WHY Christians Sin and the Only Solution [podcast]

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

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

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

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? … For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:1-2, 14

Are you familiar with Romans 6 as every disciple should be? If so, you know that between verse 2 and 14 is what? The cross!

A priesthood of wolves, false preachers, have pawned off to us the heretical notion that we are woefully relegated to a life of sin after Jesus saves us. Paul warns us of these “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

Is this defeatist perspective what we read on the pages of New Testament Scripture? Is God that powerless? Was Christ’s coming in vain? Read Romans 6:1-2.

“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

Abiding in Jesus (John 15), integrally involves the daily cross, and those abiding in Him truly, are not living in sin.

The cross means that because we love God supremely as the “first love” of our lives, we are willing to lay down our lives and die that He might live, move, and reign in our lives (Revelation 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Isn’t this exactly what Jesus did for us? Did He not lay down His very life so we could have life? Did He not also command that we deny ourselves, die to self, that He might reign in us and that we might reign with Him forever?

It all boils down to WHO we love the most today saints – self or the Savior.

“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

IF the sins of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) are having victory in our lives, what does that mean? That simply means that there is the lack of the cross in our lives and that God is calling us back to Himself as “first love,” to repent (turn back to Him), deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus (Revelation 2:4-5). The sins of the flesh are resident in every one of us and can only be crucified out of our lives by the daily cross! Jesus is so good and more than able saints! Oh, and He told as that we are not alone is such a battle. He promised that “through the Spirit” we can have the whole victory over the flesh! Read Romans 8:13-14.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14

YOU are not a slave to sin but rather a friend and servant of Christ! Read Romans 6.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” Romans 6:12

“I was personally not able to get out of my own way. I finally began to accept it when people and adverse circumstances pushed me out of my own way. I learned not to fight to regain my own way.”

Paul’s flesh was and our flesh is a constant reminder of the ever momentary need for the grace of Jesus. Romans chapters 6-7.

Until you realize the depth of your own iniquity, depravity, you’re not going to realize or understand the purpose of the cross Jesus mandated you to take up. The Son of God ordained Himself to be at the center of your daily life and that requires you getting out of the way (Genesis 6:5; 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18, 24, etc.).

Every believer grapples with the downward gravitational pull of the flesh (Galatians 5:17; Hebrews 12:4). Obeying God is the only way victory will erupt, manifest in our personal lives (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Death and burial will be followed by resurrection! And, when Christ is truly reigning is us, victory will be sure! Time to get down low and watch the devil and sin go! See James 4:6-10.

“GOD is able” saith the LORD! (Ephesians 3:20)

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

The law of God is “holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12).

The holy law of God and the depraved nature of fallen mankind could not be further apart – the righteousness of God inherent in His law vs the “old man,” the iniquitous fallen nature of mankind (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9).

Nothing but a caustic reaction, explosion could be the result of the two colliding (Romans 7). One or the other must reign.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17

For your own edification, you may wish to peruse this category linked here.

The Christian life will not work without the power generator of the cross. Let the addiction begin – as the resurrection life of Christ fills, teems in, and works through His crucified saints! Read 2 Corinthians 4:10-12. Are you ready to exchange your sin, guilt, misery, and shame for Christ’s resurrection life? Cross – Resurrection Gospel Life

Those who claim to know Jesus and have no victory over sin in their daily lives, are not abiding in Christ according to HIS definition! That would mean that Jesus isn’t powerful enough to conquer the sin He died to free His people from! No, such a person is not in obedience to the cross message Christ and his apostles gave us – which means they are not following Jesus on His terms (Galatians 2:20, etc.).

Lately I’ve been pointing Christians I meet back to their water baptism after Jesus saved them and how that was the symbolism of how their life in Christ was to go from that point onward – they are dead, buried, and Christ is raising them upward. This is the only way the Christian life works. The cross life is the power generator for our whole life in Christ saints (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Nothing else works without it.

IT would be impossible for a preacher to be taking up the cross himself and not be preaching the cross, the crucified life. What’s that say for America’s preachers? (Philippians 3:18-19)

The dictates of the flesh, the motions of sins, will reign and wreak havoc in our lives until the cross takes its proper place to bring a crucified vessel to naught. Romans 6 and 7 summated.

Sin is avoidable, right? Yes. Jesus Christ died to take away our sins and not to enable us to live in them (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Titus 2:11-14, etc.). Note the word “IF” in this following verse. It does not say WHEN but rather “IFFFF any man sin.” Big difference. Watch this…

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And IF (not when) any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2

There really is victory in Jesus – meaning that when we do things the simple way He prescribed, not following a cross-less false message, victory will manifest in our personal lives as God has ordained that it be!

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

You see, just previous to this resurrection “victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” Paul is speaking of in 1 Corinthians 15, he says “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). Life can only spring out of death (John 12:23-25). Daily dying and the consequent raising up of the LORD causes a foretaste of what lies ahead in eternal glory with our LORD.

The Cross – death, burial, and resurrection – grants God’s people a “daily” foretaste of glory divine!
The whole of New Testament doctrine testifies to the necessity of experiencing our own death in order to be raised up by Christ eternally (2 Timothy 2:11-12, etc.).

When we truly “follow” Jesus, who went to His own death in order to be raised, we see the same in our own lives as the Gospel takes its place daily in us. We are dead, buried, and raised again to new life in Christ daily.

“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

In the professing church world, the Gospel, the work of Christ is seen only as that which the Son of God accomplished on the cross 2,000 years ago. Yet, that’s not what Jesus and His holy apostles taught. The Gospel is “daily” according to the original Gospel.

Jesus Christ Died to Grant His People the Whole Victory

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-14

In light of the biblical revelation of the fallen nature and the cross, there’s no need to wonder WHY we sin if we sin. If the “old man” is not “put off” by the daily cross life, there will be sin in our daily lives and we know that brings dismal results (Romans 6-7; Colossians 3:9, etc.) right? SO, we must see that our weakness reveals that Christ was not reigning in us when we sinned, right? Right (Romans 6-7).

God is able! (Ephesians 3:20)

In Colossians 3:9 we read this:

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Colossians 3:9

Yet, what precedes this? Watch this, just a few verses before the one above:

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

This crucified life Jesus prescribes must not only be recognized positionally but also practically, daily in our personal lives. That is what brings the victory Jesus died to procure for each and every one of His saints in whom He has all His delight (Psalms 16:3).

The same Savior who said “It is finished (HIS work, not yours)“ also said that to follow Him, one must daily deny himself and take up his cross (Luke 9:23-24).

Putting off the old sinful man is only divinely possible when we “reckon (count) ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11).

In short, the answer to the question posed… If we sin, we are to:

Admit it, repent, confess the sin transparently, and get back to the cross – lay down your life afresh and march forth – “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Yet, we all wonder…. How do we continue to live in God’s overcoming grace? How do we live consistently in Christ, glorying Him daily?

The Solution – What it is and What it’s Not

“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

Read together, as this is written, it begins to come clear that the cross necessarily precedes the transforming of our minds, right? Read this again please. Notice that as the born again saint presents himself a living sacrifice (the cross), he is then divinely enabled to be transformed by a renewed mindset – attitude, cross perspective – where Christ reigns, not us!

Transform your thinking? Yes and yet that’s only generated by the cross. Read Romans 12:1-2 together. The answer to glorifying God is not better mastery of our thoughts. No it’s not trying harder – but rather dying deeper. No, it’s not having a positive mental attitude (PMA). Instead, it’s worshipful faith-obedience to God – a consenting to the cross where you say “Jesus, I want YOU to reign in my life!”

Sure those things like thinking on the things of Christ play a part and yet, without the cross nothing works (Philippians 4:8).

Lots of people today preach peripherals and not the primary – the cross. Regrettably, there is no cross in the modern false gospel, which makes it “another gospel” and false (Galatians 1:6-9).

Jesus is Coming but for Who?

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

So we know from Scripture that Jesus will return for “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemis.” (Ephesians 5:25-27). So it is clear to see that Jesus is going to return for a people, His people. His people are defined in Scripture as those who are simply obeying His instruction to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23-24). Here is the message of Savior – the only prescription for following Him:

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Becoming saturated in the central Gospel message of the cross, is essential to being rooted and grounded in Christ and thereby receiving His divine grace to overcome. This is exactly why the ministry site features the cross category – for your edification in your walk with Jesus. Peruse….

Becoming Saturated in the Message of the Cross

What Did Paul Mean by "I Keep Under My Body"? [podcast]

In spite of all the evil that is me, dear LORD You have been so gracious (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7; Titus 3:5-7). If OSAS/eternal security is true, WHY did Paul say he himself that he could be “castaway” from God in the end if he didn’t endure to the end, perpetually keep under his body (the cross life)? “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 Here Paul speaks of his own need for […]

"Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith" [podcast]

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66-67 WHERE O WHERE are we going to go if we depart from Jesus? …. does He, the eternal God and Creator of all things not hold the future of every living soul in His holy hand? FB Meyer on John 6:60-71 “THE SIFTING OF JESUS’ FOLLOWERS Christ’s pathetic question-Will ye also go away?-elicited from Peter a reply which proved that the inner meaning of His words had already broken upon their […]

The Cross Imperative [podcast]

The cross is not about self effort but rather self denial. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 Dear LORD Jesus, please take all of me. Have Your way in this life. “not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 The cross, the blood of Christ’s cross is what He commanded we take up daily in order to follow Him (Colossians 1:20; Luke 9:23-24). The divine economy is a cross economy and that is the only way one can truly walk with the LORD, pleasing Him in all things. Pouring over the words of 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 is […]

Articles

God and His Word are Unchanging [podcast]

Because God is Unchanging, So is His Word

“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6

“Which keepeth truth for ever” – Is the Bible “Archaic”? No. Divine truth is everlasting. Has no expiration date. You cannot escape accountability to it, to Him. It’s an open book test. The Savior says “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Mark 13:31). Divine truth is eternal, unchanging, and binding upon all men (Psalms 146:6; Malachi 3:6, etc.).

Every time you open God’s Word and begin reading, you are hearing the voice of God.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1 (the devil questions God’s Word, questions what God says in His Word.)

“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die.” Genesis 3:4

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield 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

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17

“Ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.” Jeremiah 23:36

“all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:” Jeremiah 26:2

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 Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15 today. Index card perhaps. Read it aloud over and over. YOU cannot personally know the ORIGINAL Gospel if you don’t study the naked truth of it for yourself beloved. KJB 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 […]

"Feed My Sheep" [podcast]

The Paramount Divine Importance of Nourishing the Saints of Christ “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4:16 Nourishing Christ’s Sheep “Feed the Flock of God.” 1 Peter 5:2 First, it’s God’s flock, paid for with the very blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28). Jesus Christ is “that great shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). He instructed us to follow Him and, in doing so, to “FEED my sheep” (John 21:15-17). Tending to the sheep of Christ’s pasture involves nourishing […]

Teach the Bible [podcast]

JESUS IS COMING AND THE TRUE BODY OF CHRIST IS “HOLDING FORTH (BOLDLY DECLARING) THE WORD OF LIFE” “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Philippians 2:16 WHEN you speak God’s Word, you are speaking divine authority. “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:15 “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, […]

Articles

Soul Sleep Exposed: Where Do We Go When We Die? When do we Go there? [podcast]

Do you realize that upon death, immediately, each soul is instantly translated, transported to their new and eternal place of existence – comfort and joy or hell fire? Instantly each soul is already judged upon death and literally in hell or Heaven now (Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:6, 8; Philippians 1:21-23; Hebrews 9:27).

When the Bible speaks of “slept” or “sleep”, it’s speaking of the body, not the eternal soul. For example, the soul sleep cults use verses like 1 Kings 2:10 to attempt to “prove” soul sleep.

“So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.” 1 Kings 2:10

“For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,” Acts 2:34

Notice here in Acts 2:34 that it says “David is not ascended into the heavens.”

Primarily this is speaking of Jesus, the son of David and the prophecies Peter is speaking of in this message He’s preaching.

“Act_2:34: Ascended not for is not ascended, A.V. For David, etc. The ascension of Christ is inferred from the previous prophecy, “Thou wilt show me the path of life,” etc.; and is there distinctly proved from Psa_110:1, which Peter (remembering, probably, our Lord’s application of it as recorded in Mat_22:42-45, which he had doubtless heard) shows could not apply to David himself, but only to David’s Lord.” Pulpit

David’s eternal soul is in Heaven now.

“[David is not ascended into the heavens] This refers to David’s body in resurrection, not to his soul and spirit which are in heaven (Heb_12:23; Eph_4:8-10; 2Co_5:8; Php_1:21-24).” Dake

Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Philippians 1:21-23; Revelation 22:11 make it clear that when one dies he goes straight to his eternal destination. Any compromise on this doctrine is evil and constitutes that which seduces the believer towards lasciviousness Jude 3-4. There will be no second chance to repent. Death is final and as one dies so shall he be forever (Luke 16:19-31; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 22:11).

Fact: Only cults teach soul sleep.

Praying for someone who’s already dead is futile. At death, the soul goes to Heaven if the person is a born again Christ or eternally, irrevocably to hell. Read Luke 16:19-31 in the King James Bible. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27)

The Word of God tells us that anyone living in sin, upon death, is going to hell, immediately upon death. Luke 16:19-31; Hebrews 9:27; Ezekiel 33:12-13, etc Those who are born again and abiding in Christ will be with Him immediately upon death (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23). You have to be born again to be in Christ.

“To Day Shalt Thou be with Me in Paradise”

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

“To day” this repentant former thief who hung next to Jesus was going to be “in paradise” and not asleep in the grave.

The doctrine of soul sleep is taught by many cults including the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Roman Catholic version of this antichrist, diabolical lie is their teaching on purgatory (an in-between state where average Catholics supposedly get their sins burned off by fire because the blood of Christ was not good enough to cleanse away those sins). This false teaching (soul sleep) supposes that when people die they go into a state of sleep or nothingness. Yet, the Bible reveals something very different. These false teachings are a diabolical attempt to remove the severe reality of conscious, eternal torment (Mark 9:43-49).

The flames of eternal damnation shall forever feed upon the conscious souls of all rebels. Mark 9:43-49 KJB Are you born again? Go here now and make peace with God before its too late.

Recently I replied to a post that was pushing the soul sleep heresy. Here it is….

REPLY:

Soul sleep is another false teaching taught only by the cults. Beware of those peddling this lie. Luke 16:19-31 makes it more than clear that upon death, the eternal soul of the individual goes to Heaven or hell based upon the spiritual state at the moment of death. Upon death the soul goes straight to Heaven or hell. Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23

The righteous who have died, are “under the altar” in Heaven, right now.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw UNDER THE ALTAR the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:” Revelation 6:9

No Sleep, Just Judgment at the Moment of Death

The grave is the “final resting place” of no one. Heaven or hell await – immediately upon drawing one’s last breath on earth. Read Luke 16:19-31 and Hebrews 9:27.

QUESTION RECEIVED:

“Todd where do you believe we go when we die? Why do some preach we go to the grave until Christ returns?”

REPLY:

The Bible tells us we go directly to glory or hell (2 Cor 5:6-8; Phil 1:21-23; Luke 16:19-31; 23:43). It’s false to teach we go to the grave only. Cults teach that. That’s a false teaching that gives us a clue that we are dealing with a cult.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

According to the full-counsel of God’s Word, when a person dies, that soul goes directly, immediately to the destination God has judged them to go.

When someone dies, they are immediately in the place they have merited with God – Heaven or hell. Then, the wicked will be dredged up and will be formerly sentenced. Those not found written in the book of life will be brought before the Throne of God to be terminated or “cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

As a person dies – that is, in the spiritual state they die in – so shall they be for all eternity. There are no second chances.

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11

The apostle Paul taught us that immediately upon death he was going to “be with Christ”:

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” Philippians 1:23

“Philippians 1:23: To depart – Out of bonds, flesh, the world. And to be with Christ – In a nearer and fuller union. It is better to depart; it is far better to be with Christ.” John Wesley

“Notice that Paul did not believe in any theory of soul-sleep. He believed that the Christian goes to be with Christ at the time of death and that he is in the conscious enjoyment of the presence of the Lord. How ridiculous it would be for him to say, as some do today: “To live is Christ; to sleep is gain.” Or, “To depart and to sleep is far better.” “Sleep” is used in the NT of the believer’s body at the time of death (1Th_4:14), never of his soul. Soul-sleep is a myth. Notice, too, that death is not to be confused with the coming of the Savior. At the time of death, we go to be with Him. At the time of the Rapture, He comes to us.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Remember how the rich man in Luke 16 died and immediately he was in hell?

“the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Luke 16:22-23

Read Luke 16:19-31 and you will see that immediately upon death, the wicked and the righteous go to their separate places and are fully conscious. No such thing as soul sleep.

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

We are fully confident that the moment we pass, we breathe our last, we shall “be present with the Lord.”

“2 Corinthians 5:8: Present with the Lord – This demonstrates that the happiness of the saints is not deferred till the resurrection.” John Wesley

“2 Corinthians 5:8: [to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord] To die and be absent from the body means we go to heaven to be with the Lord (Php_1:21-24; Heb_12:23; Jas_2:26; Rev_6:9-11). This is proof that the inner man does not go to the grave at death, but to heaven if one is righteous. If one is wicked he goes to hell awaiting the resurrection of his body (Luk_16:19-31, notes; Rev_20:11-15).” Dake

On this matter of where the human soul goes immediately upon death, refuting soul sleep, Donald Stamps wrote:

“Psalms 16:10 THOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HELL. ‘Hell’ (Heb. Sheol) here means the grave. A personal relationship with God will give believers confidence in a future life with God and certainty that He will not abandon them to the grave (cf. 73:24-26). The apostles Peter and Paul both applied this verse to Christ and His resurrection (Acts 2:25-31; 13:34-37).

(1) Sheol, found sixty-five times in the O.T., is translated thirty-one times as ‘the grave,’ thirty-one times as ‘hell,’ and three times as ‘the pit.’ When the N.T. quotes these passages, it generally translates it with the Greek word Hades. Some scholars believe Sheol always means the grave, while others think it never has that meaning alone.

(2) In general, the O.T. views Sheol as a place associated with some sort of punishment. (a) When Jacob indicated that he would go to Sheol because of the loss of his son Joseph (Gen. 37:25), he felt he must be under the judgment of God; thus he refused to be comforted. There is no evidence that he sought God further until after he heard Joseph was still alive. (b) David clearly indicated that Sheol was the place where ‘the heathen’ would go (9:17), and Isaiah said that the heathen king Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria, upon his death, would meet in Sheol the kings he conquered (Is. 14:9-10). (c) There are several passages that indicate the Israelites did not expect to go to Sheol at all at death, but would instead go where they would enjoy the blessings of God’s presence. When David died, for example, he anticipated dwelling in the house of the Lord forever (23:6). Another psalmist believed that God would redeem him from the hand of Sheol and receive him to Himself in heaven (49:15; cf. 73:24-25). And Solomon testified that the wise, God-fearing man goes to the place above, ‘that he may depart from hell beneath’ (Prov. 15:24).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 820

Of this biblical doctrine, brother Charlie Anthony writes:

“Concerning the time between the believer’s death and his or her bodily resurrection, Scripture teaches the following. (a) At the time of death believers are brought into Christ’s presence. (2 Cor. 5:8 – Phil. 1:23). (b) Believers exist in full consciousness ( Luke 16:19-31) and experience joy at the kindness and love shown by God (Eph. 2:7). Amen!”

But the wicked go straight to the conscious torment of hell immediately upon death (Luke 16:19-31).

Soul sleep is a lie that only cults teach (Philippians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Revelation 6:9).

Escaping the "Depart from Me" [podcast]

Each of us faces judgment. It’s inescapable. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27 “As someone once wrote, ‘where death finds you, eternity will hold you.’ ~author unknown. In the spiritual state of your last breath, brethren; will be the eternal state of your soul. Rev. 22:11” Jon Crane God looks at where we are now – in our present state – not the past! Will you finish strong in Christ through the cross life – or will you lose all? “Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children […]

Dollar Dialogue [podcast]

Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] Curing the Dilemma of Diminishing Returns. If we want to see Heaven’s floodgates opened, we must examine what compliance, what agreement, what obedience the LORD may be leading us to render. The Reason Your Bag has Holes in it [podcast] (below) YOUR own bank statement tells you exactly who you are. Matt 6:21 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 […]

Well Done Thou Good And Faithful Servant [podcast]

Will You Hear ‘Well Done’ or ‘Depart from Me’? If I am truly following Jesus, I am learning to SERVE – and we know that because of what He taught and what He did while on earth. “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your […]

MAKING PEACE WITH GOD [podcast]

MAKING PEACE WITH GOD Are you ready to Pass from Death to Life? God desires to pardon you – before it’s too late. Jesus beckons you to “Come unto me” — while you can (Matthew 11:28-30). “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 GOD sees all sin and will either forgive or […]

Apostasy

Pride and False Prophets [podcast]

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11

What’s the difference between true and false servants of the LORD?

Jeremiah 23 is essential concerning recognizing the “MANY false prophets” which Jesus foretold would “deceive MANY” in this late hour before His return (Matthew 24:11).

True servants of the LORD stand in the counsel, the WORD of the LORD and not in the evil imaginations, dreams, or visions of their own wicked hearts.

Jeremiah 23
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.”

ARE YOU in God’s Word daily or have you backslidden? It’s either one or the other.

True servants of the LORD, as was the case with Paul and Timothy, will get YOU into God’s Word for yourself…

“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

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2

So both the LORD’s apostle Paul and the apostle Peter instructed believers to get into the Word of God for themselves – to “study” and to “desire” it. Any man pretending to represent Christ and not do this very thing repeatedly is a bona fide wolf in sheep’s clothing, a devil.

Imagine parents who continued to feed their infant and never taught that baby to pick up the spoon and feed themself…. so that child would perpetually be dependent upon someone else feeding them…. in the natural this is unheard of, yet it’s rampant in that which claims to be Christ’s “church.”

Read Jeremiah 23.

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ⁹Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Pride vs Humility

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) True humility before God first, then men, always wins – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10)

Beware of False Prophets [podcast]

This vital message is an excerpt from the book Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us The Divine Guarantee of Counterfeit Leaders and Their Subversion of Truth GOD alone is in control and not the false prognosticator false watchmen! HE’s in control of the timing of all things, not you or any other fraud! … REMEMBER, when that demonic maniac hitler was on the world scene, many thought it was the end! Wrong! Think! Any man calling himself (self-appointed) a prophet, is suspect. True servants of the lord simply do their LORD’s work humbly, never drawing attention to themselves by using […]

Jezebel's Table [podcast]

The allegiance and loyalty of the false leaders verses the allegiance of true followers and servants of Jesus. Self-serving, cross-less, compromised hireling wolves hiding behind the cloth are nothing new saints: “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at JEZEBEL’S TABLE“ (1 Kings 18:19). Eating at “Jezebel’s table” as did the false prophets of Elijah’s day, reveals their refusal to truly repent and serve God at whatever the cost. Those who tucked their feet under “Jezebel’s […]

Jezebel Unmasked! Invasion of the Warrior Princess Jezebels [podcast]

WARRIOR PRINCESS Delusion Exposed …. This is taking many by storm …. it’s completely opposite of God’s design for His most beautiful creature …. the woman …. compare what Scripture says to this masculinized woman who needs no one but God supposedly …. it’s rebellion that underlies this whole campaign … God made men and women to be together, not separate and this means that there is an inherent need between the man and woman ….. and the woman is the feminine gender and the man is the masculine … see Gen. 1-2; Eccl 4:9-12; 1 Timothy 2:9-15; Titus 2:1-5, […]

Beware of the "Prophetic" Gurus [podcast]

“For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.” Ezekiel 12:24 Did you catch that? Why will there soon, for eternity, be no more “vain vision nor flattering divination” within God’s house? It’s because all the false prophets will be vanquished into the bowels of eternal “damnation.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) WHEN YOU ARE PERSONALLY, DAILY GROUNDED IN GOD’S WORD, YOU DON’T RUN AROUND LOOKING FOR SOME SELF-APPOINTED FLAKE WITH A SUPPOSED WORD, VISION, OR DREAM! (COLOSSIANS 2:6-10) Those who read God’s Word for themselves are not moved or impressed with the numerous […]