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“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.

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Articles

About the Father’s Business [video]

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15


Love these shorts! Packed full of so much scripture in 30 seconds! I will never forget the words of my father on his death bed! “I didn’t know it was an option.” Meaning he did not know he needed to receive Jesus in order for his sins to be forgiven. And to be made right with God and go to heaven. How will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14. How can they believe if no one is telling them about eternal life with Jesus?” Karen Cochran


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The Greatest of these is Charity [podcast]


God sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins and He now calls you to lose your life in this fleeting world and follow Jesus – His example and His teachings.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16

Loving God and Others

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

Following Our LORD Jesus by Putting God and Others Above Ourselves

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5

Due to the Many Evil things Transpiring in this Late Hour before Our LORD Returns, the Love of Many toward God and Others, is Waxing Cold

“All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:8-14

Keeping Ourselves in the Love of God

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

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:9-10

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35

The Savior’s Love in His True Disciples vs the Lovers of Self

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

God’s Love in Us

THE LOVE CHAPTER

Read it each morning this week in the King James Bible.

1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now, in Jesus’ name. Please make good on Your prayer of oneness – that Your people, Your body will be one with You. Thank You for dying for my sins Jesus, for shedding Your precious blood to purchase me to Yourself and the Father. Please break me, let me be poor in spirit and pure in heart. Cause me to be full of Thy holy love toward You and others. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

The Return of Christ | Discipleship

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Upholding Jesus, the Only Head of His Body [podcast]


YOUR first thought when you hear “God” or “Christianity” should be JESUS! Not some church, pastor, or church program!

The ministry continually receives emails from people who have latched on to some mere man, his personality – instead of worshipping Christ supremely (Colossians 2:18-19). And in doing so, they defend those mere men angrily, doggedly, having never stopped to put them to the biblical test.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

“Not everything is at it seems. Their job is only to keep everyone’s minds occupied on everything else except for God and Jesus. I learned that a couple of years ago and why I no longer listen to anything they have to say since.” Diana Rogers

Boom! And Colossians 2 is a must on this topic! The motherlode.

What is his doctrine? This is the very first thing to judge (Acts 17:10-11).

“But thou hast fully known my DOCTRINE, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” 2 Timothy 3:10-11

Any person who’s been born again and yet is not continuing in the doctrines of Holy Scripture, no long has the LORD – but rather has departed from the faith! (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in (does not remain in) the DOCTRINE of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9

Paul warns us of the many deceivers in our midst who do not hold Jesus Christ, the only Head of His body, His people – they do not uphold Jesus Christ as the unique, exclusive, and supreme LORD and Savior! “Beware.” (Colossians 2:4, 8, 18-19)

Beware of those in ministry who capture for themselves and intercept the affections of your heart – removing them from Jesus. Beware of any person in ministry who is not, via a crucified life, working with the grace of God, fostering in you a greater love for Jesus, for His Word! (Colossians 2:18-19)

One of the ways Satan targets, deceives, and snares saints is via false leaders – wolves who wear sheep’s clothing. Jesus warned us of just such a threat (Matthew 7:15). Satan uses false leaders to turn the affections of people’s heart away from Christ and onto them. Their personalities and ministries and church building projects are projected in the minds of their prey so regularly, therapeutically that most people never realize it. Study Colossians 2:18-19 closely saints.

We see this happening with David and his son Absalom where his son “Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 15:6) Absalom intercepted the affections of the hearts, directing them upon himself instead of King David. David was a type of Christ and Absalom is a type of false teachers and the antichrist. Anti means in place of. Absalom sought to put himself in place of his father David – to replace him in order to be esteemed, popular, worshipped (Colossians 2:18-19). This is what false prophets do. They get your attention, your support, and your money on them – Not Christ! (Colossians 2:18-19)

We have no wealth outside of that which we have in Christ (Colossians 1-2).

LOOKING where to read? Read Colossians 1 and 2. Christ reigns, is Divine, Creator, unique in all history, and preeminent!

Recently I was privileged to meet a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and teeming with God’s love and the joy the LORD produces in those who abide intimate and obediently with Christ (John 15:1-16). It was obvious that this man was holding Jesus up high in his personal life and that Jesus was pouring His life and blessed virtue into his life. When in our individual lives we diligently seek and magnify/lift up Christ to the first priority in our lives, He fills us.  In fact, who did Jesus says He will fill up?

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

Our LORD’s divine virtue flows directly from Him into our lives but only as we begin and continue to seek and to worship HIM “in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) If the affections of our hearts depart from Christ, His divine virtue ceases to flow into our lives (Colossians 2:19). The LORD’s name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). The same is true for any group of Christians who gather in Jesus’ name and that’s exactly why so many “churches” are utterly dead and nothing but fluff and entertainment. The result of true worship is divine virtue flowing from Heaven into His people and Jesus’ spiritual blessings and health that God alone can supply To say this is an extremely important biblical truth is a complete understatement. This truth may be best captured here in Colossians 2:

“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, 19 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 2:18-19

Notice how we are instructed here to “Let no man beguile” or deceive you with any form of false worship or worship with a false emphasis (Lamentations 2:14). Then He defines what false worship is – “And not holding the Head.” Then we are told what occurs when we sincerely worship the LORD – “from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” 

Those who do not uphold Christ, the only “Head” of each one of His people, individually and the whole of His church, are misleading people and blocking the ministry, the divine virtue of the LORD from flowing from Heaven into His body – 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.”

The apostle is teaching us here that the remnant disciple of Jesus is never to enter into or allow the robbing of true worship of the Father through Jesus Christ by any subtle diversion away from Christ. ANYthing except Jesus Christ is idolatry – Anything!

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8Beware 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. 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10

There are so very many examples of Jesus being replaced today in the apostate modern church world. Think about this: When is the last time you gathered with a group of believers and the Person of Jesus Christ was truly preached straight from the Holy Scriptures and was truly magnified so much so that you left that gathering filled afresh and loving Him more and more?

Paul’s deep concern was that the heart affections and faith of those he ministered to were fixed on Christ, not him (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).

“We should be singing “I exalt thee” not “I exalt me.” Read in the King James Bible in John 8:28, John 3:14, John 12:32-34 Amen!” Charles Pray, the late

You see, today, in the vast majority of cases, the people are gathered and the entertainment begins. What’s emphasized and made to be important is serving at the local church circus, being a good church member with good attendance, attending the small group meetings, church membership, tithing, singing in the choir, etc. The fanfare and bureaucracy is to the pastor’s glory and has crowded Christ Himself right out of the local gatherings. This is exactly how wolves run their church businesses. There’s far too much going on. Jesus does not matter to the leaders or the people. They just want to be entertained and made to feel better about their selves in their current, unsanctified state. They do not want to change which begins with repenting (Jeremiah 5). The people want their children entertained not blessed with the knowledge of God’s truth and not learning how to worship the LORD in spirit and in truth and being prepared for the work of the ministry.

That’s what non-wolf pastors are busy doing – they are busy preparing the believers they oversee for “the WORK of the ministry.” Hello!

”And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12

Here’s what the earliest disciples of Jesus were all about. This is what they were doing:

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42

You see, millions today are being robbed or beguiled but it’s a willing participation. Isaiah says that this is “a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD.”

“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law (Word) of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not (do not see and expose our sins); and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:  11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” Isaiah 30:9-11

Nothing has changed (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The LORD tells us here through Isaiah that it’s only the “rebellious people” then and today who refuse His Word and “heap to themselves” these false leaders who refuse to speak on what the Bible says concerning sin and repentance. The cry out for no exposure and for “smooth things,” or entertaining niceties.

To the contrary, God’s Word says:

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1

This hour of great apostasy was long ago foretold, where men would not be upholding Jesus as supreme:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3For 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;  4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (fairy tales).” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

The hireling wolf wants you there in attendance and he wants you coming back. After all, it makes him feel better when you’re there and he needs that money to keep the circus wheels rolling. So, in order to get you there and keep you there, he must say light and entertaining things. He can’t possibly be abandoned to simple “preach the word” because there are too many hard truths that would cause some people to leave.

The sad reality, but nevertheless, the reality, is that pure and true worship is nearly non-existent unless the individual has it in his own personal life.

“For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24

Here’s the place of our refuge:

“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12

Jesus is coming back exclusively for those who are looking to and for Him.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Jesus did the work of redemption the first time He came and when He returns, it will be to gather together for a glorious eternity those who are truly looking to Him and not man.

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

All who do not uphold Christ blatantly, continually, and without apology are wolves who should be warned and marked if they don’t repent (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10-11). They should be earnestly contended against (Jude 3-4).

We should repent of helping wolves before the LORD judges us for participating in this betrayal of Him.

“Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 19:2) ANY person who helps the ungodly are just as guilty as those wolves in the eyes of a holy God who says “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4)

Helping God’s enemies makes you His enemy!

If you in any way “bid … Godspeed” to or in any way help or defend a wolf, you yourself are just as guilty as they are in the eyes of God.

Especially behold the last 2 verses in this passage:

2 John 
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

Do you want to get deeper into God’s Word? If so, send a reply requesting the “Moments with My Master” email that is sent out to edify Jesus’ body.

The glorious book of Colossians

A Tad More….

SATAN constantly seeks to rob Christ of the glory due only His holy name! Yes Acts 15 gives us some restrictions and yet men have grossly added to these things in their self-righteousness and evil desire to rule over others by using/adding man-made restrictions …..while they refuse to uphold, magnify, and celebrate Jesus (Colossians 2:18-23).

“That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:29

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 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, 19 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. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” Colossians 2:16-23  

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