“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven … A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
“A time to weep (death, burial),
and a time to laugh (resurrection);
a time to mourn (death, burial),
and a time to dance (resurrection);”
Though we don’t initial or dictate those seasons, we do participate with the One who does, the LORD who is in control.
A breaking down followed by a building up is the rhythm of the cross in our lives – and as it was in the case of our LORD, it’s the cross which will always precede the resurrection victory (John 12:24; Hebrews 2:14-15, etc.).
We can be fully assured that as we lay down our life, Christ who is “the resurrection and the life,” will reciprocally raise it up for His glory (John 11:25; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
This is how we walk with the LORD and there’s no other way. Remember this as you scratch your head the next time you hear yet another cross-less sermon on coping, relegating the believer to a life of defeat. When we taste and see this cross life, we shall be blessed to see that as we die downward, that guarantees that Christ will raise us upward. With our brother Paul, we shall declare “but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
In his sufferings, which God allowed for His divine purposes, Paul discovered and said…
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“The condition of this strength is sour consciousness of our own utter weakness. We are too strong for God. Our self-confidence shuts Him out of our lives. We require to be taken down to Gideon’s brook, that we may be reduced to the minimum of our own energy, and be filled to the maximum of His. It was this that made Paul glory in his infirmities, where other men would have thought their infirmities debarred them from Christian usefulness. He accounted that they were the greater reason for anticipating success. Tell him that his words lacked eloquence, or that his appearance was unprepossessing, or that his thorn in the flesh made him a cripple in Christ’s army – he would have answered, ‘I rejoice in them all – nay, I glory in them. All hail, ye blessed arguments for self-abasement, and for reckoning more completely on the mighty power of Christ!” Joseph, F.B. Meyer, p. 140
In Christ, when we close our eyes in death, when we resign ourself to dying, we awake to the resurrection bliss of eternal joy.
MOURNING vs MIRTH
The 2 Houses: Which house are you spending the most time in?
So many professing Christians today run from, evade all messages on repentance, the cross, and laying down the life in this fleeting world. They are not following Jesus on HIS terms. No, they are living their best life now, having been coddled by the wolves who are using them (2 Timothy 4:2-4). It’s sad that so few of them are hearing and answering the call of God to come unto Jesus and serve Him on HIS terms, which always begins with true repentance and proving that repentance by bringing forth good fruit (Matthew 3:7-10). They have chosen a cheap counterfeit over the Son of God and are forfeiting the blessings of God in this life and the next.
MANY WANT THE COMFORT YET REFUSE THE CROSS
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves … Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” 2 Timothy 3:1, 4
WHEN we spend time in the house of mourning (the cross-death, burial), the house, the place of mirth (celebration, resurrection) follows, awaits us!!!!
“It is better to go to the house of mourning (lamentation, sadness, grief), than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth (Heb. celebration, glee, gladness, rejoicing, festival).” Ecclesiastes 7:2-4
This is an amazing revelation: Watch what King Solomon says here below. Foregoing self-serving gratification, feasting, celebration, always results in experiencing the death, the burial, and the resurrection joy and fulfillment that God alone can and desires to delight us with as we do things His way – the cross. The cross, the death and burial (house of mourning) always precedes “the house of mirth.”
“the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men” (v2): Pride was the root cause of the fall of Lucifer and a third of the angels of God in Heaven, and every civilization of mankind that came and went, destroyed in their rebellion. Perhaps Sodom and Gomorra are the most popular biblical example (Ezekiel 16:49-51). | The FORGOTTEN Sins of Sodom [podcast]
The Wise and the Foolish Contrasted
Notice: “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” (v4) When divine wisdom begins to take up more real estate in our hearts, we begin to realize that His wisdom teaches us to get down low, into the death and burial, while foolishness tempts us to seek out “the house of mirth,” to excessively indulge in celebration.
We shall never experience God on the mountain as we will in the valley.
When we “take it on the chin”, we get knocked down, humbled low and it puts us in the place of weakness and God in the place of strength, ruling in us with His divine might!!!
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
So many clueless parents today are destroying their own children by filling them with sugary desserts when the child hasn’t even eaten the meat and vegetables. In the same way, false leaders today are spiritually, eternally assassinating their gullible, biblically illiterate audiences by feeding them the cotton candy “best life now” gospel instead of teaching them the cross of the original Gospel of Jesus (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Our LORD Jesus suffered greatly in “the house of mourning.” The divine resurrection followed the mourning, the great suffering of our Savior.
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:3-12
Jesus warns us of the dangers, the eternal danger of soul, associated with “the house of mirth” when He says:
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be 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 lifestyle, the sin of over indulgence will always lead to eternal damnation. As is at times used in Scripture, wine in the title of this message merely speaks of celebration, not drunkenness, which is misuse and sin (Psalms 10:15; Proverbs 3:10; Ecclesiastes 9:7; 10:19; John 2; Ephesians 5:18, etc.).
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus is now again reigning as supreme LORD at the right hand of the Father, having accomplished the cross, redemption through His death.
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” Philippians 2:8-9
Based on His earthly sufferings, He is rightly called “the suffering Servant.” (Isaiah 53, etc.) Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and raised again from the dead. He calls us to also suffer the death of self that He might exalt us in His resurrection power, for His glory.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
Suffering is also part of the life of the true disciple, every disciple, namely the suffering of the death of self so that Christ reigns (2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.).
Suffering our own death so that Christ is reigning (resurrection), is the Gospel in action in our personal lives. Laying down our lives as Christ raises them up is the Gospel reenacted daily in our lives – death, burial, resurrection.
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” Philippians 1:29
When Israel was in rebellion, the LORD warned that He was going to remove the mirth from them …..
“Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.” (Jeremiah 7:34) Jesus is going to judge all men and eternally remove all “mirth”, that is, all joy, bliss, and celebration from the wicked – those who refuse to mourn.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Those who mourn in this life are already experiencing a foretaste of glory divine – comfort from the “God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:2-5).
The counterfeit is characterized by his selfishness. He’s only in it for himself. He could care less about the God he falsely claims to be his savior – because it’s all about him, not the LORD. Therefore he wants no part with repenting, laying down his life in this world, denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus. He just wants the crown while refusing the cross. He wants instant gratification and hates waiting and this is why his handlers have to keep pumping him up with false hope – stringing him along, milking his money (2 Peter 2:1-3).
In the divine economy, there is much value in the seasons of suffering.
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. … 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:2-4
Serendipity: You really don’t begin to enjoy your life in this world until you lay it down – until you do it God’s way and not your own (Matthew 6:33; Luke 9:23-24; 14:33; 17:33). Every true disciple can testify to this – because every true disciple, by biblical definition, has truly repented, has laid down his life in this world and is daily denying self, taking up the cross and following Jesus. And, the result is resurrection grace and joy!
No, in this observation of the great joy that fills the heart of the true saint, I didn’t say or hint of loving this world – but rather in loving the LORD, truly (1 John 2:15). Yet, having a clear conscience and deep inner peace granted by God Himself, is essential to the fulfillment that glorifies Christ (Psalms 23).
Those in Christ will suffer and mourn and weep in this life and yet, in the end
“Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” John 16:20
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
In Christ’s kingdom, there’s the need to “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” Here’s the passage:
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10
There are death, burials, and resurrections in our lives. There can’t be the resurrection (mirth) till there’s first the death, and burial (the mourning). The following passage from 2 Corinthians 4 gives us the rhythm of the cross life in the divine economy. Pouring prayerfully over these divinely-inspired words is sure to be instrumental in bringing about God’s will in our lives.
“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
Only through the cross lifestyle can the disciple experience practically the riches of Christ.
Let us “taste and see that the LORD is good” as we forego on our own idea of feasting, excessive celebration in the things of this world, and get down low in worshipful humility, allowing God to bring us upward into His lavish chambers of fruitful delight, a foretaste of glory divine!
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalms 34:8
In Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon is in no way saying that celebration is wrong and yet, allowing God to fill our hearts with the joy and occasions of celebration is infinitely sweeter than perpetually avoiding pain and mourning in order to seek out celebration.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11
Throughout Israel’s history, they rebelled and suffered greatly. The celebration of the people of God followed great suffering, as God liberated them. When the LORD set Israel free, releasing them from the bondage of enemy nations, from Babylon, they “were like them that dream”, and instructed by Him to be fruitful to His glory.
Psalm 126
“A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion (set them free), we were like them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 5 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 with him.”
“Turned – Brought the captive Israelites out of Babylon into their own land. Dream – We were so surprised and astonished.” John Wesley
God’s people would later become unthankful, unholy, and overly indulge in “the house of mirth.” They were therefore allowed to be led back into the slavery, under the bondage the enemy.
Those whom Jesus saves are required by Him to “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)
The believer is to live an abiding life with Christ, bearing the fruit that testifies to such (John 15). The Bible is full of warnings concerning falling away (Luke 8:13). If falling away were not possible, no such warnings would exist in Holy Writ.
“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape (eternal judgment), if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” Hebrews 2:1-3
On a personal note: In the past, I could never and have never been possessed by the deep satisfaction and fulfillment that now fills my life as I choose to do things GOD’s way, and not my own. The cross is God’s way. Every disciple reading this, who is learning that cross truth, can certainly concur!
“Better is the end (resurrection) of a thing than the beginning thereof (death and burial): and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8
Surely the resurrection is better, more pleasurable than the death and burial, the dying, and yet the resurrection cannot occur without the death and burial first happening.
Adam Clarke on Ecclesiastes 7:2:
“It is better to go to the house of mourning – Birthdays were generally kept with great festivity, and to these the wise man most probably refers; but according to his maxim, the miseries of life were so many and so oppressive that the day of a man’s death was to be preferred to the day of his birth. But, in dependently of the allusion, it is much more profitable to visit the house of mourning for the dead than the house of festivity. In the former we find occasion for serious and deeply edifying thoughts and reflections; from the latter we seldom return with one profitable thought or one solid impression.” Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke on Ecclesiastes 7:4:
“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning – A wise man loves those occasions from which he can derive spiritual advantage; and therefore prefers visiting the sick, and sympathizing with those who have suffered privations by death. But the fool – the gay, thoughtless, and giddy – prefers places and times of diversion and amusement. Here he is prevented from seriously considering either himself or his latter end. The grand fault and misfortune of youth.” Adam Clarke
“I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way.
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And not a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her
When sorrow walked with me”
by Robert Browning Hamilton
“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:20-26
Beloved of God, may we no longer run from the pain associated with the dying to self. Instead, let us embrace it, for therein in our own demise is the supreme reign of Christ.
Concerning our dying and the resulting heavenly treasure, one writer notes:
“In the cross there’s:
. . . freedom from self comes forth.
. . . new creation comes forth.
. . . new perspective comes forth.
. . . transformation by a renewed mind comes forth.
. . . glory (or “weight of glory”) is realized.
. . . immunity to (or resurrection immunity to) pain is realized.
The only real way to escape pain is to embrace it. It only gets worse when one uses human ways to numb it or escape it, pass it on or put it off on someone else.”
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:” Joel 2:12
Sodom and Gomorrah | The Cross Life | Joy Comes After the Mourning
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]
Articles
When God Says to STOP PRAYING! [podcast]
Reconciling with God and other Saints
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law (the Word), even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9
Those who do not love God enough to seek Him in the Word, to learn, and to obey Him, will not be heard by Him.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
In general, because God is “Holy, holy, holy,” when there is sin, God will not answer prayers – until the sinner repents and reconciles with the LORD and any person involved as needed (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; Proverbs 28:9, etc.).
“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 11 Israel hath sinned …” Joshua 7:10-11
In other words, God said to Joshua “Why are you seeking My face, praying to me, talking to me, when there is sin in the camp? Get the sin our of the camp and then you can approach Me in prayer.”
STOP PRAYING AND LEAVE IT!
God is not going to bless our lives unless we are willing to sincerely admit our sins, repent and confess them, and make amends (restitution) with anyone we’ve harmed. In the divine economy, there’s no such thing as being right with God when you’ve done another person wrong, haven’t repented, and haven’t made amends for what you’ve done. Such a person will be outside of the will and blessings of God until he makes things right with God and man.
God is not hearing the prayers or worship of any person who has done someone else wrong and refuses to make restitution (Matthew 5:23-24).
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; FIRST be reconciled to thy brother, and THEN come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
God will not answer the prayer of any person who does not honor and obey His Word and if a person has an outstanding offense He wants them to clear up these matters (Proverbs 28:9, 13).
Here Jesus gave us the instruction to stop praying! What!? Someone may be thinking “Todd, are you being sacrilegious now!? What is your problem brother!?” Keep reading okay.
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Psalms 66:18
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
According to the Son of God, just when (if ever) should the believer stop praying? When he remembers that a brother has “aught against” him. Yes, I know this may raise eyebrows to say that Jesus told us to stop praying, but He certainly did. That’s what we read of His very words in Matthew 5.
He instructs us not to wait for the other person to come to you. Go to them and make peace. Work things out so that neither of your relationships with God will be in any way hindered. Forgive. Seek restitution and forgiveness. The Christian life is all about relationship – vertically first and them horizontally.
Jesus is saying here: “Stop praying or doing any form of worship until you have first done all you can possibly do to make peace with that person you had strife or misunderstanding with, offended, or wounded – the person that still has aught against you, whose heart isn’t yet clear in the matter. Your prayers and any form of supposed worship will not be honored in Heaven until you take care of this matter. Since I am holy I require certain things of you and one of them is that you do your best to keep unity with others, especially My people. Remember how I told you to love one another and to treat others as you wish to be treated? I love you and want clear communion with you and am simply not going to allow you to have a clear conscience until you work things out with that other person who has aught against you. Remember that though I love you, I care about others as much as I care about you. Get that human relationship right first and then come and seek My face in worship and we shall commune.”
God forgives us through Christ’s perfect sacrifice and as we choose to give it out to others! WHO might you have aught against in your heart today beloved?
As a believer, the LORD holds me personally accountable to facilitate reconciliation and peace in others when there is a rift and no matter whose fault it is (Matt. 5:23-24).
First and foremost we must realize that when we sin it is against the One who is “holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). After that fact, we at times sin against or offend men (James 3:1). So, when we have wrongly offended someone who is created in the image of God, we should first confess that sin to the LORD and then do whatever it takes within our power to make it right with the person.
“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.” Proverbs 3:27-28
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:25-27
Child of God, are you aware of anyone who might be upset with you for something you have done or they thought you did? Is anyone offended at you?
This writer is no stranger to wronging people, but is learning to follow this simple truth in Matthew 5, making sure to openly and transparently facilitate healing in those I have brought hurt to or who are offended at me for any legitimate reason.
Granted, we are going to offend people at times when it is not our fault. I am not talking about that. I am talking about when it is our fault or the situation is questionable or a close call.
Have you been offended? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone else held the key to your closure, your healing? Think back in your life: Have you ever needed someone else’s help in getting free in your heart from something concerning a situation?
Jesus called the divine Person of the Holy Spirit “the Comforter” (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:7). God is all-powerful and can help us walk through a heart-rending ordeal where another person has hurt us and is unwilling to partake of the healing process according to the Word/instructions of the LORD. This He can and will do, yet He holds that other person responsible for doing their part – “Leave there thy gift before the altar – FIRST be reconciled to thy brother.”
Those made righteous by the blood of Christ are to do all in their power to facilitate healing in others.
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18
Jesus Christ came to make captives free and such freedom is the desire of all who follow Him. They desire also to see people set free and do their part when it is in the power of their hand to help (Prov. 3:27).
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
When need be, we are to work hard to make sure God’s peace abides among the saints.
“Endeavouring (working hard) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
“Endeavouring” – it’s hard work at times to keep unity in the body. Have you noticed that things happen that need attention, patience, humility, admission where wrong has been done, etc.?
It is our personal responsibility to keep schisms out of Christ’s body as much as it is in our power.
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-27
The LORD promises us that He commands His precious peace where brethren dwell together in unity.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there (in the unity of believers) the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Psalms 133:1-3
The person who is truly born again cares for the body of Christ. Peace among the saints is where God’s blessing abides.
“We know that we have passed from death unto life (we know we are saved), BECAUSE we love the brethren.” 1 John 3:14
Without love we are nothing (1 Cor. 13). Divine love, authentically demonstrated in our lives, is the earmark fruit of the Heaven-bound disciple. There are no exceptions – “He that loveth not knoweth not God” (1 Jn. 4:8). If such charitable love does not presently appear in our lives, we should consider going before the throne of grace and making things right with God (repentance). The genuinely born again person is filled with God’s love and teachable in the precepts of the LORD. When he discovers a previously unknown (to him) truth, he swiftly hearkens and obeys. Remember, God’s eternal kingdom and the terms for entrance into it are based on the LORD’s terms and not any individual’s. Either we meet the terms and conditions or we shall be found without (Matt. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:46-49; 13:24-30; 1 Jn. 2:3-5; Rev. 2-3).
“We know that we have passed from death unto life (we know we are saved – been brought from spiritual death to spiritual life), BECAUSE we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:14-16
Child of God, do you have a key that would help another get free? If you possess the key that would assist in obtaining their freedom, the LORD holds you personally responsible to use it to help unlock that person’s heart and assist in their returning to a heart that is right with God, free from anything that hinders that relationship.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Ephesians 4:26
Don’t let the sun go down upon that which you can do to cause reconciliation in Christ’s body for which He bled. Leave your prayer closet and any and all worship and go get things right with that person the LORD may be placing on your heart. You will be glad you obeyed the LORD in this.
You see, if we truly have an intimate and saving relationship with Christ, we realize that nothing could be more important to us – and others. Knowing Jesus is everything. Armed with this knowledge and moved upon by the Holy Spirit, we are to be compelled to help others in their relationship with Jesus in any way we possibly can.
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son Jesus to live and die for me – for all of my many sins. This moment, I turn my life to Thee O God – asking Your merciful forgiveness on my sin of departing from You. Right this instant I ask You to please be my first love LORD Jesus! Bless this heart with sensitivity and a deep conviction for Your truth. Please allow this heart to have godly conviction! Please bless this life You graciously gave lift others to You and help them in any and every way I have opportunity. I am all Yours and You are all mine my LORD. Quicken my heart in any matter that You wish me to make amends with another person. Right now I now humble myself under Your mighty hand and ask You to use me to help facilitate peace between You and others Jesus, and in Your body. Please bless Your body to live in Your love, and Your truth and in peace with You and one another. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
For a topical study of deeper proportions on this subject, see The Blood of Jesus.
If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here: Born Again: What is It?
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Victory in Jesus | Discipleship | The Glorious Grace of God | The Restoring Love of Our God | God’s Mercy | Spiritual Warfare | Justification | Grace and Good Works [podcast]
Abiding
Overcoming Whoredom [podcast]
ARE parents setting their own children up for failure, ruin, and damnation by sending them off to college?
ONLY THE BIBLICALLY ILLITERATE WONDER WHY AMERICA IS COLLAPSING. HINT: THE FOUNDATION IS GONE (Psalms 11:3; 68:6)
More and more it becomes apparent that most college degrees are useless and that “educated” would be more honestly termed “indoctrinated.” Are parents who indoctrinate and push their daughters to “go get a degree/education” guilty of prostituting their own daughters, making them whores? Does this lead to “college educated” and also “college prostituted” daughters?
“Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.” Leviticus 19:29
Read that verse again and begin to meditate upon it.
WHAT does God say young women should do?
“I will therefore that the YOUNGER WOMEN MARRY, BEAR CHILDREN, GUIDE THE HOUSE, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” 1 Timothy 5:14
“younger women” are to:
- “marry”
- “bear children”
- “guide the house”
Whoredom vs Wholesome
Whoring daughters to the world system proves, demonstrates parents who are not saved (Jeremiah 10:2; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15).
“Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.” Leviticus 19:29
We now have generations of children raised by “I don’t need a man” hell bound jezebels AND godless fathers who misled their own daughters…. and many of them now wonder why their daughters lives are now destroyed. SMH
Any land will “FALL to whoredom”…. in other words whoredom causes divine judgment to fall on any people who commit this sin against the Almighty.
“Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” Hosea 4:11
Read Hosea 4. Wow. The heart is taken away from God, from worshipping the LORD, when we choose to partake of sin.
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10
“A woman who is shamefaced does not seek to draw attention to herself in any way, no matter how small or simple it may be.” unknown
When a woman dresses wholesomely, she is announcing that she is reserved for that one good man, she is keeping, saving it all for him. Wholesome is the outward adorning of purity. Conversely, when a woman shows her body, when she does not dress modestly as the Bible commands, she is whoring herself out for all to see. She is also telling all the men that that’s ALL she has to offer (1 Timothy 2:9-14). Hint: Quality, especially godly men, love modesty. A chemical effect happens inside of a man when he sees God’s beautiful femininity in a wholesome woman. No good man wants a woman who is uncovered and showing parts of her body to the men of the world. No, he desires a woman that is HIS and only his.
BEWARE OF THE SPIRITUAL WHOREMONGERS/ADULTERERS
“And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.” Judges 2:17
Many today treat the Great Bridegroom as did the 5 foolish virgins. Read Matthew 25:1-13 where Jesus told us exactly what we’d see in these final days among those professing to know Him. 5 were welcomed into His bridal chamber (Heaven) and the door was shut upon the other 5. The foolish virgins, engaged to the bridegroom but not engaged with him want the formality of the engagement but refuse to intimately form a vital union with their intended bridegroom. They wanted the ring but not the relationship. They are like the whoremonger who simply wants the benefits of marriage but not the beauty of the marriage covenant. The spiritual whoremonger gets what he wants and leaves the woman without a commitment. In the same way, those who claim they are “eternal security” want the crown but not the cross. They refuse to comply with the instructions of the One they call Savior (Luke 9:23-24). These moral cowards who refuse to truly submit to Christ in true repentance think they can hide behind the thin veneer of the mythical “once saved always saved” or “one and done” heresy. But God sees it all and Jesus came to have a real covenant relationship with us, not a flimsy, non-committal latchkey arrangement. “Depart from me” is what they will soon hear as they are irrevocably vanquished into the flames of eternal damnation (Matthew 25:41). They are serving the god of self and not the Savior. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.” Deuteronomy 31:16
EVERY person who refuses to overcome sin via the crucified life, does so due to loving sin and self more than Jesus (John 3:19-21).
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16
Not even 1 person who has not repented and confessed the sin of beholding illicit images will be in Heaven. EVERY fornicator will be signed, sealed, and delivered into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).
There’s no sin your can’t Isaiah 58 out of your life. The cross. | Fasting and Prayer
Did Jesus or His holy apostles ever once teach that those saved by Christ, who engage in a real relationship with Him which includes obeying the Savior, are trying to earn, attempting to merit their own salvation? I’m still looking for any such verse in God’s Word.
“WHOREMONGERS AND ADULTERERS GOD WILL JUDGE”
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
The wages of sin is STILL death (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23). God’s grace never changed His definition of sin. God will judge, will damn the soul of every person who dies in sin – whether they were saved in the past or not (Ezekiel 33:12-13; Revelation 22:11, etc.).
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4
The testimony of the whole of Holy Scripture is that leaving God always leads to doing things some other way than His way and results in the utter destruction of individuals and societies (Romans 6:23).
The words “whoredom” and “whoredoms” and “whoring” combine for a whopping 74 appearances in God’s Word, the King James Bible. “Harlot” appears 42 times. “Whoremonger(s)” appears 5 times.
“And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? ” 2 Kings 9:22
Without fail, sin always causes the blessings of God to be withheld from our lives.
“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” Jeremiah 5:25
Jesus calls this generation “An evil and adulterous generation.” (Matthew 12:39)
Spiritual adultery or spiritual whoredom, is idolatry. It is looking away from God to something, anything else, choosing to not uphold Jesus Christ as the very first priority, the “first love” or our lives (Revelation 2:4-5). Think about when a man looks to someone, anyone else, to fulfill what God ordains his wife to fulfill. This is adulterous. And, for men, in the flesh, the most powerful attraction, temptation of idolatry, is toward that which God created for the man, the woman (Genesis 1-3). Yet putting her first instead of Christ, is worshipping the creature instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25). The divine parameters for sex is within the marriage between one man and one woman. | The Proverbs 31 Woman
Read Genesis 1-3 to be established in the original and unchanged ordained purpose of God for the creation of the man and the woman. And realize, that you and I will give full account before His judgment throne for how we lived on earth concerning being a man or the woman. | The True Proverbs 31 Woman by Lori Alexander
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
“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
The God fearing man will lay the axe to the root of all sin and get clean and establish his life in holiness before the LORD, preparing to be ready when Jesus appears, and also preparing to be the husband of one wife and the father of precious children born out of that union (Psalms 127-128). This is Bible, Genesis 101. God has not changed.
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18
THE PRAYER OF THE GODLY UNMARRIED MAN: “Father, I know You have a daughter here on Your planet who is crying out to You for the blessed opportunity to fulfill Your ordained calling to be a wife and a mother. Please prepare me in Thy grace, break me, let Christ be formed in me dear LORD, please. Cleanse me of all sin and let this life be crucified with Thee my dear LORD Jesus, raised up by You for Your glory and purposes alone. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Fresh Start with God | Biblical Deliverance Prescription-Wholeness in Christ [podcast]
Whoring after women online defiles the vessel, destroys the temple of God with sin.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Though never heard today from the priesthood of deceivers who call themselves ministers of Christ, we must acknowledge that the LORD requires that His elect be cleansed, be clean in “flesh and spirit.”
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
The cross is God’s prescription and is the Bible’s only prescription to overcome pornography, adultery, fornication, all uncleanness, and every sin. Everything else being peddled as the answer is a lie.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
The seat of the heart of man seems to be the root of this matter. Pornography is a “stumblingblock” of “iniquity.” Those who set such before their eye gates will not be heard by God. Their prayers are not heard and in fact, are an “abomination” to the LORD (Proverbs 28:9, 13).
“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?” Ezekiel 14:3
Dear whoremongering pornographer: If you die in this sin, you will be irrevocably in hell (Ezekiel 18:4, 24; 33:12-13; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 6:10-11; 9:27; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8, etc.). You don’t need an “accountability partner,” you are in need of true repentance and to live the crucified life – to fast and pray in starving the flesh and feed the spirit (Isaiah 58; Galatians 5:16-24; Romans 6, etc.). Only the LORD can deliver you, can give you His victory. There will be no victory over sin until you do things God’s way and stop seeking the coping band aids of the apostate modern church world. | Fasting and Prayer
One man cannot borrow heavenly oil from another man. Each must go to God for themselves to get that fresh supply (Matthew 25:1-13). God requires it.
All who view pornography are fornicators. Those not saved from living in sin are not saved for eternal glory (1 John 3:7-10, etc.).
“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
This passage above makes it clear that those still living in the sin Jesus died to save them out of, are “unrighteous” and “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” They have rebelled. In their temple, their body, mind, heart, they are now worshipping the god of self, feeding the lusts of the flesh. When Jesus saved them and in their past reigned in the temple, on the throne of their heart, He “washed” and “sanctified” them but now they have yielded their members to unrighteousness (Romans 6).
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16
All who view pornography are yielding to the flesh instead of God and are adulterers in the eyes of God.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
1 John 2:16 speaks of the world and the “lust of the eyes.”
Those who refuse to “cast away the abominations of their eyes” will be judged by the LORD. Read Ezekiel 20 and Numbers 25.
“But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.” Ezekiel 20:8
It’s interesting how many times the Bible speaks of eyes toward idols.
“And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,” Ezekiel 18:6
Covenanting to guard the eye gates.
“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Job 31:1
Must not lust after the beauty of a woman.
“Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.” Proverbs 6:25
Must “set no wicked thing before” our eyes.
“I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.” Psalms 101:1-8
The man who is truly “crucified with Christ” is overcoming lust (Galatians 2:20). Only the un-crucified man will be ensnared by lust, by adultery, by “evil concupiscence”, by fornication (Ecclesiastes 7:26; Colossians 3:5).
“whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her”
“And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.” Ecclesiastes 7:26
WHO, which man is going to “escape” from whoredom, from self-idolatry, from sinful lusts? – only the man that “pleaseth God shall escape.” And the man that “pleaseth God” is living the crucified life. Have you memorized and are you living out the truth captured in Galatians 2:20?
We are Living in the Final Days
Jesus foretold that these final days leading to His return will be so wicked that “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.”
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.” Matthew 24: 21-23
This is why we must increase in our camping on and doing the message of the cross. May God bless us to be anointed by His Holy Spirit to continue to go deeper into our own death, that we might be “hid with Christ in God.”
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Colossians 3:1-10
All who after being truly saved, do not continue with the LORD, do not endure to the end, “shall perish.”
“For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.” Psalms 73:27
All who “go a whoring from” the LORD after He saves them, shall be “destroyed,” shall perish in their own corruption.
To “go a whoring” from God is to desert God for the idol of self and this fleeting world, world system and the sin of it, to cease to love the LORD supremely and instead love and serve the god of self.
“Go a whoring – Those who revolt from thee, to work wickedness; which is called whoredom in scripture.” John Wesley
Of this Psalms 73 passage, Adam Clarke wrote:
“Psalms 73:27: They that are far from thee shall perish – The term perish is generally used to signify a coming to nothing, being annihilated; and by some it is thus applied to the finally impenitent, they shall all be annihilated. But where is this to be found in the Scriptures? In no part, properly understood. In the new heavens and the new earth none of the wicked shall be found; for therein dwells righteousness – nothing but God and righteous spirits; but at the same time the wicked shall be in their own place. And to suppose that they shall be annihilated, is as great a heresy, though scarcely so absurd, as to believe that the pains of damnation are emendatory, and that hellfire shall burn out. There is presumptive evidence from Scripture to lead us to the conclusion, that if there be not eternal punishment, glory will not be eternal; as the same terms are used to express the duration of both. No human spirit that is not united to God can be saved. Those who are Far from Thee shall perish – they shall be lost, undone, ruined, and that without remedy. Being separated from God by sin, they shall never be rejoined; the great gulf must be between them and their Maker eternally. All them that go a whoring from thee – That is, all that worship false gods; all idolaters. This is the only meaning of the word in such a connection. I have explained this elsewhere.”
Every day is a test of our love – of who we are going to love supremely – God or self. Jesus commanded that we are to deny self and love God supremely (Luke 9:23-24):
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
The apostle John speaks here below of overcoming that wicked one, the devil.
“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:14-17
Through His precious blood, Jesus made the provision for you to live and to labor with clarity, with a clean conscience and yet, you know your conscience is defiled, it’s not clean and clear. Come away with Christ beloved. Hear His voice calling you to repentance, to a full surrender of your life to Him – to let go and let God do what you cannot do (Luke 22:42). Jesus is your salvation and you must rest in Him. The way you rest in Him is to rest your body, life, thoughts and whole being in the grace of His cross, His death and burial, that He might raise you up in His holiness, by His grace and power to do His will.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Read Romans 6 each morning this week.
To overcome sin is to overcome Satan. And the only way to overcome sin is to submit yourself truly to God. It’s only then that His power in you will subdue the enemy.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
We are no match for sin and Satan unless given over to our LORD who conquered sin and death, and is our salvation.
“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” Psalms 73:23-28
God brought His people Israel out of Egypt, the world, and promised them their own land, a “land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8, 17, etc.). Yet between Egypt and the promised land, many of His people rebelled. In the same way today we see so many whom Christ saved from their sins and out of the world (Egypt), seeking to bring into the full blessings of His salvation here and into eternal glory, and yet now they are in rebellion, lusting and lukewarm, just as Israel.
The ensuing history of His people including the writings of the prophets, the recounting of Israel’s rebellion against God. Here’s a taste.
“He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.” Psalm 105:28
“Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:” Psalm 107:11
“But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.” Isaiah 63:10
“But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.” Ezekiel 20:8
The LORD gave His people the promise of bringing them out of the land of bondage, out from under the rule of Satan and his wicked minions and “unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”
“And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” Exodus 3:8
In fact, the LORD told His people He wanted to bring them “out” that He might bring them “in.”
“And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. 24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:23-25
As Christ has saved us unto Himself, out of the world into His kingdom, we must seek Him daily, to become ever increasingly “rooted and built up in him” and continually established in Him.
We need to beware of the many false prophets who are not preaching God’s pure Word but rather their own thoughts and the philosophies and notions of this fallen world system.
“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 LORD was bringing them out of something bad and into something so very good. That’s His desire for each of His people and yet, many who get saved do not continue on with the LORD, that is, they don’t walk in His ways which are stated in His Word. Instead, they yield to the flesh instead of the Spirit and follow false teachings which cause them to do laps in the desert (Colossians 2:8-10).
Repentance is Essential
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:12-13
YOUR PRAYER: Father You are Holy, holy, holy. I’ve been very wicked, rebellious, sinful. I come to You now in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ, asking that You forgive my many sins, to cleanse me, wash me, purge and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Please take over this life right now. I lay my life in Your holy hands. Into Your hands I commend, I submit my spirit. I am all Yours dear LORD. Please teach me Your ways through Your Word and use me for Your glory as I look for Your soon return LORD. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Cross | SEX, Sodomy, and the Saints | The Only Solution to the Battlefield of the Mind | The Truth about Holiness | Fresh Start with God
Abiding
Laying Up Treasure in Heaven 60 second video #shorts
“but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24
A financial investor takes your money and multiplies it for your last few years in this temporal life, right? In contrast, laborers for Christ take your support and multiply it for Christ and themselves for all eternity. In Christ’s eternal kingdom – everybody wins, all the time, forever. King Jesus reigns forever!
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38
Paul was not coveting any man’s money – “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.” (Acts 20:33) No! He wanted God’s people to invest in Christ’s eternal kingdom – into eternal souls – and by doing so fill their “account” in Heaven. – “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (Philippians 4:17)
God gives the increase of lost souls as “For we are labourers together with God.”
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Gospel train rolling. Team Jesus! We must obey our LORD Jesus’ Great Command saints. You are not alone – God is with you, and us!
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
Stewardship of God’s Resources
See all shorts videos here on ministry youtube channel.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | Bible/Word of God | Gifts | Prophetic or Pathetic? | Christology | Final Divine Authority | Knowing God | Christology = the Study of Christ
Summary of Tom Wadsworth’s teaching on modern worship as compared to the New Testament church [video]
Occultic Origins of the Law of Attraction and the Secret and Word of Faith Theology [video]
Full of The Holy Ghost [podcast]
When God Says to STOP PRAYING! [podcast]
4 Verse KJV Comparison [podcast]
Clara and Her Boys Blessed! Mexico Mission Rolling! [podcast]
What’s Wrong with the Modern Church World? [podcast]
The Curse of the Judaizers [podcast]
The Book of Romans Narrated [podcast]
The More Blessed Life [podcast]
Mission Mexico Part 35 Video Update, etc.
Overcoming Whoredom [podcast]
Why I Left Dispensationalism [video]
I’m Not Who I Once Was [podcast]
Which Came First? Faith or Regeneration-Monergism Maniacs Exposed [video]
4 Verse KJV Comparison [podcast]
The More Blessed Life [podcast]
The Blessings of Bible Reading [podcast]
The LORD Lift Up His Countenance Upon Thee, and Give Thee Peace [podcast]
Laying Up Treasure in Heaven 60 second video #shorts
Biblical Case Against Seminary [podcast]
The Book of Romans Narrated [podcast]
Overcoming Whoredom [podcast]
Which Came First? Faith or Regeneration-Monergism Maniacs Exposed [video]
When God Says to STOP PRAYING! [podcast]
Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures in Heaven [podcast]
Rich in Faith [podcast]
What’s Wrong with the Modern Church World? [podcast]
Full of The Holy Ghost [podcast]
Greedy, Covetous, and Beguiled! [podcast]
Summary of Tom Wadsworth’s teaching on modern worship as compared to the New Testament church [video]
Occultic Origins of the Law of Attraction and the Secret and Word of Faith Theology [video]
Full of The Holy Ghost [podcast]
America1 year agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
- Articles2 years ago
Children being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
- Articles8 years ago
Self-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
- Apostasy2 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