Abiding

The Goal of Grace [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]

Reckoning with the Depravity of the Old Man

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

Rightly assessing what the Bible informs us of concerning the old man is essential.

Nothing good exists in us except Christ Himself, His perfect righteousness!

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24

The only righteousness we have is that which our LORD Jesus lovingly, mercifully, graciously provided for us, bestowed upon us, by the one-time shedding of HIS precious blood for our sin – to pay the price in full, the exclusive redemption price which alone could and did satisfy the claims of the Father’s justice to redeem fallen mankind back to Him and the Father (Ezekiel 22:30; John 19:30; Romans 3:21-25; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; Titus 3:5-7, etc.).

“… sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:17-18

There is “no good thing” in us, except Christ (Romans 3:10; 7:18, etc.). This is God’s pronouncement upon fallen mankind, upon sinful man. The LORD requires that we agree with this declaration of the inability of fallen man to be anything but “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9) Hence the need for the cross…. that the old man might be redeemed, liquidated….raised up…

Read Romans 6-8 this week.

The closer we walk with the LORD, the greater realization we have of our own utter depravity outside of Christ – and hence the need for the crucified life.

Those who don’t recognize their own depravity, prove they are not truly close to God at all. He is holy and all who draw nigh to Him will be made aware of their own utter iniquitous nature.

IF you presently view God as anything other than first and foremost “Holy, holy, holy”, you are working on a wrong level, you are utterly deceived, not realizing your own need to humble yourself before Him, to be “crucified with Christ” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). This is exactly why so many listen to false preachers preach a false gospel, “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9) They are not aware of their own depravity. No, instead the false teachers build them up in their pride and wickedness. They affirm them in the state of sinful self. They preach affirmation without regeneration. False prophets are known by the reality that they tickle ears, they don’t preach the holiness of God, the essential of repentance, and overcoming all sin through the crucified life the Savior and His holy apostles commanded (Mark 9:43-50; Luke 9:23-24; 13:3; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 12:14-17, etc.).

“Created in Righteousness and True Holiness”

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Each of His children, bought by His blood, merely stand as unworthy beggars, shoulder to shoulder in honor of our KING, Jesus!

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

The recognition of the old man, that inherent nature of iniquity in us (Romans 7) is the reason for the crucified life, the cross. The old man must die – must be dead and buried daily and God will raise him up. There are no shortcuts.

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD.” Romans 3:19

Every man born after Adam has broken God’s law and is “guilty before God.”

Let’s read a larger portion of Romans 3 on this matter:

“for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. … 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. … 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:8-12, 19, 23

When Adam sinned and fell, mankind because a fallen race, made in God’s image and yet, separated from Him in their sin. Hence the need for Christ to come and reconcile the world back to God (2 Corinthians 5:19-21).

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12

“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners …” Romans 5:18-19

The only way to reckon with the old man is with the cross. The crucified life is the only solution to victory given to us by our Savior.

One disciple stated the following:

“There is a tension always present with the believer who is still physically alive. He is a caught in “betwixt” (Philippians 1), a “concurrent working of deep opposites.” 2 Cor 4:8-11. He is both a vile sinner in his old man flesh but, at the same time, is a fully righteous new man saint in his spirit. He who is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3. He is a sinner/saint. This is why Paul called the saved people in Corinth who were having a lot of vile problems, “saints.” 1 Cor 1:2.

This contradiction in the life of the believer is true as long as he remains physically alive on this earth. When he physically dies this tension between the opposites comes to an end. He is 100 % saint. The only way to resolve these opposites in us daily is to “take up the cross daily” dying to or unplugging from the old vile part of us and living out of the new man spirit.2 Cor 4:10-11.

We cannot “unplug” by human effort. We unplug by denying SELF’s screams and letting them go, a surrender or a yielding to the voice of SOMEONE ELSE, Christ within. When that cursing voice within wants to retaliate and punish. I learn to deny that voice in the moment and choose the other voice within me which gently says love, bless, forgive and lay down your selfish retaliatory ways

This is an unplugging done by faith alone, faith in the loving voice, HIS voice within us that the world says is weak and will make me look like a fool. This is the way we handle the concurrent working of the opposites of the two voices within the sinner/saint.”

Jesus taught that while on earth, there’s no length we should not go to in order to miss hell (Mark 9:43-49). The cross He prescribed that we are to take up daily, is the only solution to sin.

The Cross

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Victory Over the Iniquities that Currently Drive You [podcast]

“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7 “Too many Christians blame their flesh on Satan and try casting it out. Never works. That’s why they don’t grow! Must crucify the flesh!” Karen Cochran Recently, a brother in Christ was pushing the fact that Genesis 6:5, 12, use the phrase “only evil continually” pertaining to mankind, all men. REPLY: Ask for yourself the important question: WHY did Jesus come to the earth? And from this moment forward, allow the Bible to answer that question …. Look for the Bible answer…… Why Jesus came to die for us […]

The Heart of the Human Problem is the Problem of the Human Heart

video – around 2:13 remove coughing All too often people become enamored unduly by mere men who have a public platform. “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22 Jesus didn’t come and die, be buried, and raised again for His people to trust mere men “above that which is written” of mere men (1 Corinthians 4:6). And just WHAT is written about fallen mankind? Some biblical exhortation: “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20 ” Who […]

THE WICKED AND THE WONDERFUL: Does the Bible say that You are Wonderful? [podcast]

Attention: Jesus didn’t come to die because you are wonderful. No He came because you are wicked (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, etc.). The testimony of Holy Scripture is that JESUS is “Wonderful” (Isaiah 9:6-7)…. and we are “desperately wicked” without Him (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18, 24). Each of His children, bought by His blood, merely stand as unworthy beggars, shoulder to shoulder in honor of our KING, Jesus! The only righteousness we have is that which our LORD Jesus mercifully, graciously provided for us by the one-time shedding of HIS precious blood for our sin – to […]

Abiding

Fruitfulness is Found in Abiding in Christ [podcast]

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

Jesus is the True Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:1-7

“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).

‘Abiding fruitfulness’—so loaded with meaning!

1. for your own state of abiding in Christ
2. for the fruit that is brought forth because you are abiding in Christ (the Vine) Who gives life to and bears the fruit
3. that the fruit itself (fruit of the Spirit, souls of men and all good works that are born of the Spirit) will abide (remain) and flourish in God’s kingdom on earth and in eternity.” Debbie L.

IF JESUS is purging you, rejoice—because that means He’s born good fruit in your life and wants to bring forth more! Boom.

“Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2

*Read that again.

IF you are not a DOER of God’s Word, it proves you are not saved and are a lukewarm hell bound rebel. Repent now and bring forth fruit to prove it (Matthew 3:7-10; 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 2:26, etc.).

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

HOW DID JESUS tell us to know/discern ourselves and others?

The FRUIT of our lives (Matthew 7:16,20).

The root determines the fruit.

Are you rooted in Christ?

Our works are the good fruit born out of Christ’s salvation and present work in our lives. Those good works do not save us but are a mere outworking of His great salvation in us.

FRUIT vs GIFTS

There are lots of people bragging about their GIFTS which alone tells you they are not in Christ who taught that the greatest among us will be the SERVANT of all—the FRUIT of God’s love in the true remnant disciple (Matthew 20:24-28; 23:8-12).

Gospel Hint: God is interested in a real relationship with those who choose Him. That relationship will always bear good fruit. FRUIT is the crop of an abiding relationship with Jesus which is the stated reason that God the Father sent His only begotten Son (John 15:1-16; 17:3). Anyone can operate in or even fake gifts. Gifts are glitter. Fruit is foundation! The root determines the fruit. What fruit is being born, produced in your life? Are you asking God to make you one with Him? Read John 17.

In the divine economy, FRUIT is much more important than GIFT because good FRUIT can only come out of relationship.

GOD is interested in FRUIT that only comes from a ROOTED abiding relationship! See 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).

Taking up the cross, suffering the death of self, is not earning us salvation… it’s simply rendering worship-filled “obedience to the faith” (Romans 1:5) – faith in the ONE who bled on that cross to earn salvation for us, all by Himself!

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

A Living Sacrifice unto God [podcast]

The burnt offering means a complete consumption. What did God illustrate to us when He required His people under the Old Covenant to offer burnt offering sacrifices? His coming Messiah’s perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The ordained way He requires that His people serve Him. Jesus was the ultimate burnt offering. He gave all of Himself freely in obedience to His Father and to redeem mankind. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 In His […]

Misleading vs Grounding Voices in Our Midst [podcast]

WHO are you really listening to and following? Do you realize that the Bible foretold that “many” would be deceived by false leaders in the final days? (Matthew 7:15; 24:11, etc.) How can we know we are truly one with Christ and following Him, and not being misled? Check this out: “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both […]

The Savior vs Self [podcast]

The Flesh vs the Spirit “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5 This life is a daily test of who we truly love (Matthew 6:24; 22:37-40; John 14:15; 15:14; Romans 6:16). You are not relegated to the flesh, to live after it, or be defeated by it. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do […]

Well Done Thou Good And Faithful Servant [podcast]

Will You Hear ‘Well Done’ or ‘Depart from Me’? [podcast] If I am truly following Jesus, I am learning to SERVE – and we know that because of what He taught and what He did while on earth. “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your […]

Articles

Chosen for Holiness [podcast]

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4

Holiness comes by the Savior in self denial (death and burial – the cross), not by self will or effort. Surrender is the cross – “NOT my will but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42) and “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We surrender to Christ by saying “Not my will but thine be done” dear Lord, by Your grace and the deliberate act of my own will I submit to the cross, the crucified life – where You alone reign supreme in this vessel (Luke 22:42; Galatians 2:20, etc.). I love You LORD Jesus! You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30)

Holiness, not happiness, is the divine command, the chief purpose and end of Christ’s salvation.

Of holiness, one disciple writes:

“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man thru the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature thru the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess 5:23). So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom 7:5; 5:20; Gal 3:21). They are enemies of the cross!”

Holiness comes by way of the cross, not by way of the flesh. Just as sin was conquered by the cross of Christ, so sin in the life of the saint is conquered by the daily cross – the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). It’s time to stop trying harder and to simply die deeper.

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning for [video]

WHAT church/people is Jesus returning for? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27 “a glorious church” “not having spot (no sin)“ No “wrinkle” “or any such thing” “but that it should be holy and without blemish” WHAT’s the use of talking about end times […]

Can a True Believer Overcome All Sin? [podcast]

Yes. In the church world, there’s an abundance of talk about sin and it comes with the notion, the inflection, the false assumption that somehow, born again believers are relegated to sinning, as if there’s no other choice. Is that true? Is this the biblical perspective? What I want us to do is make sure we are looking at the whole of Scripture and be blessed to gain a godly confidence that our Savior provided a perfect salvation that includes more than just the initial washing away of our sins. This “great grace” that He provided in His “so […]

The Truth about Holiness [podcast]

“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 As we just read, divine “holiness” is “glorious.” Holiness is not what most of us think it is. Holiness in the divine economy is something of great “beauty” and utterly refreshing (Psalms 96:9). It seems that holiness is not merely a divine attribute but rather the divine nature of the Almighty. Are we ready to allow our LORD, who alone is “Holy, holy, holy,” to define what holiness truly is and how He brings it […]

Abiding

“They that are Christ’s” [podcast]

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24

We “fight” by dying and not by rising up:

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12).

When we die downward, Christ, who is “the resurrection and the life” raises our lives upward, in His infinite divine power to glorify Him (John 11:25). This is exactly how our LORD Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave!

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:14

You may be wondering why you haven’t overcome sin. Here’s how to overcome sin—and beware of those not preaching this cross! (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 5:34, etc.).

“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7

Read that again!

No one is “freed from sin” until they are “dead”—crucified with Christ.

The truly God-fearing man realizes his utter need for the grace of Christ. He realizes that he must continue, to abide in Christ, to “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:12). He views salvation as a present reality and responsibility—to remain in an intimate, abiding relationship with Christ (John 15:1-16); Colossians 2:6-7).

Those who don’t walk in the cross lifestyle, will revert to type— sinful type.

The authentic disciple builds his whole life around the Bible, the cross and the throne of God (Jeremiah 17:12; Hebrews 4:14-16).

WHEN our love for God is supreme, we will daily seek Him.

When we are hungering and thirsting after His righteousness, He is filling us with His overcoming, victorious grace (Matthew 5:6).

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

WHATEVER you do, never get away from the cross message—the crucified life to which Jesus calls every one who will be His.

Many fancy their devotion to very intelligent men in ministry and yet, only God knows what’s in their hearts. Having mega intellectual knowledge, understanding and the ability to articulate, in no way means a man is crucified with Christ. And if he’s not “crucified with Christ” he’s not overcoming sin—which means he’s living in sin.

“He that is dead (crucified with Christ) is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7

The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]

Prayer: I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at the STORE page and amazon. English and Spanish.

The Only Solution to Man’s Sin [podcast]

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Tozer: The Cross

The Old Rugged Vs. the New Nerf Cross A.W. Tozer: “The old cross is a symbol of death. God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again in newness of life. God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It always stands at the far side of the cross.” A.W. Tozer: “Why do we build our churches upon human flesh? For we teach men not to die with Christ but to live in the strength of their dying manhood… If I see aright, the cross of popular […]

The Victory of the Cross [podcast]

“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 Many feel hopeless, like they can never overcome the flesh. Yet, we know that God is able to bring the victory He ordained in our lives through the crucified life He commanded that […]