Grounded in the Truth
Looking piercingly into my eyes, as if he was seeing right through me, staring a hole through my heart, this God-fearing man, possessed with holy conviction, sternly declared…..
“You preach this Gospel JUST LIKE it’s written young man, you understand me!”
This word went through me like a lightening bolt from Heaven… further instilling in me the fear of God. As a young man, newly saved, I was blessed to be charged just as Paul charged Timothy to preach only God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
The world has never more needed men like this man who boldly charged me to preach the Word – just like it’s written.
ANYONE else ever had a man like this bless your life? Like Paul charged Timothy to “Preach the Word”, this man charged me! He lit me up.
If you aren’t engrossed in God’s Word today, you aren’t being prepared to be mightily used of God.
The last thing the world needs is another coward “minister” of death who refuses to preach repentance and hell, the holiness of God, the judgment of God, the cross, and the return of Christ! If he doesn’t use the King James Bible, he’s in darkness. Get a clue.
IF YOU DARE speak for God, it must of necessity be the WORD of God – letting God speak for Himself by speaking Scripture! Otherwise, you will be a false teacher, misrepresenting Him.
Memorize: Psalms 19:7; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 4:11 and Isaiah 8:20.
ATTEMPTING to talk someone into getting saved will NEVER work. Let’s cease such and let God speak for Himself saints.
“Lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
God’s Word is divine and eternal and converts sinners to Himself. Our own futile explanation is no patch on the words of Holy Scripture!
Divine truth is eternal, just like the One who spoke it. God’s Word “liveth and abideth for ever.”
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23
This is YOUR hour to seek God and ask Him to use you! (Acts 1:8)
We can win the argument and lose the soul if we don’t wisely, lovingly speak the Word of God into the hearing of the precious eternal souls we encounter. “HOW shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) Yes we do this in God’s love and yet we do it in obedience to the LORD who commands His people to “Preach the word.” (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:2).
“He that SPEAKETH truth (as opposed to hiding, withholding it) sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.” Proverbs 12:17
Some who espouse a false love foolishly believe that loving others means hiding, withholding the truth from them. Yet the Bible informs us that such withholding of the words of God comes from a cowardly “enemy” who is “deceitful.”
“Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:5-6
Jesus says “Love your enemies” and by His life at times we know that the best way to “love” is to openly, harshly rebuke them. Compare Matthew 5:44 with Matthew 23.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; … 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matthew 5:44; 23:15
To withhold truth is devilish hatred!
Dear pastor, minister: IF you aren’t quoting and reading Holy Scripture (King James Bible) to your audience you have NO BUSINESS – NONE, ZERO – play acting like you’re ministering! Period! Repent and step down now until you are so full of God and His Word that’s ALL that flows from your life and lips! (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 4:11)
“No one ever went to hell for hearing the truth. For rejecting the truth, yes. For hearing the truth, never!” Phil Butler
Jesus sent no one to seminary – and NEVER will! Repent, learn the Word and walk in the Holy Ghost! THAT’s the divine prescription!
As is seen in the lives of the prophets and holy apostles of Jesus, authentic men of God are known in that they have no mercy on false doctrine. Rather, they plundered, dismantled and destroyed it with divine truth (Acts 17; Book of Galatians; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, etc.). No, rather true men of God are men of holy conviction and “earnestly contend” against falsehoods! (Jude 3)
The true disciple has deep conviction. His conscience is captive to the Word of God which is the final authority of His life and therefore ministering. He says with Paul “Let God be true and every man a liar”! (Romans 3:4) The authentic disciple will be castigated by persecutors. He will be told that has a religious spirit, is judgmental, and is a legalist. Jesus says to “Rejoice.” (Matthew 5:10-12)
YOU can only be turned over to a “strong delusion” by God if you do not choose to love and devour and obey His truth! (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) And you will be if you are not “valiant for the truth.” (Jeremiah 9:3)
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4
ANY minister or ministry that is not constantly calling you to repentance, to humble yourself, to lay down your life in this world, to live the crucified life, is misrepresenting Christ and is false. Run!
Men who are known of the LORD “HATE every false way.”
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:104
“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:128
Those who preach anything except the original Gospel given us in the Word of God, are “accursed.”
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9
Fake Ministries are Everywhere: WHEN you hear people in “ministry” continue to hem haw and use words such as “I think,” etc., you should lose interest real quick. You know they are not in the Word and so you know it’s a fake ministry and they have no business pretending to do “ministry” for Jesus. “Preach the WORD.” (2 Timothy 4:2) We all have a Bible and so there’s no excuse and real kingdom ministry is simply putting forth God’s Word. Peter wrote: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles (written Word) of God;…Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11). God’s Word is the recording of the very “thoughts of HIS heart” and He’s not confused, amen? (Psalms 33:11; 1 Corinthians 14:33) Yet, the vast majority of “ministry” that goes on today is a lame, laughable excuse for kingdom ministry!
Un-repentant, sin-justifying compromisers want to act like we don’t have a Bible – to deny that God, the Judge, has spoken. So these children of Satan attempt to shut down the messengers of truth! Steam roll them with God’s Word and authority saints! SMH What ever we read in the Bible is from the JUDGE and if you don’t believe that, you are “not of God” according to Christ (John 8:47).
ARE YOU diligently and daily devouring, learning, and only preaching the WRITTEN Word of God? If not, cease all your false “ministry.” (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2; 1 Peter 4:10-11, etc.). God has not sent you but you have sent yourself. If you don’t repent you perish as a false prophet (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Hence the following WARNING:
“Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.” Jeremiah 14:14
Speaking of earnestly, contending against the many false teachers today who add to, take from, twist, and preach anything except the Holy Scriptures …. Wolves patty cake with you because they want your money and could care less about your eternal soul (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3).
3 Strikes and You’re Out!
Recently, a local pastor quoted from and endorsed 3 heretical extra-biblical authors/books. First he quoted from and endeared his audience to a psychology based book and he was confronted about it. Then, a month later, with total disregard to truth and the warning the LORD gave him, he quoted 2 obvious heretics in one message. This showed that he is in darkness, refusing to repent:
- The 5 Love Languages (psychobabble)
- Norman Vincent Peale (Christ-denying heretic)
- Mother Teresa (antichrist, works-based heretic who openly admitted she didn’t know the LORD – and spent her earthly life championing the cause of a false religion/cult)
Regrettably, so far, this “pastor” has refused to repent for selling out Christ for His very enemies. The man “bid Godspeed” to heretics and if he doesn’t repent, will perish with them (2 John 7-11; 2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.). Those who in any way endorse an enemy of Christ will be going to the same hell as they are guaranteed (2 John 10-11).
YOU have no ministry other than to lay down your life – to be dead and buried – and only then will jesus raise you up and use you! Jesus will only conduct His ministry through obedient, crucified vessels! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)
In other words, instead of pointing people to the unmatched books of the canon of Holy Writ – Genesis, Colossians, Ephesians, John, Matthew, Revelation, etc., (which he never does), this “pastor” pointed them to the rebellion of mere sinful men – to their failed human methods in books that are based on the antichrist rebellion of self-love.
“Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.” Jeremiah 7:8
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5
Make no mistake: ANY man who is teaching ANY thing except the Holy Scriptures is “accursed” and the very enemy of Christ – hell bound sure as you are breathing this moment (Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.). Nothing could be clearer from Scripture.
The refusal to simply teach the Word of God and get others into it is evidence, the fruit of evil-hearted men – wolves in sheep’s clothing – who refuse to truly turn their own lives over to the LORD in repentance, and how they remain in darkness as they look elsewhere – outside of God’s Word. Were we not warned?
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
EVERY DIVINE Fix is in the 66!
Where are you looking?
Any person pointing people to other sources, especially those which are not Scripture-rich, are false teachers. They are denying Christ – and denying He gave us all we need in His Word. Scripture reveals to us that all spiritual wholeness comes from God’s Word/the Bible, Holy Spirit, and people of God.
The divine solution for all things pertaining to God and our own salvation and wholeness, is given to us in the 66 glorious books of the canon of Holy Scripture, God’s Word, the Bible! “ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness” are contained in the “exceeding great and precious promises” of Holy Scripture (2 Peter 1:3-4).
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4
“Do you understand me?!”
Forcefully, in the holy fear of God, an older, true man of God deeply infused my bosom with the holy fear of God and mandate to preach only the Holy Scriptures. By now, I’m sure this blessed man God used that day is with the KING. I met this man at a weekend Christian conference in Florida. During our conversation about Jesus, as we sat fellowshipping, this God-fearing man looked over at me and with great, holy sternness and piercing eyes of fire, looking me straight in the eye, declared “You preach this Gospel just like it’s written young man! Do you understand me?!”
Whew! Well, as a young Marine, I knew how to take a commandment! He didn’t have to repeat himself! I knew as sure as I was breathing that the Almighty was speaking to me!
Beware of the flesh-flattering, the sin-coddling devils! Are you one of them?
God is watching you. You are 100% accountable to preach the whole counsel of His Word – regardless of what you think will be the results of the lack thereof. Die to self. Take up the cross. Lay down your life! Repent and preach the gospel or stop feigning to be a follower of Christ (Mark 8:34-38, etc.). Who do you live and preach to please – God or mere sinful men? (Galatians 1:10)
In your ministering, are you accommodating/pleasing God or sinful men? (Galatians 1:10) The answer to this question proves whether or not you are a true or false prophet! (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
Whose Life is God Using You to Shake Up and Bless?
Gentlemen, may God infuse us with His holy boldness to fearlessly preach and plunder the works of darkness in this late hour! (Jude 3; Ephesians 5:11; Proverbs 28:1; Psalms 94:16
Notice the second part of this verse and how those who do not use the sword, the Word, the declared judgments of God to expose, to plunder, to attack the enemies of God will be “cursed.” THIS IS WAR. “FIGHT the good fight.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.” Jeremiah 48:10
ANY man who is afraid to offend you is a compromised moral coward (Galatians 1:10; 4:16).
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26
ANY person who speaks the truth is controversial. Jesus was very controversial. Read the Gospels. Why was Christ controversial? Because some hate the truth and attack the messengers of truth. A very few love the truth and few love Christ who is “the truth” and from which truth proceeds – divinely transmitted and recorded from Genesis to Revelation. If you are not controversial – causing uproars among the unrepentant – you are not speaking the truth and are unlike Christ. The truth is pure and divine. The problem is not the truth but rather the dark, unrepentant hearts it lands on and rebel instead of repenting (John 8:47; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).
When Jesus spoke things happened! When true men of God speak today, things happen. God’s men are set apart in contrast with the epidemic of spineless moral cowards we call “pastors” today.
Darkness and Light will Always Clash and Light Always Wins!
The kingdom of God is a kingdom of conflict – “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)
WHO did Jesus tell us is “of God” and who is “NOT of God”? Memorize John 8:47 (King James Bible)
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
Jesus told us exactly who is “of God” and who is “not of God.” Jesus told us that those who shut off God’s Word – who are not eagerly seeking to learn it and live by it, are “not of God.” (John 8:47)
There’s no such thing as a follower of Christ who doesn’t hold God’s written Word as final authority for all manner of life and faith.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The LORD tells us that when a person doesn’t choose to love the truth, He will personally turn them over to “strong delusion” and that’s “after the working of Satan” himself (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Here is that all-important Bible passage:
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
Quality, not Quantity
WHO do we seek to please?
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
In our humanity, we tend to judge everything by numbers – the mere number of people who are responding positively, repenting and obeying God. This is unlike the LORD. Jesus preached, desiring all to repent and believe upon Him and yet He also told us that only a “few” would. Jesus is not after everyone because, whether you like it or not, everyone doesn’t want Jesus.
Jesus is not a liar and He told us that His flock is “little.”
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17
NO, we do not seek to be controversial yet we are of Christ who is “the truth” and whose written Word “is truth,” and when we speak it, there will be conflict – dark hearts who do not wish to change, to get right with God, will rebel.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
Those who truly turn their hearts to the LORD will without exception see His holy face, in His Word. Any person who is not in God’s Word does not love Jesus and is rather rejecting Him for the false, futile god of self.
There are 4 types of soils God’s Word falls on. The condition, the state of heart soil is the choice, the decision of the individual (Luke 8:11-15).
Do You Love the Truth?
Who did Christ tell us is “of the truth”?
“Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalms 119:130
God’s Word is Unchanging – and Anyone not Building their Life on it is Doomed to Eternal Damnation
Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:19-29.
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:89
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:8
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Mark 13:31
The individual who we truly, authentically be Christ’s, will non-negotiably declare from his heart “Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)
God said it
I believe it
That settles it!
WHEN we lay down our lives, we are truly hid in Christ, we fear NO mere man!
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
Receiving and Giving the Truth
ANY ole dead fish can float downstream. It takes a live one to swim upstream. Stand in and speak the truth (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
When God’s Word is in us, God’s Word will flow through us. Here’s a rich passage from Proverbs 22 I believe you are going to fall in love with:
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21
When we get into God’s Word, God’s Word gets into us!
God’s Word is Final Authority
God’s written Word “is truth” and without exception, every individual who is truly in Christ, lives by His written Word and final authority for all matters of faith and doctrine (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, etc.).
Got saved? You better be continuing in the truth or you will fall away:
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF IF IF ye continue in my word, THEN are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
THOSE who put aside the Word of God damn their own soul:
“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46
The Duty of Believers is to Imbue Other Saints with God’s Word – Get Them into it!
“Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” Isaiah 8:16
“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
“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
When you see a man who is not getting others into God’s Word and I will show you a fraud who is not in God’s Word himself and is getting people trusting in himself! Is this not what we observe in the modern church world among those men posing as Christ’s representatives?
YOU GOT a King James Bible? Preach that only! Cease all additions and subtractions.
Puddle Jumping and Philippians!
On a short flight, a puddle jump flight, a dear fellow Marine who was an earnest believer, got me into Scripture memory. God richly bless that brother in Christ! This dear brother took up his duty as an “ambassador” for Christ by getting me into God’s Word (2 Corinthians 5:20). Before boarding that brief flight our unit was taking, this blessed minister of Christ lovingly and firming told me that I was going to memorize Philippians 4:13 on that flight, without exception. Man, that first and short memory verse took the whole hour and a half flight to memorize! I read it over and over and over out loud out of the King James Bible until it began taking root in my memory and heart. – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Beloved of God, IF GOD is doing a work in you, and you are acquiescing, it cannot and will not be stopped!!! “Abide” in Him! (John 15:1-6)
“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Since that day, by the leading and grace of Jesus, I’ve hand written on index cards and memorized volumes of Scripture from God’s Word.
As I experienced and millions of other believers have discovered, that first verse is the hardest to memorize and then the ensuing verses become easier. It’s kind of like the mind needs the rust or cob webs knocked off.
I want to exhort the reader to always use the real Bible, the King James Bible – which is much easier to memorize and has nothing missing or diminished.
When we are learning and we know God’s Word, the LORD will be able to use us in a much more powerful fashion (2 Timothy 2:21).
Under the bless-ed weight of the true original Gospel, men are convicted, broken, and crushed to repentance! (Matthew 21:44; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:20; James 4:8-10, etc.)
YESSSS JESUS!!!!! Beloved of God, IF GOD is doing a work in you, and you are acquiescing, yielding and abiding, it cannot and will not be stopped!!! “Abide” in Him! (John 15:1-6)
“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
AS you learn the Word and walk in the Spirit – GOD is going to use you!
“Let thine heart RETAIN my words.” Proverbs 4:4
PRAYER: Holy Father in Heaven, I come to You in the name of my LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Here and now I ask You to grant my heart Thy holy fear and lead me into the memorization and meditation of Thy truth, just as You prescribed and commanded in Your Word. I love You Jesus and know that I can only get to know You better through Your Holy Spirit and Word You graciously gave us in the Bible. Grant my mind to be photographic in memorizing Your Word. In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask, amen.
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Abiding
How we walk in “Strong Confidence” [podcast]

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Proverbs 14:26
“Strong confidence” is only found in fearing God, in walking in the fear of the LORD.
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27
We are instructed to “forget not all his benefits” (Psalms 103:2) …… In this passage, we are promised benefits from our LORD:
- “strong confidence”
- “a place of refuge”
- “depart from the snares of death”
Our part is to walk in the fear of the LORD.
“Strong Confidence” that glorifies God and not man, comes from walking in the fear of the LORD, which means we are obeying Him.
Like the psalmist, we should pray to God to “unite my heart to fear they name.”
The psalmist prayed:
“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalms 86:11
To “unite” in this verse means to combine, to become one…. permeate our innermost being.
When we truly walk in the fear of God, we fear nothing else.
Fearing God means we fear no man.
“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Psalms 118:6
“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?” Romans 8:31-32
David and Paul walked in the fear of the LORD, and thereby were possessed with “strong confidence” and consequently feared no man or devil.
We can fear God without walking “In the fear of the LORD.” We should pray and endeavor to live in the fear of the LORD.
“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17
So there seems to be the desire of God for His children to be permeated with His fear, to live in the fear of the LORD.
“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31
The members of the early church were “edified” ….
- “walking in the fear of the Lord,
- and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost,
- were multiplied.”
Let us always be grounded in the foundational essential biblical truth of knowing God—that He created us to know Him (John 17:3).
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
The life of the disciple of Jesus is learning to let God have His way in us, to lay our own will…. to let God be in control.
How many of us are realizing just how much sinful chaos and calamity transpires when we are in control instead of God?
Is this not part of the reason John the Baptist could so readily cry out “He must increase but I must decrease”? (John 3:30)
Are you reading Romans 6 each morning beloved of God?
Are you learning the cross life?
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:4-5
“In the fear of the LORD” the born-again believer is “hid with Christ in God” and fully assured, full of divine confidence!
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
In being crucified with Christ, we are hid not only from the evil of others, but primarily and most importantly, we are hid from the evil of self, the self-life.
Beware of the often-peddled cheap counterfeit, where people are instructed to learn to love themselves. The Bible commands us to love and fear God and love others, not self. In fact, loving self is the root sin that brought the original fall of mankind and remains as that sin which keeps men from God—pride in self instead of fearing God!
Those who walk in the fear of the LORD, live a crucified life. They walk in the “strong confidence” of the LORD (Proverbs 14:26).
You are no longer your own, you’ve been bought with the price of the very and precious blood of Jesus.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ name, please forgive me for the sin of self-idolatry and not fearing You. I now repent. Please forgive and cleanse me of this sin. I here and now declare and choose to trust You with my life. I love You Jesus!
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Abiding
Knowing the Word of God and also the God of the Word [podcast]

The highest priority of the true disciple is knowing God.
So many strive to know God’s will.
It’s only when you know God that you will know His will.
We all know people who are now away from God. They backslid. They no longer serve Him as they once did. Well, were they truly serving Him, or the church? They had some kind of a departure from the local church they were so fond of and consequently have no semblance of a life with Christ presently. Could this be due to them putting their energy and affections into the local church friends they met and the festivities? Yes. They were in love with the externals and not Christ.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
“God’s greatest desire is for us to have a relationship with Him. We were created for His great pleasure. Revelation 4:11” Karen Cochran
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:10
Kingdom Priority
KNOWING and LOVING, WORSHIPPING God. Read Matthew 4:10; 22:37-39; John 17:3.
Pinnacle Revelation
Knowing God is the paramount divine purpose for which He sent His only begotten ….. and for which He created, made us.
“And this is life eternal (the whole reason, purpose), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
Knowing God is the reason He sent His only begotten Son—to bring us to Himself in a present and eternal relationship (Exodus 25:8;Psalms 27:4, 8; Philippians 3:10, etc). One of Satan’s tricks is to get the elders to intercept that heart affection worship.
“It has always been about Jesus. Before Christ came to save us from our sins, the Bible was pointing to Jesus. Now after Christ came, we still look to Jesus. It has always been about knowing and trusting in Jesus. Before He came people just did not know His name, but now we do!” Serena Wagner
It’s not about elders, bishops. or pastors—Christ’s eternal kingdom is all about Jesus and no other. Read John 1; Colossians 1-2; Hebrews 1; Revelation 1.
WHAT will you say to the nail scarred risen LORD on Judgment Day when you made it about something else other than Him?
“Christianity can quickly become ‘Do this and Don’t do that.’ Jesus is quickly forgotten. Instead, repent and fall in love with JESUS, and through the power of the Holy Spirit you will live a life that pleases Him. When You are filled with the Holy Spirit You will hate the sin you once loved.” Alan Brayshaw
WHO is “known of” God as opposed to those He will tell “I never knew you”? (Matthew 7:21)
“But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3
“Those are the most frightening and terrifying words anyone could ever hear! That is why I always ask Jesus, ‘Do you know me?’ I want to be with my Lord and Savior for eternity! But I do not want to be so arrogant and prideful as to believe that God doesn’t have every right to spue me out. Or I that I am safe! I deserve hell. The only reason I have been spared is because of Jesus’ saving work for me on the cross! He redeemed me! But there are many conditions to be eternally with Jesus. We are to have a healthy fear of God knowing He has the power to determine the fate of our very soul! Matthew 10:28 It means nothing to Jesus if all we have is head knowledge of the Bible without any heart. He told the Pharisees they knew scriptures but they didn’t know Him in their heart (John 5: 38-47). It’s not based on what we know it’s based on knowing Him in an abiding relationship (John 15). The cross is the way to a real intimate relationship with Jesus. Through the dying of self He becomes your first love. And you begin to love Him with your whole soul, heart and mind (Matthew 22:37). I ask God daily ‘increase my hunger for Your Word.’ I want the hunger and love for God’s Word that David had! Just read and study Psalm 119. He cried out for more understanding even in the midst of persecution! That was his whole priority in life! David loved God, therefore he loved God’s Word as evidenced in Psalm 119. Every word is filled with love, devotion, respect, rejoicing and delighting in God’s words, pleading with the Lord that He might learn His statues and he might not err from God’s judgements. Psalm 119 is a treasure chest of David’s love for God’s word! If you want to truly fall in love with all of God’s word read, study and memorize Psalm 119!” Karen Cochran
Knowing the Facts and the Father
Recently, in order “to provoke unto love and to good works” I posted the meme above this paragraph and as has happened before, was confronted about how the Pharisees knew God’s Word but rebelled against Jesus (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s cross examine this position against the counsel of Scripture.
While it’s clear that we must know not only the Word of God but the God of the Word, the God revealed in His Word, how does that negate the need for Bible knowledge? It simply doesn’t.
Just because the Pharisees of Christ’s day knew His Word but didn’t choose to turn their hearts to Him, how does that mean that believers today should neglect knowing His Word? Such logic is not only bad, it’s un-scriptural and evil.
“When you fall in love don’t you want to shout it from the rooftops? He, the man you are in love with, is all you talk about! Should be the same with Jesus! You want to tell everyone about this man, the Savior who saved your life! Just as the woman at the well did. She told the whole city ‘Come, and see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ’ John 4: 28-29.” Karen Cochran
Beware of anyone who discourages learning God’s Word in any form, including memorizing Scripture. This is a novice error and it could only be coming from the evil one. Because the Jews knew the Bible and rejected Jesus, novices reason that this means that New Testament saints, saved by grace, are not to intimately know or memorize God’s Word. Nonsense!
Is the primary responsibility of the disciple of Jesus to:
A. Follow the instructions of God’s Word? or
B. Don’t be like the Pharisees (false leaders)?
A. is the correct answer.
The fact that the LORD cited the false religionists of His day for not coming to Him, for not opening their hearts to Him, in no way communicates that those who are His should not learn His Word too well. That would be like saying that just because the false leaders of Jesus’ day knew His Word and yet didn’t turn their hearts to Jesus, anyone who learns His Word too well (as if that’s even possible) will automatically not turn their hearts to Jesus.
Let’s look at the passage that is being taken out of context:
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40
“And isn’t that just what Jesus told the Pharisees? You know scriptures but you don’t know me in your heart! John 5: 38-47. It means nothing to Jesus if we only know of Him. We must know Him in Spirit and in truth! John 4:24.” Karen Cochran
Did Jesus rebuke them for knowing His Word? No.
Notice, Jesus says that His people are to “Search the scriptures” and the Scriptures “are they which testify of” (reveal) Him.
“Even the Pharisees knew the scriptures and knew of Jesus, but they did not know Him. Jesus told them they did not have Him in their hearts and therefore did not have eternal life . John 5: 38-47. Head knowledge means nothing to Jesus. We need to know Him in our hearts in a relationship with Him. Digesting His words! Getting to know Him. We should be emulating the sweet savour of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2: 15. How can you be like someone that you don’t know?” Karen Cochran
The Gospel message is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
In fact, it’s the seed of God’s “incorruptible” Word that is the instrument of His regeneration in our lives.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25
The very way God ordained and orchestrated that we learn about and know Him, repent and believe upon Christ, is through the knowledge we get from “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Listen to the apostle Paul instruct Timothy:
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The man of God cannot be perfected, matured, “throughly furnished unto all good works” without a deep knowledge of the Scriptures which the apostle reveals here is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
So the first of the 4 stated reasons God gave us His Word, the Bible, are for…
“doctrine”
Must know the facts and the Father!
Must know the Word and the God of the Word.
How are God’s people going to learn His Word if they don’t study and memorize and meditate upon it? How are God’s people going to be sanctified by the truth and washed by the water of the Word if they’re not in that Word daily and engaged in learning and obeying God’s Word?
So if the Pharisees did not know God’s Word would they not have also rejected him? How can knowing God’s Word be negative in any way? It’s simply can’t.
Is trying not to be like a Pharisee more important than actually following Christ?
In John 5:39-40 Jesus said nothing negative about the Pharisees knowing His Word but rather about them refusing to come to Him. Let us rightly divide saints and correct those who bear false witness (2 Timothy 2:15). In fact, in another place Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not knowing His Word: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God“ (Matthew 22:29). God’s people need to know “the scriptures” and walk in “the power of God.” Only Satan could be behind the attempt to hinder either!
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40
There will be those who come and go who know the words of God but not the God of the Word. Beware saints. Many times they know all the right things to say and yet have not truly repented and are living in sin, darkness, pride, and deep-seated rebellion.
On this note, sister Karen Cochran writes:
“Modern Pharisees know the Scriptures but like the Pharisees of old they don’t know Jesus. Just like Jesus told them in John 5:38- 42. They knew the Scriptures but they didn’t know Him. What good is it if we don’t know Jesus? We can know of Him but not know Him. We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37- 38”
These counterfeits are saying that God’s people shouldn’t know God’s Word too well, we shouldn’t memorize it, because then we may become like the Pharisees and not come to Jesus. Foolishness at best.
To the contrary, the Bible teaches us to read, to “study,” to “retain,” and “meditate upon God’s Word ….
Did the apostle Paul correct the biblically astute Bereans for diligently, meticulously searching the scriptures to see if he was telling the truth? No! (Acts 17:10-11)
They are saying that knowing God’s Word in your God-given mind will keep you from knowing Him in your heart. Nonsense. By divine design, information is contacted, first enters our minds before it can be processed and received in our heart.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“Most people in the churches of today prefer to follow and believe the men/pastors and their words over the Word of God at their peril. This is because they are too lazy to study and read the Bible for themselves, sadly. Biblical illiteracy is the norm and not the exception today.” B.
Concerning ruling over the masses that have been kept ignorant of God’s Word, one disciple writes:
“Lacking of knowing God’s Word, memorizing it, is the direct reason the catholic church grew to so much power in the middle ages, and others down the ages. It was only the ‘priest’ that could read the Bible. So it meant what they said it meant and not what God meant. RUN!”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6
Checking your ignorance at the door!
Those who are ignorant of truth are so willingly (Hosea 4:6). They “willingly are ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5).
He gave us His truth, and those who reject His knowledge, His Word, will be “destroyed.”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because THOU HAS REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law (Word) of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6
“There was a time when churches were teaching the whole counsel of God and most Bible believers in Bible teaching churches could carry on intelligent biblical conversations if they had been saved for five years or so. In the last ten years, I have found that most Christians today have become biblical illiterates. Due to the constant tendency toward all kinds of new experiences ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4), many are influenced to the extreme, and they settle for simply repeating various phrases that they hear without true, biblical understanding. That, then, becomes the focal point of their Christian life rather than conforming to the teachings of Scripture which they are not taught. It is getting harder and harder to find people in a local church who have even a very basic knowledge of Scripture, let alone any in-depth knowledge. The false teachers are going to have a lot to answer for in this area, but so will pastors who have encouraged this in their people rather than taking on the discipline of learning how to do a proper exegesis and expository teaching.” 1980 Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
To a man who recently sought to discourage God’s people from memorizing His Word due to the fact that the Pharisees knew His Word and yet crucified Him.
I asked him if what the Pharisees did cancelled and negated the need for God’s people to know His Word in their minds and trust and love Him in their hearts? To this man I also wrote:
“Perhaps you should cease discouraging God’s people from learning and submitting to His Word…. there’s NO sense in which learning God’s Word is anything but a good thing…. and of course coming to Him in our hearts via His Word and Holy Spirit ….”
Our GOD-given brain is the passage way to the heart…. is it not? “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18).
God gave us a brain to “reason” with and a heart to believe upon Christ with (Romans 10:9-10). “COME now, and let us reason together” He said to His people (Isaiah 1:18).
Did Jesus memorize Scripture? Yes, beginning as a young boy. And this is how He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). In fact, He knew where things were in the Bible—“He FOUND the place” in the Word He wanted to read—“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written” (Luke 4:17).
ARE YOU “BLESSED”?
If you aren’t reading God’s Word daily, you are not “blessed.” Read Psalm 1.
“Blessed is he that readeth…” (Revelation 1:3).
See also Psalms 1:1-3.
Set it in your mind today that tomorrow, upon waking, you are diligently devouring God’s Word. Memorize and meditate upon 1 Chronicles 22:19. The message from Heaven is simple: FOLLOW JESUS via HIS WORD. The Bible is God’s truth and our safety. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protection) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
No way to know the Word Himself outside of His own Word. “They are they (His words) which testify of me” (John 5:39-40).
The written Word is like the tangible standard whereas at times, each of us as humans, can think we are being led by the Spirit but actually not being led by the LORD…. and so the standard is always the written Word, right?… To rightly divide His Word of truth. Right and amen Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15).
The only way we can “rightly” divide the truth from error is by personally, diligently studying God’s Word. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15.
ALL ministries not getting you into God’s Word are fostering your faith in them!
Stacy Strother writes:
“The true Spirit of God will NEVER discard truth or lead people outside the parameter of the written word of God. The Spirit of God will search out ALL things and even the deep things, and if we are born again, have patience, we can be taught and be led to stay within harmony of His word. Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.”
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Apostate Modern Church Exposed | Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast] | Preach the Word | Wolves Exposed | Church Membership Exposed | 100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich Podcasts | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ



Abiding
“Thou hast been in Eden the Garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13 [podcast]

Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
THE INTRUDERS—THE RESTORATION
“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God.” ~ Ezekiel 28:13
The evil one had been thrust down from Heaven to the earth for the iniquity found in him (Ezek. 28:15; Lk. 10:18). This evil foe, who had been ejected by God from Heaven’s pristine and perfect premises, was cast down to the earth and allowed in the sanctuary of the Garden of Eden, because God gives men a choice to serve—or to not serve Him. He created in mankind the gift of free will. Temptation is ultimately the test as to whom the individual will love and serve. “For the LORD your God proveth (tests) you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 13:3).
The serpent slithered among the lush embellishments of the Garden of Eden. His goal was the fall of the first man and woman who were created in the image of the One who made all things. Satan obviously schemed and strategized as to what weapon to employ in order to accomplish his main objective—to cause the first man and woman to fall from grace by sinning, and consequently, be alienated from the LORD. This enemy of souls knew from personal experience that the Almighty keeps His Word and casts down those who disobey Him. To this point, Adam and Eve knew only righteousness. They did not yet realize what the evil one knew and had already been the recipient of – that is, the judgment of God for his sin. A hard lesson lay ahead of Adam and Eve, and a fallen creation would be left in the wake of their defiance of the holy LORD and His righteous command – not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).
The enemy of all souls has not changed. His temptations are “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13). Satan’s goal was, and is, to interrupt and destroy the relationship between his enemy, God, and His special creation—man. Jesus informed us that the ultimate “thief” has come to “steal, to kill and to destroy” (Jn. 10:10). This same goal—the fall of man—is still his aim and will be until the LORD Himself puts him away for good (Rev. 20:10).
From the Garden to the modern pulpit, the enemy has lied to mankind. Satan and his false teachers are the intruders—the very enemies of the Almighty. The serpent has slithered through the garden path of history, seductively spreading his poisonous seed, causing the fall of many and now possesses the thoughts and doctrines of an army of deceived men in ministry.
Ever since the Garden, the lie of the ages dwells among men, especially in the sanctuary where the LORD is supposed to be reigning—the Church world. As in the Garden of creation, so the enemy specifically concentrates on the sanctuary of his enemy’s people. He seeks to molest purity, beguiling those who are unlearned. Many times, he uses the body of Christ’s own leaders.
Today, the pulpits and platforms of modern media are the places that most people simply do not suspect to be the mediums where falsehoods thrive, reside, and flow. They do not see the serpent lurking among the trees in the garden of modern “Christian” pulpits, organizations, and media. Most are not aware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing who, like the lurking serpent in the garden, “lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14).
As foretold by the prophet Amos, the enemy of souls seeks to alter and remove the Word of God from the hearing of God’s people (Amos 8:11). This is what he did in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). Today this same enemy uses the most subtle messengers—the ones many people look to for truth. The Holy Spirit forewarned us that in these last of days men would not remain in the truth but rather that “some shall depart from the faith” and that “many” would “corrupt the word of God” (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 2:17): “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
It simply doesn’t matter if a leader realizes he is teaching heresy or not. If he is teaching anything other than the Word, he is a detractor from the glory of God and leading others astray. Men of God are to “preach the word” and speak only “as the oracles (words) of God” (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 4:11). This is a non-negotiable command to all who would accurately represent the LORD. No matter the reasoning, one will be found a deceiver on Judgment Day if he preaches any other message than the Word of God (Isa. 8:20). One can be sincere and sincerely wrong at the same time (Prov. 14:12). “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).
The holy and almighty God told us that He is going to judge all men according to His Word (Jn. 12:48; Rom. 2:16; Rev. 20:11-15).
From the very beginning (Garden of Creation), the beguiler’s target has been God’s people. Nothing has changed. His message to men is simple— “You don’t have to worry about obedience, it’s optional, you can live the way you choose and still remain in the grace of God.”
Through those men he uses today, the enemy mixes in some truth with this deadly lie of lasciviousness and poisons the whole pond, leading many astray into a false gospel and false security. Perhaps it has been wisely stated that “Satan will give you a million pounds of truth to blind you with that one ounce of a deadly lie which will kill you.” In order to bring in a lie among God’s people, the enemy likes to lead with truth as his smokescreen in order to bring in that deadly distortion behind the cover of truth. See Matthew 16:6-12 and 1 Corinthians 5:6. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).
Why should we be surprised that this ultimate enemy still uses the most “subtle” and unsuspected methods and personalities to communicate his deadly message to God’s people? After all, his message still works to cause unsuspecting men to fall out of fellowship with God. Why should we wonder why the evil one still utilizes the same lie that claimed the first man and woman? Has this message not captured untold scores of souls since then? Are we so blindly naïve as to believe that there is no evil or devil? Why should we be surprised to realize that this same evil enemy of souls is ceaselessly in the midst of our garden today, telling this same lie by adding to the Word of the Maker?
God said “Thou shalt surely die,” and Satan countered with “Ye shall not surely die.”
Are pulpits more sacred than the very Garden of Eden? Obviously not. There was no sin in the Garden until Satan introduced the lie of the ages, and the man and woman bought it. In the very cradle of creation, the enemy of God initiated and launched the lie that would fatally wound mankind, claiming the souls of millions throughout the centuries. This exact same deadly lie was picked up, incorporated, and perpetuated by early century church fathers, so-called theologians, whose heresy-laced writings and commentaries regrettably hold great prominence among many evangelicals today—even though they have no reconciliation with the Counsel of God, which will be demonstrated throughout this book.
The Bible enlightens us to the reality that Satan is a strategist and has schemes of which believers are instructed not to be ignorant (2 Cor. 2:11; 1 Pet. 5:8). We are in a war, and like any good war general and his staff, we are to study and know the nature, weapons, and ways of our enemy.
The apostle Paul informed us that Satan’s methods are the same today as they were from the start—in the Garden.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
In this same text, the LORD told us that He makes a way to escape the re-used lies of the enemy and his temptations.
As can be clearly seen in Genesis, “once saved always saved” is not a new doctrine, and it’s also not the LORD’s doctrine. “Once saved always saved” is clearly the lie that caused the fall of man. This is the doctrine of the arch enemy of the Almighty. As in the very beginning, the unholy serpent himself is still creeping into the homes and gathering places of believers today and utilizing the same lie to mislead people and cause their fall from grace. The chief wolf who has come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” seeks to devour souls for his kingdom and from the Chief Shepherd, who is “come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10; Heb. 13:20). Beware! “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).
The first lie led to the fall of the first man and woman and is leading to the fall of masses of people today. Millions in our day are being taught that they are unconditionally eternally secure—in the absence of the truth about the holiness of the God they will stand before in judgment, and His demand that we be made holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).
The pulpits of America have been hi-jacked by men who have “crept in unawares” who are teaching a doctrine originated by the enemy of all souls and calling it “Christian.” This is paramount to using the name of the LORD in vain, by attaching His holy name to a teaching of his arch enemy.
Tracing the Lie
The adversary attacked God through His own creation—the Garden, the fruit, the serpent, the woman, and the man.
Does it intrigue you to uncover the very first lie told by the one Christ warned us of who is the father of all lies? Of Satan, Jesus said: “for he is a liar, and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44).
One three-letter word— “not”—changed the course of history! Satan told the woman “Ye shall not surely die,” after their Maker had told them that they would “surely die” in the day they disobeyed Him (Gen. 2:17; 3:4).
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall NOT surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” ~ Genesis 3:4-5
This first and poisonous falsehood, the lie of the ages, is still today the same deadly venom being injected by the evil one in the battle that rages for the eternal souls of men. The serpent infused the first man and woman with this venomous and paralyzing deception, robbing from their hearts the fear of the LORD, which led to their fall from grace. Consequently, a separation was incurred between a holy Maker and His creation with a catastrophic curse which fell.
This unconditional eternal security—without condition to the recipient—is the very FIRST LIE the devil ever told to mankind. “Once saved always saved” (OSAS) is one of the modern labels of the renamed, or repackaged, lie of the ages. In this deception in the Garden, as well as in our day, Satan craftily convinces people that they have irrevocable “security” and “assurance,” no matter what their actions against the clear command/Word of God.
The message of eternal security without condition to the recipient is that once one has been born again, he has no responsibility to continue to faithfully obey the Almighty—the One who saved him. Those who sit under this teaching are told that once they have been brought into fellowship with Him in His garden of salvation through Christ, they can never “die” or be separated from Him again, even if they blatantly rebel. This lie teaches that the person who Christ has saved can then choose to live as he wishes with no fear of consequence or righteous retribution from the One who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). This is the very lie that Satan gave Adam and Eve which led to their fall into sin and separation from the LORD.
Can you see why it is a big score for the enemy of souls when people are told by their misled leaders that they are “once saved always saved”—no matter what they choose to do, including revolt completely against the Most High and go back to the life of sin?
In the sanctity of the Garden, where there was no suspicion, Satan intruded. Today, in the sanctuary of the pulpits and various Christian media, his emissaries are intruding where few suspect. He prospers because so many believe that their leaders are guiding them correctly, and yet do not know and obey the Word of God for themselves. Only those who learn the way of the LORD through His Word can know and see the enemy’s work. Those who do not have a life in the Word will fall prey to deception and ultimately be destroyed (Hos. 4:6; Matt. 22:29). Discernment comes from being personally exercised in the Word of God (Heb. 5:11-14).
The New Garden—Restored Holy Bliss
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” ~ Isaiah 9:6-7
The Genesis account of creation and the relationship between the LORD and the first man and woman, is an ongoing saga to continue until the hour of Christ’s return, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. We are given this record (the Bible) in order to know the LORD and how He deals with men, and who He blesses and who He curses.
From the Garden to the Holy City—Genesis to Revelation, the war over the souls of men rages. The enemy seeks to reclaim those redeemed by the blood of the One who is the seed of woman (Gen. 3:15). What better way to undertake such an evil mission than to use those shepherds at the very helm of the visible church?
God’s account of man’s creation and fall is not left without a solution from the only One who can remedy his alienation. Holy Writ opens with the creation and fall of mankind and the promised prophetic restoration through the Messiah of all who will come to Him, as He justly prescribed (Gen. 3:15). The book of all Books ends with a warning to all of us concerning making the very same error Adam and Eve made when they bought into the distortion of His holy words, and thereby fell, joining forces with His archenemy.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 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: 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. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” ~ Revelation 22:12-21
In these final words of Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ tells us that He is coming quickly to reward all according to each person’s works. He says to us that those who keep and do His Word will receive blessings and “have right to the tree of life” in the restored “holy city” of God. Outside this blessedness will be all who have lived in and justified their sins—no matter what their previous relationship with Him might have been. Then, in the very final words of Holy Writ, there is the warning of adding to or taking from His words. This adding to or removing of truth is done first internally, in the hearts of those who do not genuinely love the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Those who love darkness rather than His holy light do not wish to come clean under the light of divine truth (Jn. 3:18-21; 2 Tim. 4:3-4).
This war for the souls of men spans from Genesis to Revelation, and the words of God are pivotal in this most crucial and consequential of battles. Those who play into the enemy’s scheme to “add unto” or “take away” from God’s words of instruction will be removed from the book of life, cut out of the holy city, and from all eternal blessings. The lake of fire waits.
PRAYER: LORD Jesus, please purify my heart and remove all dissimulation and mixture from me. Rid my life of all secret faults and presumptuous sins! Father, please grant me the blessing of knowing You in truth and living in Your holy light and will. Jesus, please preserve my eternal soul until the day of Your soon return. Amen.
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
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