Abiding

Victory Comes Little by Little [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

“And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.” Deuteronomy 7:22

“This is my most favorite podcast of yours. And perhaps one of the first ones I listened to. I was wanting God to move faster in the sanctification process. After listening I realized Let God take it all! I am not in control. The Holy Spirit is! He shows me what needs to be crucified in my heart. It’s not my job to go look for it because I do not know what is in my heart. Only God does! I am only required to obey and take what He shows me to the cross of Christ!! The Lord led me to pour over this scripture this morning. 2 Corinthians 3:18. ‘But we all, with open face beholding as a glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’ ‘Open face’ here means not hiding, taking off the veil over our eyes and hearts and seeing ourselves for who we really are before a Holy God. When we look into God’s Holiness, it’s like looking into a mirror and His Holiness exposes our sinful selves. If we are honest and dare to see our real selves against the purity of God, we see how much we are not like Him and need Him to make us into the image of Christ. This is sanctification. Philippians 2:12-13. We need to say ‘No’ to the flesh, crucify it, and allow God to control our lives, not self. Being changed little by little into the Glory of God.” Karen Cochran

God is perfecting that which concerns His beloved people!!! (Psalms 138:8; Philippians 2:12-13, etc.)

We can know that as we are taking the next “step”, the LORD is delighting in us! It is important that the LORD’s people, each of us, always remember that “The STEPS of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psalms 37:23) Notice here that God orders our “steps”, and not our leaps, or jumps or flights. Get the picture? Simply take the next step as you are seeking first His kingdom, putting Christ first, and “Take therefore no thought for the morrow.” – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:33-34) Now, read Psalms 37:23 again and catch this, the truth that we can know that as we are taking the next step, the LORD is delighting in us!

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

Two things God desires to do:

1. save “all men”, and then to those who are saved…
2. to bring them to “the knowledge of the truth” or the full experience of the truth which is sanctification, full victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil

“Little and Little” = Little by Little

God changes us little by little and not all at once and He establishes us in Him, in His peace, love, joy, etc., “little and little.” (Exodus 23:30)

“By LITTLE AND LITTLE I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.” Exodus 23:30

As we abide in Christ, as we fight the good fight of faith, as we work out (not for) our salvation with fear and trembling, Jesus works in us to perfect us, by displacing the evil, the iniquity, and drives our enemies…. Fear, anger, hatred, lust, discontent, ungratefulness, etc., as He possesses more and more the battle field of our hearts and minds. He is establishing in us His praise – no matter what is going on – good or bad! It’s all Him.

“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalms 138:8

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Let’s read our main Bible passage again:

“I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.” Exodus 23:29-30

God does not rid us of all our enemies, all that ails us, immediately upon saving us. We are “increased” and thereby the enemy is decreased “little and little” which means little by little. Incremental growth as we diligently serve Him, living by faith daily, as we deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus.

This order is important. As God, the initiator, the author and finisher of our faith, our salvation increases, we are blessed to decrease as we worship and comply.

“Fret not” appears 3 times in Psalm 37. And beloved of God, this is His instruction to you – when you begin thinking that your growth in the grace of Christ seems to be miniscule. Do we realize that the LORD of His abiding saints, says that their growth will be incremental, “little and little” or little by little (Exodus 23:29-31).

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4

Concerning the “patience and comfort of the scripture” and the “hope” they bring to our hearts, the Holy Ghost through Paul says:

“These verses remind me of the podcast Little by Little. One of my favorites! That podcast helped me to realize God only sanctifies us in small increments. As He is in charge and we are not. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). This is not a one time event. But a process so we can one day “be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man” (Luke 21:36) and receive final salvation (Matthew 24:13).” Karen Cochran

This truth should comfort the hearts of every one of Christ’s disciples.

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

The people of God had been saved out of Egypt which depicts our being saved by Christ, the salvation from sin and the world. As we forsake the world and not the LORD….

Then comes sanctification.

The leavening effect of sanctification pushes out the evil, the enemies. The swelling of the truth in us pushes out the evil, replaces it. If at the moment of initial salvation, God just removed all our enemies, then what would fill that vacuum? We must be increased by Him, to grow in the grace of Christ and in proportion to that enlargement is the removing of the evil, the enemies, the conquering of that land of our hearts and lives.

The divine command, requirement to be sanctified, set apart to the LORD, to “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” is seen here: “Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.” (Exodus 23:32-33; 2 Corinthians 6:17)

“Exodus 23:30: I see personally that is, that salvation is like taking the promised land. We are to fight daily to grow, and to take the Kingdom of God that belongs to us. Lots of fights with the devils, but if the fight is fought daily, there is progress going to be made. We submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, and he flees from us.” Gene Robbins

Believer’s Bible Commentary on Exodus 23:20-33:

“Laws Regarding Conquest (23:20-33)
Here God promised to send . . . an Angel (the Lord Himself) before the Israelites, to lead them to the Promised Land and to drive out the heathen inhabitants. If the Jews refrained from idolatry and obeyed the Lord, He would do great things for them. Regarding the warning against disobedience, Henry writes:

‘We do well to take heed of provoking our protector and benefactor, because if our defence depart from us, and the streams of his goodness be cut off, we are undone. Their land would extend from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines (the Mediterranean Sea) and from the desert (the Negev south of Canaan) to the River (Euphrates). Notice the command to drive . . . out the inhabitants of the land. There were to be no treaties, no idolatry, no intermingling. God had already promised to destroy the wicked Canaanites, but Israel had to cooperate. This enshrines an important spiritual principle: God will give us victory over our enemies (the world, the flesh, and the devil), but He expects us to fight the good fight of faith. Verse 33 finds its counterpart in 2Co_6:14-18. Separation from the world has always been God’s will for His people. Israel’s failure to obey this command led to her downfall. It is still true that ‘evil communications corrupt good manners.'”

Justification is Immediate – Sanctification is Gradual and Ongoing. Our LORD is the Author of both – “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

“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 12:2

“Looking unto Jesus” is much more than a one-time or casual acknowledgement of the Son of God. It’s an abiding relationship with Him which always, without fail, produces good fruit. Read John 15.

God requires compliance – true worship, obedience (Matthew 7:21; 25:1-13; John 13-15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).

After He saves you, you are not free to leave Him or treat Him… and still be in Heaven. The Great Bridegroom Himself, Jesus, will shut the door on those who do not “endure to the end” with Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13). Read His parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

How does sanctification happen? Notice what Jesus says to those who believed upon Him:

“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

Jesus continues… Remaining in the Father’s House …

“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:34-36

v35 – “the Son abideth ever”, continues, remains in the Father’s house, presence forever but the mere servant is not automatically, permanently kept in the house of God without condition. Those who commit, continue in sin will not remain in the Father’s house. Lucifer is the first sinner on record to be ejected from the Father’s house, His holy presence and then Adam and Eve who were also ushered out of the Father’s presence when they sinned (Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Revelation 12:7-9; Genesis 3). Fact: The LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and forever holds the authority over who remains in His holy house, presence.

v36 Then we are brought into the promise land of victory over sin.

Those who believe the myth of eternal security only embrace it because they want no part of personal responsibility. “Depart from me” will be what they hear from Jesus when they die.

The LORD says He’s only with you as you remain, abide “with him.”

“The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2

Some who have created a false god in their own wicked imaginations (image), somehow arrogantly believe that those God saves somehow now control Him and what He, the Almighty does with them. Utter foolishness. Anyone who is saved and doesn’t “abide” (continue with, remain in), will be cast into the fires of hell irrevocably (John 15:6).

“It is a faithful saying: For IF we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 IF we suffer, we shall also reign with him: IF we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Notice in the passage above, that God “cannot deny HIMSELF” and yet “IF we deny him, he also WILL DENY Us.” Notice that it doesn’t say He can’t or won’t deny us!!! It actually declares that He “WILL deny us” … “if we deny him.”

While God justifies His saints when He saves them, sanctification transpires and is according to, in proportion to how that justified believer attends to and complies with the LORD instead of self – continues in His Word, knowing and obeying Him (John 15; Romans 6; Ephesians 4:21-32, etc.). The cross is central to this putting off the old man, crucifying the deeds of the body (Luke 9:23-24; Colossians 3:1-17, etc.).

Fasting and prayer is the cross and greatly aids in the putting off of the old man and putting on of the new man (Isaiah 58; Ephesians 4; Colossians 3).

This brother, your brother in Christ, would like to take this opportunity to exhort you to obey God and begin fasting and praying, at least once weekly. Your life will be changed for the glory of Christ Jesus our LORD. – Fasting and Prayer

Your growth in the grace of Christ, and consequent victory over the flesh and devil, will be according as you submit yourself daily to the LORD.

Our LORD’s stated desire is to multiply His grace to each of our lives – for our hearts to be evermore established in His grace (Hebrews 13:9).

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord … But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18

“Wow! Little by little..he has followed James 4:6-10 and looked unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! Hallelujah to the Lamb of God! The narrow way, when kept faithfully will inevitably squeeze out all sin, and allow us to experience an even deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ.” Jon Crane

The Cross is Essential in our Growth, our Victory in Christ

“The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” Exodus 32:6

This is a depiction of the flesh and why it must be ruthlessly crucified, daily (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

The flesh, the evil fallen and iniquitous nature, the old man, must be crucified daily or it will rule in place of Christ and will perpetrate its corruption in you and those around you. Romans 6! The cross, the crucified life is the only divine solution. There is no short cut.

Jesus cannot and will not reign in my life unless I lay it down before Him (Luke 14:33).

In all things Divine, Faith is an Imperative

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“WHERE is your faith?” asks Jesus (Luke 8:25).

What we truly believe will proceed from our lips.

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” 2 Corinthians 4:13

The LORD is monitoring our hearts and listening to what is proceeding from our lips (1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 12:34, et.).

“Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:” Numbers 14:28

As we submit ourselves to the LORD the iniquities that once control our lives, leading us into sin, will be conquered. The cross.

Like the beloved Jacob, our iniquitous tendencies must cause us to walk with a limp, a crutch of dependence upon Him for He has dealt with them, with you (Genesis 32).

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:9-12

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You that You found and saved me into Your eternal kingdom through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Here and now I thank You dear LORD for continuing the good work You began in me, for working in this your vessel both to will and do of Your good pleasure, and perfecting that which concerns my life with You in Christ. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Can a True Believer Overcome All Sin? [podcast]

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

Your Victory is in Jesus [podcast]

MAKING PEACE WITH GOD Are you ready to Pass from Death to Life? “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15 God wants to pardon you – before it’s too late. Jesus beckons you to “Come unto me.” — before it’s too late. (Matthew 11:28-30) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 […]

The Victory of the Crucified Life [podcast]

The victory of God in your life comes through the victory of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. And thereafter, from adhering to His instructions on how to walk with Him – the way of the cross. WHO are truly Christ’s? “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (the cross, crucified life).” Galatians 5:24 Read that verse above again. Memorize it. There are many who claim to be Christians, followers of Jesus, yet regrettably, but a miniscule few are actually His, are actually serving the Son of God on His stated terms – […]

Abiding

Fruitful Life. Fruitful Evangelism. [podcast]

The Life God Blesses to Bear Fruit for His Eternal Glory

A fruitful life for God’s glory involves first being genuinely born again, abiding in Christ via the crucified life, bearing spiritual fruit—such as Christlikeness in character, good works, and evangelism—by remaining in vital union with Jesus, the true vine (John 15).

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16

JUST as Jesus multiplied the little with the boy who gave the loaves and fishes, so He does with our efforts. Jesus multiplied that little and fed 5,000 men, and that doesn’t count the women and children present. Try Him.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalms 34:8

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:40-46

God blesses the lives of His faithful saints. His faithful saints seek His face continually.

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

God prospers us according as we seek His face and stay upon Him. Of king Uzziah king of Judah, God’s Word says:

“As long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.” 2 Chronicles 26:5

At times in this life there are season of uncertainty, where our vision may not be clear. We must “stay upon” the LORD.

“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

“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 15:10

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

We’ve never been so reminded of this as of the miraculous events of late where beloved brother Juan dropped some plastic water bottles that hit me in the feet. Only God could have orchestrated this collision of Juan’s life and mine.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23

Ask Him.

Recently brother Stacy Strother reminded me that God simply wants us, His people to be available, to pray and watch Him work!

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:15-20

It has been wisely stated:

“Show me a man’s prayer life, his life of prayer or lack thereof, and I will show you who that man truly is and who and what he loves most.”

All who are zealous for the LORD are zealous about His work, to do it. Not build a church, but to see Christ work in the hearts of men—to strengthen and equip His body and convict and save lost souls to Himself.

One source notes:

“Evangelism is the act of sharing the Christian gospel—the ‘good news’ of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection—with the aim of inviting others into a relationship with God. It is considered a core mission for believers to spread this message of salvation, hope, and love, often stemming from Jesus’s command in the Great Commission.”

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, in Jesus’ name, unite my heart to fear Thy name. Do your work in and through my life. I am all Yours. Maximize the fruit produced to Your eternal glory. You must increase but I must decrease. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Satan Hates Soul Winners With A Passion

Are You On His Hit List? “He that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 Do you desire to win souls? Are you willing to try a new, yet time-tested method to reach others for Christ while there is still time? This method that I am going to share with you is approximately 500 years old and could revolutionize your life today here on earth, and throughout eternity. It started when the LORD had the printing press come into existence so that His Word could be propagated to all the peoples of the earth. As a roman catholic monk with an […]

"Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" [podcast]

“Be Not Moved Away” “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” Colossians 1:23 The victory is in Jesus Christ, and we are “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 thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved […]

The Harvest is Coming for all those Sowing the Seed of the Word [podcast]

The Joy and Expectation of Seed Sowing What we sow, we can expect to reap (Galatians 6:7-8). As we continue to sow the good, the incorruptible seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men, good news will continue to flow, will continue to be reaped – because God’s Word prospers in the thing where He sends it! See also 1 Peter 1:23. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent […]

Bearing the Precious Seed of God's Word [podcast]

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6 A harvest of blessed souls is going to be the result, the ministry produce, the fruit of all who bear and distribute, scatter the seed of the incorruptible Word of God into the hearts of men (1 Peter 1:23). The LORD didn’t say “go explain who I am to other people.” No, He said “preach the word” and “preach the gospel” (2 Timothy 4:2; Mark 16:15). Our […]

The Seed of Salvation [podcast]

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 When we follow Jesus He makes us fishers of men: “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.” (Mark 1:17-18) We must forsake the nets, the world’s ways in following Him. Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, please […]

Abiding

Washed. Sanctified. Glorified. [podcast]

“Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” John 13:8

Jesus’ true bride is known in that she is making herself ready for Him.

“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.” Revelation 19:7-8

“This morning I read Psalm 45. Titled the Kings marriage. The story of the King and His bride. This is a beautiful picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb in Rev 19:7-9. The Bridegroom is adorned in glory, majesty, righteousness and truth. Sitting in His royal throne. Then enters the Bride. Holy, without spot or wrinkle. Wearing the righteousness of Christ. And Jesus says, you are in thy Father’s house and He desires thy beauty and worship. Wow! Because she is wearing the beauty of the Lord (Psalm 27:4). His attributes. And she is wearing gold. Fine gold because she has been tried in the fire of affliction. And she is one of the five wise virgins who is invited to enter into the King’s palace. What a glorious picture of all who make themselves ready and are clean and white before their King Jesus! Alleluia!” Karen Cochran

The person who repents, puts their faith in Jesus Christ, and is saved, and continues rooted in Christ, continuing/abiding in Him, will confess any sin committed and be perpetually transformed by Him (Proverbs 28:13; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:4-10).

Many have been misled. Jesus invented the term “FALL AWAY” (Luke 8:13). The Son of God does not lie. If falling away isn’t possible, why did Jesus say it is possible? Jesus is returning for those who are looking for Him by the way they live.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Only those hearing and obeying God’s Word are being washed by it.

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto THEM THAT LOOK FOR HIM shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are WASHED, but ye are SANCTIFIED, but ye are JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

The explanation below is modified from another source and notes the following:

“‘Washed, sanctified, and justified’ (often replacing glorified with justified) describes the comprehensive spiritual transformation of a believer in 1 Corinthians 6:11. It signifies being cleansed from sin, set apart for God’s purpose, and declared righteous through Christ, moving from a past life of disobedience to a new identity and a life of obedience to God (2 Corinthians 5:15).

- Washed: Refers to being cleansed of the defilement and stain of sin, often linked to baptism and the washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
- Sanctified: Means being set apart to God for His holy purpose. It involves both a position of holiness in Christ and a progressive, lifelong process of becoming more like Him.
- Justified (Glorified/Righteous): Means being acquitted of all guilt and declared righteous before God on the basis of Christ’s finished work.

Contextual Meaning

- Transformation: The Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that while they once lived in sin, their identity changed upon following Jesus.
- The Power Source: These changes are accomplished in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God, not by personal merit.
- Living the New Life: This transformation signifies that believers are no longer defined by their past sins, but by their new, holy standing.”

Prayer: Jesus, I know You are going to return for a Bride that is without spot, wrinkle, or sin of any kind. Purify this life LORD Jesus which I now submit to You without reserve. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

Jesus taught that the Heaven bound disciple must have root in himself, must “endure to the end”, must have a long term, an eternal perspective (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13). The Cost of Discipleship “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 […]

How We Know the Bible is the only Holy Book on Planet Earth [podcast]

There’s only one Book whose Author is God. Only God knows the future – and His foretelling of the future in the Bible clearly proves it’s His Book. Law of probability and the fulfillment of Bible prophecies: Odds of the more than 300 prophecies of the prophets concerning the coming Messiah, given hundreds of years prior to His arrival coming true are: 8,749,002,899,132,046,697,490,008,908,470,485,461,412,622,723,572,849,745,… 703,082,425,425,639,811,996,797,503,692,894,052,708,092,215,296 to 1 Fact: Only the Almighty could know the future and forthtell it in specific detail, long before it ever happened. THIS is how we know that the Bible is truly the Word of the one […]

Abiding

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11

With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear.

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6

David’s Prayer

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

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

“A Clean Heart”

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Psalms 51:10-11

When we wisely join in fellowship, life with fellow truth seekers, such will assist the work of God who is quickening us to honestly admit, repent afresh and confess any sin God brings to light. Anyone else ever camped out on Psalms 51—the prayer of repentance and confession of the man after God’s own heart, David?

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Psalms 51:12-13

The New Testament believer is to ever examine himself to see whether or not he is in the faith.

“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

“If”

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ name, here and now if never before, I submit my life to You—to Your Lordship. From this moment forth I will serve You. Jesus You are the Master of my life from now on. I love You Jesus. Please use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

"He that Loveth Pureness of Heart" [podcast]

IS YOUR HEART PURE BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY BELOVED? DO I truly love “pureness of heart”? “HE THAT LOVETH PURENESS OF HEART, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 Without a pure heart, obtained from seeking, worshiping, knowing, and obey God …. no one “shall see God.” Not one. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 If you or I have every word of the Bible memorized and die today with a heart that is defiled with sin, we’d bust hell wide open – and be trapped there […]

When the Heart Turns to the LORD the Blessings Begin! [podcast]

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21 “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be […]

Having a Pure Heart Requires the Cross Life [podcast]

“Great Podcast. Thank you. When I think about Mat 5:8 I think of Psalm 24 3 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?” 4 “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Who is worthy to stand in God’s holy presence? Only those who are living holy and righteous lives! Those disciples who are free from pride and sin and are maintaining inner purity. With no idolatry, hypocrisy and deceit in their hearts! They hungry and thirst […]