What Did the Laodiceans Lack?

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WHY Did Jesus Say
He was Going to Reject (“spue”)
These People who Once Served Him?

Quality of life is not found in obtaining more money or material items. In fact, such a consumerism lifestyle guarantees, with no exception, misery, spiritual poverty, and a trip to hell (Luke 12, 16; Ephesians 5:5-7; 1 Timothy 6:4-11; Revelation 3:14-21, etc.). Do we not all know people, even people who were once saved, who are not now abiding in Christ and “have need of nothing” materially in this world, and yet are not happy? And what did Jesus say of their hell bound spiritual state?

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:1-6

Is your mansion here or in eternal glory with Christ?

Like Laodicea
do we have
a false sense of
prosperity?

You are not prospering/prosperous because you drive an expensive vehicle. In fact, such reveals that you are shallow, care about what mere sinful men think in lieu of what God thinks, and are wasting God’s resources and will give account accordingly. You are not prosperous because you live in an excessively large, lavish earthly home. In fact, such may prevent you from a “mansion” in Heaven and will definitely downsize your “mansion”(rewards) in eternal glory (John 14:1-6).

Quite frankly, most people are not impressed with your little trinkets you use to prop up your insecurities based on your lack of a real relationship with Jesus Christ.

Anyone who relates material or financial wealth to one’s spiritual state is to be departed from (1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV).

Jesus is all you really have. The sum total of the richness of your life (or lack thereof) is what you have of Christ who is the “exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1). Prosperity is primarily spiritual, not material:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5

Jesus’ Message to Laodicea and Equally to Us

While addressing the last of the seven churches of Revelation 2-3, Jesus said that the people of the apostate church of Laodicea were “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” What led to them becoming backslidden? Here’s the answer:

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22

Firstly, let us acknowledge that when the Son of God says “thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” one thing’s for certain – you are not right with Him. Christ exposed their sins to them in order to get them to return to Him (to repent).

If you are “lukewarm” you no longer fear or truly serve God, but rather the false god of self.

WHY did Jesus say He was going to reject (“spue”) them? … Jesus is God and knows the hearts of all men. In their hearts these people were saying “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” They were serving the false god of self and mammon. These people were financially prosperous and yet “miserable.” Sounds like many in America today who claim to be “Christians” and yet whose lives consist in nothing more than searching out new ways to entertain themselves, further pampering the miserable god of self. Consumerism has consumed the vast majority. Those who claim to be saved are willing to go to a church building to be told they are okay and yet, they lift no finger to obey Christ’s Great Commission command. Why? – Because they have not truly repented and are therefore consumed with trying to pamper the already overstuffed, gorged god of self. They are “miserable” just as Jesus says they would be here in this letter to the Laodiceans (American “Christians”).

Open your Bible and look at what God said about Sodom. Her sins are paralleled with Laodicea. There is truly “NO new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We can also look at the days of Noah leading up to the flood judgment. Christ warned about the days of Noah where Genesis 6 cites the sins men were committing. Today is no different. So many in the western world have never really suffered a day in their life. They are shallow, substance-less, sin-sick, self-serving, boasters, evil hearted, cowardly, and judgmental lovers of self (2 Timothy 3:1-7). These would rather curse the darkness instead of shining Christ’s light into it. They sit back and hurl their stones of condemnation at others while lifting no finger to help them in their hardship or struggles (Galatians 6:1-2). Compare this to the Good Samaritan who asked no question, made no hesitation, and hastened to help the man he came upon who was in a hardship (Luke 10:25-37).

Like the Laodiceans who were previously saved and yet had since backslidden, so many today also have no fear of God in their hearts. Many ignore and don’t even search out what Christ warned about in light of His coming. They are not ready to meet Him (see Luke 21:33-36). This is evidence of a hardened heart – one hardened “through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-15).

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18

The reason some have “no fear of God” in their lives is due to the pervasive influence of the OSAS (once saved always saved) mythical, diabolical lie.

The people in the city of Laodicea were wealthy. The commerce of that area of the world at that time was flourishing and yet, many of the people who had gotten saved there didn’t continue steadfastly seeking the LORD. Jesus said they trusted in their earthly wealth and Jesus told them that as a result they were “naked.” This simply means that His robe of righteousness no longer covered them and they were pending to go to eternal damnation if they didn’t repent. Let’s look at it again:

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17

Though rich in material goods, the members of the Laodicean church – who were once saved and yet now backslidden, were:

“wretched”
“miserable”
“poor”
“blind”
“naked”

Hoarding instead of dispensing earthly wealth will always lead one to trust in those fleeting riches instead of God who requires us to trust Him. This always leads to a hardened heart and apostasy.

Jesus warned us of this late hour before His soon return. He said that men would be living in total disregard for Him and for their own souls which hang in the balance. He told us they would largely have forgotten the LORD.

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:38-39

Does the Bible speak of people forgetting God and the consequences of such?

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalms 9:17

“Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Psalms 50:22

This citing of the sins of the Laodiceans clearly shows that they were hell bound and in need of returning to the LORD (Hosea 14:1-3). Because He loves them and is “not willing that any should perish (go to hell),” Jesus therefore instructs them to “repent”:

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent (turn back to the LORD). 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:19-20

There is a direct correlation (connection) between your true spiritual state and your giving or lack of giving.

The people who get upset when stewardship is spoken about reveal that they are serving mammon/self and not the LORD. They have an evil eye or an idolatrous focus for living. Listen to Jesus:

“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. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (purely focused on Christ), thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil (focused on self), thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24

The reason many who claim to be serving the One who gave all do not give of their temporal substance is due to the fact that they are not giving their lives to Christ daily (Matthew. 10:8). When we truly give over our lives (including our will) to the Savior, all else then belongs to Him. Jesus came and gave it all – that was His purpose when He came (John 15:13; 10:17-18, etc.). Just what are you giving? Have you begun by giving your life (the complete control of it) over to the One who came and gave His all for you?

The more of us we give over to Christ, the freer He blesses us to be. While working with another ministry on Wednesdays over the last few months, I’ve been blessed to begin many new friendships with older Christians. Many times they tell me about how they are getting rid of stuff, downsizing, and consolidating their lives and living quarters. You can see the joy in their eyes and the liberty as they are breaking free of the encumbrances of this life they allowed themselves to become entangled with. They were bogged down for years and are rejoicing to be getting free.

The more we give, the freer we become – free from the sins that cause us to stumble in sin and from the love of this sinful world.

“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.” 1 John 2:15

Think about this in light of what our LORD Jesus taught when speaking to those who had just initially repented and begun an abiding walk with Him:

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word (obeying Him via what He said in His 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

You see, it’s not those who simply hear the truth that are made freer and freer by Christ, but rather those who hear it and obey it.

Only as we continue to obey Him through His Word are we made free. Church attendance will never make any soul free. As we truly follow Jesus, we are divesting ourselves – giving ourselves over to Him more and more, holding on to nothing of self. We begin to learn that our existence is not about us but rather about the One who gave us life and came and gave His life to buy us back to Himself from a life of sin (Ephesians 2:1-13).

If you are not giving more and more of yourself to the LORD, you have backslidden, are apostate, and in need of true repentance (getting back to/with the LORD). Walking with Christ – continuing in His Word – always (without fail) produces a life of giving. We give our lives as a living sacrifice to Him who offered for His Father and us the ultimate sacrifice.

We owe a debt we cannot pay. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Your life is no longer your own but rather Christ’s:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Who are You Living For?

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

WE ARE most miserable when we are hoarding instead of giving – our lives.

What’s the “more blessed” life look like?

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

RED FLAG: You attend a “church” and aren’t digging into, devouring, and memorizing God’s Word daily. Backslidden!

So you have time to read the news in the morning but no time or desire and discipline to seek God in His holy Word and prayer when you first awake in the mornings? Self-idolatry!

God’s Word cannot and will not get into you until you get into it!

If anything is more important to you than knowing the LORD through studying His Word, you are not ready to meet Jesus.

Prayer of Returning: Holy Father, You gave all when You gave Your only begotten Son who came and died for our sins. You’ve also called me to lay down my life, to lose my life in this fleeting world. I have not done well at giving over my life to You … You alone who are worthy of my full, unreserved worship. Right this moment I ask You to forgive my sin of having another god before You which is self idolatry and spiritual adultery. I have alienated the affections of my heart away from You and onto myself. For this I ask You to forgive me and I right here and now turn to You. Right this moment I lay my life in Your holy hands. Into Your hands I submit my spirit – my whole being. Not my will but Thine be done! I am no longer my own. I am Yours. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. I love You Jesus and am ceaselessly grateful that You bought me with the price of Your own blood! You must increase but I must decrease. I ask You to unite my heart to fear Thy holy name! Teach me daily to lay myself aside and to give the reins over to You! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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The Danger of Joining a Modern Church [podcast]

Fruit. Fruit. Fruit.

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” Matthew 12:33

Speaking of the pattern of one’s life, Jesus taught that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know (discern) them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15-20

Jesus commanded His people to “know” which is to discern all “by their fruits”—to be fruit inspectors—first in their own lives and then in all others (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 2 Corinthians 13:5).

Personally, I fail to find anywhere that Jesus or His apostles instructed any saints to “go find a local church and plug in.” Hebrews 10:25 is peddled by pastors today who seek a loyal following instead of seeking to fulfill their God-given duties to establish their hearers in the faith, to ground them in God’s Word, to equip them for the work of the ministry, etc.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Read that again please. Does it say to find a church? No. Those who are born again ARE already God’s “church” which simply means His called out people. More biblically, should we not simply be His church—His people, daily? This seems to be the pattern we see among the earliest followers of Jesus (Acts 2:42-47; 5:42; Colossians 3:16, etc.).

The authentic remnant elect of Christ do not patronize or bid Godspeed to false leaders (2 John 9-11; Revelation 2:2).

Refusing to sit under, condone, bid Godspeed to the false gospel, false doctrines, false teachers and wolves of the modern church … is not forsaking the assembly! Instead, it’s obedience to God who mandates that we “mark them,” that we “earnestly contend” against them, and warns us that anyone who bids Godspeed to them will be punished with them (Romans 16:17-18; Jude 3; 2 John 10-11).

If you are prone to cite Hebrews 10:25 to advocate for going to church weekly, consider where you learned that. In churches, right? Funny you probably don’t even have 10 Bible verses memorized and yet, to the benefit of the pastor, you know that one. What does this tell us? What does this reveal? What’s wrong with this picture?

What happens when people get loyal to a local church especially in this late hour where great apostasy was foretold? Here are a few obvious things that happen when someone “joins a church.”

Most people who join churches today are not even born again, are not told they must repent and believe on Jesus to be born again. They become proud of their pastor and friends at that gathering (Zechariah 11:17).
Church members are not learning the Word of God itself because they are simply being led by a wolf who is fostering their allegiance toward himself, not Christ (Colossians 2:8-10, 18-19; 3:1-4).
They are not becoming soul winners (Proverbs 11:30; Luke 19:10).
Attenders of modern churches are seldom if ever taught, established with personal knowledge of the Scriptures, the paramount truth that God’s Word itself is the final divine authority on all matters of the Christian faith and the practice of it (Deuteronomy 4:10; Psalms 119; 138:2; Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; John 10:35; Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
The Bible message, warning to “love not the world” is seldom or never heard. Those who live worldly are separated from God (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17).
Fake pastor do not teach people to get into God’s Word for themselves and so church attenders today are not in the Word daily for themselves which is by satanic design and therefore have no biblical foundation (Psalms 11:3; Matthew 7:19-29; 2 Timothy 2:15).
When do we hear in modern churches that Jesus Christ is the Grand Subject of all of Holy Scripture? We don’t (Psalms 40:7-8; Luke 24:25-27, 44-46; John 5:39-40; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
They are never taught the value God places upon good works in those He saves by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 1:16; 3:8; 1 John 2:4).
The Great Commission Jesus gave to His people is never mentioned and when it is, they’ve turned it into just another way of promoting themselves, their own brand, ministry (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47; Book of Acts).
They are not being equipped “for the work of the ministry” which is the duty being carried out by every authentic overseer of Christ’s church (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6).
Never taught in the modern churches is the fact that God holds each person He saves personally responsible, personally accountable for following Jesus daily (Deuteronomy 24:16; Joshua 24:14-15; Luke 21:34-36; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 12:14; Revelation 2-3, etc.).
Modern day church members are not in the Word for themselves and the pastors have led them to this biblical illiteracy because they are building a church busine$$ and dumb people are easy prey/targets to rob (Isaiah 9:16; 56:8-12; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 23; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4, etc.).
Church goers are barely or never heard the essential cross message which Jesus requires to follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Colossians 3:3, etc.).
They are never warned of going to hell if they die in sin (Ezekiel 33:12-13; Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6; 10:26-39; Revelation 21:8, 27).
They are never taught that God is “Holy, holy, holy” and that He requires that those who are His be holy as He is holy (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8).
Those who attend a church are never informed that only those who overcome sin and Satan will be with Jesus eternally which is exactly what Christ told each and every one of the seven churches of Asia minor (Revelation 2-3).
They are never taught that saving grace without exception results in the saved living according to the Scripture: “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11-12).
Members are taught the demonic lie of eternal security/once saved always saved , which is Satan’s first teaching and irrefutably led to the fall of mankind in the Garden (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
The mountains of warnings in Scripture are intentionally hidden from the congregational dupes who are willingly biblically ignorant, having rejected the knowledge/Word of God (Ezekiel 3:7; Hosea 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Colossians 1:28; Jude 3-4, etc.).
Most church members are not taught that only those who remain in Christ after being saved will be with Him eternally (Matthew 25:1-13; John 15:6; Romans 11:20-22, etc.).
Modern church attenders are seldom if ever warned to come out from this sinful world in the way they live (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
They are lukewarm which means hell bound if they don’t repent (Luke 3:15-16).
The original Gospel essential, the command to “repent” is never heard, even though it was the very first word spoken by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostle Peter in their ministries (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30).
Modern church members are merely a participant of a “Christian” social club seen nowhere in Scripture (Cp. Acts 2:42-47).
Their loyalty and allegiance is toward the pastor, singing group, and fellow congregants (Proverbs 21:16).
They are never taken through the volumes of Holy Scripture where God judged His very own people who backslid (Numbers 16; 25; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Hebrews 3-4; Jude 1).
Church members are taught to become dependent on their church affiliation, connection, and attendance and not the LORD (Matthew 15:8).
They are not daily seeking the face of the LORD (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8; 57:7; 63:8; Matthew 6:33; Luke 9:23-24).
Seminarian led church members are seldom if ever taught that for eternal glory with Him Jesus requires the decisive cutting off of the hand and plucking out of the eye of any sin that defiles them in the eyes of a holy God (Mark 9:43-49).
When the Bible is literally read, 99% of the time it’s from a vatican corrupted fake “bible.”
Most are barely if at all different from any lost soul around them in their daily life (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
Due to their own refusal to truly repent and walk with Jesus daily, they were sent strong delusion, are in darkness and deception, and therefore “remain in the congregation of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16).

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” Psalms 89:7

The words “leader” and “leaders” appear 6 times (total) in God’s Word. It is always to be in context of servant leading (Matthew 20:20-28; 23:8-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6). In the following and most popular times “leaders” is used, it’s in the negative, as in false “leaders.”

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

“Let them alone: they be blind LEADERS of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14

They love their darkness rather than the light of His truth and therefore craft, they erect the image of a false god in their wicked unrepentant hearts.

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

“Jeremiah 7. The people were wicked and evil, placing their trust in the temple, instead of God, and believing their religious activities would be pleasing to the Lord. But they were committing all kinds of sins, deluding themselves into thinking that they were secure. God said, I will cast you out of my sight! And instructed Jeremiah not to pray for them. They refused to obey the Lord God nor receive correction, and the truth had perished, so God said, I will cut them off from my mouth! Wow! Isn’t this exactly what we are seeing in this late hour? There comes a time when the Lord has had enough and cuts them off! And judgment falls upon those who don’t want the truth.” Karen Cochran

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Is Church Membership Biblical? State of the Earliest Disciples of Jesus It’s more than obvious that local churches today are about EVERYTHING EXCEPT JESUS. If you don’t see this, that only proves how Satan has used this system of rebellion called “the church” to blind you to the true Gospel, plan, and will of God. Anyone who doesn’t see that most pastors are preaching a false Gospel, do not know the true Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9). It’s amazing how we learn to truly begin to trust and walk with the LORD when we leave the modern church system. […]

The Truth about Tradition and Church Membership [podcast]

Is Church Membership Biblical? Godly and Ungodly Tradition and True and False Church Membership YOU KNOW you are in a fake church when they have “membership classes” to get you to join yet spend little or no time preaching the Word on the necessity of repentance, forsaking your life in this world, denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus daily! Run! Membership means money to them! They have a busine$$ plan. “Prove (test) all things; hold fast (keep and do) that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Of the 13 times we find the word “tradition(s)” in Scripture, only twice […]

Biblical Case Against Seminary [podcast]

SATAN’S SEMINARIANS [podcast] Satanic Seminarian System People have to be first indoctrinated in order to go forth and indoctrinate others, their prey. This is the purpose of seminarians. What could possibly sound more innocent than a man wanting to serve God going to seminary, right? BEWARE OF THE SEMINARIANS WHO ARE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES OF OUR DAY! Satan loves to use that which sounds noble and spiritual and yet is not biblical. There are no seminaries in the New Testament! And it’s not biblical for a good reason. God’s Divine wisdom. To protect His body. Let’s stay with the […]

Abiding

Jesus Conquered Sin, Satan, and Death by Dying [podcast]

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15

Through death Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan and made His people free, washing away their sins in His precious blood and putting His Holy Spirit in them, empowering them to live fruit-filled victorious lives to His eternal glory!

Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection – both now and for eternnity. Those raised up with Christ now are those who are crucified with Him. This is His holy “remnant.” (Isaiah 37:31; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15, etc.).

Jesus conquered sin and death (separation) by dying on His cross. Because of this, we need never live outside of an abiding relationship with Christ. His grace is sufficient to provide everything He died to purchase for us – and all these blessings are appropriated via our faith, our abiding in Him (John 15; Romans 6:14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-26, etc.).

In order to be raised up, to walk in His resurrection power and grace, we must first be dead and buried with Christ.

“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7

***ALL Heaven’s going to break out when this hits you in the heart, when your heart perceives this cross economy divine revelation.

Finishing Strong mean Finishing Crucified and Resurrected

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

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

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

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

God counteracts death by the promise of resurrection – now and in eternity! (1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

“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

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

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21

“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

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:5-6

Learning the Cross, the Crucified Life Where Jesus Reigns

The Myth of Elevation without the Cross [podcast]

THE CROSS: Know it. Live it. Preach it. God will never lift up those who stand in their pride but only those who bow before Him in humility (Psalms 145:14; James 4:6-10, etc.). Running to a “revival” is not the answer. The reason people run to a “revival” is due to their refusal to deny self, take up the cross daily, and thereby be re-vived (filled with life!) daily – experiencing the resurrection of Christ each day in their personal lives as God has ordained (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). A cross-less life is a life of defeat. A life in […]

H.O.T. BIBLE STUDY [podcast]

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 So very many today are deceived due to not studying God’s Word for themselves. They live for years with erroneous notions men told them. Instead of repenting and getting into the Word for themselves, many of them go to their graves having embraced soul-damning lies. HOW do you know if someone is imposing something upon the Scripture text they are reading from IF you haven’t personally, organically, thoroughly studied the whole of God’s Word for […]

The Importance of Personal, Organic Bible Study [podcast]

To study the Bible organically means simply to study God’s Word without the undue influence, the taintings of mere men! God’s Word is your life (Proverbs 4:20-23). The Word is your “daily bread” and your life depends on knowing and obeying it (Matthew 6:11). Knowing and adhering to Holy Scripture is your protection (Proverbs 30:5-6). “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protection) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 RECENTLY: In a very engaging fellowship […]

Articles

JT with Todd Tomasella of SAFEGUARD YOURSOUL – Evangelism Encouragement [video]

Joe Telford and Todd Tomasella – Evangelism Encouragement

Evangelism [study guide]

Evangelism (PDF) (Duplication encouraged. An open King James Bible should accompany your study of this topic. Carefully, prayerfully study each verse given in order to answer each question correctly. Print this document out and pencil in the answers in the blanks provided. It may be best to cut and paste it to your word processing software and then print it out. Your life in Christ will be enriched forever as you embrace and put into practice His Word.) “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:38 God so loved […]

Ten Commandments Evangelism [podcast]

Use the 10 Commandments to bring conviction to the consciences of the lost and backslidden. THAT’s exactly how New Testament saints are instucted to use the Law. Do you have them memorized? Do it now. GOSPEL/KINGDOM TRUTH: People must become convicted of their sin before they are broken and shown the need to repent. This truth is essential to successful ministering. Gal 3:24; 1 Tim 1:7-10; Ps 19:7 … You cannot and will never talk anyone into being saved. You don’t have that power. God does. And He instructs us to give them the divine sword which cuts straight […]

Kingdom Breaking! 5 Souls Saved! Live Action of Jesus! [podcast]

KINGDOM BREAKING: The work of God through His born again “ambassadors” who are about the “Father’s business”, is the infinitely most important and only eternal work transpiring on the earth. Nothing even remotely compares (Matthew 9:35-38; Luke 2:49; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20). After hearing the extensive preaching of the Word of our God (see podcast above), 5 souls repented before God and received Christ as the LORD of their lives! Also, all the believers present asked our LORD to fill, to baptize them with His Holy Spirit and to use them mightily (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 37-39; 8:14-17; 19:1-6, etc.). (keep in […]