Abiding

Would God Deny His Own Child? [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]

He cannot deny HIMSELF but He will deny us if we deny Him – “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 (not us).” 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Common objection: “But wait, Jesus told us that we could never be plucked out of the Father’s hand!!!”

Mind if we read the context?

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29

The LORD promises to mankind include, contain conditions. In the passage above, Jesus gives this promise to His “sheep” who are defined by the fact that they “hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (v27) Those who receive Christ in repenting initially are required by the LORD to continue with Him (“abide”/remain John 15) – hearing His voice and following Him – according to HIS prescription, not the lies of false teachers.

Those in Him who do not continue – “abide” – in Christ, will be cast into the fires of eternal hell.

“If a man abide (remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (hell fire).” John 15:6

The same wolves who teach John 10:28-29 out of its context will never be heard mentioning what Jesus says in this same Gospel of John. Sadly, today millions refuse to read God’s Word honestly, daily, and diligently for themselves and are therefore misled by the “many false teachers” Jesus and His apostles so often warned us about (Matthew 7:15; 24; 11, 24; Colossians 2:8; 1 John 4:1, etc.).

The snake who taught you that you are “eternally secure” no matter what, conveniently neglected to give you the condition in the context.

Many today claim to be saved and yet are not saved from habitual sin (1 John 3:8). Read Romans 6:1-2. WHAT’S true saving grace look like in the life of the recipient? (Titus 2:11-14) ….BEWARE of the many grace-perverting wolves who teach un-conditional eternal security/OSAS-once saved always saved. These of Satan’s agents. Run! (Jude 3-4)

Make Romans 6 your spiritual meat this week.

This promise of security is predicated on hearing His voice and following Him. This is continual tense.

The promises of God are conditional. There are divine conditions and if not met, will cause the rebel to lose out.

Our whole relationship with the LORD is predicated on His perfect righteousness and our faith in Him who alone accomplished, purchased our righteousness at the cross. We contact – initially and ongoing – His righteousness by faith (Rom. 3:23-26; 4:4-5). It’s impossible to please God without faith in Him instead of self yet Jesus says after believing and being saved, that recipient of His saving grace can “fall away.” (Luke 8:12-13) People CAN stop believing and “fall away.” (Hebrews 3:6, 12-14, etc.)

Doing these things you mentioned IS abiding in Christ – trusting Him not flesh or self…. Gal 3:3

Abiding is engaging in this trust, this faith, oneness relationship. John 15, 17. This relationship Jesus died to grant requires the participation of the recipient.

This idea that God could never disown, sever from Himself and His kingdom, those who rebel, is a farce. Biblical history is full of such example, beginning with Lucifer being severed – ejected – from eternal glory (Luke 10:18). Adam and Eve were severed from His holy presence when they sinned (Genesis 3).

Here’s a mere taste:

Genesis – Man was created perfect and yet when he chose to sin, God ousted him from the pristine Garden of creation.
Numbers 16:30-35 – Thousands of God’s own covenant people were sent straight to hell for rebelling.
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 – the 5 sins that kept many of God’s own people out of the promised land.
Revelation 21:8, 27 – list of classes of sinners cut off from the kingdom and vanquished into the lake of fire.

The book of Jude details a list of created beings who rebelled against our Maker and were cut off as a result.

Who ever convinced you that God can’t and won’t sever those who rebel from His own kingdom?

God is not obligated to keep any person he’s saved who then rebels and will not return to Him (repent).

“Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:12-13

Un-conditional eternal security, also known by the heretical cliches “Once saved always saved” and “eternal security,” is responsible for damning the souls of millions – who once walked with God. Then they rebelled and were “cut off” for “departing from the living God.” (Romans 11:20-22; Hebrews 3:12-14, etc.).

Why would terms like “fall away,” “cut off,” and “departing from the living God” be found in Scripture if such were not possible? Only a vile, diabolical liar would say such is not possible (Luke 8:13; Romans 11:20-22; Hebrews 3:12-14).

Beware of the OSAS snakes!

Those who cling to “once saved always saved” heresy are more interested in their own self feeling secure than what the LORD said in the full counsel of His Word. They refuse to truly walk with Christ the way He requires – death to self, taking up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24, etc.). Self must be crucified or self will crucify Christ right out of our lives! (Romans 6, etc.).

The “sealed” deception: Those who believe the Bible definition of “sealed” means that they are secure no matter what for Heaven, are deceived. They have bought the lie of this false definition of sealed found in Ephesians AND Matthew 27:66. The wolf who taught them this OSAS definition of sealed conveniently refused to tell them about Matthew 27:66. Jesus’s tomb was sealed (SAME Greek word as Ephesians!) and we both know that seal was broken. If not, Christ didn’t rise from the dead and we are lost souls (1 Corinthians 15:17). We open sealed envelopes every day. Jesus’ promise in John 10:28-29 has a condition – v27 – hearing His voice and following Him – present tense. Jesus invented the term “fall away” but you say it can’t happen (Luke 8:13). You are teaching the calvinist heresy of “perseverance of the saints.” Total lie. Man never loses his free will. If you honestly read Scripture you cannot believe OSAS.

Only a false teacher who is denying Christ by denying what He stated misuses and ignores volumes of Scripture to “prove” his OSAS fairy tale – which produces lukewarm “Christians.” And all it takes to be rejected from Christ – spued from His holy mouth – is to not be on fire but rather “lukewarm.” (Revelation 3:15-16). JESUS says “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24 …. OSAS is the heretical doctrine for moral cowards who refuse to take up the cross daily and truly die to self, allowing Christ alone to reign in their personal lives (Galatians 2:20). Hell awaits if you don’t repent. Read Mark 9:43-49 in the KJB.

No man on earth is secure in sin with He who is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) The only one these deceived souls are kidding and deceiving is themselves. The wages of sin is still death (Romans 6:23). If you live in sin, hell is where you’ll end up in.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” Ezekiel 18:30

If you are truly of God you will be corrected by these Scriptures and cease listening to the pansy you called pastor. That same wolf refuses to focus your attention on Bible verses such as this one:

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

WHEN did the Almighty cease to be holy? When did He change? Those who believe that they are secure for Heaven while living in sin are delusional. Hell awaits.

False teachers are more interested in promulgating their doctrines of mere men than honestly teaching the whole and raw truth of God’s Word. They purposely evade Bible passages that contradict their false doctrines. Like the hell bound false leaders Jesus addressed, they set aside the very Word of God for their own false teachings (Mark 7:6-9). You will never know their teaching is false if you don’t personally, daily, and diligently, with honest heart, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

OSAS/eternal security is the golden calf pet doctrine of the grace-perverting wolves in this late hour (Jude 3-4). Make no mistake, these vile children of Satan lie for clout and cash.

Wolves Have Produced a Security Idol and Obsession

Recently, one man wrote this to me:

“In 1 Cor 9:27 – “Castaway” /Disqualified in this context is about being displeasing in ministry or losing ministry opportunity/credibility and not losing salvation. Paul believed in eternal security (Romans 8:29-30).”

REPLY: Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that he could be cast away from the LORD in the end if he didn’t keep his flesh under the control of the Holy Spirit by living a crucified life which is an essential condition given us throughout Scripture. Not when you put it together with all of Scripture. ‘Castaway’ in 1 Corinthians 9:27 could only mean one thing – that one who is not in Christ at death will be ‘cast away’ or separated from Him. OSAS is not biblical. It is a lie. It’s the first lie ever told to mankind which caused his fall from grace (Gen 2:17; 3:4). This same lie is still being peddled by false teachers today (Jude 3-4; 2 Pet 2:20-21; Rom 11:20-22; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 3:11, etc.). Also, you mentioned Romans 8:29-30 which speaks of being “conformed to the image of his Son” which is to be crucified with Christ – to keep under the body. This is the daily cross Jesus says is essential to following Him (Luke 9:23-24, etc.).

Are you living after the flesh or crucifying it by taking up the daily cross? Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; 5:16-24; Colossians 3:3, etc.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

Some read passages like the one below, seeking to excuse themselves from all personal responsibility. These are not honest in heart but rather choosing sin and darkness over Christ and His light (John 3:19-21, etc.). God’s covenant promise to us is ratified by Himself. The blood covenant is between the Father and Jesus. By this we are justified but not without condition. God swore by Himself, not faulty man. This is what makes His covenant sure, yet that in no way negates man’s personal responsibility to keep His stated conditions by faith.

“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:13-20

If you are presently anchored in, abiding in Christ, you are sure for eternal glory. If you are not rooted and grounded in an intimate, fruit-bearing relationship with Jesus – on HIS terms – you are as sure for hell as if you were already there. Read John 15:1-6.

PRAYER: Holy Father, please forgive my man sins – my rebellion, self-righteousness, self-will, disobedience, and unbelief. Wash me in Thy precious blood dear LORD Jesus. Please sanctify my life to glorify and bear fruit for Your eternal glory. Bless me to abide in Thee and to never be self-deceived by the deceitfulness of sin. Please fill and use me dear LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Eternal Security Exposed

The Damning Myth of Unconditional Eternal Security! [podcast]

HELL Awaits! SO YOU THINK YOU ARE ETERNALLY SECURE? WHO TOLD YOU THAT LIE? NOT GOD! IT SIMPLY DOESN’T MATTER HOW POPULAR A PREACHER IS – IF HE’S TEACHING SATAN’S FIRST LIE THAT CAUSED THE FALL OF THE HUMAN RACE – OSAS/ETERNAL SECURITY – HE’S A FALSE TEACHER, AN AGENT OF SATAN (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). OF COURSE he’s popular – he’s not preaching the cross but rather excuses for sin against a Holy God! RUN from that devil! You will be safe and eternally secure when you get to Heaven, not before. ARE YOU enduring sound doctrine today or walking […]

Is God faithful to save us if we aren't faithful to Him, if we deny Him? [podcast]

Would GOD Ever Deny One of His Own People? What Does Scripture Teach? The Word of God is the truth (John 17:17). Something isn’t true just because you want it to be true. It’s true because the LORD says it – in the context of the whole of His Word (Romans 3:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.). Those not honest with the Bible demonstrate that they aren’t honest with its Author (John 8:47; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE MAKING A VAIN ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY OSAS/ETERNAL SECURITY: “‘If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny ‘himself.'” 2 Timothy […]

Can You Forfeit Salvation by Living in Sin? [podcast]

Those who foolishly espouse the myth of eternal security/once saved always saved, do so because they worship self, not the Savior. Their heretical theology is built around what caters to them, to their sin, and not Christ who is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 1:18-19, etc.). They’ve made a god in their own evil image and are idolaters. Do you realize that the the apostle Paul named 5 specific sins that kept God’s people out of their promise land (which equates to Heaven) Can You Forfeit Salvation by Living in Sin? (1 Corinthians 10:1-13) “What shall we […]

Repentance and Fruit

The Essential of Repentance “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 God’s not willing that any should perish and yet we see that some will not, choose not to repent and will be damned irrevocably . “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet REPENTED NOT of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and […]

Abiding

The Death before the Death [podcast]

Gethsemane Preceded Calvary

“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. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:42-44

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

“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

“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. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

Shall We Freshly Declare the Cross to be Front and Center in our Personal Lives?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]

5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2 Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation. He took upon Him the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:2-10 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but […]

The Cross and the Throne of Grace [podcast]

“Hid with Christ in God” “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 The safest place in the universe is in the cross of Christ: “your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Our place of protection is […]

Raised Up in Christ [podcast]

3 Resurrections to Celebrate 1. Christ’s resurrection (Matthew 27:64; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, etc.). 2. Your resurrection at the moment of regeneration and daily resurrection (Romans 1:4; 4:25; 6:3-14; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:6). 3. Final resurrection into glory or damnation (John 5:28; 29; 1 Corinthians 15). Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours and that we need not fear death. Dancing on hell’s grace. Read 1 Corinthians 15 serveral times. “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and […]

The Only Way Up is Down [podcast]

Chapter 8 from the book Raised Up (narration) “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 The Down and Up Principle of God’s Kingdom “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root DOWNWARD, and bear fruit UPWARD.” Isaiah 37:31 The Scriptures follow a pattern of death and resurrection, a downward death and upward life. See if you can observe such a truth in the following verses: “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth UP all those that be bowed DOWN.” Psalms 145:14 Do you possess the blessed desire to be raised up by […]

Abiding

“Rend Your Heart, and Not Your Garments” [podcast]

Who Does God Look to? Who Does God Dwell in?

Beware of any man pretending to represent Christ who isn’t praying and preaching for you to be possessed by a humble and contrite heart.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). A low condition. ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted’ (Matthew 5:4). To mourn over our sin and our utter wickedness before a holy and righteous God. Those are the ones who will receive the comfort and ‘joy in the Holy Ghost’ (Romans 14:17).” Karen Cochran

Abandoning Our Own Sin, Our Own Way, for God and His Better Way!

To “rend your heart” is a biblical phrase meaning to tear open your heart in radical sincerity, true humility, and genuine repentance.

The phrase comes from Joel 2:13 in the Bible: “Rend your heart and not your garments and return to the Lord your God.”

One source notes the following:

“Context and Deeper Meaning:

Cultural Background: In ancient times, the Jewish people would tear (rend) their clothes as a public, highly visible display of grief or repentance.
The Spiritual Message: God is warning that outward rituals (like ripping clothing) are meaningless if the heart remains unchanged. Rending your heart implies breaking through your pride, letting go of excuses, and being completely vulnerable and authentic before God.
The Reward: The verse goes on to say that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Tearing open your heart allows you to experience His forgiveness and restore your relationship with Him.”

To see an example of rending one’s physical garment in representation of rending their heart, see Acts 14:11-18.

Where is the LORD Looking?

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God” Joel 2:12-14

“What a gracious invitation is contained in these words. How tenderly the Lord reasons with his people. And what an encouraging assurance it folds up with. Reader! do not fail to observe that this call of the Lord, the accompanying grace to incline the heart to the observance of it is implied. It is most blessed ever to remember that when the Lord thus comes forth in his endearing invitations, he is secretly inclining the heart to accept them. Grace must first enter the heart, or there will be no inclination to obey.” Robert Hawker

“Jeremiah’s message was never meant to leave the heart in despair. Every warning from God carried an invitation to return. The Lord does not expose empty religion to shame His people, but to heal them. Repentance is not the loss of hope, it is the beginning of hope. Christ still receives every soul that comes with humility, and He gives living faith where there was only habit, peace where there was only fear, and joy where there was only emptiness. The call remains the same today, to draw near to Him with a sincere heart, trusting that His mercy is always greater than our weakness.” Dan Blincoe

A Fresh Start with God Always Begins with Humility and True Repentance

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Concerning rending our hearts before the LORD, one source notes:

The classic Bible passage on this concept is Joel 2:13, where God commands: “Rend your heart and not your garments”. In ancient biblical culture, tearing (or “rending”) one’s physical clothing was a customary, visible display of extreme grief, despair, or repentance. Through the prophet Joel, God is essentially telling His people: Stop doing the empty, outward religious ritual of tearing your clothes to show everyone how sorry you are. Instead, let me see true, inward brokenness over your sins.

Examples of Rending Physical Garments

In the Bible, the physical act of tearing clothes was used as a dramatic expression of deep emotion in several well-known narratives:

Joseph’s Brothers (Genesis 37:29, 34): When Reuben realized Joseph was not in the pit, and later when the brothers brought Joseph’s blood-stained coat to Jacob, they tore their clothes in grief and despair.
Job (Job 1:20): After hearing that he had lost all his wealth and his children, Job stood up and tore his robe as an outward sign of his overwhelming sorrow.
King David (2 Samuel 1:11-12): When David received news of the deaths of King Saul and Jonathan, he and his men tore their clothes to mourn.
The High Priest (Matthew 26:65): In a dramatic display of hypocritical outrage, the high priest tore his own garments when Jesus declared He was the Son of God, falsely accusing Him of blasphemy.

The Spiritual Meaning of “Rending the Heart”

The concept of “rending the heart” contrasts an outward show with inward reality.

Genuine Repentance: Tearing your heart means being vulnerable, acknowledging your brokenness, and deeply repenting of sin before God.
Prioritizing Relationships over Rituals: God desires a sincere heart—true sorrow and a desire to change—more than he desires traditional religious pageantry or dramatic, public displays of grief.
The Promise of Forgiveness: In Joel 2:13, the command to rend the heart is immediately followed by the promise of grace: “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love”.

God sees beyond our external habits and religious actions, requiring instead a humble, contrite heart to fully experience His mercy.”

God’s Mercy

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” Joel 2:12-14

In God’s Word, where we see men who tear open their garments…. This holds the illustration of rending our hearts before the LORD.

Don’t render outward tearing, no, rather, tear open your inner man, your heart—be honest, sincere, exposed, and vulnerable to the LORD whom you trust.

Let’s attempt to get at, to ascertain what God is commanding of His beloved people to do in this “rend your heart” passage.

“Joel 2:13: Rend your heart—Let it not be merely a rending of your garments, but let your hearts be truly contrite. Merely external worship and hypocritical pretensions will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments.

For he is gracious—Good and benevolent in his own nature.

Merciful—Pitying and forgiving, as the effect of goodness and benevolence.

Slow to anger —He is not easily provoked to punish, because he is gracious and merciful.

Of great kindness—Exuberant goodness to all them that return to him.

And repenteth him of the evil—Is ever ready to change his purpose to destroy, when he finds the culprit willing to be saved. See the notes on Exo_34:6, Exo_34:7.” Adam Clarke

“Joel 2:12-14: III. DIVINE APPEAL TO JUDAH TO REPENT (2:12-14)
Even now, the LORD calls the people to repentance. It is not too late to return to Him. But it must be more than outward ritual. Their turning was to be with all their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

To rend our hearts is the consistent message, mandate of God to His people of all ages and eras.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17

In Joel 2 the LORD reminds those who are backslidden that He “is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? …”

They must meet His stated conditions to receive His blessings ….

He promises that He will forgive them as they…..

“Joel 2:12-27: THE AVERTING OF JUDGMENT
To rend the garment is easy, but a broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. He takes no pleasure in our miseries and if men repent and turn from their sin they find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and home. Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate answer. As the husband yearns over his erring but repentant wife, and is indignant with those who have maltreated her, so will Jehovah remove from us, when we turn to Him, those who have cruelly oppressed us.
The great things Jehovah did against Egypt and Babylon are an earnest of what He will do again. The earth (and all the creation of God) … have good reason to rejoice in what awaits them. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives.” FB Meyer

Religious hypocrites, counterfeits, emphasize the outward to cover their inner darkness, rebellion.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matthew 23:23-25

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6

"Blessed are the Poor In Spirit" [podcast]

Jesus’ longest recorded message to His people stands on the foundation of the very first words our Savior uttered in this sermon on the mount. The foundational truth of the entire sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) is found in the very first words of our LORD when unveiling this elaborate, far-reaching, and profound message to His disciples of all ages. Here are His first words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 Note, “poor in spirit.” Not poor financially or religiously. The two should be mutually exclusive. The Greek word translated into English as “poor” is PTOCHOS. It […]

"I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice": What does this really Mean? [podcast]

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 Jesus specifically instructs us to “go ye and learn what that meaneth.” UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross! Matthew 9:9-13 – Jesus calls Matthew 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith […]

How to Walk in the Certainty, the Assurance of Salvation [podcast]

Real, actual assurance only comes from possessing authentic salvation – which begins with humility and true repentance, an original Gospel essential (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21, etc.). Heretical calvinists and eternal security frauds rob people of true assurance which ONLY comes from having a faith that works, is obedient to Christ. Read 1 John chapter 3 and embrace what the LORD is saying. Here’s a taste – “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the […]

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 David’s Prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they […]

Abiding

Have We Misunderstood Why Christians Meet Together? [video]

“We’ve created a whole culture of Christians who are just known for going to church.” Dr Wadsworth!

“It is hard to convince a man (modern pastor) he is wrong when his livelihood ($) depends on not knowing he is wrong.” Unknown

The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]

Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12 Exhorting God’s People “Daily” – not weekly. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing […]

Church Membership, Manipulation, and Money [podcast]

Is there a connection between church membership and money? “Her princes (leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27 There is no evidence in the New Testament of what we see today perpetrated as “church membership.” Church membership is merely a tool in the arsenal of modern pastors to capture the souls and the money of those ensnared by it. “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 In […]

Is Church Membership Biblical? [podcast]

Churchianity vs Christianity Many use the term “very involved in church” instead of deeply rooted and in love with Jesus Christ. See the difference? Beware. Christ Jesus is your identity. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14 What is your identity? Why have you chosen such to be that with which you identify? Most pastors make a big deal out of belonging to some organization, church, or group—because this puts them in charge—instead of Jesus. Beware. […]