Acts 13:22). Read Colossians 1-2 closely and prayerfully.

We have but a mere “form of godliness” if we have not presently chosen to crave more of Jesus, crying from our hearts and mouths – “He MUST increase, but I MUST decrease.”(Jn. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:5) One can be actively involved in a local church environment while “ever learning,” and yet “never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim. 3:1-7) All worship that does not elevate the Person of Christ is evil idolatry. Spiritual adultery is being spread in the hearts of men wherever Jesus Christ is not being peered into, loved, obeyed, and sought after with a whole heart! Any and all spiritual activity that does not begin and end with Jesus Christ is unadulterated idolatry. – “Thou shalt have NO other gods before me.” (Exod. 20:3)

Jesus is the Only Head of His True Body

“In whom (Christ) are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. BEWARE lest ANY man spoil (ruin) you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in HIM, which is the head of all principality and power…Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:3, 6-10, 18-19

It’s not how it makes us feel friend – it’s whether or not its biblical that matters! God forgive our sins! It’s time to repent, elevate Jesus Christ, and die to self that Christ might reign gloriously. – “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) The kingdom of God is all about Jesus, not me or you or any other mere man. IF in fact you are going to be apart of His eternal kingdom, you must die – if you don’t He won’t live in you and you will not be with Him eternally. – “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Gal. 5:24) You must suffer the death of your personal will and self-life or you will not be an overcomer (Rev. 2-3). You will consequently die and go to hell with all other rebels (Rom. 6; 8:17; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:21; 4:1).

Embracing the Cross

The overcoming disciple must cling to that old rugged cross. He must die the death that Christ ordained Him to die and set the example for us to behold – “not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk. 22:42) He must of necessity resist the ease of the modern church program which makes church attendees instead of making disciples. He must possess a love for divine truth as he refuses to buy into the un-biblical falsity of modern religionist who rob Christ of His due glory. He must “buy the truth and sell it not.” (Prov. 23:23)

Only those who choose to daily die to self that Christ – the Greater One – might reign in their mortal bodies, will escape the horrific times to come where many are promised to fall away (Matt. 24:10-13, 24; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:2-4).

Listen closely to what Jesus said concerning being ready to meet Him as we face these final days in which we now live:

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:33-36

The from moral coward runs from the cross which represents Christ’s sacrifice. He flees the life of a true disciple which demands laying down one’s own way, will, and life to love Jesus. He runs to the entertainment and the feeling of ease and would rather be told things that demand no repentance or sacrifice. He loves the wolves who don sheep’s clothing and their smooth messages (2 Tim. 4:3-4). This is the false form of Christianity (completely foreign to Scripture) that has lulled him to sleep in the first place. He denies Christ instead of self and His command for us to die to the self life. No, instead he relishes the temporal pleasures of this fleeting life. Like Esau, he is giving up his eternal birthright (Heaven) for a temporary fix (bowl of soup).

If you are going to be with Jesus, you must at once RUN from any leader who is not preaching the cross – he isn’t even saved (1 Cor. 1:18; Phil. 3:17-18). He’s an imposter. He’s part of the diabolical conspiracy against the LORD Almighty. He’s a counterfeit – in league with those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Phil. 3:18)

First, make sure you are coming to the LORD daily in prayer and worship and His Precepts. When gathering with other believers, bring a heart that is hungering for more of Jesus.

Any “church attendance” or “worship” that is not producing in your heart a desperate hunger and thirst for more of Jesus Christ, is completely misguided and being led by a person who has either never been saved or is backslidden! Run beloved, run for your life! Find true remnant disciples and flourish in worshipping the one true God, holding fast to His holy Word. Cease to further the cause of wolf ministries! Stop (by your attendance) endorsing and supporting with your finances ministries that are leading people away from Jesus instead of to Him!

Jesus said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

In these precious words recorded in Matthew 5:3, the Master was saying that those who are desperately impoverished in their hearts, realizing their utter need for Him are “blessed.”Undue loyalty to the organizations and futile programs of mere men invariably taint and hinder the personal relationship He made us to experience with Him. LORD, please bless us to know and love You and You alone! We will have “no other gods before You.” (Exodus 20:3-4)

In Genesis 32 we read of Jacob wrestling with God. The LORD broke Jacob and as a result a “poor in spirit” disposition possessed him…

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.” Genesis 32:10

Without a heart after God, all we have is a mere “form of godliness.” (Acts 13:22; 2 Timothy 3:5)

PRAYER: LORD, with deep resolve, I this moment make the obedient decision to come out of the antichrist, out of the apostate religious system where mere men, machinery, masters degrees, and programs are elevated in place of You! This moment I return to You O LORD and submit my spirit and whole being into Your holy and perfect hands! I love You LORD Jesus. Please forgive my sin of idolatry and spiritual adultery and fill me with Your Holy Spirit afresh. Please cleanse me by Your blood right now LORD. Please send me forth and make my life a fruitful field to Your glory alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Here’s how the blessing of knowing Him happens. Am I that weary and thirsty traveler in the hot, dry desert, panting after that glass of cold water laid before me? In other words, am I currently and personally seeking the LORD with outright abandonment and absolute desperation?

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for THEY shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

Q Who did Christ say were “blessed”?

A “they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness”

Q Who did Christ promise would “be filled”?

A “they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness”

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalms 42:1-2

“This psalm, Psalm 42, is a desperate plea to know God deeper. There’s a deep hunger in our inner most parts of our being. I ask You Jesus to come and clean me so You can then fill me in my inner most places that I don’t yet know You. Thank You Jesus because I know You will hear my prayer.” Karen Cochran

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, please forgive me for the sin of not seeking You with a whole heart, for being self-absorbed and deceived. I utterly need You with every fiber of my being – every moment. You made me, died for and came and found and saved me while I was in my sin. Please forgive me for allowing the cares of this world, deceitfulness of temporal riches, lust for things other than You, and religion, consume me because I wasn’t seeking and being filled with more of You. I begin this moment to set my heart affections upon You alone and find my whole identity and purpose in You. May Your presence in me increase as You fill me afresh with Your Holy Ghost. Please increase in me Jesus and I choose to decrease, purging all that does not belong to You. I love You my LORD Jesus Christ. Praise Your holy name forevermore.

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The Book of 2 Peter Narrated [podcast]

Chapter 1

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: ²Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ³according 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.

⁵And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. ¹⁰Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: ¹¹for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

¹²Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. ¹³Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; ¹⁴knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. ¹⁵Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. ¹⁶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. ¹⁹We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost

Chapter 2

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ²And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. ⁴For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; ⁵and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) ⁹the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: ¹⁰but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. ¹¹Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. ¹²But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; ¹³and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; ¹⁴having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: ¹⁵which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

¹⁷These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. ¹⁸For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. ¹⁹While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. ²⁰For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ²¹For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. ²²But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Chapter 3

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: ²that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: ³knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⁴and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. ⁵For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: ⁶whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ⁷but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

¹¹Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹²looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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

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“Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17

One sources notes that ….

“Fearing God means having a profound, reverent awe of His holiness, power, and majesty, recognizing His supremacy and our dependence on Him, which leads to wisdom, humility, and obedience, rather than terror. It’s a posture of respect that involves taking God seriously, hating evil, living with integrity, and prioritizing His will in all aspects of life, all while balancing this with the knowledge of His love and mercy as a Father.”

We are to let God be our “dread.”

“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:13

We are to tremble at His Word.

“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Isaiah 66:2

“Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Isaiah 66:5

“Exodus 20:20 ‘And Moses said unto the people, Fear not; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.’ When you truly fear the Lord you will not live in willful sin and disobedience. Because you know He is a holy and Just God and must punish sin! Hebrews 10:31 ‘It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’ Just that verse along should instill the fear of the Lord in anyone’s heart!” Karen Cochran

There are many benefits to fearing God and one of them is a “clean” heart and life.

“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” Psalms 19:9

A Great Prayer to Pray Daily

“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalms 86:11

Fearing God brings “strong confidence”, blessed children, and departing from the snares of death ….

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27

Anyone who is presently living in sin instead of abiding in the Savior, simply does not fear God.

Those who fear the LORD are crucified with Christ and thereby being raised up and overcoming sin.

“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7

Another Great Prayer Daily

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” Ephesians 3:16

Having a heart so peaceful there is no fear of anything evil.

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

“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27

“For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Proverbs 3:26

“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

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

The earliest followers of Jesus “were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31

The fear of the LORD brings deliverance – Psalms 34:7-10

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” Psalms 34:7-10

The beginning of wisdom is truly fearing God:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

The fruit of fearing the LORD:

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13

Prayer: Unite my heart to fear Thy holy name LORD. Teach me Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen LORD.

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Apostasy

The Sensual Seduction and Solicitation of the Modern Church!

Spiritual Seduction is a Reality!

“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly LUSTS. 19 These be they who separate themselves, SENSUAL, having not the Spirit.” Jude 18-19

Of this passage, one disciple notes:

“The dictionary defines sensuality this way: sen•su•al (sen shu – al) adj.
1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory.
2. a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites.
b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous.
c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual.
d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.

“The Holy Spirit here warns us concerning the Last Times when people would be Sensual not having the Spirit. These are people who would enter the churches not simply people outside the churches; else we would not need to be warned against them. It is commonly felt that “Sensual” always is synonymous with sexuality; however the context here is with regards to the physical ‘senses’—’Feelings’ and ‘sensations’. We have five senses; Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste and Scent. We are told that we ‘walk by faith’, as opposed to walking ‘by sight’. -2 Corinthians 5:7 ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight’. This is simply a reminder that our lives must not be governed by our feelings, our senses. Back in the sixties one of the philosophies of the world was always, ‘If it feels good, it IS good’. Another question that is often asked is, ‘Is this so wrong if it feels so right?'”

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Most of the social media messages tell us, continually remind us that God loves us but nearly none of them inform us that the God who loves us, sent His Son to die on a cross for us, and requires and commands us to be “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:3) Beware of the half-truth false gospel of today! We must walk in the original Gospel – all of it – if we are to escape and not be “Led away with the error of the wicked.” (2 Peter 3:17)

False prophets will speak about seeking the supposed presence of God yet never preach on the cross, personal holiness, or obedience. Beware.

The only way we can prevent being deceived is by astute study and belief of God’s Word whereby we are able to rightly divide His Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

One saint writes: “Throughout the whole world error and truth travel the same highways, work in the same fields and factories, attend the same churches, fly in the same planes and shop in the same stores. So skilled is error at imitating truth that the two are constantly being mistaken for each other. It takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which is Abel!”

Those who do not submit to God in their daily personal life, calling upon the LORD to circumcise and purify their hearts, will be caught up in and snared by sensuality. They will live by the senses, the flesh, and not the Spirit and be sent by God Himself a “strong delusion” so that they “believe a lie” and are ultimately “damned.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Some seek the rush of a sensual feeling instead of the reality of the risen Savior – through the cross life!

Jumping around to the music in a so-called “church building” doesn’t mean you have real relationship and spiritual life with Christ!

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

HAVE you noticed how these new lightweight “churches” brag about their “Top 10 Core Values”? What a joke! In other words they pick out 10 socially acceptable things most people will like and that’s their top 10. And they do this instead of simply announcing that they endeavor to adhere to the whole of the Bible. KJB. Lame.

The primary way God leads His NEW Testament church is by the Holy Scriptures and not self-appointed false prophets and false apostles (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).

Those who pretend to be today’s prophets aren’t grounded in the written Word! RUN!

Scripture often warns us of those who would seduce us away from Christ – just as an adulterous woman seeks to seduce a husband away from his wife!

“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22

“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” 1 John 2:26

“Not Withstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Revelation 2:20

“And this I say (here’s the reason I write you!), lest any man should beguile you with enticing words … As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:4, 8-10

“Church” attendance was never ordained by God to displace, to replace the personal study of His Word. Church membership endears the people, the prey, to the organization and it’s leaders and members and not to the LORD Himself. This has displaced the individual priesthood and fellowship God ordained for each and every individual believer. Lots of people replace personally diligently seeking the LORD with going to “church.” They either merely dabble with or don’t even personally study God’s Word for themselves and yet are members in good standing at these local entertainment centers many call “church.” The pastors have sold them on this lifestyle by promoting and emphasizing church membership and not discipleship.

Seminaries are wolf factories. The protestant seminaries were infiltrated by the vatican jesuits decades ago and are now marketing schools producing greedy wolves who set up church busine$$ to market the gospel – which is the meaning of taking the name of the LORD in vain! (Exodus 20:7). Satan’s Seminaries Exposed!

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

To take the name of the LORD in vain is to use His name for any other purpose except true, honest worship of Him! Those who use the name of Jesus to make dishonest gain by exploiting people for their own self-serving purposes, are not guiltless before a holy God!

Many Seek the Presence and not the Person, the Face of Jesus Christ!

If you name the name of Christ, this writer, this disciple would encourage you to honestly search out this whole “seeking the presence” cult. Contemplative prayer and spiritual formation are a cheap counterfeit for a real walk with God. They substitute a real walk with Jesus wherein He commands us to seek and obey HIM, not merely His presence. When we do seek HIM and obey Him, He promises to manifest Himself to those who obey His Word (John 14:21-23).

Perhaps those who seek the presence of God and not the face of God, are simply looking for some kind of feeling. They have not truly repented and are self-willed and living out of a self-serving agenda.

God plainly told us that he will only give His presence to those who know, seek, and obey Him – and not those who merely seek His presence (John 14:21- 23).

Those who seek His HAND instead of His FACE are completely self-serving, cross-less idolaters!

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

WE seek the PERSON of Christ and not merely the PRESENCE of Him. Beware of this deception saints. When we seek the FACE of the LORD, He will fill us with His Spirit and make His abode in and with us. Our part is to worship and obey Him and not to merely seek His presence. Many who are not seeking to know the LORD seek a feeling instead of seeking the face of the LORD! Beware of this idolatrous spiritual adultery. These same people are not studying and grounded in the Word or the cross of Christ.

Let’s look at who Jesus says truly loves Him:

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. … 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:21, 23

In this passage above, Jesus teaches us that His presence, He and His Father, abide in the lives of those who are His (born again) and presently obeying Him.

Those who love Jesus seek His Word and obey Him. These true disciples, God manifests Himself to. These are those He chooses to make His abode with and not those who simply seek to exploit the LORD for a feeling they call His presence. Beware!

Many today seek a feeling, a sensation and not the Savior! They’ve allowed the false leaders of today to mislead them.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away … Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5,7

Those not submitted to the authority, the power of God which is Christ, have only a mere “form of godliness.” As was specifically foretold, today we see the fulfillment of Paul’s warning where we have so many with a mere “form of godliness.” In their daily lives they deny, reject “the power” or the authority of Jesus to reign. When Jesus reigns in a life, His cross is central to that person’s life. They are grounded in the cross – the crucified life – without exception.

Yet today we see some who never grow after being saved because false ministries have intercepted them from the LORD. Those false prophet ministries emphasize any and everything except Jesus Christ!

The vast majority of today’s pastors are sensually soliciting their prey to worship at the altar of self and not soundly grounding their audience in the cross and sound doctrine which is God’s written Word!

So many run to pack themselves in with the herd, to get turned on in what is supposed to be praise and worship. Some of it is a hollow sound and mere lip service.

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8

The hoards consist of the same souls who do not daily, diligently seek the LORD in His Word and a set apart life of prayer (Matthew 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). They do not live a crucified life! (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20, 24, etc.) They are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” because they are not being grounded in the Word of God.

The powder puff pansies use fake news “bibles” instead of the KING JAMES BIBLE.

Any leader not getting you into God’s Word for yourself, is absolutely a wolf! Run!

“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

The Witchcraft of the Modern Church!

There is no instance in the 27 books of the New Testament canon where God’s people gathered to be entertained and enamored in what the modern church falsely claims to be praise and worship.

Those false ministries who stage these events are appealing to your natural senses, your emotions. They are on a marketing journey – to sell their prey into a community and not to root them in Christ!

Proof? Name 5 people you know who attend such false churches who can quote just 5 Bible verses they’ve memorized. Case closed!

Seeking and Knowing the LORD Himself!

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10

Jesus told us that the chief purpose that He came is that we might know Him and the Father. Such a cardinal, central Gospel truth is never heard in modern apostate churches today!

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

The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!

Beware of this “knowing the Tangible Presence” idea. Spiritual formation and contemplative prayer is heresy! These heretical systems are rooted in the occult and perpetrated by “many false prophets” which Jesus specifically warns us “shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). Christ’s true disciples today live BY FAITH not feelings (2 Corinthians 5:7). True followers of Jesus live by the Word of God and not by their senses, their feelings (Psalms 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Yet, many today are being led to conjure up a feeling, not realizing they are summoning up evil spirits that pose as the Holy Spirit of God – another Jesus, another gospel, another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 11-15). Those who seek an experience instead of seeking the face of the LORD, will be misled by evil spirits and false prophets (1 Chronicles 16:11). Many today are sensual and not truly spiritual in the biblical sense. There is no cross at the center of their lives (Colossians 3:3). Their daily life is not rooted in Christ – the cross! They have been led by the self-serving wolves of today’s modern church to get addicted to a feeling instead of growing in grace and obeying the LORD and Savior Himself. Self-idolatry. They love to go do what some falsely call “praise and worship” to get that feeling. Praise and worship are biblical and yet, not what many have made it out to be. There are many houses of worship if you will, which do not have Christ, the cross, at the center and therefore are not worshiping the LORD by teaching the pure, sound doctrine of the Word of God – the King James Bible. These ravenous wolves know how the church busine$$ works and so they front with a good band, good music, using young, gifted people as their pawns as they stage their deceptive exploitation, hiding behind that good music! Beware saints.

Wolves entertain goats and market their church busine$$ to grow, to gain nickels, noses, and numbers. True under-shepherds ground God’s people in the daily cross, in the fear of God, and in the sound doctrine which is the written Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2-4; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).

This is a big part of the end time deception we were often warned of….

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Have you ever been part of this type “church”? I sure have. Think about it. If you’re like myself, you enjoyed the praise and worship (to some degree) and yet, were left empty due to the lame “word” and lack of biblical teaching. Can anyone relate?

In any given town in America, one can search high and low, near and far, and never find even one pastor who is true to God. Is this not a fulfillment of prophecy?

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

If you still believe that most pastors today are true, stay deeply in God’s Word daily and your discernment will change. You will begin to realize that over 90% of today’s pastors are “accursed” wolves and we know this because they do not preach the original Gospel that Christ and His holy apostles preached and gave us (Jude 3).

Modern church false gospel …. No repentance, no sin, No judgment, no holiness, no cross, No warnings to beware of false prophets and heresies, no return of Christ for a spotless – sinless – bride, no Christology (study of Christ!) …

Those who preach any other gospel other than the original and complete Gospel of Jesus Christ, are “accursed.”

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9

Then Paul reveals why false leaders do not preach the original, the real and whole Gospel of Christ – because they love self and therefore fear and cater to mere men and not Jesus Christ!

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

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