So You Want to be Used of God? [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

“This podcast (So You Want to be Used of God? [podcast]) spoke to my heart today. As I was meditating on Ecclesiastes 1:8. ‘For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.’ In other words God’s light illuminates into our hearts and reveals truth that you can no longer deny. As the Lord was shining His light into my heart, I wasn’t liking what He was showing me. I asked Him to please pull the blinds because it was getting hard to look, but that was only a fleeting thought. I knew I needed to thank the Lord even though I didn’t like it. This podcast was an encouragement to me to say to the Lord. Job 13:5. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I maintain mine own ways before Him.” Karen Cochran | So You Want to be Used of God? [podcast]

“Your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest wounds.” unknown

WHO is the LORD going to be using mightily in this last hour? – Those who are prepared of Him! Are you submitting to His prep?

“but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32

WANT the LORD to use you? …. Hint: Just ask Him – “ASK and ye shall receive.” (Matthew 7:7).

“The counsel (Word) of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Psalms 33:11

Remember that God is who HE says He is and not who you or others think He is.

Let that sink in. Read it again. And, realize a bit deeper today that this is why you need to read, know, understand, and live by HIS Word – because that’s what HE said and who He is! The record of His written Word is literally the “thoughts of HIS heart.” (Psalms 33:11)

Firstly, is it not an astounding blessing that we have the very “thoughts of his heart,” the thoughts of God on record, recorded in His written Word? Whew!

“Don’t judge the gold until the KING fashions it into a crown.” unknown

If you think God can’t use you, you haven’t truly heard from Him on the matter. Let me inform you, that you are highly mistaken!

“It’s doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” A.W. Tozer

Been through a lot? Ditto beloved.

“The strongest swords are forged in the hottest fires.” unknown

“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” 1 Peter 1:5-8

The Law of Genesis 1

God will never use us to lead anyone where we ourselves refuse to go.

God made His creation to produce “after their kind.”

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:11-12

10 times in Genesis chapter 1, we see the word “kind” being used by God of His creation and how each plant, each animal He created has its own special seed and produces after its own kind. The same is true for us – we produce after our own kind. That’s why our children resemble us. The physical part of this divine principle is a fixed reality. Yet, spiritually, there is choice to be exercised. Who we choose to be, how we walk with Christ or not, determines what seed we are and therefore what will be produced in others. It’s all rooted in our relationship with Christ or lack thereof. What we choose to be with God, is what determines who we are and therefore what type of spiritual offspring will be produced through our lives in the lives of others. What type seed are you presently?

An apple seed, when planted, will bring forth an apple tree and not an orange or fig tree.

The Authority of Jesus

Since we now realize that everything produces after its own kind, we must realize that we can’t lead anyone to a place in Christ that we are not willing to first go ourselves. We should meditate upon this as we examine what kind of fruit we are producing in others. “The root of the matter is in me.” (Job 19:28) God can’t use me to produce results in the lives of others if I myself haven’t first chosen to be . The deeper my life is vanquished (dead and buried) and raised up in Christ, the greater the resurrection power that will be produced in the hands of the LORD through my life.

There was a marked difference between Christ, His ministry, and that of the Pharisees (false leaders) of His day. Nothing has changed. The following passage reveals, speaks to the significant difference between the ministry of our LORD and the modern church of His day.

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29

Jesus was perfectly rooted in His Father and so when He spoke, there was divine power in His words (John 6:63). The presence and power of the Holy Spirit permeated His life and ministry (Acts 10:38). Because He was wholly submitted to His Father, Christ walked in unlimited divine authority (John 5:30).

“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” John 3:34

In contrast, most ministries today are nothing more than stage shows to make money, to make merchandise of the people (2 Peter 2:1-3).

God doesn’t anoint people who have the correct concepts. He only anoints and powerfully uses those who are truly, in deed, crucified with Christ – dead and buried so that He is raising them up in His divine power. Because He is their “first love”, because they are choosing to seek the face of and love the LORD with a whole heart, Christ’s true disciples sentence themselves to death to give preference to their LORD to reign in their personal lives (2 Corinthians 1:9; Revelation 2:4-5; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8, etc.).

“Joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

WHO WANTS to walk around smiling, bursting with glorious divine joy, every day? Only those few who choose, who decide to be anchored, nourished in the holy presence of our LORD will certainly, without fail, be filled full with His great joy! The light of Christ fills and shines powerfully through those who commune with Him, He who is “the light of the world.” (John 8:12) Pour over Matthew 6:6 and Psalms 16:11.

DO you desire to minister for Christ more effectively? 1. Learn more Scripture, 2. Seek God in intimate prayer, 3. Learn, live His cross!

Talking to God in prayer is more important than our speaking to men about God (ministering). The greatest temptation we face is rejecting Christ, denying Him the “first love” place in our lives which includes time, our hearts, our lives in the temporal world (Revelation 2:4-5). Those who do not commune with the LORD in prayer, simply will not be imbued with His divine anointing to effectively, powerfully minister to others.

“Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. To know how to speak to God is more important than knowing how to speak to people. Power with God is the first thing, not power with people. Christ loves to teach us how to pray.” Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, p. xxiii-xxiv The disciples asked Jesus “Teach us to pray” and not “teach us to preach.”

“The men who have done mighty things for God have always been mighty in prayer, have well understood the possibilities of prayer, and made the most of these possibilities. The Son of God, the first of all and the mightiest of all, has shown us the all-potent and far reaching possibilities of prayer. Paul was mighty for because he knew, how to use, and how to get others to use, the mighty spiritual forces of prayer.” EM Bounds, The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, P. 341

What kind of vessel are you?

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21

What kind of vessel are you?

On a regular basis and for years now, people I know and who I don’t know, approach and say things like, “I’d like to write a book” or “I’ve been having an idea for a book for a long time.” Then they ask “How do you do it”? Now, while putting a message in the format of a book so people can read it is a good thing, not a bad thing, let’s be clear about something: GOD is not leading anyone to pen any writing at all about Him, much less a book, unless such a person is so buried in His Word, Holy Scripture, that his every thought and meditation is the Word and when he opens his mouth it’s Holy Writ verbatim.

“It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God.” Austin Phelps

Jeremiah 1:10 destruct (strip) then construct.

God wants to build a deep foundation so He begins at the root. He doesn’t do band aids, patch jobs…. Do you understand how God works with us as is revealed in Jeremiah 1:10? Check this out:

“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

WHEN God is getting stuff OUT of our lives… it’s kind of like when you were a child and you got a splinter in your finger. Remember that? BUT you were deathly afraid of your dad removing it with tweezers, right? Yes but then soon as it was removed, you felt elated and ran back outside to play!!! Well, when God removes foreign objects from our lives, great joy will fill our hearts and a spring will be in our step!

As His joy fills us, the joy of His salvation will teem in our hearts and lives, overflowing on others! (Psalms 51:10-13)

Psalm 51 beloved of God!

Let us cry out to the LORD as did beloved David in his psalm of repentance! Beloved David sinned grossly during a season of his life and yet, David could be convicted, drawn in, and repentant. Can you? Do you have a heart after God like the beloved David? May it be so, in the name of Jesus. Because God is good and David responded to His drawing him back to Himself, the Bible later records that the beloved “sweet psalmist of Israel” was “a man after” the heart of the LORD.

“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:22

Like Paul, David finished strong and so can we! (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

It is utterly priceless that David, Israel’s greatest human king, was called by our LORD “the sweet psalmist of Israel.”

“Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said.” 2 Samuel 23:1

Getting into God’s Word will assure that God’s Word will get into you.

God’s Word, the truth, will not permeate your life unless you come away with Jesus, you make the quality decision to obey God and set yourself apart unto Him.

“Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” Proverbs 18:1

Memorize this verse. As usual, always in the King James Bible.

Notice the first words….

“Through desire” and then

“a man, having separated himself” …

“seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.”

Proverbs 18:1

Where is your desire? Are you more interested in being an author than you are of knowing Jesus, becoming daily more rooted in Him, in His truth?

Those who truly desire more of the LORD and to be thereafter used by Him, will separate themselves unto Him. He will do His work in these true disciples and use them mightily. There are no shortcuts.

Any person naming the name of Christ who is not learning to yield in the crucified life daily and isn’t full of God’s Word, has no business attempting to do any kind of ministry, including writing a book for a God they don’t even love enough to seek and obey. Such a person is not right with God themselves much less to attempt to speak for the LORD.

Flimsy, fake “Christian” books fill “Christian” bookstores everywhere today. As you flip through most “Christian” books written over the last few decades, immediately you notice the lack of Holy Scripture which clearly tells you that that author is completely arrogant and self-centered, not Savior centered. Such books are not Scripture-rich. Why? Simple: You see, he thinks more highly of himself than Christ. He’s all about telling you what he knows, his take, his philosophy on things. Such books are a total waste of time and the counterfeits who publish them will give full account to a holy God for misleading others. The second blaring error you will notice about today’s “Christian” books as you flip through them, is that if and when they use a Bible verse, it’s from a fake “bible” version. Laughable. Thirdly, in today’s “Christian” books, there is no cross, no judgment, no repentance, no Heaven, no hell, no personal holiness, nothing about Jesus Christ, etc. The cardinal, foundational, essential doctrines of the Christian faith are no where to be found.

Speaking of this, please make the quality decision now that you are going to study the real Bible, the King James Bible, and not some lame, cheap counterfeit. The last thing we need is yet another “Christian” book or person speaking using verses from counterfeit “bibles.” Godly people are full of holy conviction and cannot possibly remain with Satan’s corruptions of God’s Word. | Fake Bible Versions Exposed | 4 Bible Verses Compared: Game Changer!

It may be God Himself who has put it in your heart to write for Him. Yet He will not use you if you refuse to lay down your life in this world, to repent for real, and get into His Word and count it as the highest and final divine authority, never looking back.

“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

Intermeddling with all wisdom involves becoming engrossed, enthralled, and enveloped in the Word of the kingdom of Christ. This involves desiring the LORD so much that you turn off and tune out all the distractions of this world and dive into ever deepening fellowship with Him in His Word and the life of prayer.

Those who are content to be shallow, shallow rooted, are a dime a dozen.

“Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” Psalms 42:7

Memorizing Joshua 1:8 and 2 Timothy 2:15 will forever change your life.

Deep is calling unto deep. Will you answer that call?

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21

Are you “ready,“ are you loaded up with God’s words so that you can readily communicate them to others?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23

Regardless of the platform, the format, the medium of communication, if God is going to be glorified in your labor, He must be first glorified in your personal, daily life. The cross.

God will use publicly those who choose to be set apart to Him privately.

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6

Those who are known of God will be used of Him. They will strictly preach His Word and nothing else. Such disciples have never been more needed than they are today in this day of great apostasy – departing from the truth.

“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

Being immersed in the Word of God is required for being used of God to speak forth, to communicate His holy oracles.

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11

It’s one thing to say “the Bible says” and yet another thing to actually quote the Bible itself, allowing God to speak for Himself, letting His people learn HIS truth for themselves, and not just take your word for it. Let us facilitate people taking God’s Word for things, not ours.

Those who are truly of God, let God speak for Himself – by quoting, stating His words, not their own!

In the book Predators in Our Pulpits, the first chapter details how God has ordained that ministry be conducted. The mere servant of God gives the Word of God directly and then, simply gives “the sense” of the words of God. So, he simply teaches God’s Word unwaveringly and nothing else.

“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Nehemiah 8:8

True servants of Jesus uphold His Word as absolute final divine authority. These are the ones God is using.

The divine law of Genesis 1 is that every seed produces after its own kind. An apple seed can only produce another apple tree and not an orange tree. In the same way, we cannot possibly lead others where we ourselves are not first willing to go.

Will you become just another false prophet or will you be used mightily of the LORD?

“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.” Colossians 2:8

Never mind sharing YOUR thoughts and foolish philosophies. That’s exactly what false prophets do. Now it’s time to repent, to get right with God, and to walk with Jesus, immersing yourself in prayer and the diligent, daily, deep study of God’s Word in the King James Bible. This is the only way the LORD is going to circumcise your heart, cutting away all the evil thoughts and false imaginations – and to instill His holy truth in you so that His Word is what you communicate. The cross – you must die, you must lay down your life door nail dead. Only then will Jesus raise you up – and if you don’t, you will be propelled by Satan as one of his agents to deceive people.

How grounded are you in God’s Word? Can you say with beloved Job? …

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

How can we expect God to use us if we don’t honor Him enough to honor His Word?

You Can Forget it …

GOD is not going to use anyone unless they die – to self, to self-will, to all that is self. Galatians 2:20; John 3:30; Luke 9:23-24; Colossians 3:3, etc.

If you will not lay down your life to the LORD, you can forget being used of Him.

One thing is certain, that God is not calling you to pen a book or do any ministry at all at this time, if you are not learning to die. It’s only out of the cross life – where you are dead and buried – that Jesus is going to raise you upward and use you for His glory.

“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. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

The cross of Christ and the cross He commanded you to take up daily, is central to the Christian faith. There are no shortcuts and only a counterfeit would seek one.

The vast majority of those who lead in the professing, apostate modern church world, are utterly false. And, if you don’t stop, repent for real, lay down your life, and move forward taking up the cross, you will also in word, deed, and inaction be yet another peddler of a false gospel and “accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).

Is that what you want? Do you desire to be just another self-promoting charlatan who makes merchandise of and misleads others for your own self-serving good? (Romans 16:18; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Philippians 3:18-19, etc.).

Becoming beholden to, immersed in the cross life assures that the LORD will raise you up and use you mightily. The deeper the death, the higher the resurrection.

It’s time to go down deep into the death of Christ. There will be NO raising up to those who don’t. Be not deceived.

Today, we look for a DEMOTION, not a promotion. The cross: John 3:30. If you are not dead and buried today, it’s not Christ who’s raising you up (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Whatever goes up must come down – unless it’s Christ who’s bringing you upward in His resurrection grace as you are dead and buried. The cross is central to Jesus’ kingdom (Romans 6).

The way of Christ is the way of the cross. The way of the cross is the way of Christ. Non-negotiably. John 3:30

Prayer: Precious heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ my LORD. Here and now, if never before, I admit my own foolishness, my sinfulness, my self-will, and how I have sinfully done things my way and not Yours. It’s total rebellion, idolatry, and spiritual adultery. LORD, please forgive my gross sins against You and anoint me to the death and burial of self, that You alone might reign in glory in this life. Forgive me for seeking to do things my way instead of Yours. I love You LORD. Have Your perfect way in this life. I’m all Yours and I know You are all mine. Use me dear LORD, please. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Do You Seriously Think God Can't Use You? [podcast]

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of his elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34 Sin will bring reaping (Galatians 6:7-8). “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Sin has dire consequences one must reap as was the case with David and yet, God is merciful to forgive and still use His children as He sees fit. If the beloved king David, who sinned […]

Prepared Unto Every Good Work [podcast]

Want to be used of God? Well just begin today…. a small step, beginning in a private prayer time with our LORD, crying out to the Father in Jesus Christ to break and use us for His glory. DO you desire to minister for Christ more effectively? 1. Learn more Scripture (KJB), 2. Seek God in intimate prayer, 3. Learn, live out His cross! “The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:28 Is […]

Articles

Grounded in Grace [podcast]

“What a powerful message! Life changing for sure. It truly blessed me. Every believer should listen to this video! But God! Two little words that I missed. And found this phrase used at least 44 times in the KJB. Those little words takes the focus off us! If it wasn’t for God coming to save our wicked souls we would be doomed forever to burn in hell. Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.” We are saved by the grace of God and kept by the power and grace of God. To which none of us can boost! (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:5).” Karen Cochran | Grounded in Grace [podcast]

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) : And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10

Satan continues to pick off people with the same exact law-keeping deception he snared the Galatians with. They become in unbelief about Christ’s perfect sacrifice and begin to add law to salvation’s equation. This is deadly. Having begun in faith, in the Spirit, they fall away from the faith by trying to help God save them through self-effort, law-keeping (Galatians 3:3; 5:4). Many of those snared are seduced into this by way of the sabbath keeping deception, foolishness.

Being established in the saving grace of God is the only defense against the many deceptions creeping in among God’s people.

When the self-righteous legalist hears someone preach that Christians are saved by grace and not under the old testament law, they react – because they are still trusting self and have not truly repented/surrendered and putting their whole faith in christ. Law and grace don’t mix! You MUST choose! (John 1:17) Either you are saved by Jesus or your own law keeping works. There’s no in-between! It’s time to get into God’s Word, asking Him to give you a NEW Testament clue!

Especially with the upsurge of Judaizers and the law-keeping doctrines they perpetrate, every true born-again believer should pray, seek out, and study to be grounded in God’s saving grace in Christ.

SAINTS, we are saved by the LORD Himself, by His grace and not our own works. People who are still self-righteous, thinking THEY are earning their own justification, get very uneasy when the saving grace of God is preached. They are not yet students of NEW Testament truth. WE MUST have an ever-deepening biblical revelation of God’s justification by grace and faith! Please begin by memorizing Romans 5:1-2. AND, please read Romans chapters 3-5 prayerfully and over and over, this week.

To the Galatians, when Paul said “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”, he was saying that trying to mix even “a little” law keeping into the equation of salvation Christ alone 100% earned for us, ruins your whole relationship with God (Galatians 5:9). In fact, you don’t have one if you don’t 100% trust Jesus Christ!

Remember when Jesus saved you? He found and saved our wretched soul alllll by Himself!!!!! Right? Please pause and let that soak in. …. In light of this reality, this sheer mercy, how is it that we still strive in the flesh, thinking we are going to earn divine forgiveness, merit His blessings, etc. – “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5)

“But God”

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4

After hanging the backdrop (vv. 1-3), reviewing our alienation, our past life of trespasses and sin, how we are now found and rescued—brought back to life from our dead state—by the LORD, the writer now transitions upward.

Of Ephesians 2:4, William MacDonald writes:

“The words, But God, form one of the most significant, eloquent, and inspiring transitions in all literature. They indicate that a stupendous (astonishing, stunning) change has taken place. It is a change from the doom and despair of the valley of death to the unspeakable delights of the kingdom of the Son of God’s love.

The Author of the change is God Himself. No one else could have done it, and no one else would have done it.

“One characteristic of this blessed One is that He is rich in mercy. He shows mercy to us by not treating us the way we deserved to be treated (Psalm 103:10). ‘Though it has been expended by Him for six millennia, and myriads and myriads have been partakers of it, it is still an unexhausted mine of wealth, as Eadie remarks.’

The reason for His intervention is given in the words, for his great love wherewith he loved us. His love is great because He is its source. Just as the greatness of a giver casts an aura of greatness on his gift, so the surpassing excellence of God adds superlative luster to His love. It is greater to be loved by the mighty Sovereign of the universe, for instance, than by a fellow human being. God’s love is great because of the price He paid. Love sent the Lord Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, to die for us in agony at Calvary. God’s love is great because of the unsearchable riches it showers on its object.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1917

Satan attempts to make God out to be an unloving Father. Only mankind is created in God’s image, and He loves us beyond words (Ephesians 2:4-9). He loves us so much so that He gave His only begotten Son to die a horrible yet redeeming death on the cross, raising Him from the dead three days later to fully, completely justify us (John 3:16). God still has a remnant who trust Him and not self (Romans 5:6-8).

Justification

ARE YOU justified by sinful self or the Savior? Good luck flashing those “filthy rags” at the Throne of the Almighty who sent His only begotten Son to die for you! (Isaiah 64:6) You have called Him a liar! (Galatians 2:21) Righteousness comes from knowing and trusting the only One to ever keep the law perfectly and not from trying to keep the law (Galatians 2:16). Though the law be righteous, there is NO righteousness in the law other than repenting of your own efforts and putting your full trust in the only One who ever kept the law! (Romans 10:4) You deserve judgment and hell. You have nothing to offer God except a deeply repentant, honest, contrite, humble heart! (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:3) You are a guilty sinner and must trash your stupid, ridiculous, laughable religious fig leaves which are a sham at best! True NEW Testament saints are dead to the law (Romans 7:1-4). Law keepers, do-gooders, and moralists are completely self-righteous antichrists who’ve put themselves in place of Jesus Christ as their own savior – denying Christ that place while vainly believing they can earn their own justification before a holy God and Judge of their eternal soul (James 2:10). Anti in the biblical word “antichrist” means “in place of.” Selah (meditate on that) God doesn’t want His children trying to keep the old law but rather to choose to worship, love, trust, and obey Him who is the only One to keep it and then nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way!

Revelation 2:8 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”

Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”

William MacDonald writes:

“His kindness toward us (2:7)

“His grace in His kindness toward us (2:7)

“The riches of His grace in His kindness toward us

“The exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us

“Now it follows that if God will be disclosing this throughout eternity, then we will be learning throughout eternity, then we will be learning forever and ever. Heaven will be our school. God will be our Teacher. His grace will be the subject. We will be the students. And the school term will be eternity.

“This should deliver us from the idea that we will know everything when we get to Heaven. Only God knows everything, and we will never be equal with Him.

“It also raises the interesting question: How much will we know when we get to Heaven? And it suggests the possibility that we can prepare for the heavenly university by majoring in the Bible right now.

“2:8 The next three verses present as clear a statement of the simple plan of salvation as we can find in the Bible.

“It all originates with the grace of God; He takes the initiative in providing it. Salvation is given to those who are utterly unworthy of it, on the basis of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“It is given as a present possession. Those who are saved can know it. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, ‘are ye saved.’ He knew it, and they knew it.

“The way we receive the gift of eternal life is through faith. Faith means that man takes his place as a lost, guilty sinner, and receives the Lord Jesus as his only hope of salvation. True saving faith is the commitment of a person to a Person (Christ).

“Any idea that man can earn or deserve salvation is forever exploded by the words, ‘and that not of yourselves.’ (2:9) Dead people can do nothing, and sinners deserve nothing but punishment.

“‘It is the gift of God.’ A gift, of course, is free …. The gift of God is salvation by grace and through faith. It is offered to all people everywhere.

“2:9 It is not of works, that is, it is not something a person can earn through supposedly meritorious deeds. It cannot be earned, for instance, by:

Confirmation

Baptism

Church membership

Church attendance

Holy communion

Trying to keep the Ten Commandments

Living by the Sermon on the Mount

Giving to charity

Being a good neighbor

Living a moral, respectable life

“People are not saved by works. And they are not saved by faith plus works. They are saved through faith alone. The minute you add works of any kind or in any amount as a means of gaining eternal life, salvation is no longer by grace (Rom. 11:6). One reason that works are positively excluded is to prevent human boasting. If anyone could be saved by his works, then he would have reason to boast before God. This is impossible (Rom 3:27).

“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then the death of Christ was unnecessary (Gal 2:21). But we know that the reason He died was because there was no other way by which guilty sinners could be saved.

“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then he would be his own savior, and could worship himself. But this would be idolatry, and God forbid it (Exod. 20:3).

“Even if someone could be saved through faith in Christ plus his own good works you would have the impossible situation of two saviors – Jesus and the sinner. Christ would then have to share the saviorhood with another, and this He will not do (Is. 42:8).

“Finally, if anyone could contribute to his salvation by works, then God would owe it to him. This, too, is impossible. God cannot be indebted to anyone (Rom 11:35).

“In contrast to works, faith excludes boasting (Rom 3:27), because it is non-meritorious. A man has no reason to be proud that he has trusted the Lord. Faith in Him is the most sane, rational, sensible thing a person can do. To trust one’s Creator and Redeemer is only logical and reasonable. If we cannot trust Him, whom can we trust?

“2:10 The result of salvation is that we are His workmanship – the handiwork of God, not of ourselves. A born again believer is a masterpiece of God. When we think of the raw materials He has to work with, His achievement is all the more remarkable. Indeed, this masterpiece is nothing less than an new creation through union with Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passes away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).

“And the object of this new creation is found in the phrase, for good works. While it is true that we are not saved by good works, it is equally true that we are saved for good works. Good works are not the root but the fruit. We do not work in order to be saved, but because we are saved.

“This is the aspect of the truth that is emphasized in James 2:14-26. When James says that ‘faith without works is dead,’ he does not mean that we are saved by faith plus works, but by the kind of faith that results in a life of good works. Works prove the reality of our faith. Paul heartedly agrees: ‘we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ (2:10)

“God’s order then is this:

“Faith->Salvation->Good Works->Reward

“Faith leads to salvation. Salvation results in good works. Good works will be rewarded by Him.

“But the question arises: What kind of good works am I expected to do? Paul answers, Good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In other words, God has a blueprint for every life. Before our conversion He mapped out a spiritual career for us. Our responsibility is to find His will for us and then obey it. We do not have to work out a plan for our lives, but only accept the plan which He has drawn up for us. This delivers us from fret and frenzy, and insures that our lives will be of maximum glory to Him, of most blessing to others, and of greatest reward to ourselves.

“In order to find out the good works He has planned for our individual lives, we should: (1) Confess and forsake sin as soon as we are conscious of it in our lives; (2) be continually and unconditionally yielded to him; (3) study the Word of God to discern His will, and then do whatever He tells us to do; (4) spend time in prayer each day; (5) seize opportunities of service as they arise; (6) cultivate the fellowship and counsel of other Christians. God prepares us for good works. He prepares good works for us to perform. Then He rewards us when we perform them. Such is His grace!” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1918

“Riches” appears five times in Ephesians

Ephesians 1:7 – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Ephesians 1:18 – “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

Ephesians 2:7 – “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:8 – “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

Ephesians 3:16 – “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 2:1-10
WHAT GRACE HAS DONE by FB Meyer

“Evidently dead men may walk; that is, they may be dead to the eternal world but alive to this world, which is moving past like the films of a moving picture. The death of the spirit is compatible with much active interest in the course of this world. Behind the shifting scenes of the material is the great enemy of souls. As the Spirit of God works in the obedient, so does the evil spirit work in the disobedient. Note this trinity of evil-the course of this world, the lusts of our flesh, and the prince of the power of the air. If we desire to save men, we must be in living union with the all-conquering Spirit of Christ.

Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ’s work, Eph_2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God’s thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so. All this is the gift of God’s unmerited love. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it. We are of God’s “making;” such is the Greek word for workmanship, Eph_2:10. We have been created for good works; they have been planned for us and we have only to walk in them.”

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Is God faithful to save us if we aren't faithful to Him, if we deny Him?

Would the GOD Ever Deny One of His Own People? What Does Scripture Teach? The Word of God is the truth (John 17:17). Something isn’t true just because you want it to be true. It’s true because the LORD says it – in the context of the whole of His Word (Romans 3:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.). Those not honest with the Bible demonstrate that they aren’t honest with its Author (John 8:47; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE MAKING A VAIN ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY OSAS/ETERNAL SECURITY: “‘If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny ‘himself.'” 2 […]

Does Sin Defile a Saved Person? [podcast]

Contrary to popular, heretical opinion, no one, not one person who dies in sin will be anywhere but hell – irrevocably. Recently I was quickened to approach a certain group of pastors about a young pastor whom they work with. Regrettably, there was zero concern in those pastors concerning the blatant sin of the younger pastor. Be assured that my approach was gentle and biblical, with the desire to restore (Galatians 6:1-2). This group of pastors refused to even respond. I am guessing that if I’d have approached them with the idea of making a large financial donation, they’d […]

Grace Abounding

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 The divine tapestry, the assimilation of grace, works, assurance, and faith. WHEREVER you see sin in the world, or in your own life, remember that there is a way out – God made that way through His only begotten Son. All sin can be overcome and so repent and be refreshed and REJOICE because where sin is, God’s grace can abound much more: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where […]

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

The Myth of Eternal Security [podcast]

“For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.” Psalms 73:27 BAD NEWS FOR CROSS-LESS COUNTERFEITS WHO HIDE BEHIND THE “ETERNAL SECURITY” SHAM: YOU WILL BE ETERNALLY SECURE WHEN AND IF YOU ARE WITH JESUS IN ETERNITY, NOT BEFORE! Can’t leave Christ after He saves you? Think again… dear one who continues to search for a way to justify your sin, for not truly repenting and laying down your life in this fleeting sinful world and overcoming (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27, 33; 17:33; 19:27; Titus 2:11-14; , etc.). All […]

Clear Proof that the Bible is the Only Sacred Holy Book on God's Planet [podcast]

There is only one holy book and name in the earth, the sacred name of Jesus Christ who is the grand subject of all of Holy Scripture (Philippians 2:9-11). God left us with His Word so we can know Him and not be deceived by the “MANY false prophets” He promised would come and deceive many just before His return (Matthew 24:11). God gave us His Word to protect us (2 Timothy 3:15-17). “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the […]

Can a Believer be Cut Off After being Saved? [podcast]

Paul reminds us Gentiles believers of how God “cut off” His own people, the Jews, when they rebelled against Him, and that He will also “cut off” any of us who do not continue in His goodness and severity (Romans 11:20-22). Any person who rejects this truth is a grace-perverting, sin-justifying fraud who has made a fake god in their own image due to the refusal to truly repent. “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 (Jews), take heed lest he also spare not […]

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.

God’s Little Pet Disciple?

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 GOD will remove His presence from you in a heartbeat if you allow pride (James 4:6-10). Memorize and live 1 Corinthians 10:12 now. —- As the LORD told Esther, so He tells you and I – “If you will not DO what He told you to do, I will replace you!” We are to serve God on His terms, not ours – or, He will replace us with someone who will. We need Him – He doesn’t need us – and, we are not irreplaceable! – “For IF thou altogether holdest […]

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

Jesus taught that the Heaven bound disciple must have root in himself, must “endure to the end”, must have a long term, an eternal perspective (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13). The Cost of Discipleship “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 […]

Judgment to Come Necessitates the Crucified Life [podcast]

“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 In light of “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2), the apostle speaks here of his preparation for it. Paul knew that eternal damnation awaited him if he dared not keep under his body, to crucify the deeds of the body to “bring it into subjection” by the daily crucified life. Keeping under our bodies speaks of a continual essential. Keeping under means subduing the old man by crucifying it daily. “For […]