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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 mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14

How does Christ’s victory work in our lives?

“I die daily (death)But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (resurrection). 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. …  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:31, 57-58 …10

Those who are crucified with Christ are walking in His victory – the victory He alone grants. And they are laboring by His grace in His work.

There was no other way to redeem fallen mankind but the cross. And there’s no other way to  walk with the Savior who went to that cross for us – except by way of the cross He prescribed that we take up daily (Luke 9:23-24).

The War Within

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 
17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 
19  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. 
22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 
24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 
25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16-25

The Flesh or the Spirit: Which shall ye allow to reign?

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Agreeing with the divine declaration of condemnation on our fallen state is essential to victory, otherwise the temptation to compromise and have mercy on the old man will be present (Romans 1-3).

Adam is the father of the old man the fallen man. Jesus is the King of the new man the new creation. Romans 5

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. … 12  And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Genesis 6:5, 12

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

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

We are not good, not one of us (Romans 3:10). If we don’t understand and own what the Bible states concerning the universal fall of all men in Adam, that there’s “no good thing” in us, we will not recognize the need for the daily cross – to be truly crucified with Christ.

The “old man,” the flesh, can not and will not ever be reformed (Romans 6: Colossians 3). It must be daily crucified. There’s no hope of a chance or  possibility that the flesh can be reformed. It’s a lost cause and that’s why Jesus came.

“The truth is that while Christ dwells in the believer’s new nature, He has strong competition from the believer’s old nature. The warfare between the old and the new goes on continually in most believers.” AW Tozer

You can’t negotiate with a terrorist.

Kill or be killed. Kill the flesh or be killed by it.

There is no negotiating with the flesh and there can be no mercy afforded to it.

Allowing the flesh a foot in the door is the inroad to total destruction.

“Either you will crucify sin out of your life or sin will crucify Christ out of your life.” Burt Clendendon

“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

The flesh must be sentenced to death.

2 Corinthians 1:9-11

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 
10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 
11  Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.” 

  • v. 9 – Sentence the self life to the death of the self life.
  • v. 10 – Past, present, and future deliverance, victory over sin, can only come by way of the cross.
  • v. 11 – we must pray for each other in this regard – that we would be conformed to the crucified image of Christ our LORD.

Perhaps the best prayer we can pray for each other is that we’d be crucified with Christ…. because this guarantees the resurrection, the raising up of that life!

God is waiting for you to lay it all down – to be truly crucified with the Savior, to own it, to wear it, to embrace that your life is over in this world and now it’s all about Him, about King Jesus.

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:9-12

(v. 9) Being found in Christ and not outside of Him (and lost), not having our own filthy-rag righteousness “through the faith of Christ.” (v. 10) & (John 17:3) Knowing Him is the very reason we are created by Him – “That I may know him.” Experiencing “the power of his resurrection” is preceded by “being made conformable unto his death.” (vv. 10-11) Seems the apostle here is intimating that he is not perfect in taking up the cross, realizing the utter need for such.

The LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and commands you to “be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 1:15-16)

Recently, had a conversation with a long time friend who is a dear brother in Christ. We mourned together over the sin he’d been walking in. And, we discussed the only solution – the cross. I was able to share with him that the only victory I have ever been able to walk in is via the cross life.

The life of the disciple is a crucified life and this is what our water baptism is supposed to depict and yet the follow up, the messages we hear in local churches, regrettably is anything but the cross (Romans 6; Colossians 2:12). Scarcely if ever can the message of the cross be heard or even mentioned, much less talked of continually by preachers today. This is the fulfillment of end times prophecy (Philippians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:2-4, etc.).

Read Romans 6 each morning this week. Pray and ask the LORD to teach you His way – the way of the cross. Ask Him sincerely to anoint your life to be dead and buried with Him and raised up by Christ – that you would be conformed to His holy image (Romans 8:29).

God’s way is the cross. No one will be in Heaven who didn’t walk His way – which is the way of the cross, the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

Jesus taught diametrically opposite to Satan’s message of the world to love self.

So many people claiming Christ as LORD continue to peddle lies. Beware of them (Colossians 2:8-10). Their memes and messages say things like: “Love yourself,” “take care of yourself,” “treat yourself,” “forgive yourself,” etc. …. Hmmmm I don’t remember reading any such thing in the Bible. No, in fact, the Bible says we all already, innately love ourselves and THAT’s our biggest problem and where our sin is rooted – pride! – “The pride of life” (Ephesians 5:29; 1 John 2:15-17). We are never instructed to pamper our “desperately wicked” self but rather Jesus commands us to “deny” or die to self – to live the crucified life.

“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.” Luke 9:23-24

People who are propagating these diabolical lies, encouraging others to love self instead of to crucify self, are clueless, walking in darkness, have no clue of who Christ is or His Gospel message – which begins with the essential command to “repent,” to lay down our lives in this world and obey Him – to follow Him, His example by preferring Him and others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-5, etc.).

Recently a saint of Christ send this message:

“Never change Todd. Keep lifting JESUS up as you do. Keep dying, so you will not be cast away in the end. Keep increasing in humility and love. At any moment, you could jeopardize your place with Christ, when just a little pride slips in, self glory, lust…  Keep that humble place until You see your Lord face to face. I want Todd to enter Heaven, my dear Todd, a wretched  man, as I, who trusted Christ’s Sacrifice and lived, until the end, for His Name.”

“Jesus needs to Increase and I need to decrease. I am nothing without Jesus Amen.” David Reeves

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

Do you desire and love God above self?

Get low.

Stay low.

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

Go down deep into death and burial and let the LORD Himself raise your life upward.

“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

HOW will you finish? It’s really how you finish that matters most! (2 Timothy 4:7-8) Finish strong beloved – lay down your life (death and burial) so that the strength of your life is Christ’s resurrection grace!!!!! Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Go down deep.

“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:” Isaiah 37:31

Read the verse above again, looking for the death, the burial, and raising up!

The context of Isaiah 37:31 concerns Assyria seeking to seize Judah and yet out of that evil attempt to conquer God’s people came a “remnant.” Yet it’s those who submitted to the LORD in death, those who took root downward (death and burial) who were reciprocally raised up out of that snare and destruction. Resurrection grace wins every time, with no exception! The cross is the divine prescription for absolute victory in every situation.

The depth you allow God to bury you determines the height of His resurrection, His raising up in you! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

As we submit to Him, to His way, God liquidates us, putting away our sin, our past, and weaknesses and raising us upward in His power while granting us a clear conscience.

“God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again to newness of life.” AW Tozer

The cross is always God’s way – the blood of Christ’s cross, His death, burial, and resurrection, and daily our own (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:10-11

The raising up cannot and will not come before the laying down of one’s life.

God is not going to raise up the rebel but He is going to raise up the humble, the truly poor in spirit saint.

“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Psalms 145:14

The soul, the spirit, the life of the true saint must be nourished in this essential cross message. A little dab will not do it – you must be saturated. You must be ever bowing downward in worship to the LORD. As your life is bowed down, the reciprocal divine raising will transpire!

If you are not learning the cross Jesus taught, you are fallen away.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now as a sinner. I am away from You and I do not want to remain alienated from You. Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I here and now ask You to take me back, to wash me clean in the blood of the Lamb, and to have Your way in my life. This moment, I lay my life into Your holy hands and rest in You, in Your love, by faith. Thank You for finding and saving me dear LORD. From this moment forward, I will follow You LORD Jesus till the end of my life on this earth. I pray all these things in the name above all names, the name of Jesus Christ! Sobeit dear LORD!

The Cross | 100’s of Scripture-Rich Podcasts for you edification in Christ | Fasting and Prayer

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Abiding

Getting Gospel Grounded [podcast]


Explosive Podcast Featuring Expose’ of the prophesied end times wolves and rich Christology!

Refusing to sit under the false gospel, false doctrines, false teachers, and wolves is not forsaking the assembling of the saints. It’s obedience to the LORD! See 2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

There is a “difference” between the true and the false leaders today. True disciples will always warn and help God’s people distinguish the false teachers and “discern between the unclean and the clean”:

“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 

False leaders are to be marked, to be scoped out and labeled in order to protect God’s people.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly (self-serving carnal appetites); and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18

Beware of the Band aid Bandit Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing!

There are no shortcuts in serving the LORD. One must deny self and take up the cross daily to follow Jesus.

“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.” Luke 9:23-24

This is what gets to the root of that old man, that iniquitous evil bent, the flesh in us. Read Romans 6 each day this week prayerfully.

Lots of people, lots of fake pastors offering cross-less coping hacks, surface level “solutions” that have done nothing but perpetuate sinners in their sin. This is the same thing the greed-driven false prophets of old did…. in order to gain notice, to gain nickels, noses, and numbers for their own self-serving agenda to make merchandise of the people (2 Peter 2:1-3). A message without the cross is not the Gospel (Galatians 2:20; 6:14. etc.).

They (the false leaders of Israel) have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11

They operate by the principle of “coddling them in their sin while you confiscate their cash.”

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (stealthily) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

False Prophets Promise Eternal Security to those Living in Sin. False Prophets give False Promises.

There are conditions to appropriating the promises of God. | Conditional Divine Promises

“They (the false leaders) say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace (with God); and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.” Jeremiah 23:17

In other words, false prophets lead people to believe that they will continue to have peace with God while they are living in sin and that they are judgment proof. Same lie Satan told the man and woman in the Garden which led to their fall into sin (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Satan told Adam and Eve they would still be eternally secure if they sinned against God! Lie! Read Genesis 2:17 and 3:4 now.  | Satan’s First Lie that He is Still Telling Today! [podcast]

What was Satan’s first teaching? Is he really still teaching that same lie?

Like the “many false prophets” of our day, the prophets in Israel were promising “Peace, peace” to the people – peace between them and God – when judgment loomed on the horizon (Jeremiah 23:17; Matthew 24:11). This is exactly what the eternal security wolves do when they promise, they give assurance to those are living in sin. Promising peace to people living in sin and under divine condemnation is criminal and could only be the work of the enemies of Christ. Promising peace to sinful people is a money maker for now and yet will land the liars and their prey in hell. Nothing could be more clear from Holy Scripture. The vast majority of pastors today are wolves who do just this. The wages of sin is still death and all who die in sin will perish….. Wolves entertain goats and condone their temporary trinkets at the costs of their eternal souls….

No one is going to walk in peace and assurance just because they speak of it, claim it, or because they desire to have peace and assurance. No, it’s only when we obey the Word of God that His peace and assurance flood our being. There’s no short cut to obedience (1 John 3:16-18).

Of this, Adam Clarke writes:

“Peace, peace – Ye shall have prosperity – when there was none, and when God had determined that there should be none. Here the prophets prophesied falsely; and the people continued in sin, being deceived by the priests and the prophets.”

The wolves among us stick a band aid on a wound that needs surgery. Surgery would involve painfully cleaning out the infection, the deep cut sin had caused. This would be the only way to bring healing, wholeness. In contrast, false leaders deal only at the surface level…. in fear of losing their audience and money, they withhold the divine truth from the people – because they aren’t concerned about the people but rather themselves (Philippians 3:18-19).

“Jehovah directs him (Jeremiah) to pour . . . out the message of impending doom because of their covetousness, the falsehood of the prophets and priests, and their shamelessness. It is characteristic of false prophets to promise prosperity in a time of spiritual declension… They were covetous and deceitful, and dealt with problems superficially. For their shamelessness they would share in the coming time of punishment.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary

Only obedience to Christ, to His cross message, will yield the fruit of freedom from sin.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

The truth sets no one free from sin – until they obey Him, the Truth.

One man who recently discovered the divine power of the cross life shared:

“I’ve laid all my past sins at the feet of Jesus finally! Porn was 1 that I struggled with…it’s been gone 30 days now..1st time in 30 years…the pills are no more! Feels good to be truly saved my friend…thanks for all you do.”

Jesus forgives and sets free – as only He can do. Every other “source” is a lie.

Christ is Our Foundation

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:4

The Sound Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures is the Way God Ordained that We Know Him

“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Deuteronomy 32:1-4 

The link between sound “doctrine” and being grounded in, knowing and dwelling in the LORD, “the Rock,” are inseparable.

Getting Gospel Grounded = Getting Grounded in Christ

“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 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 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:” Colossians 2:6-10

The Gospel is all about Jesus and anyone not becoming increasingly grounded in knowing and worshipping Him, is being led astray.

Getting Gospel Grounded is getting grounded in Christ, in studying and knowing Him, the reason He came… not following the latest global gimmick or “global revival gimmick” that some false prophet is pushing to bring attention to himself…. when you are becoming grounded in Christ you will not be lured in by the gimmicks.

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

3 truths that will greatly increase your grounding in Christ…

1. John 10 – Knowing, following, and hearing the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
2. John 15 – Abiding in Christ and thereby bearing the fruit that He alone can produce and that glorifies Him.
3. John 17 – Being one with Christ and the Father – prayerfully being brought deeper into that interpenetrational union with the Lord.

Knowing God

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

Jesus Christ doesn’t need our acceptance, the acceptance of sinners – we are in utter need of His acceptance. We are all sinners and in desperate need of the acceptance of our Maker. Because we are separated from Him in our sin, God “commandeth all men every where to repent,” not to accept Him (Luke 13:3; John 1:12; Acts 17:30, etc.). When we admit we have sinned against Him and receive Jesus into our lives by faith, we are then and only then “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).  

“Churching the Un-Churched” is the stated goal of the apostate modern local churches that litter America’s landscape.

False churches today seek to sell families on the need to join their country club where’s there’s fun for the whole family. These beguilers cater to the urban family to build their church business, with no intention of preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word, the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel (Jude 3-4). Their goal is to entertain and to grow their church enterpri$e and not to ground their prey in Christ (Colossians, etc.). It’s all surface level, cosmetics. There is no repentance, no blood of Jesus, no King James Bible, no cross – no crucified life, no Holy Ghost baptism, no repentance, no personal holiness, no Christology, no readiness for the soon return of Christ, etc. The apostate modern church world exposed. 

TODAY: A dear Christian young lady asked me why I am not part of a church group any longer. A gently-communicated litany of doctrines purposely not being taught in the modern churches ensued. Also the fact that that the King James Bible is no where to be found. They only use pitifully lame fake “bibles.” It’s a busine$$ to the modern pastors who refuse to preach cardinal biblical doctrines such as the divinity of Christ (Christology), hell, repentance, judgment to come, confessing and cleansing ourselves of all sin, the return of Christ and being ready for it at all times, the cross – crucified life, etc. 

God is Calling Us to Follow Jesus – not Mere Men

Hebrews 6:17 speaks of “the immutability of his counsel.” Because of the immutability of the LORD Jesus Christ, the divine Author and Finisher of our faith, there is no muting His counsel, His Word. It is eternal and unchanging (Psalms 119:89; 146:6; Mark 13:1; John 10:35, etc.). God is eternal divine perfection and therefore His Word, His truth, His counsel cannot be muted, silenced, set aside, or changed.

So many looking for a sign instead of the Savior.

So many looking for a word and not THE Word.

“God forbid”

“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

The Gospel centric disciple revels in, is immersed in the glory of the Savior. He understands that salvation is about Christ and not himself.

“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:2-7

Paul made a determination.

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

From the very foundation of the world and forever more, the Gospel, salvation has always been and will always be about Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God – the crucified, buried, and raised again Savior of the world.

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8

Religion is perhaps Satan’s greatest tool to wedge itself between the “one Mediator” and the people – before and after one is saved.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Abiding Fruit. Light Shining.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Perhaps the greatest spiritual blessing teeming in and overflowing from the lives of believers that allows for powerfully moving evangelism, is the joy of the LORD. Moved men move men. Yes, men filled with the Holy Spirit’s fruit, the love, the joy, and the peace of God, are powerfully used of God to win men to Himself (Galatians 5:16-23). No sinner, no backslider has these treasures but every one of them desires them! The fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in Christ’s saints is a big part of that light Jesus instructed us to let “shine” before men.

Being is more important than doing. Abiding in Christ, rooted and grounded, assures that “fruit,” “more fruit,” and “much fruit” will be produced in our lives (John 15:1-16).

Emanating from the Jesus-worshiping Gospel-grounded disciple will be every dimension of Heaven’s fruit and glorious fragrance

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Gospel Foundation

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalms 11:3

Is “the foundation of God” being laid in your personal life? (2 Timothy 2:19) If you are not diligently, daily, relentlessly, and perpetually in God’s Word, not only is His foundation not being built, you are backslidden and in utter need of repentance before it’s too late.

Those without the proper, the biblical foundation, will fall instead of flourish – with no exception (Psalm 1). Our LORD taught concerning the absolute necessity of being deeply rooted and grounded in Him.

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49

Summation:

  • Worshiping, trusting, and obeying God are essential.
  • Abiding in Christ guarantees the fruitfulness that glorifies Him.
  • Every life not carefully founded, soundly grounded in Christ, on His stated terms, His Word, will be washed away in the coming storms and judgment.
  • Only those whose lives which are built upon the foundation of obedience to the Word of God will be left standing before the LORD for eternal blessing.
  • Great shall be the irrevocable ruin in hell of all who refused to do things God’s way in their brief earthly life.

Read Psalm 1 and 92.

In these final days, you can get all scared, sulk, filled and paralyzed with fear, OR you can settle down and get deeper, as you “search the scriptures” (John 5:39-40; Psalms 119:165).

Jesus is washing and sanctifying the bride He’s returning for. Like the five wise virgins, Christ’s true bride is in love with Him, ever and eagerly looking for His soon return, the Marriage of the Lamb, the Great Bridegroom with His true bride and their dwelling place, the New Jerusalem (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 21). This remnant body is submitting to Christ (John 13:8; 15:3; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-10).

“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3

Crisis Management Mode vs Perpetually Dwelling in His Word

The modern church world, run by lightweight seminarians, are perpetually in crisis management mode, never building “the foundation of God” in the lives of God’s people (2 Timothy 2:19).

Perpetual Blessings require perpetual fellowship with Heaven’s coming KING.

“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

Continually seeking the LORD guarantees that you remain full of His strength, His joy, His divine peace.

Running to the LORD continually is essential. Instead of praying and the reading of God’s Word being simply a crisis management reaction, why not make it our meat, our lifestyle – that which we do daily, diligently, and fervently?

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Are you running to Jesus?

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

If you are going to established in divine peace, if you are going to be “safe,” you must run to and remain grounded at the feet of Christ! Read Philippians 3:1-3.

Get filled, stay full, keep your lamp filled and overflowing (Matthew 25:1-13).

Matthew 7

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 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. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:19-29

Hindrances to a sound, solid foundation.

“And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:16-19

Satan is the great distractor. His job, his work is to “steal, to kill, and to destroy” so as to cheat you out of the abundant life Jesus came to give you.

“The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Remember how above we spoke about religion wedging between us and our LORD?

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This is like eating trashy, no-nutritional-value snacks, filling up on them and then having no room, no appetite for the steak and potatoes. What happens then? In an hour or less, your body is craving real nutrition. Junk food is a cheap substitute for real food that fills and nourishes the body. In the same way, eating the steak and potatoes of God’s Word fills the mind, the heart, and the life of all who banquet at the table of sound doctrine.

There are so many, the majority of those doing ministry, who have their flashy lures they use to draw you in and yet the shallow content only leaves you remaining in the entanglements, the snares of sin and the world…

What’s the LORD convicting you of friend? Could it be that He’s drawing you aside to Himself, to tuck your feet under His infinitely bountiful table…. drawing you to come and dine, to feast with Him?

These novices issue forth constant promises of God blessing you, of His favor and blessing being upon your life. Yet there’s no mention of any of the divinely stated conditions. This leaves those empty who who are being preyed upon and led astray, wondering what’s missing. These who flash the shiny lures to catch your eye, perhaps do so to gain you as a follower. Yet, what has this ever done to root and ground your heart and life in Christ?

Ever heard the saying, “All that glitters is not gold”?

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Abiding

The Evil Winds of Satan with Judge Travis Bryan III [podcast]


Acts 27

The Significance of the Shipwreck

39  And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

40  And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

41  And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

42  And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

43  But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44  And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

Travis Bryan III

The cross message, as taught from the Bible via brother Travis Bryan III, is unsurpassed the world over. His understanding of the cross life, his understanding of the cross message, is a gift from God to us all. What a gift he has been granted to teach the cross. Many will be in glory as a result. The cross is essential to eternal glory (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6, etc.). 

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Prayer | The Crucified Life | Fasting and Prayer | True Repentance | Discipleship | Got Breakthrough? Here it is!

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Abiding

Warned and Safe [podcast]



“By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalms 17:4

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

Lynne Parker writes:

“I truly believe Christians will be tried by the Word in this hour. There is no more riding the fence or taking a neutral position. God Himself will place us all in a position to stand or fall according to the Word. “Deception” and its sister “delusion” are gripping the Body of Christ – like a dark cloud it is covering the land. The false dominion (NAR) theology and signs and wonders movement has effectively conditioned multitudes to forsake the authority of God’s Word and embrace their subjective feelings as guidance in discernment concerns. But in these latter days only those who divorce their feelings and trust only in God’s Word and have developed a love for the truth will overcome the devil’s schemes. Sadly many will be lost – it’s unfolding right before us.”

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His FeetThe 7 Sayings of Jesus on the CrossHow We Know the Bible is the Only Holy BookPrayerMaking Peace with God – Before it’s too late | The Return of Christ

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