Testing the Fruit of our Lives [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]

Part 1 (below)

Part 2 (below)

Part 3 (below)

Part 4 (below)

Part 5 (below)

WHENEVER there is true repentance, there is a changed life! (Matthew 3:7-10)

Do you always like the fruit you witness concerning your own life?

Personally, I certainly don’t always like the fruit manifesting in my own life.

GOD is interested in FRUIT that only comes from a ROOTED abiding relationship! (Matthew 3:7-10; John 15, etc.) Jesus foretold that on Judgment Day “MANY” will call out to Him with “Lord, Lord” as they boast of the GIFTS they operated in. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:19-23)

Jesus did not say we’d “know” (discern) people but their gifts but rather “by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16, 20) The FRUIT of the Spirit is more important than the GIFTS of the Spirit because it proves relationship (Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Good fruit can only be produced through relationship. The gifts of the Spirit ARE important and yet, some who are presently operating in them will be hearing “depart from me” from Jesus as they are being cast into eternal hell irrevocably (Matthew 7:15-23). This proves that someone can move in the gifts of the Spirit without walking in an intimate relationship with Jesus which will always, without fail, produce “the FRUIT of the Spirit” which “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance.“ (Galatians 5:16-24)

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

As it was when John the Baptist preached to the false religionists of his day, lame moral coward counterfeits hate when they are called to man-up and render real repentance and the fruit of good works to prove it (Matthew 3:7-10).

Jesus said that ALL who were once saved and yet are now lukewarm are hell bound (Revelation 3:15-16).

—The fact that we have all sinned in the past is one thing…. now whether we’ve truly repented and are showing forth the fruit of authentic repentance is another thing (Psalms 51; Matthew 3:7-10).

Paul the apostle, moved upon by the divine Person of the Holy Ghost, instructs the believers at Corinth to test whether or not they are truly right with God and ready to meet Christ. He is not speaking to lost people (1 Cor. 1:1-2). No he is directing this specific instruction toward “the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” (1 Cor. 1:2) Wow! He is speaking to a gathering of believers who came behind in no gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:7 ). Here is what the Holy Spirit sees fit for these believers and for all those who claim to know Christ to do:

“Examine (discern) yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove (test) your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Well if you have been genuinely born again, you know it. But that is but the beginning of our relationship with Christ. The Bible speaks often of the many who after being saved were derailed from the narrow road that leads to life. See book entitled LIE OF THE AGES.

Those without good fruit prove their mere profession of being saved is a lie. God has a lot say about fruit – which can only be born out of a true abiding relationship with Jesus (John 15:1-6).

The fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of good works is all over the Bible but the lukewarm OSAS crowd hates it! They refuse to study it because it exposes the lies.

Jesus says: “Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10)

HOW DID JESUS tell us to know/discern ourselves and others? By The FRUIT of our/their lives (Matthew 7:16,20). The root determines the fruit. Are you rooted in Christ?

WILL YOU be a casualty of the war for your eternal soul OR will you genuinely repent, lay down your life, die to self, denounce self-worship, denounce spiritual adultery and damnable self-idolatry, take up the cross, follow and make Jesus LORD?

If your life, your ways have not changed, you have not authentically repented (Matthew 3:7-10; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4).

“The understanding is, if I am truly abiding in Christ (the Vine, my first love) then the fruit will come from Him, and not from me — of my own making– but through me. Again, it’s relationship with Christ that is the root of the matter, and not just outwardly keeping a list of rules (living under the law).” Debbie Lord

Internal then External Discernment

HOW did Jesus tell us to “know” (Greek = discern) people? The “fruit” of a person’s life, his decisions, his words, tells you who they really are (Matthew 7:16, 20; 12:34).

“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16

In the Sermon on the Mount, how did Jesus Christ tell us we would “know” (discern) people? (I believe this includes ourselves first and foremost.)

“by their FRUITS ye shall know (discern) them.” Matthew 7:20

Before this Jesus speaks to us of “…the beam that is in thine own eye?…FIRST cast out the beam out of thine own eye…” and then our LORD says “Ye shall know them by their fruits…by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:3-5, 16, 20)

First and foremost the Savior deals with us personally at the heart level. When He does we are then enabled to “see clearly.” But not until then!

“Thou hypocrite, FIRST cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and THEN shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5

Before we look into a fabulous little passage of Scripture in Job 22, let’s use as a backdrop the importance of making sure we truly know the LORD Jesus very intimately. Do you recall what the Son of God told us is going to be the scene on Judgment Day?

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23

At this future event, did you note that these people all believe they are saved? Did you catch that? At His holy throne they are going to call Jesus Christ “Lord, Lord.” And yet He is going to tell these people to “Depart” from Him into eternal damnation. Scary isn’t it?

Can we be too sure we are authentically right with God? Only evil pride in our heart would be offended at such a proposition.

The LORD told us that there are those who “profess (claim) that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16) Though they claim to know Christ as Savior and LORD, “in works they deny him.” The fruit of their lives does not affirm their salvation.

If you were accused of being a disciple of Jesus, would there be evidence enough to prove it?

Is there any reason a professing believer would be afraid to or hesitate to examine himself against the Word of God at this time? If so, why?

David was a man after the LORD’s own heart and not only was not afraid to examine his heart before God but actually cried out to the LORD to be searched, tried, known, and led into the right way everlasting.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24

What might one be afraid to discover in examining his true spiritual state under the light of God’s Holy Word? -That he truly is not right with God as he may have believed he was? Would we rather go on in deception or test our own hearts now before it is too late.

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

According to Proverbs 14:12, a person can fully believe he is right with God and be fully deceived. One can be sincere and at the same time sincerely deceived.

INVENTORY ANYONE?

Friends, do we really want the truth now OR do we want to continue to deceive our own hearts and be shocked like those we are foretold of by Christ in Matthew 7:22-23? Can we ever be too sure?

This following passage was given me by a caring friend a number of years ago. When I began to read it – the first sentence – I was taken back. At that time in my life, I was offended a bit at the suggestion that I needed to get acquainted with the LORD. This clearly identified pride in my heart. Saint of Christ, please be blessed by the instruction of and promises found in this precious passage of divine precepts from the One who loves you more than words can express:

“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.” Job 22:21-23

What are the divinely breathed instructions in this passage?

“Acquaint now thyself with him”
“be at peace”
“Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth”
“lay up his words in thine heart”
“return to the Almighty”

What divine promise is given to those who draw near to God this way?

“thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles”

Ready to be built up in Christ, strengthened by the might of His Holy Spirit in your inner man? If so, regard and embrace these simple instructions He gives us in this Scripture text.

Are You Being Deceived ?

Important Question: According to this passage tucked away at the end of Job 22, when are we going to be divinely enabled to “put away iniquity (sin) far from” our lives/tabernacles? When we:

“Acquaint now thyself with him” (how well do we know Him? How intimate is my current fellowship with Him?)
When we are “at peace” with the LORD through holy communion
When we “Receive…the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart”
When we “return to the Almighty”

When we seek the LORD with a whole heart as revealed in this portion of God’s Word, we have the divine promise that we “shalt be built up” and “shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.”

When we get more intimately acquainted with our Savior, become more at peace (one) with Him, get deep into His Word, and fully return to Him with a whole heart, all iniquity is going to be flushed out of our lives.

“Examine yourselves…prove (test) your own selves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Are you ready now to be a doer of divine instruction and put 2 Corinthians 13:5 into action?

VALUABLE QUESTIONS TO ASK OURSELVES:

Is my “salvation” about solving my own personal problems, or is my goal a deep and intimate communion with the LORD Jesus?
Is my spiritual walk about obtaining attention for myself or is my goal an intimate relationship with the LORD Jesus and to point all glory to Him?
Is my “salvation” based on my desire not to go to hell, or is my goal an intimate relationship with the LORD Jesus?
In all of reality, is Jesus Christ not all that I have?
Do I daily pour over His Word and seek His face in the prayer closet? – If not it is because I love self and not the LORD Jesus Christ. If I don’t make time to pray and study His holy Word, it is because He is not truly my LORD and first love.
Is my “salvation” about belonging to some group for the sake of social activities and intellectual stimulation, or is my goal an intimate fellowship with the LORD Jesus?
Is my spiritual walk about my own covetous greed to be rich in this life, or is my goal an intimate relationship with the LORD Jesus?
Do I obey the Word of God or am i self-deceived?
If I were stripped of everything, would I still seek, serve, and love Jesus?
Isn’t He the only One I need and my exceeding great reward?

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I here and now ask You to please search my heart. Probe the depths of my being and unearth anything that is offensive to Your holiness. I beg You to show me Your mercy by searching me, trying me, and cleansing me! Please shine Your holy light on all my darkness my LORD. I love You Jesus and am rejoicing at Your soon return! In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Victorious Fruit Bearing

Fruitfulness is Found in Abiding in Christ [podcast]

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

Articles

The High Treason of False Leaders [podcast]

PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach

“Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28

Did you catch what the apostle Paul did to prepare the church to meet Christ?

Preach
WARN
Teach

*Letting God Speak for Himself***

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15

Bible truths/words you never hear from wolves: Repent, obedience, the cross – crucified life, holiness, judgment, eternal Hell, the lake of fire, being spotless and ready for Christ’s return, etc..

Many today preach the crown but not the cross, the promise without the condition. They perpetually peddle half truths as they use words like “soar” and “rise up” and “elevation,” a going upward but never the essential non-negotiable condition of going downward before God will raise one upward (Isaiah 37:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Their misleading cross-less messages are “another gospel” and we know that because there is no cross, no mention of dying downward, no crucified life (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9; Philippians 3:18-19). The LORD will raise no one upward who doesn’t first humbly bow downward before His Majestic holiness (Luke 9:23-24; James 4:6-10). | Myth of Elevation without the Cross

“MANY pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.” Jeremiah 12:10-11

Were we not warned repeatedly to beware of those who would spoil us (ruin us eternally)?

This “famine” is here and has been induced by the “MANY false prophets” Jesus and His apostles foretold (Amos 8:11; Matthew 24:11; Isaiah 9:16; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.).

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

Self-induced “famine”: Those rebels who refuse to repent and get into God’s Word for themselves are starved out and deceived by the false gospel of the apostate modern church world. In contrast, every true disciple will study God’s Word diligently for themselves and feast in the midst of this prophesied “famine” for the Word of God.

“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

PAUL GAVE LITTLE PLACE TO FALSE LEADERS (GALATIANS 2:4-5). THEY ARE TO BE IDENTIFIED, REBUKED, REJECTED, AND MARKED UNLESS THEY REPENT (ROMANS 16:17-18; TITUS 1:13).

Jesus warned:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening (devouring) wolves.” Matthew 7:15

The false leaders Christ speaks of here would have all the trappings of a true Christian leader so as not to be detected. But the true remnant cling to Christ and therefore His Word and are thereby able to discern (Ezekiel 44:23).

“The majority has always believed the lies, gone the wrong way, never changed, and suffered great devastation. The pattern is repeated every third or fourth generation. People warning them are always considered alarmist or fools (conspiracy theorists). But God ordains faithful people. They will not cease to warn them until repentance is no longer an option.” C.

Paul Speaking to the Ephesians

“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20:27-32

God’s Word informs us that Christ’s true servant-elders WILL TEACH God’s people to discern by weighing all against the standard of the Word of God (Ezekiel 44:23; Acts 17:10-11; 1 John 4:1, etc.). Therefore we know that any man in leadership not teaching people to discern between the holy and profane, between true and false, is himself a wolf!

“Even the very elect! We need to be guarding our hearts every moment because the devil loves an idle mind.” Charles Pray

“DISCERN”

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

For a moment, let’s explore what true ministry is so that we can see what is not true ministry. Perhaps one good definition of what true ministry is would be: Giving people God’s Word in order to endear them to Him by His very own words. Is not the divine Person of the Holy Spirit integrally involved in that exchange? Did He not orchestrate it?

Watch closely at what the elders of Israel did when they stood before the people:

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

Truly God-fearing servants of Christ get people into HIS Word so that they follow Him and not them – mere men. Note that in this important passage in Nehemiah 8, we see the principle for leadership: Leading the souls of men to Christ, not to self.

Those who flatter you by refusing to preach the absolute necessity of repenting, taking up the cross daily and following Jesus…. Are setting you up for the kill …. You may vainly believe that it’s all fun and games now but judgment is coming if you don’t repent and diligently study and adhere to the whole counsel of God’s Word. When you do truly repent, you will no long put yourself under a smooth talking wolf who refuses to preach the whole counsel of the original Gospel of Christ (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” Proverbs 29:5

All ministers who soft peddle and do not endeavor to unapologetically declare the whole counsel of God’s Word, are deceivers. Run.

JUST because a preacher has a few good quotes does NOT at all mean he’s not a false teacher. If he has one false doctrine, he is false. Speaking of false doctrine, Paul wrote: “A little leaveneth the WHOLE lump” (Galatians 5:9). Example: There are many teachers/pastors of old who left behind good quotes and yet were false teachers. Examples would include the often quoted wolf C.S. Lewis, the diabolical monstrostity John Calvin, and the vile legalist Charles Finney. Also, there are many today who say a lot of good things and yet, then you find out they believe calvinism or the lie of eternal security/OSAS. Run.

One minister of Christ declared:

“People think that because I skin the brethren alive when I preach, that I’m not showing any love. That’s because they’ve been brainwashed by the glass toilet (the TV), and they respond to the tone of my voice much as my German Shepherd would. But I do love the brethren. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t preach against their sins. I would preach on coping and sharing and family values and let them hit a bonfire at the Judgment Seat of Christ.”

Think about how many people are promoting THEIR ministries and how much money is wasted on such trash.

“For THE LEADERS of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16

Leaders who betray the LORD and His people.

Remember that according to the record of the Gospels, it was the wicked religious leaders, the Jews of Christ’s day, who betrayed the Son of God their KING to the Roman authorities, calling out for His crucifixion (Matthew 27; John 19, etc.).

The kingdom of God is not about mere men’s ministries or churches or church organizations. Reading the history of Israel and the New Testament plainly reveals that false leaders have done inestimable damage – they have done so very much to oust Christ right out of the hearts and minds of the people they are misleading while posing as those who are leading them in the ways of the LORD (Isaiah 9:16).

“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer (true worship); but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13

Today is no different – In fact we are told it will get even worse in these final days at the hands of deceivers (2 Timothy 3:13). Like the wolves of old who were constantly exposed by Israel’s prophets, modern beguilers are intercepting the heart affections and resources of those they have misled. Listen to God’s prophet Ezekiel:

“There is a conspiracy of her prophets (false leaders) in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening (devouring) the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening (devouring) the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:25-27

Ready to Magnify Christ?

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalms 34:3

The eternal kingdom of God is all about KING Jesus.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil (ruin) you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power … 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 2:6-10, 18, 19

Most men in ministry are “not holding the Head” of the body – Christ – and therefore have intercepted the affections of the people in order to exploit them to build their own ministry business.

Any leader who is not constantly doing every possible thing he can to get YOU into God’s Word for yourself, is an absolute wolf of the worst kind.

Revelation: People don’t need you and me – they need the LORD – and He reveals Himself through His Word.

Christ must be magnified, not mere men – “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6).

IT’S SO very important not to over aggrandize any mere man. We must rid our hearts of all idols (Ezekiel 14:3). The personality cults must be seen for what they really are and shunned by Christ’s true remnant. Think about the personalities so many (most) modern popular ministries are built upon? Think about the ingratiating, manipulative, and flamboyant personalities of circus clowns like Jesse Duplantis, Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyer, Rick Warren, and a host of other false leaders who have built their enterprises/empires on THEIR own personalities and telling people what THEIR unrepentant hearts want to hear instead of what God says in the full counsel of His Holy Word (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Others we could name are more subtle and yet nevertheless draw people to THEMSELVES, not Christ! This is robbery – robbing Christ of the glory due only to Himself.

The great apostle went out of his way – he made sure and steadfast provision – to never draw or entice the affections of men’s hearts to himself. That would be theft – high treason against Heaven. In the holy fear of God, Paul took great precaution not to endear the hearts of men to himself, a mere man, but rather he espoused them to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2-5). Listen to him:

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

Have you memorized the above verse yet?

“I Have Espoused You to … Christ”

Let’s again listen closely to the heart of Paul to the people of God, Christ’s messenger/apostle:

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” 2 Corinthians 11:2-7

Paul espoused those he oversaw to Jesus, not to himself. He caused them to trust Christ through His blessed Word and invited others to compare what he taught to the Holy Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17). Is this what your pastor is doing?

In a recent conversation with my friend Tim, he was edified to hear the encouragement that every time he gets someone into the Word of God for themselves, he is doing much more than most pastors or “Christian” authors who make people dependent upon them – so that they get repeat customers for their business.

Are you in the Word daily friend?

How can God’s Word get into you if you don’t get into it?

Are you drawing and remaining close to the Savior in this late hour like the wise virgins who kept the oil of His presence in the lamp of their lives and were therefore ready when He returned? (Matthew 25:1-13)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (abundantly) in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

Listen to this audio message: Esteeming the Words of His Mouth | Colossians 1:28 PWT Preach Warn Teach

Penknife Sacrilege

Bible Burners in the Modern Church World: Butchering the Word of God for Self-Serving Purposes (excerpt from the book LIE of the Ages) Forsaking the Full-Counsel of God “And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire (this is what is happening today in our churches) that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid (no fear of God), nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these […]

The Myth of Elevation without the Cross [podcast]

THE CROSS: Know it. Live it. Preach it. God will never lift up those who stand in their pride but only those who bow before Him in humility (Psalms 145:14; James 4:6-10, etc.). Running to a “revival” is not the answer. The reason people run to a “revival” is due to their refusal to deny self, take up the cross daily, and thereby be re-vived (filled with life!) daily – experiencing the resurrection of Christ each day in their personal lives as God has ordained (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). A cross-less life is a life of defeat. A life in […]

Is Loving God Enough? Must We Fear Him? [podcast]

Often, I’ve heard seminarians and modern “Christians” reject the biblical concept, the divine command to fear God. Both loving God and fearing God are divine commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 22:37-39; Luke 12:4-5, etc.). Yet we must ask: Is loving God enough? Is loving the LORD all we need to do? Will saying we love God keep you out of sin? It’s a nice platitude, yet this is false humility. Trite. Holiness by way of the fear of the Lord is an essential to remaining, abiding in Christ. May God instill in the depth of our being His holy fear […]

Strive to Enter in at the Strait Gate [podcast]

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrews 4:11 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the […]

Apostasy

Why Did God Give Us His Word? [podcast]

The 4 Pillar Purposes for the Holy Scriptures

There are 4 reasons detailed in 2 Timothy 3:16 for the Holy Scriptures being given to us by God. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the apostle Paul wrote:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

According to this verse, the Bible, God’s very Word, has been given to the people of God for 4 reasons: Doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Let us take a brief look at these 4 reasons for the written Word so carefully presented here concerning the very purpose of the Bible.

Doctrine – (Gr. DIDASKALIA): that which is taught; teaching, instruction. An individual’s doctrinal body of truth consists of that which he has been taught and holds to be true.

Reproof – (Gr. ELEGMOS): proof, proving, test. As the noble Berean believers demonstrate and John commands, to test every doctrine that comes from the mouth or pen of men, against the holy Standard – the Scriptures. This is, in part, what is being spoken to us by the Holy Spirit in this verse at hand. Therefore, we conclude that we have been given “All scripture” in order to exercise “reproof,” or the testing of men’s doctrines against Holy Writ and to test every notion of belief we currently hold against the divine standard of the written Word which is final divine authority (Acts 17:10-11; 1 John 4:1).

Correction – (Gr. EPANORTHOSIS): a restoration to an upright state or right state. The Scriptures are “given by inspiration of God” to bring correction into our own hearts, and into the hearts of all who heed the divine message (James 1:21-25).

Instruction in Righteousness – (Gr. PAIDEIA): training in righteousness is what is meant here. The Bible is given to train us in the ways of the One who inspired the same. The divinely given Precepts of life can never fail anyone who would search out and do its commands (Isaiah 34:16). All of life’s answers, as pertains to man, are found within its pages (2 Peter 1:3-4; Psalms 119:128a). Millions of godly pilgrims, journeying through this earthly life, has found the perfect divine will and direction by studying the words of Holy Scripture (Psalms 119).

The verse following this monumental 16th verse, v17, also reveals to us another reason for the Scriptures – “That the man of God may be perfect (mature), throughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.” This maturity will come as a result of the workings of God as we walk with Him. He will teach our hearts His doctrine, His correction, His reproof, and instruct us in righteousness.

In review, what are the 4 reasons that God gave us His Word in written form?

doctrine
reproof
correction
instruction in righteousness

The Bible was written to CHANGE you – TO CORRECT FALSE THINKING – and not to accommodate the lies you believe. Are you washing your mind of every false notion – by daily study of God’s Word, OR are you backslidden? (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26) Repent now and conform to Christ by learning, embracing, adhering to, searching, studying, and obeying His truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17). WHY DID GOD GIVE US HIS WORD? WHAT are the stated 4 reasons God gave us His Word? Do you know this truth, and are you ready to share it with others?

You are obviously saved when you are putting God’s Word as final divine authority of your life and that’s pleasing to the LORD (John 8:47). When we allow God’s Word to correct us, we prove He is authentically the LORD of our lives (2 Timothy 3:16).

SOFT-PEDDLING, HALF-TRUTH preachers are Satan’s agents. No conviction, no cross, no holiness, no repentance, no readiness for the return of Christ, no judgment to come, no hell, no lake of fire! RUNNNNNN

WHY did God give us His Word? It was to establish His truth in and to protect His people from the many deceivers – “them that seduce you.”

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

God gave us His Word so that we may be established in him and kept safe from the “Many false prophets” He so often warned us about. He provided His written Word, his tangible revelation, so that we may fear Him (Deuteronomy 4:10), and so we can know Him (John 5:39). As you study Scripture, be on the look out for the many divinely stated reasons our LORD gave us His written Word.

Beloved saint, will you now teach these Bible truths to others? Share this.

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16

God gave us His Word in written format so they’d be no confusion and also, no excuse on Judgment Day (John 12:48; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.). The Word of God is the basis by which the LORD shall judge each of us.

“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

“Read your Bible for yourself. Please. A YouTube sermon clip is not enough. A podcast is not enough. Your favorite preacher is not enough. Know your Bible.” Biblical Man

“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail…” Isaiah 34:16

Read God’s Word itself, yourself (KJB). THAT is God speaking. Every time you read His Word, God is speaking to you.

In Christ’s Love.

PASS IT ON

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16

GOD’S WORD

LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: Are you tired of reading Scripture or hearing a good message from the Word and not retaining any of it for yourself and to help others? This message was sent out to each person on our Moments For My Master email devotional list. We would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:6). Sign up here.

Loving not our Lives unto the Death [podcast]

Just WHAT do we need to “remember” about “Lot’s wife”? (Luke 17:32) “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:11 Will you finish with joy? “But none of these things move me, neither count I my […]

The Necessity of Earnestly Contending for the Faith from a Full Counsel Perspective [podcast]

“Search the scriptures … they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40 Those who are Christ’s come to Him and the way they do that is that they “Search the scriptures” to see Him for who He is, to know His will, to learn to worship, love, and obey Christ who is the Word of God. “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 Those who truly know and are […]

Doctrine, Correction, Reproof, Instruction in Righteousness [podcast]

Doctrine, Correction, Reproof, Instruction in Righteousness 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17 ARE you learning sound “doctrine”? Are you being corrected by the LORD? Are you being reproved by Jesus? Are you being instructed in Christ’s “righteousness”? RED FLAG: You attend a “church” and yet aren’t searching, diligently and daily digging into, devouring, and memorizing God’s Word daily. Backslidden! Under the bless-ed weight of the true original Gospel, men are convicted, broken, and crushed to repentance! (Matthew 21:44; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:20; James 4:8-10, etc.) WHEN a minister’s message is all about encouragement, prosperity in this fleeting life, […]

Apostasy

If it’s not the Word, it’s Waste [podcast]

Nourished Up in God’s Word [podcast]

Christ’s true followers are known in that they love Him truly and therefore hear and are corrected and guided only by His voice, His written Word (John 8:47).

“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47

God will Never Anoint and Bless Us to do our Own Thing! Watch this Closely …..

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

Did you catch what Jesus just said? – That God is with His people to the end of the world to help them do what He said – teach His Word to all!

LOTS of people on social media claiming and preaching their own visions and dreams and not the Gospel! Beware.

When I hear someone speaking live or in a video, if the Word is not coming from their mouths, I soon close it out and unfriend. What is it that we don’t understand about the divine command to “Preach the word”? (2 Timothy 4:2) Wolves entertain goats while true under-shepherds of Christ feed sheep. Beware.

IF we stick with God’s Word, if we do things His way and no other way, we will be involved in the preaching, the teaching – dissemination – of His Word (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.” Philemon 1:6-7

“The bowels of the saints are refreshed” when God’s people communicate His Word!

The Waste of the Modern Church World

If you are born again and abiding presently in Christ, you have “mansion” in glory awaiting you! (John 14:1-6) Did you know that you also have an “account” in Heaven? Now, what’s in that “account”? Is it empty or full?

“Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” Philippians 4:17

Paul, Christ’s apostle, wanted to see the heavenly accounts of God’s people full!

God is not going to reward you good for not contributing to that which He stated is most important.

ANY leadership curriculum that isn’t literally the Scriptures – and learning THEM – is a scam! (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21, etc.) How long shall prop of the wolves and their self-agenda “ministries”? How long shall we be be deceived?

“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

“Read your Bible for yourself. Please. A YouTube sermon clip is not enough. A podcast is not enough. Your favorite preacher is not enough. Know your Bible.” Biblical Man

“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail…” Isaiah 34:16

Read God’s Word itself, yourself (KJB). THAT is God speaking. Every time you read His Word, God is speaking to you.

Today we see LOTS of clowns raising money to continue to fund their circuses they have and are building using the name of Jesus in vain to do so (Exodus 20:7).

Looking around us and perhaps beginning with our own lives, we see a biblically illiterate generation of Christians – people who can’t quote 10 Bible verses. Yet, those same people have been good church members for many years.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6

The vast majority of “churches” today are simply not teaching God’s Word to the people which alone makes them disobedient frauds. Fruit.

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16

If you help a “ministry” that is not instilling God’s truth in people, you are bidding Godspeed to these workers of iniquity and will be judged with them (2 John 10-11). The teaching of God’s Word is paramount and for the divine purpose for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom in the hearts of men (Colossians 3:16).

“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts 28:30-31

Many today campaign aggressively to raise money for and promote things that do not involve the communication of God’s truth into the hearts of men. In fact, very little “ministry” being done today even has the unchanging divine goal of instilling God’s Word into the hearts and lives of His people. God will only reward that which is in keeping with what He’s clearly stated – which will never change. His New Testament Gospel program is plain. Are you walking in it?

“Preach the gospel.” (Mark 16:15)
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“Preach the word.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly (abundantly).” (Colossians 3:16)

Saints, God forbid that we waste the wealth on the waste of spreading the false modern gospel and the trinkets used to promote it!

If it’s a ministry and they’re not the teaching of God’s Word, it’s not of God (John 8:47).

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4

If people are not literally learning and obeying and speaking God’s truth, it’s not of God! (Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 12:17)

The “Success” of Christ’s Saints Depends on This….

“This book of the law (God’s written Word) shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Can you personally name just 5 “Christians” you know who can quote 10 Bible verses from the King James Bible?

I can’t.

Bible Literacy Series

The Danger of Endorsing – Bidding Godspeed – to False Teachers, False Ministries

“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.” 2 John 7-11

Wolves entertain goats while true servants of Christ feed sheep! (John 21:15-17)

Prayer: Holy Father, I come now to You in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ. LORD, this moment I stop this life You gave and I ask You to make me truly, authentically Your disciple. Teach me Thy Word and forgive me for the sin of supporting, for bidding Godspeed to anything claiming to be of You while not truly and literally teaching Your people Your Word and to know it thoroughly for themselves. Please forgive me of this sin Father, in Jesus’ name. I love You Jesus. Thank You for dying for me, for finding, and for saving me by Your blood. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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STORE

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