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WHERE is “the Root of the Matter”?

The hypocrite continues to look outward, evading his own person responsbility to repent and get his own heart right with God (Matthew 7:1-5).

ALL we have to do to see the sinner most in need of God’s grace today – is look in the mirror. All we have to do to see the hypocrite most in need of divine mercy is to look in the mirror! What’s job saying to us in 19:28?

“But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?” Job 19:28

Are you personally seeing that “the root of the matter is found in” you and no one else?

WHERE is “the Root of the Matter”? ARE YOU BEING SHOWN MERCY FROM GOD? God has shown “abundant mercy” upon our wicked souls and requires that we show mercy in our attitudes (and disposition) toward others, or, He will cease to forgive us and all our sins will be upon us (required of us).  (1 Peter 1:3)

The LORD is our Maker and Judge and has called us to discover and deal firstly with the sin in our own hearts and lives.

Matthew 15:18-20

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceedevil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”

According to the One who created each component of us, emanating from our hearts are the things which “defile” us.

It has been wisely stated that The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.

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

The only hope we have for a “clean heart” is in the LORD Himself. Like David, the Psalmist and man after God’s heart, we should cry out to the LORD for such while flooding our hearts and minds with the Scriptures, hence the Biblical term “with the washing of water by the Word.” (Eph. 5:26)

David cried:

“…Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin…Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:1,2,10

When I become preoccupied with the state of my own heart before God and seeking His face to make it “clean,” I will cease to sit in the seat of the scornful in judging others wrongly in the attitudes of my heart (Ps 1:1; Matt. 7:1-6; John 7:24). No, instead I will pray for them and seek to see the LORD restore them to full righteousness and fellowship with Him Lk. 22:31-32; (Gal. 6:1-2; James 5:19-20).

Unforgiveness is sin. Despising others who have fallen morally is sin. The Bible says that when we are walking in God’s love, we believe to the best about others and not the worst (1 Corinthians 13).

Christ’s Riches Discovered Through the Realization of Our Own Depravity

To the degree that we are receiving the revelation of CHRIST’s righteousness, to that degree we lose self-righteousness (Romans 3-8). Understanding your own utter depravity is never a license to sin but rather the starting point to be able to truly cherish Christ and what He did for us.

How can we possibly begin to appreciate Christ and His perfect sacrifice if we don’t yet begin to understand the depth of our own depravity outside of Him and what the Bible has to say about such? – “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth NO GOOD THING: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18)

We are saved because “He first loved us” and has given us “abundant mercy” through Jesus Christ our LORD (1 John 4:19; 1 Peter 1:3).

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

Where are Mankind’s Sins Rooted?

—- SEEMS to me that the life and mission of Christ and His holy apostles and the early church were “to teach and to preach Jesus Christ” and not to segment or fragment into different mere causes which are the out workings (manifested fruit) of sin.

So many ministries today are based on certain causes instead of simply preaching Christ – the One who still forgives, saves, delivers, and sets the repentant (previously bound) captives free (John 8:31-32, 36). – “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:42) Is it time we get back to Jesus and the original Gospel?

“And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. 20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. 21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. 22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.” 2 Kings 2:19-22

The waters of that city were healed because the servant of the LORD chose to be directed by our LORD who had him pure the healing agent (salt) into the source of the city’s problem. Healing was the result. So it is today – when we observe and obey the divine pattern revealed to us in God’s Word, we go and preach His saving original Gospel without being diverted and the healing salt of His Word brings men to Him whereby all the mere symptoms (sin) are healed.

If someone wants their lawn to be all dirt, they are wasting their time cutting the grass that covers it. What they should do is pluck up from the roots all the grass. Getting to the root of fallen man’s problem is what the LORD does – not wrestling with futility with the symptoms.

THE ROOT DETERMINES THE FRUIT. BEING ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN CHRIST IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO MAN’S CORE DILEMMA – SIN.

Most ministry today is done amiss of God’s Word – it seems to nip at symptoms instead of placing the axe of God’s Law/Word to the root of the tree which is God’s way (Matthew 3:7-10). There’s the forgetting or total ignorance of basic biblical truth such as the fall of mankind by sin against a Holy God (Genesis 3:1-5; 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, etc.).

Note what comes first here:

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

PRAYER: LORD Jesus, please cleanse my heart of all iniquity. Wash my heart that I might glorify You from a clean heart that You have purified. Help me to see others as You do and to be used of You to restore the fallen – by bringing them to You through Your Holy Law and blessed redeeming Gospel! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The Root of the Matter

Mug Shots and Mercy Moments [podcast]

Fruitfulness is Found in Abiding in Christ [podcast]

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Abiding

Acquainted and Nourished [podcast]


“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” Job 22:21

“nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine”

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6

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Abiding

“Be Strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus” – 2 Timothy Chapter 2 [podcast]


A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5  And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6  The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

7  Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

A Workman Approved by God

14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23  But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

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Abiding

“A Faithful Man shall Abound with Blessings” [podcast]


Do you desire to abound in the blessings of God?

Jesus our LORD taught that as we are faithful with what the LORD has already given us, then, and only then, will He multiply it.

ASK YOURSELF: Are you faithful to abide, to obey Him by obeying His Word? If so, Jesus and the Father are dwelling richly with you and will multiply you according to your proper, wise, faithful stewardship of what is already in your possession – which is from Him. See John 14:21-23.

“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

God is not going to add to or multiply His supply and blessings to anyone who is sitting around, doing the church attendance thing, and not doing His biblically stated will – of loving, tending to, giving to, serving, and blessing others (Matthew 22:37-39). Every true disciple is a doer of the WORD (James 1:22; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.). A true disciple is not known merely by being a church attender, which any old dead fish counterfeit can be. No, the true servant of Christ is known by his supreme love for, and faithful obedience to Christ his King, his “first love” (Revelation 2:4-5).

“For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” 1 Chronicles 29:14

Every good gift and blessing is from God (James 1:17). We take from what He’s given us and we share it with others – whether that be supply, or spiritual blessings in Christ, or material blessings.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

“Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8

ARE GOD’S BLESSINGS CONDITIONAL?  Yes they are. Here’s but one example of how God’s people forfeited His blessings due to living life on their own terms instead of complying with His.

“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” Jeremiah 5:25

Jesus’ Parable of the Talents:
Matthew 25:14-30

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Prayer: Holy Father, I come to You in the name of my LORD Jesus. Please make my heart to long for more of You, to love and worship You as my supreme God, Supplier, and Provider. Please unite my heart to truly fear Thy holy Name and to be quickened by Your Word and Holy Spirit unto obedience. Please multiply Your grace to my life as You are working in me and Your body both to will and to do of Your good pleasure. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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