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
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast] | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Parable of the Talents [podcast] | Proving Jesus Matters [podcast] | Money, Material Wealth, and Riches | Rusted Gold and Fire Untold [podcast]
Abiding
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
Two Types of Believers – the mere professor and the possessor.
God created us and sent His only begotten Son that we might know Him.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
THE POSSESSORS
“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” Isaiah 4:2
The LORD Jesus is “the branch … beautiful and glorious” shall He be and shall be His reign. One commentation of this passage is as follows:
“Isaiah 4:2
a [In that day] In that day—the Millennium (Isa_4:1-6).
b [branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious] Christ is the Branch of the Lord that shall be eternally “beautiful and glorious” in the Millennium and New Earth periods (Isa_9:6-7; Isa_11:1; Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15; Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12; Zec_14:1-9; Rev_11:15).
c [fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely] The earth will be restored to normal fertility and productivity when Christ comes (Isa_35:1-7; Isa_58:11-12; Joe_2:21-27).
d [escaped of Israel] A remnant of Israel shall escape the future tribulation and battle of Armageddon (Isa_4:2-3; Zech. 13:8-14:14; Mat_24:31; Mat_25:31-46).”
“Them that are escaped of Israel” refers to those who come out of her, that is, they come out from among the tares or counterfeits who merely profess to be serving God and yet aren’t, and therefore do not have the fruit to prove they are truly Christ’s (Titus 1:16; Matthew 3:7-10). Those who escape the judgment to come upon the hypocrites “take root downward, and bear fruit upward” and that means they are complying with Christ and being crucified, that is dead to the self-life, buried, and raised up by Christ, bearing fruit “UPward.” Here’s the whole verse: “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward” (Isaiah 37:31).
Eternal resurrection blessings untold await those who are “accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:34-36).
The Branch of the Lord Glorified
“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. 3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Isaiah 4:2-6
Only a remnant will remain. And Isaiah is saying here that God will bring these few through “…the spirit of judgment, and…the spirit of burning” (same verse, Isaiah 4:4). This great separation is coming.
The LORD is purifying a people for Himself. In Daniel we read:
Daniel 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Those who are truly Christ’s fellowship with other of His true disciples and also with elders who like Christ’s apostle Paul, jealously brood over God’s people, to protect them. They discern and gather with those who embrace and preach the original Gospel and expose those who preach and espouse “another Jesus … another spirit … 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
THE MERE PROFESSORS
“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
Please explain….What kind of relationship is based on the participation of only one of the parties? A non existent dying relationship. The eternal security heretics are self-serving. They could care less about Jesus but rather simply wish to use Him to get them out of Hell without any kind of a real and abiding, fruit-bearing vital union relationship with Him (John 15:1-16). Seems this is what the Holy Spirit is getting at when He led Isaiah the prophet to pen these words:
“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Isaiah 4:1
In other words, “We want to use your name but don’t wish to have any kind of an intimate relationship with you.” Or, “We want the ring, the provision/money, the marriage, but we don’t want the commitment. We don’t want to be faithful to you! We want the crown but not the cross.”
And in the USA today, the woman can “get bored” and divorce her husband and get half of what he has and be grossly over-charged on “child support.” To further make the point, divorce lawyers inform us that when there is a prenup involved, the divorce rate goes down to nearly zero. hmmmm
THOUGH NEVER HEARD IN THE APOSTATE MODERN CHURCH WORLD, THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL INCLUDES….. from the Gospel of Luke
Only those who repent will be with Christ. Everyone else is going to hell irrevocably.
“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3
The crucified life is a must, a condition for overcoming sin and being in Heaven instead of hell.
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
You must forsake all to follow Jesus
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
You must lose your life to know and walk with Jesus and be in glory.
“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33
Christ’s “enemies” are those who don’t let Him reign over their lives.
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luke 19:27
In this late hour we have so very many women who simply do not want to be unmarried and so they will deceptively manipulate their way into a marriage to a man they have no intention of being a virtuous God-fearing wife to. We also have so many who want to believe the notion that they are going to Heaven because they said a prayer way back, yet they want zero to do with truly following Jesus, the Great Bridegroom, daily. They want nothing to do with the cross, the crucified daily life, living a life of prayer, repenting as needed, being holy as He is holy, etc. No desire for commitment, for intimacy, for an intimate relationship.
In like fashion, do we not have millions of church-attending counterfeits today who manifest no proof of knowing Jesus today? This was all prophesied of this last day. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7. They have an “I go to church” mere “form of godliness” arrangement.
Many want the blessing and benefits of marriage but they don’t want the marriage commitment – and so they live in fornication. And, as was foretold of these final days before Christ’s return, there are so many who have a mere “form of godliness, but (are) denying the power (the authority) thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). They do not want real commitment to the LORD because they are “lovers of their own selves … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
Two verses before this revelation (4:1) the Scripture tells us of the men of Israel being killed off due to the wars:
“Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.” Isaiah 3:25
While this is physically speaking of the loss of the men in Israel, there’s a deeper, a prophetic conveyance to us in this late hour – “They are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
“Seven women shall take hold of one man” – In other words these women described above wanted to be married to a man but they would do their own thing within that marriage arrangement. They didn’t want any responsibility to the man but rather just wanted the reproach of being an old maid removed from their lives. Mere professors are self-serving instead of Savior-serving.
The “seven women” spoken of here are like many today who merely want an arrangement with the Great Bridegroom yet don’t want the real relationship which involves the unreserved giving of oneself to the other party but rather simply want the benefit of the removal of the reproach, the scourge of being without that bridegroom/husband and the possibility of bearing fruit, children. Like the five foolish virgins of Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, these counterfeits refuse the responsibilities of a real relationship and therefore forfeit the virtue, the substance enjoyed by those who have a real relationship with the Bridegroom. This is a prophetic utterance concerning the church, the division between the wheat and the chaff, the tares in the last days where some were real and others had a mere “form of godliness.” Many today who were initially saved say in their hearts: “Thank You Jesus for saving me but I will live the rest of my life on my own terms, doing as I please. Don’t bother me with the cross, but I will be expecting the crown. I’ll do what I please and that’s why I simply want an arrangement and not a real marriage and the associated involvement.” See Luke 6:46.
The false bride of Christ professes to know Him and yet they don’t want to commit to Him but they want Him to commit to them, to be that false Christ many preach today that keeps them even in their sin of fornication and spiritual idolatry. They want Christ to be faithful to keep them eternally secure yet they are not faithful to love, seek, worship, trust, walk with, abide in, and obey – as He requires!
“Isaiah 4:1 “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” These women want to use Jesus to keep them out of hell but don’t want a commitment. And don’t want to be faithful! They want to live as they please and take care of themselves. They only want the stain of sin removed from them. They want to be the bride of Christ with no responsibility. But they fully expect Him to take them with Him to live eternally.” Karen Cochran
OUR LORD is calling His people to daily present to Him their “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
“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
Notice how these seven arrangement “brides” say “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel.” In other words, “We’ll make our own money and buy our own food and clothes”….. “We don’t need you too involved in our lives other than an occasional hook up, when it’s convenient.” ….. Yet unless we seek and ingest the bread of Heaven, the Word of God Himself and His Word, how can we be nourished, how can our vessels, our lamps be full of His divine virtue, the oil of His presence to make it to the bridal chamber of eternal glory in this dark, fallen world? See Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins which has never been more relevant than it is in this final hour before His return (Matthew 25:1-13).
Also, the mere professors, represented by the seven women here, say “We will … wear our own apparel” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
The apparel of “fine linen” is only given to those who choose to engage in a genuine relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus.
Of this “seven women shall take hold of one man” in Isaiah 4:1, David Wilkerson wrote:
“Scripture Always Refers to The Church in the Feminine Gender, in Many Cases As a Bride. The seven would-be brides Isaiah mentions are clearly a type of the characteristics of many in the last-days’ church. These seven would-be brides are seeking to lay hold of one man, whom I take to be Christ. Yet these brides are not interested in loving Him. On the contrary, they have only one thing on their minds – the removal of their reproach! ‘We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach’ (verse 1). I see here seven women approaching a man and saying, ‘You don’t have to provide food for us. We’ll take care of our own bread. And you don’t have to provide any clothes for us. We’ll provide our own robes… Sure, these women want to be the bride of Christ – but only on their own terms. They want an arrangement without intimacy, love or devotion. The number seven is used in regard to these brides to remind us that in every church system there are such people. They attempt to ‘take hold of one man’ – Christ – only to get relief from the guilt and condemnation of their sin. They don’t want intimacy with Him. They want nothing more than forgiveness – to have the reproach of sin removed. I call this the church of forgiveness only.'”
Today those with a mere outward “form of godliness” who are “lovers of their own selves” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” refuse to “endure (hold themselves accountable to obey) sound doctrine” but rather want “smooth things” (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). This seems to be what is prophetically conveyed here through the prophet Isaiah for these last times. Paul foretold of these “last days” where he says “perilous times shall come” and as we know, are here now.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
John Wesley on Isaiah 4:1:
“In that day – In that calamitous time. Seven – Many. A certain number for an uncertain. One man – Because few men shall survive that dreadful stroke. Only – Own us for thy wives. Our reproach – Virginity was esteemed a reproach; children, the usual fruit of marriage, being both an honour to their parents, and a blessing of God, especially to that people, from some of whose loins the Messiah was to spring.”
Ignoring the inconvenient truth concerning readiness for Christ’s return will bring irrevocable damnation! (Read Mark 4:17-19; 1 John 2:15-17.) Hell is right now filled with those who ignored the warning signs. While on earth they refused to stop their life and look upward to their Maker, to make things right with Him. When He drew them they snubbed Him, relishing their darkness rather than His light and love (John 3:19-21).
“When Jesus came to the Earth the first time, His people were completely unprepared and did not recognize their Messiah was with them. But there were wise men who did recognize that He was here. They were not wise because of their intellect. They were wise because they were watching and paying attention to the signs of the times. Jesus then told us His second return would be met with both wise and foolish brides. The difference between the two is the wise are prepared and are waiting and watching. The foolish are paying no attention at all and are caught up living their best life now. Out of ten, Jesus said five are wise and five are foolish. That would mean half of the church today is completely unprepared. So ask yourself a question, ‘Am I being wise or am I being foolish?’ Because there are consequences for our actions.” Frank Telford
Make no mistake, The Great Bridegroom of Heaven is not coming back for a lukewarm, and uninvolved, a casual-love Bride who only want the reproach of their sin removed yet don’t want to give themselves to the Great Bridegroom. He’s not returning for those who treat Him like a second class citizen, a mere hobby, casually getting around to communing with Him. No, the Son of God from Heaven is coming out of the eastern sky for His bride – those wise virgin saints who are in love with Him, who daily attend unto Him, sitting at His feet to learn of Him.
DOOR SHUT IN FACE: Distinguishing between the wise and foolish virgins is quite simple. Those who seek God in His Word are the wise and all others are the foolish – upon whom the door of the Bridegroom shall be shut (Matthew 25:1-13). Anyone whom Christ has previously saved who is not nourishing his spirit in the Word daily, has already backslidden and is not prepared to meet Christ.
The vast majority of those falsely claiming to be saved have no heart for the Word of God and no fruit to demonstrate, to prove they are truly following Jesus – on His stated terms which begins with the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24). They don’t have time for God because in truth, many of these have never repented, truly. Their life is all about themselves and all their stupid trinkets they are adulterously choosing over Christ. Make no mistake: they are as sure for eternal damnation as if they were already there (Mark 4:17-19; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15; Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-16, etc.).
YOU keep it, guard it, till it, fill it with the Word, etc.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
It’s your personal responsibility to keep your heart perfect before the LORD (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:6, etc.). Praying Psalm 51 is a great place to camp. Oh yes JESUS! Do Your purifying work in us, Your people. I love You dear LORD Jesus!
JESUS says to those saved that they must “endure to the end,” they must “abide” which means to remain, to continue (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6). Jesus says that those who do not “abide” with Him will be cast into the fire and He is specifically speaking to those who are in Him (John 15:1-6). Scripture teaches initial and final salvation throughout, including the parable of the ten virgins where all ten were engaged to the bridegroom (Jesus), and yet only five made it into the bridal chamber of eternal glory and the other five were shut out (Matthew 25:1-13). God put conditions on His gift – initial and perpetual. The man who gets engaged to a woman who then begins consorting with other men, would be a fool to still marry her. The Son of God who is the Bridegroom of Heaven would never marry a whore – nor remain married to an adulterous woman (Revelation 19:7-10; Ephesians 5:25-27).
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
So God wants a bride that is not engaged in participating with Him in a relationship, doing His kingdom work? Not.
More light flooding into our hearts is needed perpetually… “The entrance of thy word giveth light” (Psalms 119:130). Think and declare: “I am a wise virgin believer who is eagerly anticipating the coming of my Bridegroom from Heaven” (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-10). ALL who got saved in the past and yet are not devouring God’s Word daily, are of the foolish virgins and will be irrevocably shut out of the eternal kingdom of Christ. Get in the Word or perish. You CANNOT sustain a life with Christ without the daily fuel of His Word. Obey Him or you prove you do not love Jesus (John 14:21). Talk is cheap (1 John 3:18).
100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich podcasts here. | Polygamy is Sin!
Here are all the ministry’s shorts (60 secs) videos. Be blessed. Feel free to share:
See all shorts videos here on ministry youtube channel.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | Waste | Stewardship | Giving
Abiding
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
Fighting Vertically (seeking His face continually) Guarantees that God will take care of the Horizontal
Your ground game will never work until you push praise to the One who made and saved you. Today is your day to train upward. The outward will follow. Verticaly praise to our LORD guarantees horizonal victory. The cross.
“Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalms 149:5-9
Dealing a crushing blow to your enemies – sin and Satan – requires kisses blown to Jesus Christ, the “first love” of your life! (Revelation 2:4-5) Like David, it will be the worshippers who will be God’s warriors!
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Psalms 2:12
Seeking the face of the LORD is to be “continually.” The victory Jesus died to procure for you, to bless you to walk in, will evade all who do not “seek his face continually.”
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
The only way to get up swinging, get up winning, is to set your heart to seek the face of your Savior! Simple prescription. Do it. Your plan is set in stone. You arise each morning with joyful praise, hands and heart and tongue pointed, aimed at Heaven, lifting the name of Jesus Christ!
“Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 16:22
The only ones the LORD is going to powerfully use to “build” His kingdom in the hearts of men, are those who “set” their soul to seek His holy face.
Is your obedience being fulfilled? Are you filled with love and therefore obedience to the Savior?
The “weapons of our warfare” are:
- The Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
- Prayer and persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
- The name of Jesus (Acts 14:13-14; 16:23-24; Acts 3:16, etc.).
OUR GREATEST WEAPON IS THE WRITTEN WORD, PRAYER, AND THE NAME OF JESUS SAINTS. FRET NOT.
In the wilderness Jesus defeated the enemy by speaking forth the Word (Luke 4). He pulled out specific ammo for the enemy to address specific attacks, On all points, against every weapon of the enemy, Jesus had ammo with the devil’s evil name on it. And in doing so, He gave us the knowledge and example of how the enemy is defeated in our own lives. The Word of God is “mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” and is “sharper than any twoedged sword” (2 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 4:12).
Studying, knowing the Word of God is like building the military, the arsenal of your life, in order to defeat the enemy. Without a strong arsenal of weapons and ammo, and the expert ability to use those weapons, you will be naked in the battle and lose. God’s Word is your arsenal – that which you have in you – the knowledge and performance thereof. Nothing is more important to your life today than seeking God in His Word and prayer. Jesus is Heaven’s Mighty Warrior, He is “a man of war” and is coming back “in flaming fire…” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-16, etc.).
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12
We are in a war and must fight to win! “FIGHT the good fight….”
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Jesus demonstrated exactly what “the weapons of our warfare” are when He faced Satan in the wilderness. That weapon is the Word of God.
David, who was first a worshipper, was also an expert warrior. His life is a great example to the New Testament saint. David was learning to walk with the LORD, faithfully seeking Him in the pasture as he tended to sheep. He was building up his arsenal. And because he truly knew and sought the LORD, having been diligently training for warfare, the LORD, who is “a man of war,” directed him in choosing the specific ammo from His arsenal to take out Goliath (Exodus 15:3).
The “good soldier of Jesus Christ” is entrenched in the business of war, of winning the war. His Master, Jesus Christ, has never lost – and never will. Yet that blessing is reserved exclusively to those of His saints, His holy soldiers, who “strive lawfully.”
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5
Striving “lawfully” simply means striving or working God’s way, according to His instructions and wishes, and not your own. Such includes to:
- “endure hardness.”
- realize you are a “soldier” which means you are in a war.
- not be entangled with this world.
- seek to please the LORD, who is “a man of war” and has chosen you to be His “soldier,” waging His war.
The LORD has and is bringing His true disciples to the understanding that this truly is a WAR, a fight to the death. You must “FIGHT the good fight of faith” or you will be a needless casualty of war! (1 Timothy 6:12) And so a military, a militant stance, posture, must be assumed by the disciple who will endure to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-14, etc.).
Spiritual Warfare | Fake Bibles Exposed
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | Bible/Word of God | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ
Abiding
A Fresh Look at Jesus’ 7 Letters to the Churches [podcast]
Did Jesus tell even one of the seven churches He addressed that they are as sure for Heaven as if they were already there due to being initially saved by Him?
Did Jesus give conditions for being with Him in eternal glory?
Can someone please help me figure out where un-conditional eternal security/OSAS fits in with the 7 letters of Jesus to the churches of Asia? Is it anywhere mentioned? No.
Can anyone find OSAS/eternal security in Jesus’ 7 letters to CHURCHES in Revelation 2 and 3? No. No such thing. Instead He gives conditions to overcome, to endure to the end, to abide, remain, and continue in Christ, in faith and obedience.
No such thing as “eternal security” in Christ’s kingdom until AFTER you are in Heaven. Such heresy is the bait of Satan as it was in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17 > 3:4). Only moral cowards who make excuse for sin instead of being crucified with Christ daily as Jesus commanded. Bite on this bait (Luke 9:23-25). Eternal hell awaits. Time to repent and get “honest” (Luke 8:15).
Satan’s First Doctrine is a Lie. Yet Many Claim it’s Part of the Gospel of Jesus. Beware of these Wolves.
No such thing as a born again AND presently abiding saint who is not fruitful, who is not bearing good fruit. Otherwise why did Jesus instruct His people to know themselves and others “by their fruit”? See Matthew 7:16, 19. Such a notion as is heretical. Anyone who Jesus saves and then they don’t endure to the end, they don’t continue abiding in Christ, is no longer the LORD’s and going to hell. Read John 15:1-6 and stop believing the Devil’s very first lie—OSAS (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
“If a man abide (continue, remain) 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.” John 15:6
WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR MIND beginning to make excuse for sin, you KNOW it’s your un-crucified flesh and Satan that are in control. You know then that repentance, re-turning to the LORD who is Holy, is necessary.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
When you are tempted to believe in the satanic heresy of “eternal security,” otherwise known as “once saved always saved (OSAS),” you know SATAN is seeking to seduce you (Genesis 2:17; 3:14).
Concerning these 7 letters of Jesus to the churches, one source notes the following:
“Revelation chapters 2 and 3 contain seven individual messages from Jesus Christ to seven historical churches in Asia Minor. The letters share a common pattern: an address to the church’s angel, a description of Christ, an evaluation of the church’s spiritual state, a call to repentance or perseverance, and a promise to those who overcome.”
Overview of the Letters
- Ephesus, Pergamum, Sardis, and Laodicea receive direct rebukes for forsaking their first love, tolerating false teachings, dead orthodoxy, or lukewarmness, alongside urgent calls to repent.
- Smyrna and Philadelphia face intense tribulation or persecution yet receive no rebuke, and are encouraged to hold fast to their faith.
- Promises to Overcomers: Each letter concludes with eternal assurances for “him that overcometh” such as the tree of life (Revelation 2:7), the crown of life (Revelation 2:10), and exemption from the second death (Revelation 2:11).
The Notion of Eternal Security Expelled
Some interpret the repeated conditional commands to “overcome” and “hold fast” as evidence that eternal salvation requires ongoing faithfulness and endurance to the end, suggesting that warnings against unrepentance involve real spiritual risk rather than unconditional security.”
For Example, Jesus’ letter to the church at Sardis:
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6
Also:
“… confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved …. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22; 24:13
Concerning Jesus’ 7 Letters and OSAS, once commentator notes:
“The seven letters of Jesus in Revelation 2-3 challenge absolute eternal security (“once saved, always saved”) by repeatedly commanding repentance, warning believers that unfaithfulness carries severe consequences, and conditioning eternal promises on actual endurance.
Warnings and Conditions in the Letters
- Ephesus: Jesus warns that if the church does not repent for leaving its first love, He will “remove thy candlestick out of his place” (Revelation 2:5). [1]
- Smyrna & Philadelphia: The promise of the crown of life and inclusion is explicitly tied to being “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10) and holding fast what they have “that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11).
- Thyatira: Jesus warns He will cast those committing adultery into great tribulation and will “kill her children with death” (Revelation 2:22-23).
- Sardis: Jesus tells those who do not watch that He will come upon them “as a thief” (Revelation 3:3).
- Laodicea: The lukewarm church is threatened with rejection: “I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
The Promise to the Overcomer
- In every letter, rewards like eating from the tree of life or being clothed in white raiment are promised specifically “to him that overcometh” (Revelation 2:7, 3:5).
- Supporters of eternal security point to Christ’s assurance in Sardis—“I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (Revelation 3:5)—as proof of permanent keeping, while critics argue the conditional phrasing implies names can be blotted out for failing to overcome.”
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | Bible/Word of God | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
The Communication of Thy Faith
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
A Fresh Look at Jesus’ 7 Letters to the Churches [podcast]
“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]
Mission Mexico Part 45
Overcoming that Old Serpent, Called the Devil, and Satan [podcast]
Exhort One Another Daily [podcast]
“Shall I not visit for these things?” [podcast]
Tried. Trusted. Blessed. [podcast]
Jezebel The Depths of Satan [video]
The Harvest is Coming for all those Sowing the Seed of the Word [podcast]
“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]
“I Love You Son” [podcast]
THE ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTOLOGY [podcast]
The Communication of Thy Faith
Money, Material Wealth, and Riches [podcast]
Out of the Mouth of Babes – “What is Love?” Hilarious. Revealing [podcast]
“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]
Exhort One Another Daily [podcast]
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ [podcast]
Overcoming that Old Serpent, Called the Devil, and Satan [podcast]
Jezebel The Depths of Satan [video]
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
Soul Sleep Exposed: Where Do We Go When We Die? When do we Go there? [podcast]
THE ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTOLOGY [podcast]
“I Love You Son” [podcast]
“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
“He that Loveth Pureness of Heart” [podcast]
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
The Communication of Thy Faith
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
America1 year agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
- Articles3 years ago
Children being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
- Articles8 years ago
Self-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
- Apostasy3 years ago
SHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True
Providing Christ-centered Scripture-rich resources to feed, edify, and equip the body of Christ (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-15).
Navigation
Quick links
Newsletter
Stay updated of the ministry operations. We saved a spot for you on the ministry email list.
© 2025 Safe Guard Your Soul. All Rights Reserved