Only Jesus Will Set You Free.

 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 

This scripture was brought to my attention this week as I was travailing. I heard a very educated, very will spoken, uneducated, unintelligent, PhD type preacher on the radio trying to preach on this scripture. As most people, he had no idea what God is saying in this scripture. He said, “truth is whatever truth is to you” and then failed to connect the saving grace of God thru Jesus Christ to this scripture. He spoke about 10 minutes proving he had no idea what he was talking about and then started to talk about how to buy his book. This preacher is exactly what is wrong with what is called Christianity in America. Folks, truth is NOT what you think truth is to you, truth is whatever God says. God said of mankind, “…let God be true, but every man a liar…”.  Romans 3:4 And God went on to say in that same scripture “…That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings…”, what a difference from what the radio preacher said. I see why the radio preacher said what he said, it is the very same reason most non-church preachers say what they do, they do not want to hurt the sensitive feeling of those self-righteous, very tender-feeling, I-will-leave if you hurt my feeling members of his church. Most people in these non-church assemblies cannot stand to hear the truth of the scriptures, therefore their Pastors are bound to preaching a watered-down version of the bible. You know, there is another saying here in America, “the truth hurts” and if the bible does not hurt you sometimes, then you are not hearing truth. God said as He was speaking to Pastors, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”  2 Timothy 4:2. The word “reprove” means - convict of their errors – and the word rebuke means - to tax upon – which means to charge them, charge on pain of, and to charge on pain of penalty for disobedience. – So what God is saying here is, Pastors that are really true to the word are to preach the word of God, and in being true to the word you will convict the membership of their errors in life, any that truth will convict them of their sins and cause them pain to want to change their ways. That is the “truth setting you free” of sin. Most people in the non-churches are so self-righteous that they cannot handle the truth. That could be they do not know the truth, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 The scriptures goes on to say, “…the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”  John 14:17 So here is truth, The Father is truth, The Son is truth, and the Holy Spirit is truth and He also delivers truth to the believer. This scripture right here tells us why people, especially  people in the non-church assemblies cannot “handle the truth” it is because “…whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” This is also why so many people visit churches of truth and leave because they cannot handle the truth, it hurts their feelings. I cannot count the amount of times my feelings have been hurt by the scriptures, but if your feeling does not get hurt by studying God’s word, then you have not been set free by the truth. As a Pastor I preach the Word, if it hurts someone’s feelings and they leave, I let them walk. If they are a believer in Jesus Christ and a lover of truth, then they will want to talk about it, and be set free of their anger. Folks, this is the truth, God The Father, Jesus The Son, The Holy Spirit, and The Word of God. Listen to the truth and it will make you free or else you are bound to sin and lies. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17 Have you been sanctified by the truth, has your thinking been sanctified by the truth, are you offended by the truth? If not then maybe you need to know the truth (Jesus Christ) and be set free by the Truth.  

The birth of a Saviour.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 

Not all Christians celebrate Christmas, it does not make them weird, or strange, or even hateful, nor does it make them non-Christian. See, Christmas is a pagan holiday it is not a “holyday”. Christmas is not really about Jesus, His birth, nor is it about Jesus period, it is a secular holiday that the world make-believe it to be about Jesus. If Christmas was about Jesus, it would all be about Him and nothing else. It certainly would not be about a fictional man named Santa Clause that people lie to their children about being real. No, I am not rude, I am not a scrooge, I am a Christian and a Pastor that believes it is a sin to lie, even to lie for fun is still a sin. So, you do what you want, it is you that will one day account to Jesus Christ (the real giver of gifts) for your sinfulness of lies. I will not argue about it, because God said, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14 I know what people say, “I don’t worship Santa Clause” well maybe you do not, but you are teaching your children to do so by lying to them.

However, with all that said, let us look at the birth of our Saviour Jesus The Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He had no human Father. The bible says “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew 1:16, it does not say Joseph begat Jesus, it says Jesus was born of Mary. But Jesus was a person, a real person, He was born of a woman that carried Him for nine months. Listen to this scripture very carefully, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35 I believe that when Luke wrote “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee” it means that the Holy Spirit put the seed of God in Mary to cause her to be pregnant, because we all know it takes a male seed to make a woman with child. The words “shall come” means – to influence – and the word “upon” means - as a relation of distribution – then the scripture goes on to say “the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee” meaning - to invest with preternatural influence – and if you look in the Greek you will find two of these definitions comes from the Greek word “epi” which is the third one “upon” which means - as a relation of distribution – which tells me the Holy Spirit delivered the seed of God into Mary’s womb creating “that holy thing” in her womb “which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God”. This is why Mary was surprised that she was pregnant because of verse 34 “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” I believe Jesus was more than the Incarnate Son of God, but that humanly speaking He was God’s Son humanly as well as deity. Jesus never loses His sonship, and fleshly He was and is still the fleshly Son of God as well as Incarnate. As God’s Son in the human body He was born without sin, lived without sin, and died only with our sins. This is how He could be born, grow, learn, weep, suffer pain, and die. God cannot because God is immutable, even the second part of the Godhead the Son. We know that the Holy Spirt raised Him from the grave, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46 The things Jesus went through God could not have gone through because of His deity and immutability only the human Son of God could do these things. So, God the Father gave Him a name above all other names, He gave Him all glory, and He gave Him His rightful place in heaven, the throne on the Father right.

God did all this because He loved us, and He sent Jesus to die for us, therefore Jesus is our Saviour. Santa Clause has nothing to do with Jesus because he is fictional, and how dare people belittle our Glorious Saviour with a lie. The same goes for anything else for salvation, it belittles Jesus, his birth, life, sacrifice, and the entire meaning of Saviour. Folks, we had a Saviour born of a virgin woman, by the seed of God, sent from God to wash our sins by His blood, please do not belittle our Saviour. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted…But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4 - 5 

Worse Than Before, Warning!

2 Peter 2:20 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

The greatest knowledge of God we have is our fear of Him. God is righteous in every possible way, but He is also judgmental in everything. God is great with love, before we loved Him, He loved us, and it is because of His love that we love Him. However, let us not mis-understand words like love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, let us always remember the word fear.  God listed fear as one of the downfalls of mankind, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18 When people have no fear in their hearts then they will not mind the rule of law. God went on to say, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:21 It is our fear of God that causes us to be good Christians. Now let us look at our knowledge, our knowledge is given by the Holy Spirit and we should use much care with that knowledge. It is by our knowledge of God, His word, and fear that keeps us in God’s word. It is by God’s grace that we “have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. But with this grace of knowledge comes responsibility, and that responsibility is on our part to keep Gods Holy Word in our life as a guide. Jesus knowing this great challenge in the Christians life prayed for us about this, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17 Making one holy or pure in this life is only accomplished by the power and work of God. Only in the washing of the blood of Jesus can a soul ever be cleansed and made pure. But keeping ourselves pure is a work on our part, we must walk in the Holy Spirit. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 It is true that God will keep us, and we cannot fall from the salvation that He has given to us thru His Glorious Son, but we must walk in the word to keep holy. God told us to “… keep thyself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22 This is the challenge of every believer, to learn the word, walk in the Spirit, and to keep ourselves pure in this life. Folks, it is only through our fear of god that we can continue to do this. I fear that the words “chastisement, and chastening” are not used enough in this age. But there is something else that will keep the Christian pure in life, that is respect and honor. We owe God our respect and honor for the grace and mercy He has shown to us in saving our unworthy souls. After God has brought us up out of the sewage pit of this most evil world, why would we even want to return. Why would we not want to walk in the word of God every moment of our life, why would we not want to show God our gratitude for what He has given un in Jesus Christ.

However, not all that claim Christianity are Christians. If you are a Christian and a true Christian, then you must know your responsibility to God and Jesus who saved you. If you cannot do this then here is a thought, maybe you are not saved. Maybe this is why you cannot follow Jesus and God’s Word in this life. “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22 It is sad that so many that call themselves Christians are nothing more than lost, religious, and hell bound. The lost sinner will always return to the pit of the sewage and when they do it will be worse than if they had not known the truth, “latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” Professing to know Jesus Christ and not actually knowing Him is going to be painful, devastating, their end will be worse. Folks, salvation is not a game, it is real, and it is only thru Jesus Christ, if you are saved any other way then you are lost and a “fake Christian”, your end is only going to be worse. Read these words very carefully, “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape…And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not…Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me…And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:37 - 40

Man Has Nothing To Glory Of!

Galatians 6:12 - 15 “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ…For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh…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…For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

If you look at the zeal of a lot of people who call themselves Christians it is a great zeal. Paul wrote, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved…For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” Romans 10:1 - 2 Paul loved his fellow Jews, I believe he prayed for them often, that they would come to know Christ as their Saviour. I often find myself praying for the lost and I hope you do also. However, Paul like a lot of us understood salvation and we know that God saves sinners and regardless what or do, God saves sinners. While these Jews had “a zeal of God” or for God, they refused to receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Most people who call themselves “Christians” are nothing but zealous people trying to serve God by serving themselves. Paul wrote in Verse 12 of our text “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh…” This means that these folks wanted to do something to saved lost sinners, we have so many today and they are called “charismatics” in today religion. These people are energized in themselves, and these are the ones who Paul calls “Zealous” but “…but not according to knowledge.” This means while they have a lot of energy for saving sinners and causing people to make decisions or choices for Christ, they do it for self-glory and not for God. Paul went on to say in our text scripture “…they constrain you to be circumcised…” v. 12 they insist that you do some kind of self-glory work to call yourself a Christian. You must make some sort of decision, pray a prayer, be baptized, join a church, or do some sort of works to be saved. Here they were holding to the old Jewish custom of being circumcised before they could be saved. The problem was that circumcision like works today do nothing for salvation, “For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law…” because the circumcision is not a part of salvation no more than works are, because if you do not keep the entire law then you are guilty of all. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 Salvation has nothing to do with works, nor zeal because salvation is in Jesus Christ. Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised but declared righteous long before that. Salvation is in Jesus Christ, we as Christians have no reason to glory because we did nothing to be saved. Paul wrote “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” because He and He alone is Saviour. It matters not how much “zeal” a person has, it matters whether or not they believe in Jesus Christ and His action upon the cross, the finished work. Paul finished-up with these words “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing…” if salvation is in Christ then zeal, decisions, choices, prayers, baptisms, church memberships, or anything else will not do you any good in salvation. People can bend or twist the scriptures to make them say or prove any false doctrine, but the truth is Jesus Christ is Saviour!  And then there’s this conclusion “…neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” It’s not about a work, it is about being born again as a New Creature. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 and “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Hear the scriptures, they will teach you the truth about salvation, and it about Jesus Christ and not about us. “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9 Do not be fooled by foolish, zealous lost people.

A Needed Revival For Us All.

I selected the article below this week and allowed it to take-up most of the room in our newsletter because I thought it was that beneficial to us as church members and Christians. I am a firmly believer that we live in an era where Christians and churches are not living properly in the Lord. I think Brother DeMoss has really pinpointed the needs of Christians and churches of today. I believe we all need a revival, not a revival service but a real revival from the Lord. The word “revival” means - an improvement in the condition or strength of something. That “something” is our Christian hearts to better serve the Lord, the bible, and the church. I believe we could all use a good dose of chastisement from the Lord with much grace and mercy to change our hearts on His word, our love to each other as Christians, to our prayer life, and to our churches. Church is a seminary of biblical studies for believers to learn how to serve the Lord our God who saved us by His grace and mercy to honor Him in this world for as long as we live in it. Sometimes Christians grows weak and we are the last to know. Please take the time to read and study this list for improvements in your Christian life. Please study it with an open, honest, and prayerful heart. Sometimes we fail to recognize our downside or where we are lacking, but today is a good day for a Christian REVIVAL. I will also be studding it for reviving some of my lacking in the Lord. Let us pray for one another and we spiritually exercise in the word of God to strengthen our spiritual understanding.         

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

WE NEED REVIVAL:
By: N. L. DeMoss

. . . when we do not love Him as we once did.

. . . when earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than eternal ones.

. . . when we would rather watch TV and read secular books and magazines than read the Bible and pray.
. . . when church dinners are better attended than prayer meetings.
. . . when concerts draw bigger crowds than prayer meetings.

. . . when we have little or no desire for prayer.

. . . when we would rather make money than give money.

. . . when we put people into leadership positions in our churches who do not meet scriptural qualifications.

. . . when our Christianity is joyless and passionless.

. . . when we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives.

. . . when we make little effort to witness to the lost.

. . . when we have time for sports, recreation, and entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer.

. . . when we do not tremble at the Word of God.

. . . when preaching lacks conviction, confrontation, and divine fire and anointing.

. . . when we seldom think thoughts of eternity.

. . . when God’s people are more concerned about their jobs and their careers, than about the Kingdom

      of Christ and the salvation of the lost.

. . . when God’s people get together with other believers and the conversation is primarily about the

      news, weather, and sports, rather than the Lord.

. . . when church services are predictable and "business as usual."

. . . when Christian husbands and wives are not praying together.

. . . when our marriages are co-existing rather than full of the love of Christ.

. . . when our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular philosophies, and ungodly lifestyles.

. . . when we are more concerned about our children’s education and their athletic activities than about

      the condition of their souls.

. . . when sin in the church is pushed under the carpet.

. . . when known sin is not dealt with through the biblical process of discipline and restoration.

. . . when we tolerate "little" sins of gossip, a critical spirit, and lack of love.

. . . when we will watch things on television and movies that are not holy.

. . . when our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless.

. . . when our prayers are empty words designed to impress others.

. . . when our prayers lack fervency.

. . . when our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry.

. . . when we aren’t seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God.

. . . when we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our own sin and the sin of others.

. . . when we are content to live with explainable, ordinary Christianity and church services.

. . . when we are bored with worship.

. . . when people have to be entertained to be drawn to church.

. . . when our music and dress become patterned after the world.

. . . when we start fitting into and adapting to the world, rather than calling the world to adapt to God’s

      standards of holiness.

. . . when we don’t long for the company and fellowship of God’s people.

. . . when people have to be begged to give and to serve in the church.

. . . when our giving is measured and calculated, rather than extravagant and sacrificial.

. . . when we aren’t exercising faith and believing God for the impossible.

. . . when we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God thinks about us.

. . . when we are unmoved by the fact that 2.5 billion people in this world have never heard the
       name of Jesus
. . . when we are unmoved by the thought of neighbors, business associates, and acquaintances who are

      lost and without Christ.

. . . when we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us.

. . . when the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages, and the church.

A Needed Revival

WE NEED REVIVAL: By: N. L. DeMoss . . . when we do not love Him as we once did. . . . when earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than eternal ones. . . . when we would rather watch TV and read secular books and magazines than read the Bible and pray. . . . when church dinners are better attended than prayer meetings. . . . when concerts draw bigger crowds than prayer meetings. . . . when we have little or no desire for prayer. . . . when we would rather make money than give money. . . . when we put people into leadership positions in our churches who do not meet scriptural qualifications. . . . when our Christianity is joyless and passionless. . . . when we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives. . . . when we make little effort to witness to the lost. . . . when we have time for sports, recreation, and entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer. . . . when we do not tremble at the Word of God. . . . when preaching lacks conviction, confrontation, and divine fire and anointing. . . . when we seldom think thoughts of eternity. . . . when God’s people are more concerned about their jobs and their careers, than about the Kingdom       of Christ and the salvation of the lost. . . . when God’s people get together with other believers and the conversation is primarily about the       news, weather, and sports, rather than the Lord. . . . when church services are predictable and "business as usual." . . . when Christian husbands and wives are not praying together. . . . when our marriages are co-existing rather than full of the love of Christ. . . . when our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular philosophies, and ungodly lifestyles. . . . when we are more concerned about our children’s education and their athletic activities than about       the condition of their souls. . . . when sin in the church is pushed under the carpet. . . . when known sin is not dealt with through the biblical process of discipline and restoration. . . . when we tolerate "little" sins of gossip, a critical spirit, and lack of love. . . . when we will watch things on television and movies that are not holy. . . . when our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless. . . . when our prayers are empty words designed to impress others. . . . when our prayers lack fervency. . . . when our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry. . . . when we aren’t seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God. . . . when we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our own sin and the sin of others. . . . when we are content to live with explainable, ordinary Christianity and church services. . . . when we are bored with worship. . . . when people have to be entertained to be drawn to church. . . . when our music and dress become patterned after the world. . . . when we start fitting into and adapting to the world, rather than calling the world to adapt to God’s       standards of holiness. . . . when we don’t long for the company and fellowship of God’s people. . . . when people have to be begged to give and to serve in the church. . . . when our giving is measured and calculated, rather than extravagant and sacrificial. . . . when we aren’t exercising faith and believing God for the impossible. . . . when we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God thinks about us. . . . when we are unmoved by the fact that 2.5 billion people in this world have never heard the        name of Jesus . . . when we are unmoved by the thought of neighbors, business associates, and acquaintances who are       lost and without Christ. . . . when we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us. . . . when the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages, and the church. . . . when we are blind to the extent of our need and don’t think we need revival.

Salvation In Totality.

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” 1 Peter 1:2

 In this world of Christianity one of the most argued doctrines is salvation, but what is the salvation of the bible? Salvation in totality is found in this scripture right here, no more needs to be said. It is a fact that the vast majority of so-called Christians and churches hate the word elect, election, and elected, but they are in the scripture. It is also true that these very same so-called Christians and churches hate the Sovereignty of God. Therefore, these people want to pick and choose their doctrines and purposely eliminate these two most-valuable truths from their teachings. Which makes me wonder if they are actually Christians, only people that believe in Jesus Christ are saved. I find it difficult to understand how one can be saved if they do not understand what salvation truly is. It is true that one does not have to believe in the Sovereignty of God, Election, or anything outside of Jesus Christ to be saved, but these are essential doctrines to explain salvation. Why would men in the pulpits want to eliminate the teachings of the three most essential phases of salvation and teach phases that are lies and not scriptural? You do not choose salvation, salvation is a “GIFT” and a gift from God the Father. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8 How are you saved, “by grace are ye saved” the word grace means – by mere favor, especially the divine influence upon the heart – Go ahead look it up in the Greek. Now please understand “by mere favor” does not mean it is by your own merit; because you do not have any claim to it. Salvation is not your choice, decision, it is not a prayer, nor is it in your works, it is in Jesus Christ and Him alone. The choosing is done by God, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”. The “foreknowledge of God the Father” absolutely means – forethought of God, also to know beforehand, or to ordain – It does not mean that God looked into the future and saw who would choose Him and believe and those are the ones He “foreknew”. That is not true, nor does it fit this definition. Second, the word “elect” means - chosen – (past tense) it does not mean for us to choose Him, but that we were chosen. The truth is that God chose a remnant before the world began to be saved, instead of denying the truth, you might ought to hope you are one of those chosen few.

Peter went on to write “…through sanctification of the Spirit…” the word “sanctification” means – purification - …of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit whom brings us (the elect) to salvation. We cannot bring ourselves, i.e. Romans chapter 3:11 “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Therefore, we must be delivered to Christ, not by your pastor, nor by tricks, nor any other way, but by the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote in Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The “sanctification of the Spirit” is the Holy Spirit delivering us to the blood of Jesus to be purified. We must be delivered because on our own we will never come to Christ to be cleansed of our sins. Just as a pig does not want a bath, nor a sinner wanting to leave sin, we have no desire to leave sin for righteousness, therefore we must be led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:7 - 9 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be…So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God…But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Now Peter concludes the third part of our salvation, “…unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…” The thought here “unto sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ,” means the cleansing of us from sin, or to holiness, which is accomplished by sprinkling of that blood that they were to be made holy. The word “obedience” means - compliance or submission – to the blood of Jesus Christ for our cleaning. We can be cleansed no other way, only by the blood of Jesus Christ. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:7

Therefore, we conclude with this, God the Father chose us, the Holy Spirit delivers us, and we are purified through the blood of Jesus Christ. It you are saved any other way you need to listen to the scriptures and not the man in the pulpit. “And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not…Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me…And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:38 - 40

Jesus Is A Son given!

“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.” Isaiah 9:6 

This world is a dark gloomy place, a place of sin, darkness, and a place that hates the very God that created it. There is nothing good in the world, everything is tainted by the sinfulness of mankind. Adam and Eve once they sinned against the very God that created them, the very God whom have regular visits with them, hid themselves from God in shame. Giving the dominion of the earth, that God had given to them to Satan by their lust to follow Satan rather than the very God that created and supplied all their needs. This world has been at enmity with God ever since, even though He created everything that is in existence. Ever since the fall mankind has hated, fought, mocked, and belittled the very Creator. If one seriously looks at the world, they will see that there is no good in it. Most say that they are but in reality, there is none, because God said there isn’t. “And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2 Pharaoh was a typical human being, no fear or honor for the very God who created him and inserted him as a king. Mankind believes that they are wise but called them fools, God always mocks the wisdom of man and says it must be destroyed before He can make them truly wise. “And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” 1 Corinthians 3:20 

Now that we see the world as it truly is, let us look at the good in it. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…” God said when He created the world that it was “… without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2 This is the world to God once again after the fall, until God sent His own beloved Son to this world, Jesus The Christ. Jesus, the Saviour of sinful people, the light and the life in this evil dark world. In creation the Holy Spirit moved upon this dark, void world and made it have form, light, and life, and without the Holy Spirit it would have remained dark and without form. Today God has sent His beloved Son to this world, give His own beloved Son to do what the Holy Spirit did thousands of years earlier, to bring light and life to this dark, ugly, sinful world. However, let us not forget the Holy Spirit is still working in this dark world to bring light and life to a dead dark world thru Jesus Christ. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14 With all the names our glorious Lord has, Saviour is the greatest of all of them. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:11 People want to give themselves and mankind to much credit and that credit causes people to think more of themselves than they should. People are lost, lost in every possible way to God the Creator. Mankind is so lost that God said, “Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:15 – 18 Folks the only light, life, fear, and salvation is found in Jesus whom is God’s own dear Son and our Saviour. Without Jesus Christ in your heart there is nothing else good, and the only good in people is in Jesus Christ. You cannot bring about salvation, you are dark and void, God says you are dead, without Jesus Christ. People want to talk about the good in people, but God says, “there is none good no not one.” God said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 they do not testify of you, they testify the very Son God sent to be the Saviour of mankind. “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10 – 12

God Is Perfect.

 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4

I you are looking for perfection, then look no farther than God. The problem in the world, especially the “Christian” world is they do not know God. They call themselves worshipping God, but the true God they do not know. I hear many of these so-called “Christians” who talk about their god, and he does not think this way, say these things, or execute this way, but the truth is everything their god is not Jehovah God, or the True God of the bible is. Always remember this about God, “His work is perfect” all His works no matter what they are. The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 19:7 - 8 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple…The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” The Psalmist just told us that the laws of God are perfect because His laws are “converting the soul”. Why is His laws converting the soul, because it turns it from the ways of sin to holiness. And that is because we ought to fear God, but in todays watered down, useless, can’t do anything god, then there is no fear of God. But to those who know God, they fear Him and understand that God will chasten us if we disobey. But why obey a “watered down god” which most people believe. People do not obey the bible (which is the law of God) because they do not understand or believe the truth about the bible. People deny the Sovereignty of God, how dare we believe that God is bigger, better, smarter, and more powerful than we are. The only thing that causes us to walk a straight line in life is our fear of God. Once that fear no longer exist then our true worship of God does not exist. If I ever hear another biblically uneducated preacher ever say again that “God cannot change the heart, because you must change it”, it will be far to soon. This is a lie out of Satan’s book of deception.  John 6:29, 44 “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” The absolute truth is no person can be saved unless God changes their evil heart and calls or draws them. It is our fear of the breaking of Gods Holy law that makes us fearful and causes us to seek salvation. Man does not change their own heart, they can’t. Romans 3:11 “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Moses went on to say “…for all his ways are judgment…” Not only is God’s ways perfect, all His ways are judgment. I hear so many talking about that their god doesn’t judge, well my God is judgment in all His ways. God walks perfectly in righteousness, just as Jesus did when He walked on this earth. Everything with God is about judgment, and everything is judged. We are saved only by love, mercy, grace, and Jesus Christ, but Jesus was judged for us. We will not be judged for our sins because God judged Jesus Christ for them, just as He did for yours if you are saved. The Psalmist wrote, Psalms 9:16 - 17 “The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah…The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” All people do not go to heaven, there is certainly many more that go to hell, this is God’s judgment. God never fails, He never judges wrongly, He is never not right. “…a God of truth and without iniquity…” This is who He is, He is truth and without iniquity in everything. The Bible says that Jesus, whom is in the image of God is also truth. This is not a just an attribute it is their being, God who cannot lie. Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” 1 Samuel 15:29 “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Yes beloved, our God is perfect in every way.

The True Blessing Of Election.

 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:3 – 6

There is a true blessing in our understanding of the Election of God, and that blessing is that He elected us that are saved. There is so much false teaching about salvation that it over shadows the truth. This is what is such a blessing about election, God saves sinners regardless of their ignorance. You rarely see a preacher preaching truth anymore because they do not understand truth, and therefore they are preaching lies, but please be assured God still saves sinners. I know election is hard to understand, and I know it can be mind blowing, but God before the foundation of the world elected to save a remnant of lost people. While so many reject this blessing, let us listen to Jesus Christ when He says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16 Lost people do not seek Jesus Christ, they seek a work on their part, they seek to save themselves, even though God without question said that is impossible. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:10 – 11 How can one save themselves if God says they cannot. How is God blessed in sinners saving themselves, how is Jesus Christ blessed in that? God said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 how is He seeking and saving if people are saving themselves? I cannot understand when people are told to choose Jesus Christ, when they are told to make a decision for Christ, when that are told to turn over a new leaf, or ETC. This is what Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 how many will come to Christ? How many, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me…” as many as God the Father elected and gave to His Beloved Son before the foundation of the world, and not one single more nor one single less. It doesn’t matter what your church believes, it doesn’t matter what your pastor tells you, and it does not matter how many “out of context” scriptures you use to convince yourself otherwise, you are wrong. Now let us look at this, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44 If God does not “draw” you then you have no chance of being saved, absolutely none. Now look at this blessing of God, “And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” John 6:39 Every single soul that God elected will be saved. How is this possible, this is the blessing of election, God elected, God gave to the Son, God prepared salvation in Christ Jesus, God draws, God brings us to Christ, and Christ saves us. That is the salvation that cannot fail, because it is God and not us that saves, and God cannot fail. And God said, “…wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Wow what a true blessing, we are accepted in Jesus Christ because we are washed in His blood. Jesus Christ is paying our debt to God, everything we owe God, Jesus has paid it. There is nothing we have to do, no choices, no decisions, no works, no anything because Jesus paid our entire debt and it is acceptable to the Father because that is what the Father chose to accept before the foundation of the world. This reminds us of Paul writing to Philemon to encourage him to accept his runaway slave, Onesimus, using the same argument. “If he owes you anything, I will pay it”.  Philemon 1:17 - 19 “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. (18) If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; (19) I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.” Folks, election is not bad it is a blessing for the elect, election does not send people to hell because people have already sent themselves there. Folks, Election is a true blessing from God, because without it we would all go to hell.

What Is Meant By “Love Not The World.”

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 

I have to ask myself what does God mean by this statement? This is a scripture which must be defined by the hearer of the verse.  I believe in context the Lord defines it in verse (16) “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” I do not believe that God is telling us not to have any worldly dealings. We do have to live, work, worship, etc., etc., etc., in the world. As Christians we must live in the world, we must preach the gospel to this world, we must help this world, as much as we can. I believe this verse is defined in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The word “conformed” means - to fashion alike or conform to the same pattern – which the word “world” would be the dealings of the world and not the entire world. We know that the world system is controlled by Satan and having any part of the world system will separate you from God as far as keeping His commandments. This world is a place we must share with the lost as well as Christians. We cannot hate the people because God told us to love the people, and to pray for them. “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;” Matthew 5:44 Satan controls the world system and therefore we should blame the evil of the world on Satan. I am not excusing the people, they will pay to God for their sins, but that is not an excuse for us to hate them and eliminate them from our witnessing.

I want to look at our responsibility to the world. We that believe in the Sovereign Salvation of God, and still believe in the preaching of gospel, but why? The answer is simple, Jesus Christ commissioned the leaders of the first church (The Church at Jerusalem) to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every living soul”. Mark 16:15 We preach the gospel, why, because God uses it to save sinners. Even though God has ordained or elected those to be saved we preach the gospel and God uses that preached gospel to saved sinners. Since we do not know who the elect are we preach it to the world and it reaches whom God convicts by the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility in the world is to teach the truth of the bible and to walk in that truth. We are to obey the commandments of God’s word, and without question. Now, do we believe that the preaching of the gospel is going to save a non-elect sinner, no. The ordained will of God cannot be changed, and God will save sinners whether we preach the gospel or not. However, God commanded that we preach it anyway. Our responsibility in the world is to be good servants of the Lord and spread God’s word to the world.

I believe our responsibility goes farther. I believe it is our responsibility to fight for Gods ordained will. We are to be good citizens to this world, and as good citizens we ought to fight for God’s will in this world. It doesn’t matter that God has an ordained will, just as it matters not that God has an elected number for salvation. I know that God does as He pleases, and I know that God can change the world as He pleases, but that does not eliminate our fight for good, our fight to stop abortions, homosexuality, and so many other sins in this Satanic controlled world. It is not worldly love to love your country and to be a good patriot and love your flag. We ought to honor those who made us free and gave their life and their family’s life also. Many have died to fight for freedom, both as citizens and Christians and lots of these people were Christians, Church members, and even Pastors. Christens have fought and died for the love of God, and the love of Country. Even though we know that Satan controls this world system and it’s evil, and God will one day destroy the works of the world and the world itself, however we ought not just to lay down and give it over to the evil. Romans 13 pointy says that God ordains the powers of this world, He sets world leaders up and He takes them down. These world leaders are “workers of God” not workers of good but workers of evil, workers to shape the world for God’s ordained will. I believe Christians ought to help shape the world and Country in which we live. It is true of politics as it is in salvation, we change NOT the work or will of God. But God uses our sharing of the Gospel to save sinners, and I believe God uses our votes to shape His will in the world. I do not accept that God’s order for us to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” extends to our responsibility to helping to fight for good. If we lose or if we win it is God’s will, but the fight for good should be ours. As Christians we should not just laydown and give our freedoms away without a fight. Just as our forefathers fought, we ought to also fight until Jesus Christ calls us home. Love your Country, State, and freedom, and fight for them every way possible. God uses us in many ways, and in that His blessed will is done.                   

The Joy Of Walking In Truth.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:4 

I know the main question is, “what is truth”? The truth is God’s word, outside of God’s Holy Script there is no truth. God’s word is pure and without finite mind, but a pure infinite mind. Men who penned Gods Holy Word did not pen their words, thoughts, opinions, but as the Holy Spirit led them. The truth is the unadulterated scriptures as God wrote them. Not what you think they say, or want them to say, or changed to fit your like of beliefs. People ignore the bible, they ignore what it says and believe it to their own thinking and that is not truth. People talk about doctrine as though it does not exist, I have even heard people brag about not believing doctrine, but they have no idea what doctrine is. Doctrine is not what a church believes it is what the teaching of the bible says, and without being changes or diluted. If your church does not believe in doctrine, then you do not believe in the bible. Our churches doctrine is not Baptist doctrine, you have 100 different kinds of Baptist churches believing 100 different kinds of doctrine. Our doctrine is the bible doctrine, we do not water it down, and we could really careless what others think of us for believing it. We do not set our beliefs to please people, the government, news media, or other churches, our doctrine is to please God. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 If you do not believe what we teach and what we teach is unacceptable to you, then another church would be suitable for you, I’m sure you will find one that will believe what you want too. Here John wrote “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” and he wrote it absolutely correct, it is the greatest of joy when we find other Christians and churches believing and walking in the truth of the bible as we do. Beloved, it is not just that people believe the truth, but also walk in those truths. God wrote the bible not only for our learning but also for our instruction in life. If a person believes the truth of the scriptures and does not teach or walk in them then that make them a hypocrite. None of us are perfect, however we can walk in the biblical truth, certainly not perfect, but very close. We must reverence the bible and hold it as final divine authority. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation…For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20 – 21 it is not to be of any “private interpretation” meaning it cannot be changed of thought or meaning, it is God’s word. Parts of it cannot be taught and other parts overlooked simply because you may not want to believe it or it may seem too harsh for you. However, this is why it is such a great joy to find other believers believing and walking in the truth of the bible. The bible is a hard book, hard things to believe and much harder to walk in those beliefs. So, if you believe the bible “as is” I find it a great joy to be with you.

Don’t Be A Partaker Of Evil Deeds.

2 John 1:10 - 11 “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

As Christians and as churches we all must be very, very careful with whom we associate ourselves with. We must understand that people who claim to be of God are not always of God. We must understand that Satan has an army of deceivers that call themselves Christians and churches. This is not uncommon to the scriptures, God said in 2 Corinthians 11:13 - 15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” If they “be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” then they are making themselves appear as Christians, but they are not they are of the devil. The last thing we as Christians and churches want to do is to associate ourselves with these workers of evil deeds. It is not easy for the true believers to figure out who these workers of deceit are, therefore we must be very careful. I do not mean to be harsh toward other churches and people who call themselves Christians, but instead are deceitful workers of Satan. Therefore, I will not name people or denominations. The most simple way to recognize them is to use God’s instructions, 1 John 4:2 - 3 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” I believe this is confessing that Jesus Christ is Saviour. Believing that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh means that you also believe He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. You must believe that Jesus Christ is Saviour, that He can save you from your sins, and that His blood can wash away your sins. You must believe that you do not need anything else for salvation, not even works of any sort. If a Christian, preacher, or a church does not believe and teach this, then it is a great rule of thumb that they are not of God. Christians may have doctrinal differences, and some of those differences may be miles apart, but there is only one single salvation and that is in Jesus Christ. This is how you separate true Christians and churches from the untrue ones. We can disagree with many doctrinal differences, but salvation is a must. God said, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 These people speak of their own, changing the worship of God into the worship of man, even in salvation. Salvation is the gift of God, not the geniuses of man figuring it out. They have no faith in God, they only know the world. “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1 John 4:5 the words “the world heareth them” means the world hears their worthless sermons and follows them in masses. These people are not of God, they are fathering the message of deceit. A Christian should know who I speak of, because as a Christian you should be able to connect the scriptural dots. “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us…” and God went on to say, “…he that is not of God heareth not us…” because they are not Christians they hear not God. The Lord ended this scripture with “…Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6 the Spirit of Truth is the Holy Spirit, and the spirit of error is Satan. Who do you hear, who do you see, is it of the Lord or is it of Satan. You as a Christian cannot support any sort of error teaching, the Lord warned us “For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” God said in 1 Timothy 5:22 “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.” While they may seem to be of God, they are not, they are not teaching the truth about salvation. They will use many devices to draw you into their web of deceit. Resist them and be not part of them.

For The Time Is Here.

“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 4:3 – 4

God promised that the time would come when people no longer “endure sound doctrine”, that time is now. We live in the time when sound doctrine is no longer desired, in fact it is hated. People, even some calling themselves “Christians” no longer desire sound doctrine. If they are taught the Sovereign Grace of God then it angers them and turns their hearts from God to anger. However, if you read the bible correctly God is absolutely Sovereign in everyway and in everything. People can deny it, they can reject it, they can even be angry when they hear it, but God never changes He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8 Some folks may be surprised to know that before anything, anything at all was created, only God existed. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 God, this He did by Himself, He actually created everything in existence by Himself. God needs no help, He uses angels, people, and everything else as He chooses, even if we are not willing He makes us willing. God does not need us, nor anyone or anything else, for anything. God did not create something He cannot control; therefore, we must understand that God controls everything in creation. He controls the weather, the sun, moon, stars, and everything else in creation. He controls the Angels, and people as He chooses. When Paul said “…by the grace of God I am what I am...” 1 Corinthians 15:10 he meant everything he was, it was God that made him a saved man, a preacher, and an apostle. God created tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes all by Himself and for Himself. God made Satan and evil for Himself, and He gets glory from it all. “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 So as you can see God controls all things, but if you tell many people this truth it will make them angry. Salvation is another hated subject by the I will “not enduring sound doctrine” folks, they hate God salvation and love their own. Bible doctrine says that God saves sinners and sinners cannot save themselves. Ephesians 2:8 – 10 Jesus Christ died for them, His blood cleanses them from their sins, He was buried and rose again on the third day. God said He uses the gospel to save sinners but the I will “endure sound doctrine” crowd rejects this truth for a self-made salvation. The church history is another teaching that the I don’t “endure sound doctrine” crowd like. The bible plainly teaches that Jesus Christ Himself started the church during His earthly ministry, but these people say it was started by the Catholics, but the Catholics did not even exist until 311A.D. By the very definition, the church was called out by Jesus Christ Himself in Matt. Chapters 4-5 assembled together on the mountaintop for their first service which was preached by Jesus Himself. The first church settled in Jerusalem until God allowed it to be scattered and others where started.

These are just a few examples of the untruths being taught a believed by the I will “not endure sound doctrine” people who teach doctrine that serve-self rather than God. Romans 1:25 God calls them blind and says they are leading the blind, and they all will wind-up in a ditch together. Matthew 15:14 “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” God also said they “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth” because they do not know truth, they do not understand the bible, they have no desire for truth. They can build buildings, congregation sizes, and bank accounts, but true doctrine they do not know, understand, or teach.

The Lord’s Steadfast Love Endures Forever!

“This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes…This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it…Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity…Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. Psalms 118:23 – 26

I have said many times and I say it again, people who fail to see and believe the Sovereignty of God miss the entire substance of the bible. God said people will change the truth into a lie, but for what purpose, to worship the creature instead of the creator (Romans 1:25). People do this and when they do they eliminate God from most everything, but why? Why do people (people that call themselves Christians) want to weaken the truth about God, belittle the thinking on Him? It is because they believe Satan’s lie.

When Christians see the happenings of their day, they need to understand that no matter what the happenings are it is God’s doing. People want to believe that God has nothing to do with it, God has everything to do with it just as He did with Job’s trials. Let us remember, God destroyed the earth with a flood killing all of creation except those on the ark, condemning the entire human race to eternal hell with Adams sin except the elect, and He will also destroy every soul on the earth and then destroy the earth with fire. Folks, we serve a loving God Whose love will never change but let’s face the truth, God hates sin and sinners alike. God is the single being that sets-up your day and sees to it that all things are accomplished, and God does not need you to make excuses for His doing. We must accept our day as God’s plan and work without question. Our loving God wants us to lean on Him for help through the day, and to trust His plan. This is the “This is the day which the LORD hath made…” not just making the sun to rise and set in the evening, but everything in between. People who fail to see the power, ordained will, and the carrying thru of that will, fail to see God and His Sovereignty. Denying the ordained will and the power of God is a missed blessing. I wake-up every day trusting that God has it, He has my day, He has the power over everything in my day. The Psalmist said “… the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes…” but only if we see the hand of God in every part of our day. The way God executes our day is a certain blessing to them that see what God is doing, which is impossible if you miss the Sovereignty of God. The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:19 “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,” The glorious power of God in every inch of our day and in all our life. Our day, good or bad as we may see it is in God’s power and always with love in the Believers life. The Psalmist wrote “…I beseech thee, send now prosperity.” The word “prosperity” means - to push forward – that is for the Lord, not ourselves to bring a prosperous day for us. Not money wise but spiritual goodness to us. God never speaks of Christians prospering in money because the love of money is the root of all evil. But there are many other ways to prosper in life than money. While there are some wealthy believers, there are not many because most wealthy people are money hunger, everything anti-scripture. Prosperity to a believer is a successful day of honoring God no matter what happens. This prosperity is shown in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” That is because God loves you and controls your day, and you love Him because He first loved you. Therefore, you trust the Lord with your day. Somedays are horrible and some are great, but all are by God and we know that even the bad is good because God controls them. We do not know the plan and work of God, but whatever it is God will walk thru it with us. As believers in Christ Jesus we are never alone, EVER!  Psalms 46:1 – 3 “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (2) Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (3) Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”  

All Are On Equal Ground.

“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;” Romans 3:9

This is a great question because it equates all of mankind. People must understand who they are, and God does an outstanding job at describing all mankind as He lumps them into one single bracket of deplorables. It matters not who you are or where you come from, you are a sinner and you deserve the greatest of God’s wrath. People are people and we all come from Adam and Eve, the two people who sinned against the very God that created them. If you do not understand the fall of these two sinners, then just think of it as a betrayal to God. Mankind has betrayed the Lord ever since, and unworthy of anything God has to offer except eternal damnation. If you read Romans chapter 3 you will find out just what God thinks about people. We do not see ourselves or others as God see’s us, because we are sinners looking at sinners. We judge by morality and God judges by sin (the breaking of His law). God said in 1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” It matters not which law you break, because if you ever broke one you are guilty of all. James 2:10 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” The law of God was created to condemn us not to justify us and condemns us it does. Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” It is therefore concluded, people who believe the keeping of the law (or works of any sort) will save them, they are only condemning themselves in an attempt in something that is impossible to accomplish. If we observe Romans chapter 3 in its proper context we will find not one single soul is righteous nor can be. We are sinners, not because we have sinned, but we are born sinners. God said we come from our mother’s womb speaking lies. Psalms 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Oh, be not tricked by the word “wicked” it means the condemned which is ever living soul ever born of a woman with a human father. God said of us all in Romans 3 things like: There is none righteous, there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one, their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, destruction and misery are in their ways, the way of peace have they not known. And the Lord concluded with verse 20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” This is who people are, it matters not if you are Jew or Gentile this is who you are. You cannot change who you are no more than a leopard can change its spots, or a person can change their skin color. Whatever you were born, you will die as regardless what you do to change yourself. You cannot change your sinner status, because you really do not want too. You cannot “turn over a new leaf, make a choice to change, make a decision,” or any other unbiblical religious created way of salvation. You can only change if the Holy Spirit convicts you and causes you to believe in Jesus Christ as you Saviour. If God never touches your heart, then you will die lost and spend eternity in the un-quenchable fires of hell. If you never care enough to listen to God’s word and believe on His Beloved Son Jesus Christ, then you will never be saved. All of us must understand who we are, those lost and going to hell, and those who are saved and going to heaven. We, even us that are saved need to remember who we are to God and not who we are to each other, we are either sinners or sinners saved by grace. God said in Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” That is, remember who you are, I am what God’s grace hath made me, I am no better than anyone else, not even the lost. 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” The Apostle Paul spoke this of himself. Humility is the greatest asset a saved person has, understanding that only God has blessed me, and I am the least of them all. “…and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” If this was Paul’s humility, then shouldn’t it also be ours. Let us always remember, no matter who we are, we are on equal ground and still sinners.      

False Images Of God.

“For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God…When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:” Deuteronomy 4:24 – 25

God is “a consuming fire” means - God is a fire that consumes or devours something – however, here God is consuming people. If you listen to people i.e. some “Christians, Pastors, and church membership” you hear a lot about how God is supposed to be a lover of all mankind and there is no hate or anger in Him. But, I want to draw your attention to God’s anger and His anger with people. God is a lover of some people but not all, those whom have been saved by His love and grace cannot experience a greater love, ever. God chose before the foundation of the world to send His beloved Son Jesus Christ to this world to save a people whom He chose. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Romans 9:21 God elected to hate Esau, God had no reason to hate Esau except that he was a sinner from birth and God hates sinners. Esau was a sinner created by God to be a “vessel unto dishonor”. “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Romans 9:13 God also hates the ways of sinners, and what God seems to hate the most is “false graven images” and God said people would “shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image”. So, let us understand what a false graven image is. A false graven images is something to worship other than the True God, or His True Son. I defined it this way to make it pinpoint what God is talking about, He is talking about Himself. This is why, God inserted “a jealous God” because He is jealous when He is disrespected. All honor and glory belong to God. But people have an unction to worship things instead of God. Some people worship nature, dolls, statues, photos, crosses, or etc. etc. etc... God has no holy images on this earth, we are to worship Jehovah God and His blessed Son Jesus Christ and them only. God is a Spirit and He must be worshiped spiritually, or in you heart. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 God is not worshiped with photos and crosses, those are only false graven images. Crosses are cursed because everyone who is crucified has been cursed. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” Galatians 3:13 Jesus Christ was cursed with death because of our sins, to what glory is the cross? It is an object that is falsely worshiped by those who have them, they are not to be worshiped. A Christian nor a church building has any reason to worship a cross or even have one, we should be worshipping the man that died on the cross and not the cursed tool used to kill Him. Let us look at the words “false Image” what exactly was the cross Jesus was crucified on? The word “cross” is defined as a stake or post (as set upright), that is, (specifically) a pole. Is a “pole” what you are worshipping, no it is not, you are worshipping an image we consider a cross. No one knows what the pole looked like that Jesus was actually hung on. Besides, where did God instruct believers to worship objects, and if you say you do not worship it then why do you have a cross? The easiest “false graven image” that people worship is images or photos of Jesus Christ. This is a complete false worship of a person in a photo whom you have no idea who it is. Please understand, THERE ARE NO IMAGES OF Jesus Christ! No not one single image, every image of Jesus Christ if a false graven image, period. It matters not what the image is a photo or a statue or anything else it is not of Jesus Christ, and there are no images of God or the Holy Spirit, remember God is a Spirit not a man. God said we are not to “make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing” What does anything mean – it means anything related to God, Jesus, heaven, angels, or anything that has anything to falsely worship, period. Whether you realize it or not it is these things God said would destroy true worship of God and cause God to anger. You “shall corrupt yourselves… and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger” If you need an image to remind you of God then you have a serious spiritual issue. If you need a tool outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to witness for Christ, then you have a serious witnessing issue. God said all we need is the gospel, God never told us to use crossed or photos to witness this is the corruption of them. Neither one is of God or of Jesus, they are both false images. Besides of the fact that Jesus died on a cross or that some fool painted an image of a person, what significance are they? God said they cause corruption, and I would rather trust God than man. Angels are false images, and are not to be worshiped, at all, ever! “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things…Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” Revelation 22:8 - 9 How dare a Christian ever worship anything but God and Jesus Christ, and if you do, remember you are provoking God to anger. And last, if you say you are not worshiping them, then why do you have them?