Abiding

The Most Obvious Sign that Jesus is Coming Soon! [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]

What is the first thing on the list of signs of Christ’s return?

What was the very first sign Jesus gave us concerning and to mark His soon return? As you will now read in the passage below, Jesus’ answer was in response to the question of His disciples as to the sign preceding His return.

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:3-5

Coming “in the name” of Jesus doesn’t mean that one is truly of Christ. In many cases it simply means that someone is using Christ’s holy Name, His divine credibility, as a front to peddle wicked wares that do not belong to the Holy LORD Jesus Christ. These are the generation of wicked religious hypocrites Christ severely rebuked while on earth (Matthew 23, etc.). They profess one thing and do another.

“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

Satan has his own “ministers” and they are in our midst pretending to represent Christ (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). How can we know the difference between those who are truly Christ’s and the pretenders who are devouring wolves? We must discern, we must “prove (test) all things” against the written Word as did the Berean disciples, and only hold to that which is biblical, rejecting that which isn’t (Acts 17:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Jesus foretold that the proliferation of false prophets would be the most prominent, the most obvious sign of His return (Matthew 24:3-5). Paul echoes this truth when he speaks of the exponential invasion of wolves in sheep’s clothing as the day of Christ nears.

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13

But what’s the deciding factor? How do we know who is “of God” and who is “not of God”? Great question which Jesus also answers:

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

Memorizing these words of Christ (above) will pay large dividends in your own discernment, your ability to weigh in the balance and decipher those who come in Christ’s Name. Also, this will be something you can share with other saints (Ezekiel 44:23; 1 Peter 3:15).

“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

“Anyone that profits off of you being blind will never teach or inspire you to see.” unknown

Think of this in the context of how false teachers refuse to teach discernment (Ezekiel 44:23). Any man pretending to lead for Christ who doesn’t warn you about the “MANY false prophets,” is himself a false prophet (Matthew 7:15; 24:11, etc.).

Those who do not love God and therefore do not love the truth, will be deceived.

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Another Jesus, Another Spirit, Another Gospel

For our protection, our preservation, the Holy Spirit through Paul the apostle is warning us here about those who do not preach the whole counsel of the original Gospel but rather preach “another Jesus” fueled by “another spirit” to preach “another gospel.”

“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.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4

Recap of this passage above: Beware of those who preach:

“another Jesus” – one who doesn’t require repentance and the daily cross (Luke 13:3; 9:23-24).
“another spirit” – evil spirits who perpetrate their “doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
“another gospel” – false doctrine, half truths, not the whole of the message of Christ and His holy apostles (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 4:2-4; Jude 3-4, etc.).

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

False leaders deceive their prey by misleading them via false teaching and actions not consistent with holy Scripture concerning servant leaders. | Beware of the Nicolaitan Wolves Today

Stolen allegiance is the order of the day in the apostate modern church world (Colossians 2). Satan has come to perform pure evil against mankind which is created in the image of God. The Bible informs us that he “walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil, the arch enemy of our LORD, aggressively seeks whom he will be allowed to steal from, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10;1 Peter 5:8). Only those who are truly, authentically grounded in Christ and the cross, will survive and thrive (Colossians 3:1-4, etc.). There’s only one place to be “hid with Christ in God” from this vile enemy.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Regrettably, this enemy of all souls owns the hearts and minds of most in ministry today in this late hour of prophesied great apostasy (Isaiah 56:8-12; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 23; 2 Peter 2; Jude 1, etc.).

MINISTRY which pleases God includes endeavoring to preach the whole counsel of His Word, helping people know and grow in Christ for themselves – by the cross life and getting into HIS Word for themselves so they can follow HIM, not you! (2 Corinthians 3:5; 4:5; 10-12, etc.). True ministry always fosters in the hearers faith in God, not the preacher or local church organization! Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 4:5.

“That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5

False leaders today have people trained to look for little coping bandaids, things that profit their immediate situation yet squandering their present and future state. The false leaders today can be known by their messages which coddle their prey in their sin, never calling them to true repentance, to the cross, to a holy, separated life, etc. The result is that these people want nothing to do with a Bible message, a message that is actually Bible-intensive. And this is exactly why these shallow dwellers are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

2 Timothy 3 and 4 speak prophetically to this phenomenon. Read it.

Scarcely do we see an elder today calling God’s people to true repentance, to lay down our lives in this world, deny self and take up the cross daily, and rooting and grounding them in a daily, humble, Bible-devouring walk with Jesus.

If you don’t hear the following Bible truths coming from the mouth of your pastor, you know he’s one of the “many false prophets” our LORD and His holy apostles warned us about (Matthew 7:13-29; 24:3-5, 11; 1 John 4:1, etc.). These following Bible words prove a man is preaching the original Gospel or a false gospel, “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9). Are you regularly hearing these words, these cardinal doctrines of the historic Christian faith?

Repentance (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Revelation 2:4-5, etc.)
God created us to know Him and without this knowledge, this relationship, there is no salvation (John 17:3; Philippians 3:10, etc.)
Holiness (Psalms 4:3; Isaiah 6:3; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16, etc.)
The daily cross, the crucified life (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20; 5:24)
Fearing God (Psalms 2:11; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Luke 12:4-5; Romans 11:20-22, etc.)
Salvation is conditional, not un-conditional (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Joshua 24:15; Luke 8:13; Romans 11:20-22; Hebrews 2:3; 3:12-15; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 2-3, etc.)
The essential of obedience to the Word of God (Deuteronomy 13:4; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 2:26, etc.)
Purity of heart (Psalms 51; 139:23-24; Matthew 5:8)
Seeking God with a whole heart (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8; Matthew 5:6; 6:33, etc.)
Ready for the return of Jesus (Matthew 24: Luke 21:34-36; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 3:3; Revelation 2-3, etc.)

If you really want the presence of the LORD in your life you must obey Him, walking in an abiding relationship with Christ as He instructed in John 15. Also, read John 14:15, 21-23. The false teachers today want you to believe that you can go into a room and “soak” in the presence of God and that He’s going to consume you. They’ve led a whole generation of fruitless Christians to believe and practice and expect this heretical concept. It’s not working and never will because God doesn’t change and men who don’t meet HIS stated conditions will be fruitless and perish (Psalms 107:17; Jeremiah 5:25, etc.). Jesus taught that God is going to manifest Himself into your personal life as you obey Him, as you deny self, take up the cross daily, and walk with Him daily (Luke 9:23-24, etc.). Those who are crucified with Christ will be filled with the resurrection presence of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

So in not teaching what Jesus taught, false leaders today have betrayed the LORD and are leading a generation of counterfeits to eternal damnation.

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Proverbs 30:12

Jesus commands you to lay down your life – to live a crucified life, raised up by Him. Yet, false leaders make it all about their church and their church services and not about a grounded life in Christ daily… they are not interested in seeing Christ’s saints rooted and grounded in sound biblical doctrine and the daily cross walk, abiding in Christ…

The LORD holds “the leaders of this people” responsible and also those who bid God speed to them – support and patronize them (2 John 10-11).

“For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. 14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. 15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:13-16

What I Look for Personally

Words such as “born again,” “Jesus Christ,” “Jesus is coming,” or “washed in the blood” are not just Christian buzz words or “Christianese” as some call it. No, these are cardinal biblical truths which only proceed out of the mouth of true disciples of Christ.

Jesus told us that what’s in the hearts of men will be witnessed in that which proceeds from their mouths.

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34

So there are two classes of people we must discern – Those who come in Christ’s Name and also, those who come in the name of “spirituality.” The latter is the easier to discern of the two because the New Agers among us don’t claim Jesus Christ verbatim and yet they do claim things like “Christ consciousness”…f

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11

ANY and all spirituality that is not soaked in the holy name and blood of Jesus Christ, is diabolical, a cheap counterfeit which doesn’t even qualify to be called a ban daid.

“Beware of false prophets” saints (Matthew 7:15; 24:11, etc.).

Coming in the name of Jesus Christ means coming in His authority rather than coming pretending to be His representative, hiding behind His holy Name.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

John Wesley on Exodus 20:7 and taking the LORD’s name in vain:

“Exodus 20:7 The third commandment is concerning the manner of our worship; Where we have,
[1.] A strict prohibition. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain – Supposing that, having taken Jehovah for their God, they would make mention of his name, this command gives a caution not to mention it in vain, and it is still as needful as ever. We take God’s name in vain, First, By hypocrisy, making profession of God’s name, but not living up to that profession. Secondly, By covenant breaking. If we make promises to God, and perform not to the Lord our vows, we take his name in vain. Thirdly, By rash swearing, mentioning the name of God, or any of his attributes, in the form of an oath, without any just occasion for it, but to no purpose, or to no good purpose. Fourthly, By false – swearing, which some think is chiefly intended in the letter of the commandment. Fifthly, By using the name of God lightly and carelessly. The profanation of the form of devotion is forbidden, as well as the profanation of the forms of swearing; as also, the profanation of any of those things whereby God makes himself known. For the Lord will not hold him guiltless – Magistrates that punish other offences, may not think themselves concerned to take notice of this; but God, who is jealous for his honour, will not connive at it. The sinner may perhaps hold himself guiltless, and think there is no harm in it; to obviate which suggestion, the threatening is thus expressed, God will not hold him guiltless – But more is implied, that God will himself be the avenger of those that take his name in vain; and they will find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Adam Clarke on taking the name of the LORD in vain:

“Exodus 20:7 ‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain’ – This precept not only forbids all false oaths, but all common swearing where the name of God is used, or where he is appealed to as a witness of the truth. It also necessarily forbids all light and irreverent mention of God, or any of his attributes; and this the original word לשוא lashshav particularly imports: and we may safely add to all these, that every prayer, ejaculation, etc., that is not accompanied with deep reverence and the genuine spirit of piety, is here condemned also. In how many thousands of instances is this commandment broken in the prayers, whether read or extempore, of inconsiderate, bold, and presumptuous worshippers! And how few are there who do not break it, both in their public and private devotions! How low is piety when we are obliged in order to escape damnation, to pray to God to “pardon the sins of our holy things!” Even heathens thought that the names of their gods should be treated with reverence. Παντως μεν δη καλον επι ηδευμα, θεων ονοματα μη χραινειν ῥᾳδιως, εχοντα ὡς εχουσιν ἡμων ἑκαστοτε τα πολλα οἱ πλειστοι καθαροτητος τε και ἁγνειας τα περι τους θεους. “It is most undoubtedly right not easily to pollute the names of the gods, using them as we do common names; but to watch with purity and holiness all things belonging to the gods.”

The Lord will not hold him guiltless, etc. – Whatever the person himself may think or hope, however he may plead in his own behalf, and say he intends no evil, etc.; if he in any of the above ways, or in any other way, takes the name of God in vain, God will not hold him guiltless – he will account him guilty and punish him for it. Is it necessary to say to any truly spiritual mind, that all such interjections as O God! my God! good God! good Heavens! etc., etc., are formal positive breaches of this law? How many who pass for Christians are highly criminal here!”

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:5

This warning of Jesus not only refers to those who come saying they are the Christ but more insidiously, those who come using His Name in vain to peddle their wicked heretical wares.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I want to thank You for creating me, finding me in my sin, and saving me into Your eternal family by the perfect sacrifice of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I love You dear Father. I love You Jesus. Please cause my heart to be a heart of flesh and extremely sensitive to Your leading, discernment, conviction, and wisdom. Please use me to serve, to love, to minister to Your people as we earnestly prepare with great expectation Your soon return. In the name of Jesus, amen.

The Modern Church Exposed | Is there a Conspiracy among the False Teachers Today?

What’s the Most Predominant Doctrine in the Whole New Testament? [podcast]

The Opening of Our Understanding [podcast]

Soaking: Is It Biblical?

PEDDLERS OF THE LIE OF THE AGES

Antichrists Among Us [podcast]

Paul’s Prophetic Vision of Heretical Wolves Flooding the Church World During the Whole New Testament Era [podcast]

The Truth about Church Attendance and the Modern Church [podcast]

Abiding

The Death before the Death [podcast]

Gethsemane Preceded Calvary

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:42-44

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

“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

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

Shall We Freshly Declare the Cross to be Front and Center in our Personal Lives?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]

5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2 Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation. He took upon Him the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:2-10 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but […]

The Cross and the Throne of Grace [podcast]

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

Raised Up in Christ [podcast]

3 Resurrections to Celebrate 1. Christ’s resurrection (Matthew 27:64; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, etc.). 2. Your resurrection at the moment of regeneration and daily resurrection (Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:3-14; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:6). 3. Final resurrection into glory or damnation (John 5:28; 29; 1 Corinthians 15). Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours and that we need not fear death. Dancing on hell’s grace. Read 1 Corinthians 15 serveral times. “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and […]

The Only Way Up is Down [podcast]

Chapter 8 from the book Raised Up (narration) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 The Down and Up Principle of God’s Kingdom “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root DOWNWARD, and bear fruit UPWARD.” Isaiah 37:31 The Scriptures follow a pattern of death and resurrection, a downward death and upward life. See if you can observe such a truth in the following verses: “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth UP all those that be bowed DOWN.” Psalms 145:14 Do you possess the blessed desire to be raised up by […]

Abiding

“Rend Your Heart, and Not Your Garments” [podcast]

Who Does God Look to? Who Does God Dwell in?

Beware of any man pretending to represent Christ who isn’t praying and preaching for you to be possessed by a humble and contrite heart.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). A low condition. ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). To mourn over our sin and our utter wickedness before a holy and righteous God. Those are the ones who will receive the comfort and ‘joy in the Holy Ghost’ (Romans 14:17).” Karen Cochran

Abandoning Our Own Sin, Our Own Way, for God and His Better Way!

To “rend your heart” is a biblical phrase meaning to tear open your heart in radical sincerity, true humility, and genuine repentance.

The phrase comes from Joel 2:13 in the Bible: “Rend your heart and not your garments and return to the Lord your God.”

One source notes the following:

“Context and Deeper Meaning:

Cultural Background: In ancient times, the Jewish people would tear (rend) their clothes as a public, highly visible display of grief or repentance.
The Spiritual Message: God is warning that outward rituals (like ripping clothing) are meaningless if the heart remains unchanged. Rending your heart implies breaking through your pride, letting go of excuses, and being completely vulnerable and authentic before God.
The Reward: The verse goes on to say that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Tearing open your heart allows you to experience His forgiveness and restore your relationship with Him.”

To see an example of rending one’s physical garment in representation of rending their heart, see Acts 14:11-18.

Where is the LORD Looking?

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God” Joel 2:12-14

“What a gracious invitation is contained in these words. How tenderly the Lord reasons with his people. And what an encouraging assurance it folds up with. Reader! do not fail to observe that this call of the Lord, the accompanying grace to incline the heart to the observance of it is implied. It is most blessed ever to remember that when the Lord thus comes forth in his endearing invitations, he is secretly inclining the heart to accept them. Grace must first enter the heart, or there will be no inclination to obey.” Robert Hawker

“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe

A Fresh Start with God Always Begins with Humility and True Repentance

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Concerning rending our hearts before the LORD, one source notes:

The classic Bible passage on this concept is Joel 2:13, where God commands: “Rend your heart and not your garments”. In ancient biblical culture, tearing (or “rending”) one’s physical clothing was a customary, visible display of extreme grief, despair, or repentance. Through the prophet Joel, God is essentially telling His people: Stop doing the empty, outward religious ritual of tearing your clothes to show everyone how sorry you are. Instead, let me see true, inward brokenness over your sins.

Examples of Rending Physical Garments

In the Bible, the physical act of tearing clothes was used as a dramatic expression of deep emotion in several well-known narratives:

Joseph’s Brothers (Genesis 37:29, 34): When Reuben realized Joseph was not in the pit, and later when the brothers brought Joseph’s blood-stained coat to Jacob, they tore their clothes in grief and despair.
Job (Job 1:20): After hearing that he had lost all his wealth and his children, Job stood up and tore his robe as an outward sign of his overwhelming sorrow.
King David (2 Samuel 1:11-12): When David received news of the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan, he and his men tore their clothes to mourn.
The High Priest (Matthew 26:65): In a dramatic display of hypocritical outrage, the high priest tore his own garments when Jesus declared He was the Son of God, falsely accusing Him of blasphemy.

The Spiritual Meaning of “Rending the Heart”

The concept of “rending the heart” contrasts an outward show with inward reality.

Genuine Repentance: Tearing your heart means being vulnerable, acknowledging your brokenness, and deeply repenting of sin before God.
Prioritizing Relationships over Rituals: God desires a sincere heart—true sorrow and a desire to change—more than he desires traditional religious pageantry or dramatic, public displays of grief.
The Promise of Forgiveness: In Joel 2:13, the command to rend the heart is immediately followed by the promise of grace: “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love”.

God sees beyond our external habits and religious actions, requiring instead a humble, contrite heart to fully experience His mercy.”

God’s Mercy

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” Joel 2:12-14

In God’s Word, where we see men who tear open their garments…. This holds the illustration of rending our hearts before the LORD.

Don’t render outward tearing, no, rather, tear open your inner man, your heart—be honest, sincere, exposed, and vulnerable to the LORD whom you trust.

Let’s attempt to get at, to ascertain what God is commanding of His beloved people to do in this “rend your heart” passage.

“Joel 2:13: Rend your heart—Let it not be merely a rending of your garments, but let your hearts be truly contrite. Merely external worship and hypocritical pretensions will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments.

For he is gracious—Good and benevolent in his own nature.

Merciful—Pitying and forgiving, as the effect of goodness and benevolence.

Slow to anger —He is not easily provoked to punish, because he is gracious and merciful.

Of great kindness—Exuberant goodness to all them that return to him.

And repenteth him of the evil—Is ever ready to change his purpose to destroy, when he finds the culprit willing to be saved. See the notes on Exo_34:6, Exo_34:7.” Adam Clarke

“Joel 2:12-14: III. DIVINE APPEAL TO JUDAH TO REPENT (2:12-14)
Even now, the LORD calls the people to repentance. It is not too late to return to Him. But it must be more than outward ritual. Their turning was to be with all their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

To rend our hearts is the consistent message, mandate of God to His people of all ages and eras.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17

In Joel 2 the LORD reminds those who are backslidden that He “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? …”

They must meet His stated conditions to receive His blessings ….

He promises that He will forgive them as they…..

“Joel 2:12-27: THE AVERTING OF JUDGMENT
To rend the garment is easy, but a broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. He takes no pleasure in our miseries and if men repent and turn from their sin they find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and home. Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate answer. As the husband yearns over his erring but repentant wife, and is indignant with those who have maltreated her, so will Jehovah remove from us, when we turn to Him, those who have cruelly oppressed us.
The great things Jehovah did against Egypt and Babylon are an earnest of what He will do again. The earth (and all the creation of God) … have good reason to rejoice in what awaits them. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives.” FB Meyer

Religious hypocrites, counterfeits, emphasize the outward to cover their inner darkness, rebellion.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matthew 23:23-25

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6

"Blessed are the Poor In Spirit" [podcast]

Jesus’ longest recorded message to His people stands on the foundation of the very first words our Savior uttered in this sermon on the mount. The foundational truth of the entire sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is found in the very first words of our LORD when unveiling this elaborate, far-reaching, and profound message to His disciples of all ages. Here are His first words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 Note, “poor in spirit.” Not poor financially or religiously. The two should be mutually exclusive. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It […]

"I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice": What does this really Mean? [podcast]

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.” UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross! Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith […]

How to Walk in the Certainty, the Assurance of Salvation [podcast]

Real, actual assurance only comes from possessing authentic salvation – which begins with humility and true repentance, an original Gospel essential (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc.). Heretical calvinists and eternal security frauds rob people of true assurance which ONLY comes from having a faith that works, is obedient to Christ. Read 1 John chapter 3 and embrace what the LORD is saying. Here’s a taste – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the […]

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 David’s Prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they […]

Abiding

Have We Misunderstood Why Christians Meet Together? [video]

“We’ve created a whole culture of Christians who are just known for going to church.” Dr Wadsworth!

“It is hard to convince a man (modern pastor) he is wrong when his livelihood ($) depends on not knowing he is wrong.” Unknown

The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]

Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints “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 12:12 Exhorting God’s People “Daily” – not weekly. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing […]

Church Membership, Manipulation, and Money [podcast]

Is there a connection between church membership and money? “Her princes (leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27 There is no evidence in the New Testament of what we see today perpetrated as “church membership.” Church membership is merely a tool in the arsenal of modern pastors to capture the souls and the money of those ensnared by it. “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 In […]

Is Church Membership Biblical? [podcast]

Churchianity vs Christianity Many use the term “very involved in church” instead of deeply rooted and in love with Jesus Christ. See the difference? Beware. Christ Jesus is your identity. “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 What is your identity? Why have you chosen such to be that with which you identify? Most pastors make a big deal out of belonging to some organization, church, or group—because this puts them in charge—instead of Jesus. Beware. […]