Abiding

Worshipping the God of all Grace through the Fiery Trials [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]

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7

“In the world ye shall have tribulation”

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21

WE the body of Christ, are a separate entity from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We are here on earth for but a short time more—saved and sent to do Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; John 4:34-38). Jesus foretold that these final days before His return would be tumultuous (Matthew 24; Luke 21). And to “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).

“Let not your heart be troubled” … and when we begin to perceive the big picture of the LORD, it will be easier to not be “troubled” in “the sufferings of this present time” (Romans 8:18).

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

Making biblical sense of the suffering.

Makes us want to go home and to live like it (Daniel 12:10).

“The sufferings of this present time” are a mere speed bump saints. We are going to eternal glory with our King Jesus!

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Nothing can separate God and His true saints—those who are hearing His voice presently and following, walking with Him, abiding in vital union with Jesus (John 10:27-29; 15:1-6).

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39

DO WE have the “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” spirit and disposition of the beloved Job?

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

Going though a season of testing and trials and yet not worshipping God through it all, is a waste. Personally I had to learn this the hard way.

God has been so wonderfully gracious to teach this disciple!

“I am understanding Job in a new way. Old Adam wants to see it as a punishment, or an injustice, and this belief is subtle and corrosive.” Justin Ballis

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

Final Greetings

“By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.” 1 Peter 5:12

Knowing it’s God’s stated will for us to worship, love, and trust Him at all times—and in particular in the midst of that which He sees fit to allow us to go through….. is vital. Personally I chose initially to do laps in the desert and so such delayed getting to His promised land of peace. God is able beloved.

The LORD is “a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons” of His kingdom.

“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

Are we worshiping our LORD in the midst of our seasons of suffering? Have we of late looked up and said, “Jesus, I love You“?

What’s God worth to me? How much does He matter? Is Jesus truly my very “first love”? See Revelation 2:4-5.

Worshiping God in this presently dark world will bring sufferings and ultimately eternal glory with Him and the true body of Christ.

What would we think of the man, the husband who didn’t defend his wife? He’s a self-serving coward, who loves himself more than his wife, right? What if we refuse to suffer for Heaven’s King that we claim to love? Wouldn’t this prove that we love self more than the Savior?

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

It’s in our sufferings that we discover, we find out, we come to understand about God’s sufficiency. See James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10.

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

Being “hid with Christ in God” is how the LORD powers us through, past the many afflictions to be suffered by Christ’s saints.

“There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen, and unsupported by people. It teaches you to rely on God for everything.” unknown

“the fiery trial which is to try you”

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14

“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:5-9

“Weeping (death and burial—suffering the death of self) may last through the night, but joy (resurrection) comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5

"If we Suffer, we shall also Reign with Him" [podcast]

Suffering is Required Suffering with the Savior – Suffering the death of our own will in order for God’s will to be done. Following Jesus. “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:41-42 Dead, Buried, and Raised Up with/by Christ! Is He worth it? Paul says: “IF we Suffer, we shall also Reign with Him” When the Holy Spirit led Paul to pen these words, what did He mean? What is […]

"The Trial of Your Faith" has a Divine Eternal Purpose [podcast]

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22 “It is through much trial and tribulations that we are made pure, holy, and clean in His sight by the working of his Spirit in our hearts to conform us to Christ’s Image.” Jon Crane The trials God allows into our lives, purify—but only as we praise, worship, thank, and obey Him through those seasons of tribulations. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that […]

Abiding

Sin is Rooted in the Hearts of Men [podcast]

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

Jesus taught us that man’s sin comes out of his “desperately wicked” heart (Jeremiah 17:9).

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20-23

Mankind’s core dilemma is sin (Romans 1-3). Jesus Christ came and died to “save his people from their sins,“ to “taketh away the sin of the world,“ and not to merely deal with fallen man on a surface level as on a mental level (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29). God doesn’t band aid broken things, He heals and makes them whole to the root because the root determines the fruit (Matthew 12:33; Luke 4:18, etc.). Christ’s salvation is perfect. Evil is in our hearts and proceeds forth from that wicked heart until Christ regenerates us (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3, 7; Titus 3:5-7). This is why the sinner must of divine necessity be born again, must be made completely new “by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5-7). Then and not before then, the born again saint of Christ is made a “a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

The Truth about Fallen Mankind – That Includes You!

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

“And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Genesis 6:12

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

“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. … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24

Is Romans 7 Before or After Paul’s Salvation?

Don’t trust yourself, trust God and deny self! “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Proverbs 26:28).

Only Satan and his children live by the diabolical edict of “be true to yourself.” Knowing how wretched they are of themselves, without Christ, those who are known of God live by “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

People don’t have a “mental health” problem, they have a SIN problem and sin is what gives way, gives full access to Satan!

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14

“The state of continual sanctification, that life of purity and detachment from the world and all it’s lusts, without which detachment and sanctity no man shall see the Lord-shall never enjoy His presence in the world of blessedness. To see God, in the Hebrew phrase, is to enjoy Him; and without holiness of heart and life this is impossible. No soul can be fit for heaven that has not suitable dispositions for the place.” Adam Clark’s commentary on Holiness. Hebrews 12:14

YOUR PRAYER FOR A PURE HEART: Holy Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus, desiring to be pure in heart so that I may see, enjoy, and be with You. Help me please dear LORD. Purify my heart and life of all wicked imaginations and iniquity that defile me in Your holy eyes. Please purify and cleanse me LORD and I know You require me to purify myself and to obey You. In Jesus’ name, please forgive all my sins by Thy precious blood dear LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

"Be Diligent that ye May be Found of Him in Peace, without Spot, and Blameless" [podcast]

“Them that look for him” “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28 WHO will Jesus return for? – “Them that look for him” Jesus is not coming back for everyone. He’s only coming back for “Them that look for him.” Am I in love with Jesus? Or, am I just religious? Am I an authentic disciple of Jesus or a self-serving counterfeit? The grace-enabled purifying of ourselves in light of His soon return: “And every man that […]

His Wife Hath Made Herself Ready [podcast]

What’s going to happen in a marriage where one or both partners refuse to confess, own up to their mistakes, their violations of the other person and the integrity of that marriage? Such a marriage may regrettably, end. Pride. – “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) Will not the same end come to the relationship where a man has been saved by Christ and then becomes hardened in heart later, and refuses to acknowledge, confess, and forsake his sin? Yes. (Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39, etc.) “He that covereth his sins shall not […]

Sin: Man’s Core Problem [podcast]

People don’t have a “mental health” problem, they have a SIN problem and sin is what gives way, gives full access to Satan! “When people hear voices telling them to harm themselves or others, that’s not a chemical imbalance, it’s demon possession.” Rachel Gould “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 Jesus taught us that man’s sin comes out of his “desperately wicked” heart (Jeremiah 17:9). “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed […]

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”

Our Sin Should Lay us at His Feet [podcast]

“Sin lieth at the door.” Genesis 4:7 One writer takes a shot at this in the following words: “Jesus died for our sins. He is the sin offering for all humanity: past, present, and future. So the offerings in the Old Testament represent the Cross. So in short, if you reject the offering, meaning Christ and the Cross, ‘then sin lieth at the door.’ This means sin will DOMINATE you if any other method is used.” “Sin lieth at the door” – Temptation to sin presents itself perpetually and this is why prayer, abiding communion, perpetual communication with the Savior, command central, is […]

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, […]

Nourished Up in God's Word 1 Timothy 4:6 [1 min video]

“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 Jesus is KING and kingdom living is all about exalting KING Jesus – not mere men or organizations or ministries! It’s only then that His divine “nourishment” is going to flow down into His beloved body! “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed […]

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.

The Book of Romans Narrated [podcast]

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4 Chapter 1-16 Chapter 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to […]

Ephesians Narrated [podcast]

Ephesians 1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus […]

The Book of 1 John Narrated [podcast]

Love. Truth. Know. Note: The Book of 1 John has at least 3 power words and truths to behold: 1. Love, 2. Truth, 3. Know “Love” appears 44 times in 1 John. “Truth” appears 10 times in 1 John. “Know” appears 28 times in 1 John. Some have called the book of 1 John “the book of certainties” as Christ’s apostle John is blunt, curt, strong, forceful in/with the truth, and loving – a true man of steal, and velvet. Reading any book of the Bible 10-20 times, reading straight through it, is powerfully effective in getting that Word of our […]