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.
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?
“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
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.
Articles
The King’s Marriage

by Karen Cochran
Psalm 45
A Song of Loves
This morning I read Psalm 45 titled the King’s marriage—the story of the King and His bride. This is a beautiful picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19:7-9. The Bridegroom is adorned in glory, majesty, righteousness and truth and sitting in His royal throne. Then enters the Bride—holy, without spot or wrinkle—wearing the righteousness of Christ. Then Jesus (the King) says, “You are in thy Father’s house and He desires thy beauty and worship.” All because she is wearing the beauty of the Lord—His attributes (Psalm 27:4). She is wearing gold—fine gold—because she has been tried in the fire of affliction. She is one of the five wise virgins who is invited to enter into the King’s palace. What a glorious picture of all who make themselves ready and are clean and white before their King Jesus! Alleluia!
This is the story of a royal wedding. A love song!
v. 1 God has filled the Psalmist heart with a divine Messianic prophesy. Foreshadowing Christ as the ultimate King and His holy bride at the marriage supper of the Lamb!
vv. 2-6 The most significant character in this Psalm is the Lord Jesus Christ. In these verses we are introduced to the King Himself. His beauty surpasses all others. The gospel of grace is poured into His lips. And God has blessed Him forever! He fights for truth and justice, and is filled with majesty, glory, meekness, righteousness, and truth. The Scepter of the kingdom is given to Him. Jesus Christ has all authority over all (Hebrews 1:8). “The voice of God is heard from heaven addressing Him as God and certifying His reign as an eternal one. We know it is the voice of God, because Hebrews 1:8,9 tell us so.” Believer’s Bible Commentary. And God says thy throne “is for ever and ever.”
v. 7 The King of heaven loves righteousness. This is His very nature, and He hates wickedness, because they are the polar opposites. Therefore, He must rule with complete justice. God has anointed Him with the holy “oil of gladness.”
“Christ’s faithfulness to His father while on this earth, as demonstrated by His love of righteousness and hatred of wickedness, is the basis for God’s anointing of His Son. The “oil of gladness” is directly related to His anointing with the Holy Spirit.” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
v. 8 The King of Glory resides in an Ivory Palace and His garments give forth a sweet-smelling savor unto God and His bride (2 Corinthians2:14). The Son of God in all His glory!
v 9 Now enter the bride of Christ! The queen in “gold of Ophir.” She is clothed in pure gold because she has been tried in the fire and has come forth as pure and white (Job 23:10), and holy, with no spot of sin “or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27). In order to be considered honorable, she must be clothed with the righteousness of her Bridegroom.
vv. 10-15 The Bridegroom is calling His spotless bride to listen and obey. Since He purchased her, He desires that she cleave to Him only. Loving him above all else. Her husband desires her beauty, as she has been washed from all sin by the precious blood of Christ. The beauty is coming from the Lord (Psalm 27:4). She is filled with the very character of Jesus. Her garments are radiating the sweet aroma of her Master and Savior. And is one of the five wise virgins (Matthew 25). With rejoicing and gladness, she is invited into the wedding with her Groom. Into the King’s palace! Alleluia! Her worship is a response to how much she is loved by her beloved Lord!
v. 16 For all of His beloved faithful believers, this is their spiritual inheritance. That they shall be called into the banquet with the King of glory! A divine promise for all of His children who stay clean and white. And have been adopted into His kingdom by the saving grace of Jesus.
v. 17 Let us always magnify the King. The Messiah. Who has rescued our souls from death and translated us into the kingdom of God. And may His praise be on our lips for ever and ever. Every tribe and nation standing before the throne of heaven worshipping the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! Singing Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!
The whole message of this Psalm teaches us that the King’s royal bride must be pure, cleansed, holy and wearing the robe of righteousness of Christ. And He must be her first love. The one she loves supremely above everyone and everything else. This is the only way she will be accounted worthy to enter into the holy kingdom! And She must bear the image of her King! Then she will be invited to enter into the palace and the Lord Jesus Himself will confess her “name before His father, and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5). Are we ready to be presented to our Bridegroom? Revelation 19:7 says “His wife has made herself ready.” We must be fully clothed in fine linen, clean and white. This is the righteousness of the saints. This is the only way we will be called into the marriage with our Bridegroom (Revelation 19:8-9)! Don’t be caught naked (unprepared) and wearing your own righteousness which is filthy rags. Remember God hates wickedness. And this will lead one to suffer judgment and shame when you stand before your Maker (Revelation 16:15). Don’t let the scepter of Christ fall on your head! Make sure you are considered before a holy God the “Gold of Ophir.” A precious jewel.
This Psalm paints such a glorious picture of how valuable we are to the God of heaven. He desires that we be in His presence. Because His royal bride is wholeheartedly devoted to her Husband, and is fully clothed in righteousness, her Groom is enthralled by her beauty! She bears His image and the beauty of holiness! The Lord has prepared a mansion for all who have made themselves ready that we may bask in His glory and beauty for ever and ever! Alleluia!
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Abiding
Humility. Surrender. Sobriety. Restoration. Vigilance. [podcast]

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:6-10
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Hebrews 7:24-26
May God bless you and I with this child-like disposition, heart! Please do it in us dear LORD, in Jesus’ name.
The Topic of Humility on SafeGuardYourSoul.com
Spanish Content on SafeGuardYourSoul
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Idolatry
THE SIN, THE CURSE, AND THE FRUIT OF IDOLATRY [podcast]

“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 26:1
Idolatry will damn the eternal soul to hell (Exodus 20:3-7; Galatians 5:19-21, etc.). Just one idol. ANYthing that is more important to you than Jesus Christ is an idol. You must repent and receive Christ or you will perish in the flames of eternal damnation (Luke 13:3; John 1:12). If you aren’t willing to give up your religion to follow Jesus, you are a hell bound idolater who has chosen to pay for your own sins for eternity in hell.
God will not be worshipped by physical objects, idols. Jesus says:
“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
2 Corinthians 5:16 says “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” This verse, this divine truth has helped me out much. God forbids any attempt to worship Him through, via any images, anything physical (Exodus 20:3-7). According to this Bible verse, we do not even know Jesus after the flesh.
Jesus stated the divine essential, the non-negotiable imperative that “they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
17 Soul Damning Sins
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 IDOLATRY, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:14-16
IDOL’ATRY, noun [Latin idololatria. Gr. idol, and to worship or serve.]
1. The worship of idols, images, or any thing made by hands, or which is not God.
Idolatry is of two kinds; the worship of images, statues, pictures, etc. made by hands; and the worship of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon and stars, or of demons, angels, men and animals.
2. Excessive attachment or veneration for any thing, or that which borders on adoration.
from Websters1828
Anything you refuse to give up for Jesus is your idol.
Any person who will not give up their religion to follow Jesus is a hell bound antichrist idolater.

The Stark Contrast between True and False Worship
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
Whatever you won’t give up for Jesus is a soul damning idol (Mark 9:43-49).
The reason so many don’t take sin seriously and sit under sin-justifying wolves in sheep’s clothing, is because they do not fear nor take God seriously. Then they attack the true messengers of Christ who are declaring that God is holy and He requires non-negotiably that anyone who will know and be with Him eternally cut off occasion for all sin as Jesus commanded in Mark 9:43-49 KJB. They talk about grace but only in the respect that their sins were initially forgiven, yet never in respect to divine grace being the divine influence and enablement in their daily lives to overcome all that displeases Him, as they worshipfully with great gratitude deny self, take up the cross and follow, abide in Jesus (Titus 2:11-14; Luke 9:23-24; John 15:1-6, etc.).
The cross message of Christ and His holy apostles is not a novel concept, idea, or mere suggestion but rather it is a non-negotiable essential component of the original Gospel.
Recently, I ran across a comment by a person who wrote: “A cross (or crucifix, picture, statute, etc.) is not idolatry so long as it leads the person to worship God, and not the object itself.”
Is this true? No. This is pure human reasoning and a denial of the Word of God. As you can tell, this person commenting was most likely catholic. Speaking of the catholic church, they removed the second commandment because it was costing them money. The 2nd commandment says:
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6
God is not and will not be worshipped through images. In fact only Satan receives worship when images are used (Exodus chapter 20; 1 Corinthians 10:19-21). Satan is the entity who received worship when someone does that which God forbids….
Committing the sin of Idolatry yokes you with devils.
“They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.” Deuteronomy 32:17
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